I suppose this is cosmic justice for me: I’ve often criticized the NIMBY neighborhood groups in the McBean area for their outspoken and hyperbolic reaction to the hospital’s expansion (along with the proposed Singing Hills MOB). Now look what’s being built up in my neighborhood: a ginormous Walgreens building at the corner of Lyons & Valley that completely blocks views of the mountains to the south east.
Is it ugly? Yes. Do I resent it? Kind of. Is the pharmacy industry over-represented in my little slice of Santa Clarita? Most definitely.
But you won’t catch me complaining about it too much because, in general, I support “in-fill” projects like this. Better that we build a Walgreens here, in the city, on vacant land, than tear up a hillside and build it somewhere on the edges of town. And while the architecture (if you could call it that) of this building is likely to be as plain and boring as the CVS Pharmacy and Ralphs shopping center across the street, I recognize that my views are subjective and not shared by everyone in town.
And believe it or not, I like that this building is facing the street, that it’s right there on Lyons Avenue and not set back behind an acre of parking like virtually every other strip mall in the SCV.
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Yes, the irony of this is indeed remarkable! Master Blogger is “kind of” unhappy with this project; he says it’s ugly even while construction is not nearly complete and landscaping has not been accomplished yet. But here’s the true irony: this project is smack in the middle of a commercial area and construction specifications easily fall within zoning regulations. So, Master Blogger’s beef is not one bit comparable to the high density construction we’re about to witness at Henry Mayo Hospital or the attempted new medical office building up the street at McBean and Singing Hills.
Master Blogger’s daily beef today should be considered a “Faux NIMBY Alert”.
Except he acknowledges that his interests aren’t the only one of value. At least he is not 100% disingenuous with his reasons for not being crazy about it unlike you and the swim team with your resentment about their 15 year old pool upgrades under the guise of safety. He also doesn’t act as though anyone who possibly could have been involved in the project is evil the way you and your ilk do on every issue you oppose.
Yeah, in the contest between a hospital and a misanthropic, bigoted, spiteful malcontent, the hospital wins every time, even if their plan sucks.
And your point, Jeff… er Mike, is?
Hey Not Jeff… when certain folks call the Sheriff’s Department to falsely claim that a fellow HOA homeowner is a child molestor, I would call that an act of evil. When thousands of dollars are spent inappropropriately and unnecessarily on pool upgrades, I’d say that act would undoubtably result in a certain level of resentment.
What would you call making smear videos of everyone you don’t like?
Dame Genie, it appears that you and the Master Blogger have become “Developmental Terrorist”. Ha!
Bill,
I don’t blame someone for resenting those upgrades… at the time they were made. But Bill your true colors have shown a number of times on this issue when you act under the guise of safety and liability and then let your agenda show with this lingering resentment. Then again everything I have seen of you says this is your MO so big surprise. You don’t punish these swim team kids because you’re pissed about pool upgrades made years ago… That’s just mean spirited and not productive.
As for those who are evil, I would agree that if someone did that to you they would fit the bill. However, that is not what I said, I said that you and the other people like you who complain about every project in the valley claim that anyone behind them or for them is evil. THAT is a difference between what Jeff said and how you usually say things. He never complains some vast conspiracy about Walgreens… at least he is honest. Try it on for size sometime.
Hey Not Jeff, I don’t have a beef with the new Walgreen’s – it meet zoning regulations. But when it shows up in master Blogger’s hood, he makes it an issue while he could care less about Awesometown projects that do not comply with zoning regs. Kinda sounds like hypocrisy to me.
I do not complain about every construction project just those that violate zoning regs.
Nobody called the sheriff on me, but it did happen to another homeowner per Randles’ Signal recent article. And I’m not punishing kids. All I have said is that their contract violated our governing docs when I was on the board. Others rightfully complained about inadequate insurance, which apparently has been resolved – I guess. Out…
The infringement of the height on the nursery next door should have been avoided at all cost. Terrible asthetic design.
I saw it and it appears out of place right on the corner. A smaller profile, set back would have been more aesthetically pleasing.
I saw this in the midwest some years ago. The proliferation of drug stores. All busy as hell.
Seriously, and people bitch about legalizing weed?
How many pills do you take?
I am just in awe of the fact there will be 3 drug stores in walking distance of each when you consider both the CVS across the street and the Rite Aid behind KFC. Seems like overkill to me but they hey it’s their money.
Walgreens about ten years ago began this business model of putting small footprint stores very close together (go to the Embarcadero every of San Francisco and their are 13 within about five square blocks) and it tripled their revenue. I found them particularly convenient when travelling since one can find about anything one needs in a Walgreens and it is easy out.
