The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Giant Eagle project proceeding
Curbside Express approved for City Market; Wendy’s tabled over design
The design details are still being worked out, but Giant Eagle has the go-ahead to continue with plans in the Mentor City Market development.
The city Planning Commission recently approved Curbside Express grocery pickup at 8383 Tyler Blvd. after design changes were made to the front of the building.
The Planning Commission had tabled the request at the June 14 meeting after concerns were raised about the “industrial look” of the western exterior.
Since then, a third window was added to break up the masonry wall.
“We think that it balances and eliminates the unarticulated portion of the facade,” architect Nick Doichev said. “It also is a practical, very viable option. … I believe it was mentioned at the last meeting, wouldn’t it be nice if we have more daylight inside, so this third window allows more daylight. We feel that this exercise
helped in making the building better.”
The vote included a condition that the architect screen mechanical units atop the building.
“We don’t want to see the rooftop units from Center Street,” said commission member Geoffrey Varga, after expressing appreciation for the west wall improvements. “Any sizable unit is going to be seen from the east. We don’t want to see it from the east.”
Doichev said a study can be done to determine the views from different angles. Varga asked that mechanical
Meanwhile, the Wendy’s restaurant proposed in City Market, 6866 Center St., was granted final approval at the meeting, July 5.
units’ depiction be required as part of the site plan review process going forward. He noted that this is the third time in recent memory that the issue has been raised regarding a building project.
Planning Administrator Kathy Mitchell noted that a building permit cannot be issued unless the plan meets city code.
The Curbside Express pickup will allow customers to order groceries ahead of time — at least three hours — and pick them up at a drive-through station on site. The hours of the program are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week with pickups scheduled every 30 minutes. Employees will load the cars.
The 55,000-square-foot store is anticipated to open in the spring.
The fate of the existing Giant Eagle on Plaza Boulevard is yet to be announced.
Giant Eagle issued the following statement last month: “At Giant Eagle, we are continually evaluating opportunities to evolve and expand our supermarket presence. While we are excited to move forward with the City Market development, we are still in the pre-construction phase and have no further details to announce at this time.”
Meanwhile, the Wendy’s restaurant proposed in City Market, 6866 Center St., was granted final approval at the meeting, July 5. The architectural review was tabled while the designer responds to commission members’ requests for changes to the exterior.
“As you approach the front of the building, you see the freezers, and that’s not a front-of-the-building look,” Varga said “We ask that these buildings be located and designed so that there would be an appearance of similarity on both sides.”
The project includes a drive-through, outdoor seating and the latest prototype design.