CVS Pharmacy to join lineup of downtown Ann Arbor businesses
Downtown Ann Arbor will get what city officials are calling a "missing piece of the puzzle" with the arrival of a new CVS Pharmacy on South State Street.
"The need for a pharmacy is tremendous," said City Council Member Sandi Smith, D-1st Ward, who does a lot of her shopping on foot downtown and is looking forward to adding a pharmacy to the lineup.
The City Council on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a site plan that will allow Modina Holdings LLC to construct a two-story, 13,040-square-foot building behind the existing historic facade at 209 S. State St. The company plans to demolish the existing building, retain and restore the facade, and construct a new building.
The site is located on the east side of State between East Washington and North University.
"To maintain it and keep the facade is really going to be difficult but they were very willing to do that," said Council Member Tony Derezinski, D-2nd Ward.
The city's Historic District Commission OK'd the work in June. The Planning Commission gave its consent in September but asked that the petitioner provide a storm water management plan and demonstrate protection of a street tree.
There is some history behind the site, according to a staff report prepared by the city's planning department.
A two-story, single-family frame house and carriage house existed on the site in 1899. Additions were gradually built on the rear of the house and reached the rear lot by 1916. During that time, it was used as a boarding house.
By 1925, a large addition was constructed at the front of the house spanning the entire lot width. Photos of the site taken in 1930 show the front facade that exists today. Parts of the original house and carriage house are incorporated into the body of the current building and can still be seen when looking down from above.
The site plan was reviewed for compliance with the standards of the C2A Central Business District and the D1 Downtown Core District, State Street Character Area Overlay District and a Primary Street Frontage.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
slug
Sun, Nov 8, 2009 : 6:29 a.m.
Don't forget Starbuck's. I couldn't agree more, Annie. How about seeing if locally run Village Pharmacy could move downtown?
Annie
Sat, Nov 7, 2009 : 12:24 p.m.
I'm disappointed. I wish people would realize that downtown Ann Arbor is great because it's different! Now with the entrance of all of these big business, things are going to feel less familiar. I love being able to go into stores where people remember me, I love being able to personally know owners of these businesses. I fear that Ann Arbor is going to turn into just another homogenous city. We've already begun that transition with American Apparel, Panera Bread, Potbelly's, etc...and now CVS? What a shame.
Ryan J. Stanton
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 : 6:44 p.m.
The Michigan Daily coverage offers more of a student perspective and mentions that CVS, which will be taking the place of a building previously occupied by Savas and a tattoo parlor, will be competing with the Village Apothecary http://michigandaily.com/content/cvs-open-store-campus
Dr. I. Emsayin
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 : 9:54 a.m.
I recall a drugstore pharmacy on South University called Village Apothecary that has been serving the university community since the 1970's or earlier. I hate to see CVS compete with our independent local stores.
Eric J. Klooster
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 : 9:45 a.m.
Here's a link to the Google Street View of the building; it's the first lot south of Buffalo Wild Wings: http://bit.ly/37F6PQ
Paula Gardner
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 : 7:18 a.m.
Here are some of the previous stories as the plan was submitted: "CVS may come to South State Street," April 27 http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/04/cvs_may_come_to_south_state_st.html "Plans for CVS/pharmacy on State Street in Ann Arbor would keep similar facade" April 28 http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/04/plans_for_cvspharmacy_on_state.html "CVS moves forward with site plans for South State Street store near University of Michigan campus" July 28 http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/cvs-moves-forward-on-state-street-store/index.php