Taking Walgreen's to the Sheets . . .
I took a quick trip down to South Florida this weekend (thus the lack of posts, and my unfortunate absence from the NOLA blog get-together), not for any sort of vacation, but to pick up family-heirloom furniture for my soon-to-be born New Orleans re-population effort's bedroom. The furniture has safely sat two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in my wife's grandparent's house for the past sixty years. Myself and a friend--whom I will call Red Toe-3 (its amazing what you find out about people when in a closed space for so many hours), owner of two MANMADE flood-destroyed houses in Lakeview--left on Friday morning and returned yesterday evening (Sunday) with the antique bedroom set in tow. We were gone for 72 hours and spent 26 of them in the car--nearly 16 of them on Monotony Highway, aka I-10. That's no vacation in my book.
I left my house Friday morning at 5:30am to make the 800+ mile drive. When I got the the intersection of South Carrollton and South Claiborne en route to I-10, to my astonishment were two banners (bed sheets) hanging from the awning of the graffiti/Gray Ghost-covered decaying shell of the former K&B/Rite Aid. One read: "SEVEN YEARS BLIGHT, THANKS WALGREEN'S" and the other stated: "URBAN SITE, URBAN DESIGN." I fumbled for my camera and clicked a few shots. When I got to the intersection of Earhart and South Carrollton, I glanced at the litter-covered, overgrown, now-abandoned Walgreen's there. Yet another appropriate statement: "WALGREEN'S KILLS NEIGHBORHOODS." Click.
A couple of my pictures follow. b.rox has some daytime (and better quality) shots and commentary. Be sure to check out the link he has to the National Trust information.
"SEVEN YEARS BLIGHT, THANKS WALGREEN'S" and "URBAN SITE, URBAN DESIGN." How about those pieces of hurricane-blown roof that still remain strewn in the branches of that sickly Live Oak? Pathetic.
"WALGREEN'S KILLS NEIGHBORHOODS." How about that maintenance at the shuttered Earhart Walgreen's store?
Seriously, why on earth should our city give Walgreen's "the keys" when they consistently continue to show disregard and indifference (nearly to the point of contempt) to the appearance of existing stores and properties within New Orleans?
TAGS: Katrina, New Orleans, NOLA, Walgreens, Shelley Midura, Carrollton, Urban Planning
posted by Seymour D. Fair @ 10:25 AM
17 comments
17 Comments:
A litte trespassing and vanalism is always a great way to forward your cause.
I hope you guys don't mind the increased price of gas as it now looks like thanks to a few of the Northwest Carrollton folks that we're going to continue to travel across town to shop now that we've been screwed us out of our long-awaited grocery store in our neighborhood.
I will admit that it hasn't been so bad driving all of the way over to Tchoupitoulas and crossing the Tulane/Loyola campuses now that there aren't any students left in New Orleans.
I hope it was worth it guys!!!
Sorry, anon. There is no 100% guaranteed grocery store within the legal document of the proposed site plan currently before the New Orleans City Council. It seems you either don't know this fact and you're falling for the "a way to get 'our' grocery store" trap or you are a shill or their behalf.
A or B?
Opps--a typo--make that on their behalf . . .
A, because I'm not sure what a shill is? I do know that I had a discussion with one of Shelley Midura's assistants (I think his name was Alan) and he said that the two projects could be tied together to guaranty to grocery. Is this your understanding? If not, why aren't you exploring this option?
On another note, it's amazing that the Northwest people across Carrollton will go on the Fox evening news and rightfully lash out about the graffiti on Incarnate Word Church, but don't seem to have a problem with the placement of the the graffiti above this post. DO NOT GET ME WRONG. I AM NOT ACCUSSING THEM OF HANGING THE SHEETS, BUT SOMEONE DID AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYONE IN MY ORGANIZATION.
Please explain this Fair?
Given the realties that Walgreen’s owns (or is in legal contract to lease) the property they have all legal right to build a store at this location. I don't contest this and believe the two projects can both occur on this site with an appropriate and site-specific design--but what they have submitted is not adequate. From what I currently understand there is no legal agreement between Walgreen's and Robert's Fresh Market hinging the two projects together. Each is a legally separate project subject to zoning laws/permits, etc., yet Walgreen's has continuously marketed what’s currently on the table as one unified proposal. In reality, Walgreen’s could have their store built once given the green light by the City of New Orleans, and then for whatever reason Robert’s could back out. Then we are left with only a Walgreens and a commercially undesirable half of a city block fronting Nelson Street—and no grocery store in Carrollton, right where we started out (thanks to Walgreen’s nearly ten years ago in the Riverbend Winn-Dixie affair) in the first place.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shill for definition of "shill."
Did I praise the action, anon #2 as correct? Nope--just thought it was a relevant occurance to mention since I feel the way I do in regards to the ongoing saga of the New Orleans Drug Store Wars.
What Organization are you with Anon?
I drove thru the intersection Saturday. It really looks bad and sadly almost any public areas look really unkept.
Is there a timeline on restarting the St. Charles street car line? I don't come down often but St. Charles & Carrolton aren't the same without the street cars.
FYI-If you think you could entice a decent small supermarket to come to New Orleans I'd try LeBlanc Pay-Less Supermarket. I think I've suggested it before.
Fair,
I agree with you 100%. That's why in previous posts, I have suggested that we go along with the site as Walgreens wants it, but require that it be tied to the opening of a grocery store before it can build. We are the empowered now. We can ask for a whole lot more and probably get it. If they've paid so much in rent for so so long, I would guess that they'd pay more to the neighborhood. I'd like to see something in Palmer Park or some fancy sign on Claiborne on the neutral ground from Jefferson Parish that says "Welcome to Historic Carrollton" or something like that. Lets flip the tables on these guys and get something out of it in addition to our much needed grocery store. Last Saturday I had to trapes across town three times to get incredients for a recipe. This has to stop!!!!
Anon #1
Hi Anon #1, its Anon #2 again. If you live in our neighborhood why are you traping across town to make groceries? We all drive just a few blocks to the new Sav A Center Fresh in Mid City - its right down Carrollton (you have to drive hrough a few blocks of poorly planned developments that do not adhere to the Overlay, so its not asthetically pleasing). Come join Northwest Carrollton Civic Association, introduce yourself, and I'll show you where we shop!
anon #1:
What you suggest may very well be the compromise that eventually happens.
So a2 and a1, what do you think your buds at Walgreens are going to do with the shuttered Walgreens at Earhart and Carrollton?
Jeez, I miss canal villere and schwegmanns. Yes, and even that crappy A&P next to Eckerd's.
Hey all,
Being the good Catholic that I am, I was naturally appalled by the desecration of Incarnate Word Church and driven to call my contacts at the archdiocese to find out more. Although I am a member of St. Rita's, I used to enjoy walking over to Incarnate Word occassionally on Sunday evenings.
At any rate, I was told some bad news. Apparently, the Archdiocese is slated the Incarnate Word site to a half-way house type of operation where the facility will be used to assist former inmates in making their re-entry back into the community as productive citizens.
While my Catholic nature tells me to turn the other cheek and welcome these lost souls/prodical sons back to a productive life, I have to admit that I am concerned for the area.
Has anyone heard similar rumors or can they elaborate on this.
Thanks,
Selfish Catholic
Dear Selfish Catholic, Nice try
Hello, like your blog. I see you are talking about Walgreens here. I learned about the company on this great site www.pissedconsumer.com. The reason I paid attention to it is that it is a pharmaceutical company and it has so many negative feedbacks from the clients. I think is is shameful. They are supposed to cure people and they in fact make it worse for them causing inconveniences.
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