CVS moves forward with site plans for South State Street store near University of Michigan campus
National pharmacy chain CVS submitted site plans Monday to the city of Ann Arbor to build a new store on South State Street between Liberty and Washington streets.
City planning staff on Tuesday accepted the plans for review, meaning the project could come before the Planning Commission as soon as Sept. 15.
The plans, which already have been approved by the Historic District Commission, call for demolition and rebuilding of the two-story structure at 209-211 S. State, while preserving the brick facade. Tenants in the building are Swirlberry frozen yogurt, Name Brand Tattoo and Sava's State Street Cafe.
John Baumann of The Velmeir Cos. of West Bloomfield, hired by CVS as the construction contractor, said he hopes to begin work in the spring, with a possible late-summer opening. He said demolishing the building and removing the debris while preserving the facade would be a challenge.
"It's going to be a difficult project given that we have to save the façade," he said. "We'll do what we have to do."
The original structure on the site is an 1800s-era Queen Anne-style house which was added on to over the years. The city's Historic District Commission approved CVS' plan in June, agreeing with city staff finding that the historical significance of the home had been diluted by the subsequent additions.
The only other pharmacy in the downtown area is the Village Apothecary on South University, on the other side of the Diag.
Brand Name Tattoo is in the process of moving out of the space, having recently signed a lease to move to 514 E. Washington, just around the corner from the State Street building.
The State Street building is owned by an LLC associated with Palatine Capital Partners of New York City, which acquired it in early 2008 for more than $2 million. CVS would acquire the building as part of the project, Baumann said.
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