Lakewood Resident Weigh In on Drug Mart Construction Progress

There were two-dozen violations of the city’s building code found at the house adjacent to the new drug store’s property on Grace Avenue. The planning commission isn't too happy about the situation, either.

Lakewood Patch Readers Weigh In on Detroit Avenue Construction Projects

Although the frames and walls are up, the projects — both expected to be finished by June — aren’t moving along quickly enough for residents on nearby Grace and Cohasett avenues.

New Design Plans for New Drug Mart Approved

Demolition of the existing Ganley structure and an adjacent apartment building expected to begin by the end of the month.

There have been more than 40 design modifications to the proposed new Discount Drug Mart at the site of the former Ganley Auto Dealership on Detroit Avenue. On Thursday, after months of back-and-forth, the city’s architectural board of review gave its stamp of approval on the final proposal. Demolition of the existing Ganley structure and an adjacent apartment building is expected to begin by the end of the month. Construction of the new $5 million Drug Mart would begin shortly afterward. Among the recommendations by the architectural board of review, the company included 200 plants into the landscaping plans; changed the flow of the truck traffic; and added different types of windows. Also, the proposed design for an angled entrance at …

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Drug Mart Appeals Planning Commission Decision

Drug store chain presents new plans to the city.

Discount Drug Mart is coming back to the Lakewood Planning Commission on Aug. 2 with revised plans after being denied earlier this month. The appeal also requests that the commission review news plans submitted to the city. The drug store chain still seeks to demolish the apartment building that it owns adjacent to the property, but the space wouldn’t be used for parking, according to the revised proposal. The new plan is scaled down to 72 parking spaces — down from 94 originally proposed.  In addition, Drug Mart is no longer asking to take the 13.5 feet from the neighboring home at 1425 Grace Avenue, but the company would still like to take a portion of the northwest corner of that property.  The plan also includes a 15-feet-wide sidewalk…

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ian king

2:13 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012

hi onitme - totally agree, but in these horrific economic times and with lakewood losing population each year, options are very very limited for being selective about businesses that actually want to be located anywhere in lakewood. there are soooo many empty lots, storefront, all over lakewood, but particularly here on the east side. and it seems the only businesses that want to come into …   more ›

POLL: What’s Next for Discount Drug Mart?

The local drug store chain puts its design plans on hold while the city waits to see if a new proposal will be submitted.

It’s not yet known whether Discount Drug Mart will move forward with a plan for its new location after the Lakewood Planning Commission denied a portion of the drug store’s proposal. The local pharmacy chain — looking to expand its grocery presence in Lakewood at the site of the former Ganley auto dealership — has withdrawn its design proposal at the upcoming architectural board of review meeting on Thursday. Discount Drug Mart officials have told city leaders that they’ll need to examine their next move. “They have to decide whether they’re going to pull out or come back with an amended (proposal,” said Ward 4 councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan. “I really hope they come back. Maybe they’ll build smaller, I don’t know.” The Lakewood Planning…

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Drug Mart Proposal at Ganley Site Heads Back to the Drawing Board

The Lakewood Planning Commission rejects some of the drug stores requests.

It looks like the plan for new a Discount Drug Mart on Detroit Avenue is headed back to the drawing board. The Sun Post-Herald reported that the Lakewood Planning Commission denied a few of the drug store chain’s requests at its meeting on Thursday.  The commission approved the lots consolidation at the site of the former Ganley Auto dealership, but denied other requests including a lot-split at 1425 Grace Avenue and a conditional use for an adjacent 11-unit apartment building to be used for accessory parking. That means the apartment building won’t be demolished after all. The issue of a conditional use of a drive-thru at the proposed drug store was tabled, the Sun Post-Herald reported. “The planning commission did a good job talking …

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Peter Viiberg

11:01 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012

Another concerned resident. Wow have you ever even been to the property? The architecture that is talked about is the apartment building and the historic homes.   more ›

New Lakewood Plaza Taking Shape

Shopping center will feature new tenant Quaker Steak and Lube.

Discount Drug Mart will be the anchor tenant in the new Lakewood Plaza — and will expand it size by 30 percent, moving into some of the space formerly occupied by the Sakura Japanese Restaurant. The plaza will also feature newcomer Quaker Steak and Lube. Officials from the city and from developer Levey and Company met last year at the plaza to unveil the nearly $3 million plans.

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Design Plans for New Drug Mart Tabled

City’s architectural board of review to vote on the issue next month.

A vote was postponed for the proposed Discount Drug Mart’s design plans at the site of the former Ganley auto dealership. The city’s architectural board of review decided to hold of a vote until its July meeting. Architects and officials representing Discount Drug Mart presented plans to the board Thursday night. Several neighbors, many of whom oppose the project, attended the meeting. Earlier this month, the city’s planning commission tabled a decision on a request that would consolidate the property and change the south parcels from residential to commercially zoned properties.  Drug Mart officials presented redesigned site plans, that razing an 11-unit apartment building standing in the way of the development.

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ian king

1:27 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012

Disagree. All big boxes are not bad if they are planned in a sustainable/smart growth guideline. Most residents want more business in Lakewood, not less. With a population that is at 20% in near/in poverty, Lakewood must develop more retail tax base. While we would all want more unique mom and pop shops, they have to be economically reliable. Until our current depression turns around, most …   more ›

SEE: Architectural Renderings for Proposed Drug Mart

Discount Drug Mart presenting design plans Thursday for a new store at the site of the abandoned Ganley auto dealership.

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Planning Commission Tables Vote on Proposed Drug Mart

New plans show smaller store, with fewer parking spaces, but neighbors say they need more time to review the plans.

Architects and officials representing Discount Drug Mart presented new plans to the city’s planning commission Thursday night, in hopes of finding common ground with neighbors.  But residents — who had less than a day to review the new plans — were less than thrilled. The Lakewood Planning Commission was listening.  The commission tabled a decision on a request that would consolidate the property and change the south parcels from residential to commercially zoned properties.  Drug Mart officials presented redesigned site plans, that included reducing the size of the store from 28,000 square feet to 24,000 square feet, taking away 12 parking spaces and scrapping plans to demolish a 100-year-old home abutting the proposed store. However, …

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