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After an hour-long discussion and presentation, the City of Edmonds Architectural Design Board on Wednesday night gave conditional approval to the development proposal for a Walgreens store and bank to replace the current Robin Hood Lanes bowling alley at 9801 Edmonds Way. Once the plans are completed, they will go to the Hearing Examiner for final approval.
The Architectural Design Board oversees design concepts and makes recommendations to developers on adjustments to ensure that proposed projects fit comply with City codes and esthetics.
On this particular project, the board expressed concerns about parking issues and building signage. While the current parking lots would have over 50 excess spots above code, there was concern that little additional development could occur on the existing lots without running into parking problems. On the signage issue, Walgreens has a standard-size sign they like to use on their buildings. Based upon Edmonds measuring methodology, that standard sign would be 143 square feet. Edmonds code for the sign is only 138 square feet.
The developers are supposed to address both issues when they submit their formal application.
Why do we need another bank and drug store? Isn’t Key Bank going in across the street?
Oh this makes me feel sick. Walgreens may also be the purchaser of Serra Bowl in Daly City, CA, according to some comments on the SF Chronicle site as well as bowling forums. Read this article for an idea of the kind of sadness Edmonds is in for….
https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/15/MN0D1O3NJ8.DTL
If it is true that Walgreens bought Serra Bowl and Robin Hood Lanes their mission seems to be “sucking the life, uniqueness, and recreational opportunities out of communities up and down the West Coast.”
I do not shop at any Walgreens and will certainly boycott their store if it comes to Edmonds – along with any other business that replaces Robin Hood Bowl.
Must we simply accept the replacement of something that serves the needs of our children and ourselves (Robin Hood Bowling Lanes) with something already readily available (nearby Walgreen’s as well as two other pharmacies across the street)?
May Walgreen’s might consider being a really good neighbor by buying the property for the community and donating the Bowling Alley as a philanthropic public relations gift! Then we might consider returning to another Walgreen’s store.
We have enough drug stores to service our population! If there is any need for one more it would certainly be one in the “bowl” to serve our seniors who do not drive and cannot walk to a pharmacy at the present time. Walgreen’s will certainly not provide any entertainment for our youth and their options in Edmonds do seem somewhat limited , I think.
I read a comment on another story about the “Lynnwoodization” (hope I have that right) of Edmonds. Do we want 524 to be full of boring banks, apartments and drugstores? Why do we have to continue to add places to live? Why can’t we just say no and let the development go elsewhere leaving our communities with a lower density and increased property values?
I want something fun along SR 524 – international businesses or restaurants or coffee shops. Yuk to the bland chain drugstores and high-density apartment complexes. Look how the development at Echo Lake along Aurora has destroyed that neighborhood. Let the parking wars begin!