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Last Wednesday, CVS requested another two-week layover just minutes before
the city council voted on the appeal and alley vacation. Hopefully, the
significant pressure being placed on CVS is beginning to work, but given
their "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude earlier that day, I won't hold my
breath.
On the issue brought up by Eric Hare, I think it is a little early to pat
CVS on the back for their positive or good buildings in Minneapolis. The
fact is that the Minneapolis projects are being handled by a different
development company. In St. Paul, the company is Velmeir. I would hope
that the difference between Minneapolis and St. Paul is that CVS doesn't
know that Velmeir is unwilling to compromise. But, I have to assume that
CVS has more input into the project than that.
Either way, CVS has been aware for months that their design is inappropriate
for the corner. University UNITED and Jay Benanav have been fighting for
one of these good buildings for a long time. CVS has been notified directly
of our complaints with the proposed plans, but have done nothing change
them. I do expect CVS to wake up and put in a good building for the corner,
but we must recognize that it will be done reluctantly.
Also, I should correct a mistake I included in my last update. Apparently,
there is no plan (yet) for the CVS store near the UofM. I had stated that
they planned on a multi-use building. In fact, they have not committed to
anything, but the neighborhood group from the area (Prospect Park) had a
zoning meeting where they made very clear that nothing short of a multi-use
building would be acceptable. It should also be noted that the lot the UofM
store is being put on has been vacant for a long time. Again, sometimes it
is more important to put the right building up rather than just taking the
first thing that comes along.
Jim Mogen
Lex Ham
University UNITED Board Member
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