I received a link to this article from Greg.
From Online Preservation
Thinking Outside the Big Box
Some chain stores break free from their typical design to fit into historic neighborhoods.
"Tourists in Freeport, Maine, might think, at first glance, the white Greek revival house on the corner is just another historic mansion. Only when they spy the small sign on the front lawn sporting the trademark gold arches will they realize it's actually a McDonald's.
As unusual as it is, it's one of a handful of McDonald's around the country that have altered the traditional design to fit into a historic environment or planned communities surrounding them. As more historic neighborhoods are being revitalized and more cities are issuing design standards for businesses, many franchises have had to learn how to blend in, rather than stand out."
Awesome. We need some of those types of businesses in SH!
ReplyDeleteWell I guess the Mc Donalds by the tower is their attempt to fit in to the area and I applaude their effort, but not their design............That building is uuggghhhlllyy!!!
ReplyDeleteI think the McDonalds in Ybor is more successful than the faux tower.
ReplyDeletebe careful there - the Ybor one had to abide by the Barrio Latino guidelines (evil step sister of ARC). We all know what it takes to have a building that actually benefits the neighborhood - now go have you latte.
ReplyDeleteWe have the Barrio Latino to THANK for that wonderful addition to Ybor City. Both the Barrio Latino and the ARC work very hard to enforce established guidelines. Somethime those guidelines work, sometimes not. They are both great groups that work hard to get a difficult job done.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteAnyone that thinks "thanking" the Barrio Latino for the McDonalds in Ybor is a good idea hasn't tried to use the drive-thru. This figure-eight disaster requires incomming and outgoing cars to use the SAME LANE for two directions of traffic in order to get in and out.
ReplyDeleteI got nervous just walking across the thing to the parking lot.
We lucked out in Seminole Heights in that people don't have to dodge drive-thru traffic to get into the building from the parking lot.
And all of that risk for what? To fit some cookie-cutter notion of "pedestrian friendly." Ironic, isn't it?