Living Wall… Deceased!
Scott | May 8, 2012Okay, that sounds a little melodramatic. The real point is that, sometime in the recent past, a DM commenter had wondered the fate of the Living Wall mural on Oakhurst’s former Big H strip, now that Family Dollar is moving in.
This photo apparently answers that question.
Not a huge surprise. I have to assume that national brand tenants have less appreciation for the funkier things, what with all their “consistency of customer experience” mandates and whatnot. Not to mention the fact that community sentiment on that particular execution was decidedly mixed anyways.
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Oh bummer, I loved that one.
hate that they’re charging for parking now in that lot (at least at night), makes for a longer walk to Mezcalito’s
Yes, it would be wonderful if the property owner were willing to continue maintaining the lot, keeping it insured, etc. in order to provide free parking to the general public.
The pay for parking situation may get interesting once the Family Dollar opens as it appears that they stay open until either 9 or 10 PM. I doubt family dollar would want it’s patrons to have to pay to park.
Just park behind Mezcalitos, there’s plenty of parking on the grass back there behind the Intown Auto Care place. You can access it from the lot next to Steinbecks.
The property owner restriped and resurfaced the lot last year and had people actually move his no parking- wet paint signs and damage the new surface. I don’t blame him for charging. Not cool.
The property owner has let a prime building in the heart of a neighborhood deteriorate and languish. The parking lot was the singular consistent contribution it gave to the business district, which by allowing the property to remain vacant had an eyesore as its most visible landmark. I have a hard time feeling much sympathy here.
Maybe you should actually talk to the property owner rather than make assumptions about his allowing it to remain vacant. Also, why is he required to “contribute” his lot to other businesses? People should really learn what they are talking about before they speak. I learned that lesson in relation to this situation myself.
Not to get into it further, nellie, but I have talked to Bruce, so I actually do know what I’m talking about. You and I just differ on this. Apparently, you didn’t learn that lesson about speaking when you don’t know the facts well enough.
The Family Dollar logo will be much more in the keeping with taste of the community.
put an ice skating rink there, have boys and girls hockey teams.
Does the person behind the @OakhurstGossip Twitter handle post here?
i don’t believe so…but i could be wrong…
Good riddance
Sorry to ask this, but is it confirmed with authority (beyond a handwritten sign on cardboard) that something is actually going in there? I do recall the photo with the construction permit indicating as much from a few weeks ago, but I feel like that had been there for a while. (At least that yellow sticker) — And you can only weigh handwriting on cardboard so much.
Did the property owner or Family Dollar or anyone else chime in to say this is definitely happening? Is it possible the builders were getting things rolling before all of the i’s dotted and tee’s crossed? Could this be another false start?
Just wonderin’
Yes, Amanda Thompson (the City’s Planning Director) told me that it is indeed a Family Dollar going in this space.
cool!
Thanks.
I’m still simmering about the King of Pops mural paint-over.
Welcome back – I think someone was just asking about you.
Yep– Nubbs was asking for a baby report. I second that!
Oh well. I liked it a lot better than the blank wall. Glad it was there until they got a tenant for the space.
Replacing street art with Art Pope.
I had to google it to get it. sad but true.
I googled it but I still don’t get it. Explain?
I cannot find any link between Variety Wholesalers (Art Pope’s conglomerate) and Family Dollar. Not saying it doesn’t exist, just can’t find it and would very much like to know if it does.
Meanwhile, here is an article published in the New Yorker last fall, about Art Pope. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/10/111010fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all
Ah, nothing says “eclectic and hip in-town food and bar district” like a Family Dollar. And nothing pairs better with my organic pinot noir from Oakhurst Market than cheap housewares. I can’t wait!
such a great fit – can’t wait for the Family Dollar store – this neighborhood just gets better and better…
…maybe the family dollar will sell spray paint, and someone can replace the high art that was removed.
You may have loved that piece of the Living Walls Project or you may have hated it. Either way, now it’s gone.
I never liked that particular piece of art so I won’t be shedding a tear. I’ve seen better graffiti downtown. Warming up to the idea of a Family Dollar though… I’m really worried about what it will do to our friends at the Hop N Shop though. I know people have mixed feelings about that place, but those guys have been super nice to our family and have done a good job of improving their inventory over the years. I hope people will still support them as a local business…. even if they aren’t all that trendy.
And I think they even have organic pinot noir.
IMHO, the underlying corrugated metal look makes it hard for either art or any other decor to be attractive on this building. I know that, in general, the trend is to remove facades to reveal the underlying original construction, but in this case, I think adding a facade may improve the curb appeal.
I like that guy’s work in other areas of town (such as off to the side of the Freedom Parkway bridge), but his art didn’t work in that location. Street art generally looks obnoxious and out of place on suburban style buildings.
I will not be stepping foot in the Family Dollar or paying Bruce Cohen one dime to park in his lot.
If you have to park, there is ample free (and perfectly legal) street parking in the area.
+1
+1 I would say more but no need
Which happens to be used in a lot of cases by homeowners as their only available parking, Marty. As someone who lives very close to the “business district” and often finds my only parking taken, I say let’s not assume this option pleases everyone in the neighborhood. Many of us are pushing for resident only parking and speed bumps.
Didn’t like the art and am glad it’s gone. It reminded me of a Windows screen saver. I think it’s fine that an owner of a lot charges for it’s use. As for the plenty of free parking, it is already limiting two way traffic and people are having to take turns going down E Lake at certain times of day…it is however acting as a calming measure.
If only we had a Decatur shuttle that would run from the Square to the Oakhurst business district or, ideally, circulate through various points around town, we wouldn’t need a big parking lot *or* street parking. *sigh*
Sorry for the off-topic, but does anyone else remember the Hi-Five shuttle that operated in the mid-90s(?) between the commercial district of Virginia-Highland and the middle of Little Five Points? I think it cost a dollar to ride or something and only operated in the evenings.
I love this idea and I’ve seen it work in a couple of places–a beach community in the summer and in the Seattle downtown area. Tourists seem to be the mainstay of the ridership although plenty of non-tourist use the free shuttles too. I wonder if this would get enough ridership to justify the cost. Perhaps if Decatur’s tourist efforts yield and increasing number of visitors……….
I remember that!