One other footnote on Walgreens. During prohibition their was a “medicinal” exemption and with a doctor’s note people could buy one pint of hard liquor every two weeks from a pharmacy. Walgreen’s went from 18 stores in Chicago right before prohibition to 520 right before its repeal!
That is interesting Tim thanks, I love trivia of that nature. And I get what you are saying about convenient locations, but that usually seems to apply more to “walking” district type areas than I would think of this particular corner typically.
There are quite a few senior citizens living in that area, as well as subsidized housing at Wiley and Old Orchard, which may explain the number of drugstores. When Albertson’s closed over there I remember reading letters to the editor about the number of seniors who were impacted by the closure. Many of them don’t drive. They walk to do their shopping. In other areas of town you find more grocery stores with pharmacies inside. There is only one grocery store with a pharmacy in Newhall — Ralphs.
Ugly design. My guess is the entrance will be in the back for the parkers and not in the front for the walkers and bikers.
Sorry Jeff!
I hope the nursery next door doesn’t lose business because of this building. Petz is correct; the height of this building completely blocks the nursery.
Walgreens = big business… Sunset Nursery=the little guy
The almighty $ may win again.
I may sound like a Walgreen’s apologist…. but how can anyone say that the building is ugly or poorly designed when it’s not even close to being finished? I would recommend reserving judgement for a month or two….or stopping in to the City to see what it is supposed to look like when it is done. In addition, I’m pretty sure that the City doesn’t have a cap on the number of similar businesses that can be located in a given area. I believe that is left up to the free-market to determine.
This store is the biggest load of crap. Totally out of context for the neighborhood and even more totally unnecessary. This cathedral looking building might have fit better at Newhall Ave and Carl Ct. Yeh, I know they haven’t finished landscaping and it’s obvious with the rods sticking out of the walls that there adding something to the design but a building that big on the sidewalk is a little much.
Gee whiz, what a Developmental Terrorist!
And proud of it!!!
Personally, I think they should have master-planned the whole area of Lyons/Valley/Orchard so that it could look like Orange County
Seriously?!?! Try getting Happy Valley on board with that.
MMMM, Newhall got a nice little boxy store. It’s soooo California. Bet it will be demolished in 10 years for a high rise. Everything is disposable and Jeff likes density.
I would appreciate that you come clean and call Henry Mayo what it is…OFFICE SPACE EXPANSION
It won’t block my view, but if Henry Mayo Hospital is simply utilizing its existing space (including existing adjacent space), why build new huge office buildings and massive parking structures?
Response from someone who loves high density urban centers in the middle of residential neighborhoods in 3……2……
Just like COC predated the Summit. Didn’t stop those nuts from going nuts over some new classroom buildings in their field of view.
Really! You pay for a view, why would you fight to keep it? Just go with the flow, eh Mike? Like that’s your style.
Right, we should have fewer classrooms all because a few spoiled homeowners went built homes across the street.
Just as we should have less of a hospital, right?
Thanks for the clarity, though.
Bill sounds like one of those entitlement happy liberals! Guy buys a spot of land and thinks he is entitled to a view and a say in what other free Americans do with their own land. If he doesn’t like it he will make some distorted poorly made windows movie maker video about you, if you are lucky he will even compose a song.
Bill??? Liberal????
I think the look of the building right up against the sidewalk is terrible. Take a look at the shopping center where IHOP is on soledad canyon. There have so many restaurants in and out of the space where Everest is now. (BTW, try Everest good prices, great portions, good service).
The problem with it is that one drives by without really being able to see the businesses located within. Its horrilbe planning. As much as folks hate to see a parking lot in front of the stores, it really is much better for business in terms of exposure. BTW, for a look at what your walgreens will look like, take a look at the one at whites and soledad. Ugly and too huge!
Valencia’s Master Plan pre-dated the hospital. Deal with it.
The master plan that complied with zoning regulations and yes we believe in abiding by rules and laws. 5 cents, Even as a flaming elist liberal you should already know this.
Zoning regulations… as those that are on the books and not to be modified indiscriminately.
Where do you live, 5 cents?
Ahhh, progressive taxing, therein lies our nation’s true problem.
Buildings which don’t front to the street don’t have the traffic, pedestrian or police eyes looking in, possibly deterring a robbery.
Windows facing inward don’t allow the same visibility.
Why would you design away a security feature?
because the developers and the powers that be decided for us that we would rather see the sides of buildings rather than looking at parking lots.
personally, the zero setbacks look ugly and they are not inviting at all! hate em.
I think each of the Planning Commissioners needs to have a 35′ block wall built around their house. Maybe then they could “see” the error of their decisions. Morons! Since most of them are my friends I use the term respectfully of course.
Sorry Jeff, but it doesn’t look as though the entrance will be facing the street.