An open letter to Kathy Okrongley, President of Connolly Net Lease, LLC–the developer of a proposed Walgreen’s drugstore at the site of historic Fire Station No. 22, Bogue’s Restaurant, and Clairmont Auto on Clairmont Avenue South:
Dear Ms. Okrongley:
I read with interest the article in today’s Birmingham News, where you state you want to work with the neighborhood and the Design Review Committee to come up with a proposal acceptable to all. Given the current neighborhood aversion to the project as depicted so far–tearing down the historic Fire Station No. 22 and other small, local businesses including the 70-year-old Bogue’s Restaurant, and replacing them with a generic, boxy Walgreen’s drugstore, asphalt parking lot, and drive-through–I welcome this willingness to explore alternatives. I know the members of the Facebook protest site, as well as the brand-new civic group I Believe in Birmingham, are also cautiously optimistic about your next steps.
A second chance?
First: the excellent points you discuss. You say you’re an architect by training, and have an appreciation for historic structures. You say you’re interested in developing a sustainable design, possibly with LEED certification. You say that you are seriously considering saving all or part of the Fire Station and incorporating it into the design. You also say you will work to find another neighborhood location for Bogue’s, carefully restoring the historic neon sign at a new location.
As Alison Glascock, Highland Park neighborhood president states in the article, a lot of opposition “would end” if the above goals were all achieved.
Second: the note of caution: I’m reading good things, but an actual detailed plan is yet to be presented. I don’t want some clumsy pastiche that makes a few “references” to the historic Spanish-style architecture of the Fire Station. I don’t want Bogue’s and Clairmont Auto to just disappear for a parking lot–I want an earnest effort to relocate them. I know the corporation, Walgreen’s, that you represent has the resources to commit to fine design, neighborhood involvement, and relocation of existing businesses–if the will is truly there.
Ms. Okrongley, there are plenty of local community leaders and neighbors–and designers (this author included)–who’d be delighted to work with you to make this a winning project for everyone. Please understand that if the Walgreen’s effort falls short of your newly stated intentions, I feel the City has an obligation to reopen its RFP process to other developers who stand by committed to preserving the Fire Station and local businesses. I’m eager to see your next step.
Yours sincerely, etc.
Walgreen's CAN do urban, pedestrian, and contextual. And historic neon.
[thanks to acnatta for the Bogue’s shot, and willcrusta for the Walgreen’s in New Orleans]
Bhamarchitect's Blog 
You can add me as a co-signer.
Maybe the signage that Walgreens designs can be based on the Bogue’s sign. It would be kinda cool if all of the businesses had the same style sign.
As far as Clairmont Auto goes, what if they moved to the old fire engine garages that are already part of the fire station (the ones that face 32nd St)? As long as they could have some parking behind the building, they could carry on business without leaving a bunch of broken cars visible from Clairmont.
This looks a lot like the Walgreens I grew up with on East Flagler St. in Miami. It’s still there….now repurposed as a department store. Really good design never goes out of style.
(Wondering how likely it would be that we end up with anything remotely as cool as this.)
The “new and improved” design still includes a large parking lot with a drive-through. It’s just lipstick on a pig.