The design concept for a new 7-Eleven convenience store on the north edge of Downtown was approved Thursday by the Downtown Development Review Board of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
A design for a store, gas station and café on Main Street between State and Union streets was approved at the board’s August 2010 meeting for another applicant.
A project manager presented a design at the board’s December meeting and was asked to return with an improved design before conceptual approval could be granted.
The board had issues with the amount of window area on the building. The revised design incorporates frosted glass on the side of the building where the restrooms are to be located, and opaque glass on the area adjacent to the store’s office.
“7-Eleven didn’t want people looking into the back office” where the store’s safe and security monitoring equipment are located, said David Tillis, senior project manager for Stantec. His firm is consulting on 20 active 7-Eleven development sites in North Florida.
When asked about the level of security the glass would provide in terms of vandalism or burglary, Peter Zent, project manager for Lend Lease, 7-Eleven’s domestic construction company, said the glass isn’t bullet-proof, but “bullet resistant.”
Tillis said the originally approved landscape design will be retained and all lighting inside the store will be LED for security and appearance.
The 7-Eleven design eliminated the outdoor café seating in the originally approved design, which incorporated a sandwich shop into the concept for the store, an element which is not part of 7-Eleven’s concept.
“Ninety-five percent of our business comes from people in cars. It’s pretty simple – either they stop on their way to work to get things, or they stop on their way home to get things,” said Tillis.
The design and placement of the signs on the building will be part of the final approval presentation and the architects are studying the Downtown sign regulations, said Tillis.
A rendering of the new design, without signage, was presented to the board.
“Looking at it without signs, I wouldn’t think it’s a 7-Eleven. It’s a quaint look, I don’t say that very often about 7-Elevens,” said board member Chris Flagg.
Zent pointed out that in order to accommodate a bicycle rack, the design eliminated one parking space, which would put the design one space short of the number required under regulations for Downtown projects.
The board agreed that was an advantage and could approve a deviation from standards based on the design improving pedestrian access.
Staff presented an update on previously approved projects, including the Friendship Park improvements, which have been completed.
One of the design elements approved for the project was a series of pergolas surrounding the restored fountain. They were included in the design contingent on there being sufficient funds in the budget when the project was complete to allow for their installation.
“We had the money, so the work will begin shortly,” said Eric Lindstrom, the JEDC’s Friendship Park project manager.
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