21st and Harvard - SW corner?

[tulsa1603]

So a friend told me that the old May's Drug (or was it Drug Warehouse?) on SW corner of 21st and Harvard, along with the restaurant just to the south were going to be razed for a new CVS drug store.  This same friend has a tendency to not have his facts straight, and since I hadn't heard anything about it, I didn't take him seriously.  I noticed today that there are ARK Wrecking trucks parked on the site, and utilities have been marked out on the ground.  I remember plans to turn it into a divided space previously, which I would prefer to a big CVS.  Anyone know anything?  Tried searching this site but couldn't find any info.

[tulsa1603]

Found a building permit.  CVS going in.  Interesting.

https://secure2.cityoftulsa.org/TimeLine4/PlanReview.aspx?ApKey=407396&Impersonate=yes

[Breadburner]

Just what we need.......Gag....

[Conan71]

Too bad.  I'd heard there was supposed to be a restaurant and small retail on that site for it's re-development.  Not happy about the CVS, but it's better than what's been sitting abandoned there for 4-5 years.

[SXSW]

It would be better if the CVS would face the corner but without the zoning or City making them I'm sure there will be a big parking lot right there.  It will likely follow the same footprint as the old vacant Med-X.  Just like Office Depot at 15th & Lewis.  Gag.

[patric]

It would be better if the CVS would face the corner but without the zoning or City making them I'm sure there will be a big parking lot right there.  It will likely follow the same footprint as the old vacant Med-X.  Just like Office Depot at 15th & Lewis.  Gag.

Like the 15th & Lewis site, they had been using it as temporary flower sales, and the place actually looked good a few weeks of the fall and spring.

As far as CVS, I seem to recall their national designs call for a lot of annoying and blinding lighting to attract customers (not that the Burger Street across Harvard doesnt have issues with their football stadium-like lights).

I remember the owner holding out for a restaurant, too, and would have preferred that.

[Renaissance]

It would be better if the CVS would face the corner but without the zoning or City making them I'm sure there will be a big parking lot right there.  It will likely follow the same footprint as the old vacant Med-X.  Just like Office Depot at 15th & Lewis.  Gag.

Yep.  Can probably expect a design exactly like two miles up the road at 41st.

[sgrizzle]

Like the 15th & Lewis site, they had been using it as temporary flower sales, and the place actually looked good a few weeks of the fall and spring.

As far as CVS, I seem to recall their national designs call for a lot of annoying and blinding lighting to attract customers (not that the Burger Street across Harvard doesnt have issues with their football stadium-like lights).

I remember the owner holding out for a restaurant, too, and would have preferred that.

Most of the CVS stores are not 24 hours and unlike most other stores they actually TURN THE LIGHTS OFF when they're closed.

[Townsend]

Well it's less of an asskicker than the McDonalds was at 15th and Peoria.

[YoungTulsan]

How does the market support so many pharmacy/grocery stores?  One on every corner might make sense if people were walking to them.

[Townsend]

How does the market support so many pharmacy/grocery stores?  One on every corner might make sense if people were walking to them.

Pseudoephedrine and Holiday cards

[we vs us]

Like the 15th & Lewis site, they had been using it as temporary flower sales, and the place actually looked good a few weeks of the fall and spring.

You probably know this, but it also served as a farmer's market of sorts, and there was a lot of fresh fruits/veggies on sale throughout the season.  One of the better uses of an empty parking that I've seen in awhile.  

Walgreens and CVS both serve less as classical drug stores and more as corner stores, or small supermarkets.  A CVS on that corner is a glancing blow to at least a portion of Quik Trip's business.

[Conan71]

How does the market support so many pharmacy/grocery stores?  One on every corner might make sense if people were walking to them.

Simple, the sales people for the drug companies which used to be known as physicians are selling more and more meds to an ever-aging population and those who don't take proactive care with their bodies.

[SXSW]

Would it be so hard to orient the building toward the street corner?  You wouldn't even need the door to be at the corner, it could face the parking (not preferred) but at least you wouldn't have a parking lot at a busy corner where it's a ***** to turn out of.  Something like this CVS in Atlanta:


The stretch of Harvard from 21st up to 11th is somewhat urban but will never be pedestrian-friendly with developments like this.

[Renaissance]

The frustrating part for me is that, as you point out, CVS has designs in the box for all kinds of urban scenarios.  It just depends on the zoning.  But until the PlaniTulsa recommendations are implemented, they and others will keep up business as usual in their building forms. 

That's two corners of a midtown intersection that have been renovated recently, and both can be considered missed opportunities to tighten up the space and make it more approachable and pedestrian-friendly.