Argyle Area Civic Council

WALGREENS at Argyle Forest Blvd & Rampart Rd - WITHDRAWN 5-15-03

An Open Letter to Sleiman Enterprises from AACC Pres, Ken Bible

The Argyle Area Civic Council (AACC) appreciates your efforts as a good “Corporate Neighbor,” having reevaluated the feasibility of developing an unwanted business option in a growing residential neighborhood by recently withdrawing your rezoning application for the proposed Walgreen’s Pharmacy.

We understand the decision to withdraw the rezoning application came at considerable financial expense, but we believe that by withdrawing the application to commercially rezone the NE corner Argyle Forest Blvd and Rampart Rd, Sleiman exhibited both concern for the Argyle community, and the willingness to build a cooperative relationship with the AACC.

The AACC will work with local elected officials to determine the best use for this 10-acre parcel that is currently for sale. The property offers a great location for either residential development or for public use, such as a park or a community center or both.

In addition, by withdrawing your rezoning application, the Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) will now begin the long awaited four-laning of Argyle Forest Blvd in early July 2003. JTA will be posting the project for bids this week.

The much needed roadway improvements will afford homeowners and business owners in the Argyle area greater accessibility with additional roadway safety.

The AACC welcomes the new Publix shopping center currently being developed at Old Middleburg Road and Argyle Forest Blvd. The AACC encourages developers and entrepreneurs to rapidly improve the area, by taking full advantage of the many commercially zoned locations within the Argyle DRI.

The addition of a major shopping and employment center, located away for Blanding
Blvd is a great convenience.

In closing, thank you again for listening to the community. We look forward to working with Sleiman Enterprises on future projects that will improve the quality of life for residents of Argyle and boost business in the area.

Sincerely,


Kenneth Bible
President, Argyle Area Civic Council (AACC)

Withdrawal Letter from Toney Sleiman 5-15-03 regarding rezoning.

May 15, 2003

Ms. Jeannie Fewell
Planning Director
City of Jacksonville
Florida Theater Building
28 East Forsyth Street, Suite 700
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Re: Rezoning Application No. R-2002-1160
Ordinance Number ORD 2002-1160
NWC Argyle Forest Boulevard & Rampart Road

Dear Jeannie:

As you are aware, we currently have a rezoning application on behalf of Walgreens Drug Stores with the City of Jacksonville on the northwest corner of Argyle Forest Boulevard and Rampart Road.

Walgreens has recently contacted us and requested that we withdraw our rezoning application for the above referenced property.

If there is anything else that you need from us to cancel out rezoning request, please let me know, so we may provide you with that information.

We sincerely appreciate all of the hard work and effort that the Planning Department has expended on this request. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,


Toney Sleiman

Copy: Alberta Hipps

SLEIMAN ENTERPRISES
One Sleiman Parkway * Jacksonville, Florida 32216
Phone: 904.731.8806 * Fax 904.731.11O9

Druggist pulls out of Argyle battle -TU 5-17-2003 by Matt Galnor

Saturday, May 17, 2003
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051703/met_12568324.shtml
Druggist pulls out of Argyle battle
Walgreens cancels plan to build store

By Matt Galnor Times-Union staff writer

A developer pulled the plug this week on a controversial proposal to build a pharmacy in a residential Argyle neighborhood.

In a letter dated Wednesday, developer Toney Sleiman told the city that Walgreens' corporate office decided not to move forward with its plan for a 15,000-square-foot space.

The development was planned for land at Argyle Forest Boulevard and Rampart Road, on property zoned for homes -- not businesses.

Neighbors, backed by the Argyle Area Civic Council, aligned against the proposal after Walgreens rumors surfaced last summer, said John Draper, a civic council board member who lives about a block from the land in question.

Residents flooded City Council members with e-mails against the proposal and public hearings on the issue were postponed several times.

"This would have been a terrible intrusion into a quiet residential neighborhood," said Draper, a former City Council member.

Sleiman's office didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

Neighbors have fought this battle before -- and might need to go down its road again.

The fight dates back to 1987, when Food Lion proposed a shopping center at the corner. Draper also led the charge then and successfully had the area tagged as residential in the city's 2010 comprehensive plan.

City Councilwoman Alberta Hipps, who represents the area, said she's hoping to see a development there that is "mutually beneficial" to landowners and surrounding residents.

Staff writer Matt Galnor can be reached at (904) 359-4550 or via e-mail at mgalnor@jacksonville.com.


Wednesday, May 21, 2003
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/052103/neR_12582201.shtml

Argyle Forest won't get Walgreens

By Mary Maraghy Staff writer

The developer who encountered community opposition when he said he wanted to build a Walgreens on Argyle Forest Boulevard has withdrawn his request.

It is viewed as a major victory by former Jacksonville councilman John Draper and the Argyle Area Civic Council, which fought construction of the pharmacy for more than a year.

"We are very gratified," Draper said. "I knew it would be a difficult fight."

Draper said he commends the Argyle council for doing research, gathering names for a petition and garnering widespread opposition to the plan.

Draper said commercial development would drastically alter the character of the neighborhood and set a precedence for the surrounding vacant land to go commercial. He'd like to see Jacksonville buy the plot and turn it into a park.

"As long as it remains undeveloped, it's a juicy target for commercial development," said Draper, who led opposition to a Food Lion at the same site in 1987.

"It shows the process works," said Dave Reagan of Clay County, the civic council's vice president.

In a letter to Jacksonville's city planner dated May 15, developer Toney Sleiman of Sleiman Enterprises, a Jacksonville company that specializes in building small shopping centers, withdrew his application to rezone the property from residential to commercial for a free-standing 14,500-square-foot Walgreens drug store.

He couldn't be reached for comment.

Staff writer Mary Maraghy can be reached at (904) 278-9487, extension 19, or mmaraghy@jacksonville.com.

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com

Times Union Articles and other Document Links.

Walgreens Neighborhood Discussion in Let''s Talk About It
Walgreens Documents Presented for the Public Record
TU 5-17-2002 - Druggist pulls out of Argyle battle
TU 5-21-2002 - Argyle Forest won't get Walgreens
TU 2-26-2003-Walgreens alters plan, fails to calm Argyle Council
TU 10-30-2002 - Argyle residents ready for Walgreens fight
TU 8-21-2002 - Argyle group says no to Walgreens Construction
TU 7-3-2002 - Argyle residents discuss development
Jax FN & DR 11-1-2002 Council to hear Argyle/Walgreens debate
Supreme Court backs neighbors in growth fight. Ruling against...