Rite Aid pharmacy opened their new store at Main & Union on Thursday, leaving the old "Pelton's" building at the corner of William & Main.
The move brings a few changes for the store: the new location is 14,000 sq. ft., up from the old building of 11,000. And readers of the Eye might remember that a drive-thru window was placed at the back of the store after receiving a special exception from the Planning & Zoning Commission.Officially known as Landmark Square, the building is also now the headquarters its developer and owner, Centerplan, which moved its offices from Hartford. At this point, there are still some office and retail spaces open in the building.
Some landmark.
ReplyDeleteWhy are the windows blacked out? Did the Design Review board understand this when it came before them (October 2007)?
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
ReplyDeleteThat is a GREAT question. As this building was approved, I remember lots of mention about the way that this building would have these windows that you could see into the store, and so people could see out, especially going down Union and how that was a whole new look for this end of town. I remember questioning it at the time, since pharmacies rarely have display windows, let alone this amount of them, but I can't recall whether I ever asked that on the record (Professor Pinch has started a new fashion -- I just can't recall!)
It's another lesson for us: these concerns should be in the language of the approval. Fortunately this is not a permanent barrier (I think) and future tenants might be more interested in taking advantage of the downtown location by removing the black shading. I noticed that a new pharmacy in Glastonbury has white frosted windows instead of the shiny black, and it is infinitely preferable, although still a loss for both the business and the pedestrian.
One other reality is that, as you know, zoning regulations only affect the exterior, and businesses can decorate the inside of their window any way that they want. Perhaps because this building needed a special exception, there could have been more concessions asked, although I don't know if those concessions can affect interior window display. What do you think?
-Jen Alexander
The standard requirement for windows (referred to as fenestration in these codes) in retail frontage in a well-written Urban & Architectural Code is to require 70% of the first floor must be windows, they must be translucent glass which affords a view into the store a minimum depth of 40'. Glazing must be from 2 feet to 8 feet above the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is no one mentioned this because no one asked. Maybe it's time for us to create checklist of questions. Time to start asking.