The Village Center at Fairview finally has a Store Proposed

The Village Center has a proposal for a store!

One-story retail store building at Fairview crossroad

Earlier this month developers started a file at the City for a low one-story building with two storefronts on a key corner in the Fairview redevelopment.

The "anchor" will be a Stop n' Save convenience store it appears. Sure the parking lot is in back, and in that way it is more walkable, but its basic form is still more like a strip mall in a sprawly setting.

Convenience store for the Village Center

Site plan at the crossroads

So it's a little underwhelming in that sense. The original concept for the Village Center was more lively with midrise and vertical mixed-use, with much more stress on walking and much less stress on parking lots. It was intended to be more of a commercial district and hub, the highest intensity part of the project.

At the same time, how often do we have any kind of store immediately opposite a park? Summer time ice cream! Maybe it will evolve into a cafe or pub.

And we'll say again: As the City works on designating Climate Friendly Areas/Walkable Mixed-use Areas, it really needs to look more closely at why Fairview hasn't developed into one. Its patterning remains intensely autoist, and we need to learn from it.

Recently see:

• "Village Center Concept mostly Abandoned at Fairview; Finally some Smallplexes; Park Update"
• "Block 50 Announcement Suggests Learning from Fairview Discussion 20 Years Ago"
  

This proposal is in very early stages, with the file just started at the City, and it may be a while before it proceeds to administrative approvals or a formal Hearing. The proposal may evolve in the interval. 

It is great to see some kind of commerce proposed here, and it will be fascinating to follow.