Walgreens on Clairmont Ave.

Walgreens’ original plan for building a new store on Clairmont Ave at the corner of Clairmont Ave and 32nd St would have included bulldozing a historic firestation, displacing local businesses, and harming the charm of the surrounding historic neighborhoods.  Thanks to the efforts of concerned citizens who rallied to the cause (including one very knowledgeable preservationist) we discovered an agreement that Walgreens had with the National Historic Trust to not tear down historic structures listed with them.  Due to this agreement the developer has altered the plans to include adaptively reusing the firestation to house both Bogue’s Restaurant and the Triple Platinum Salon.  In addition, the design of the Walgreens store itself will be shaped at a charrette with the neighborhoods, further involving them in the process.  This proves the power that a concerned citizenry can have on how their community develops and shows how collaboration between business and citizens can result in solutions that are reasonable and agreeable.

UPDATE:  We have been laboring on a project to have students from the Alabama School of Fine Arts come to the firestation and paint the boards covering the doors and windows with attractive artwork that will later be displayed or auctioned with the proceeds benefiting a charitable cause.  The artwork will remain in place on the firestation until the developer begins the renovation process.