A local developer wants to utilize four vacant at the corner of Jefferson and Broadway, offering a sign that economic resurgence may be coming to the East Side.
Developers are looking to turn the vacant lots into Mandela Market, with a convenience store and five gas pumps. When the project came before the city Planning Board, architect John Schenne says a lot of details have to be worked out, including the color and the building's specific location on the property.
"We went through a lot of iterations of the design. One of the things that the owner is very interested in having is a drive-through," Schenne explained.
"We wanted to position the building in a manner such that we could have the largest stacking capacity possible so that, in the morning, during rush hour a traffic hazard wasn't created on Broadway."
After some questions about the building location, Schenne says he will go back to the owners and talk about the layout of the property. Several board members praised the idea of a store on that corner. Board Chairman James Morrell says when this was a more thriving community, most buildings were right up to the sidewalk, rather than set back.