Bloggin’ on the Edge

Posted by Scott Spielman at 2:00 AM | Comments

It’s not often that I side with big corporations.

It’s even less often that I agree with the whole corporate image concept—in fact I’ve written columns against it in the past, calling it for what I believe it is: a cheap way to put up a cookie-cutter building that also chips away at the identity of communities. I just don’t buy into the whole argument that because it’s done this way everywhere else, it should be done this way here, too.

One of the biggest offenders has been chain drug stores—the CVSs, the Walgreen’s, the Rite Aids—that seem to pop up on every corner.

There are two CVS Drug Stores in the development phase in the Northville community—one in the city and one in the township. In both places, corporate representatives heard the same line: you’ll have to change your corporate image. Planners in both communities wanted more brick, less EIFS. I’m on board with that.

Representatives from the drug chain have had a tough battle in both communities. In the township, the store is a part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which grants planners more authority over what they can ask for as far as the look of the building. In the city, the store is smack in the middle of the historic district, which has its own set of rules in addition to—and above—city ordinances and standards.

The city store was up for review Monday night. It was the first reading of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance there, too. The rendering showed the work that had gone on prior to the city council meeting; more brick had been added, the awning over the front doors reduced, the amount of CVS red scaled back, too.

Now this is a neat project, believe it or not. The new store will replace one that’s sat at the back of a parking lot off Dunlap Street ever since I can remember. It’ll be right off the street, promoting a downtown feel.

In addition to the concessions that the store has already granted, City Councilman Jim Allen wanted to see brick on the drive-through lane and the red accents toned down. As samples, the red looked good. Up on a storefront, in mass, it was just too bright, he said, particularly since the building was so close to the street.

A resident spoke up and defended the color choice, though, calling the carnival red uplifting and cheerful.

I agree. There is a problem in Northville with making all the stores have a residential character. That’s because most of the houses in Northville have no residential character of their own—or at least, not a separate one. They all look the same—at least until you get to the city limits—big beige beasts with little to differentiate them from neighboring subdivisions.

This location is different, too, because it’s not a new site for the chain. It has existed and prospered for decades. It represents a sizeable investment in the downtown and a major upgrade from the existing facility. I say let them have the carnival red. Let them have the third sign on the wall facing the parking lot. They’ve done the city a favor in improving the building and buying into the whole new urbanism concept. They should get a little back.

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