Admit it - that thing is going up fast....
Across 51st street, Andy's service station - - - now (improbably) considered part of the Fountains of Franklin complex - - - is nearly ready to open. Handy? Yes (for cars ). Exciting? Not particularly. The best one can say for it is that it's not entirely offensive.
As I noted last year, Andy's is yet another missed opportunity for Franklin: it should have been built up to the corner with no set-back and a sidewalk fronting the Rawson and 51st street sides, with parking and pumps all behind. At a plan commission meeting, Mayor Tom Taylor flattered the Fountains of Franklin developers by claiming this area "will be Franklin's downtown." This is not how you build a service station/convenience store downtown.
Back in August '06, I wrote:
An unfortunate development at 51st and Rawson here in Franklin, future location of an Andy's service center/car wash/"mini shopping center." The building will contain a convenience store/gas station, car wash facility, and leased commercial space. The intersection has a stop light. (Andy Khuller owns 18 gas station/convenience stores around the Milwaukee Area.)
Residents close to the site were wary of a typical commercial building invading their neighborhood, and it looks like they had every reason to be. Though not an architectural nightmare as far as the actual building is concerned (earlier submitted plans were less subtle; perhaps incorporating the huge letter "A" motif that is used on other Andy's buildings) the overhead plan reveals yet another quasi-strip mall fronted with asphalt: the city of Franklin's setback regulations for "B-3 Community Business District" zoning are enforced here, and we are treated to the sad site of another commercial building surrounded by a moat of asphalt built to accomodate 116 parking stalls (as required by city zoning).
There are trees and a retention pond placed on the corner of the lot; perhaps this was the element that the developer hoped would placate residents of houses right across the street.
However, it seems as though no thought was given to maximizing the intersection - - there are vacant lots on two adjoining corners - - by bringing the Andy's building right up to the corner, with parking and gas pumps behind (the two entries from 51st and Rawson remain). They might even have added a slight overhang to shelter the sidewalk so cafe tables could be added in the summer. The corner configuration would have the added benefit of concealing the car wash and inevitable line of cars that will accumulate on warm summer days. Then, if and when additional commercial buildings come to the remaining vacant corners and configure themselves likewise, you end up with a very nice crossroads.
Unfortunately, I'm told that the Franklin planning commission cannot reach consensus on a policy toward selective elimination of setback and parking requirements (in this case, the city mandates 40 feet for front yard setback). Hopefully this will change very, very soon.
Here's an example from Madison, WI, (where West Washington Avenue has been enormously revitalized since I lived there in the late 80s). Even though the station has parking and pumps out front, note the sturdy brick and second story windows - - office space or even apartments go there:
Here in Franklin, however, low expectations once again deliver stunning mediocrity.
Hi John!
I'm surprised that you're surprised about Sendik's. All they needed was the right approvals and BAM they're building. Sendik's wants to be open by Thanksgiving, remember.
As for Andy's, I couldn't dare say it's comparable to those found in the Madison area, but at least this convenience center is more than half-way decent. If we would have had a gas station like that found on 27th & Rawson, or even Hwy 100 & Loomis, it would have been a very depressing situation.
At least FOF is doing brick....maybe they could be inclined to start adding condos/apartments on top of their buildings...
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | July 01, 2007 at 11:04 AM