Photo courtesy Joseph A, Flickr

10 Tips for Working WithChain Drug Stores

As soon as you hear that a chain drugstore development is on its way, form a group to represent community interests. Your group will want to monitor demolition permits, building permits, and site plan applications. And you’ll want to learn local regulations, since knowing what is allowed will help you provide reasons to turn down an application or to require modifications.

1. Get organized.Photo courtesy Exothermic, Flickr

Focus your messaging around creating a project that is compatible with community character and enhances your town's quality of life. You will want to attract others who may be sitting on the fence, so being seen as “anti-development” is not likely to help.

2. Be positive.

Photo courtesy MartaZ*, Flickr

National Register listing or eligibility may influence public opinion. If any federal funding is involved, the project will be subject to review by the State Historic Preservation Office.

3. Find out if any threatened buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo courtesy chicagogeek, Flickr

As early in the process as possible, organize a meeting with the regional-level leadership for the chain, along with the developer and architect for the project, political leaders, and local business representatives. Making preservation-friendly voices heard from the beginning may help get the best result.

4. Meet with the chain store decision-makers.

Photo courtesy Space Hotels, Flickr

For projects that involve a newly built store, the best way to get a well-designed building is through design approval. If pushed, the chains and/or developer will usually negotiate on the building materials. This provides an opportunity to replace the chain’s “standard” options with something that more accurately represents the local area.

 

Tip: Our Compatible New Drugstore Design worksheet is a helpful item to review before (and bring to!) design meetings.

5. Request design approvals.

Photo courtesy Evren Ozbilen, Flickr

Changes to the design of the building can be difficult to negotiate, but some towns have obtained windows rather than blank walls. Chains prefer windows made of darkened glass, so that their product display racks can line the walls inside. (Tip: Some preservation organizations have had success with providing archival photographs for exterior window displays.)

6. Ask for better windows.

Photo courtesy Elvert Barnes, Flickr

It can be difficult to win concessions on parking lots. Chains often prefer wrap-around parking, but depending on local planning and zoning regulations, town boards can sometimes require that the drugstores build to the edge of the sidewalk with parking in the rear. Otherwise, try to negotiate for removal of at least one row of parking in front to bring the store closer to the street.

7. Think about parking.

Photo courtesy Chris Murphy, Flickr

A successful design should include some sort of landscape buffer between the parking lot and the sidewalk, usually small shrubs. Ask for shade trees, when appropriate, to help soften the architecture.

8. Don’t forget landscaping.

Photo courtesy Cindy Cornett Seigle, Flickr

Drive-through windows are a common feature in chains' designs. They may consent to other design and site plan modifications if they can build a drive-through window. These are less obtrusive when built in the rear parking lots.

9. Move the drive-through.

Photo courtesy Steve Snodgrass, Flickr

An appropriately sized and colored sign, that is. Chain drugstore signs tend to be overly large, made of plastic, and brightly colored. Their design is best controlled by local sign ordinances, but try to negotiate anyway to minimize a jarring look. Be aware that the chains have demonstrated little flexibility on this point unless regulated.

10. Look for a sign.

Photo courtesy Daniel X. O'Neil, Flickr

Ten on Tuesday features ten preservation tips each week. For more tips, visit blog.PreservationNation.org.