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Assistant Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Last Wednesday, members of the South End Action Citizens Council met with Springfield developer Carmeno Bonavita and Peter J. LaPointe, vice president of real estate and construction for the Colvest Group in Connecticut. The two men presented Starbucks' site plans for a coffee caf with drive-thru at the corner of East Columbus Avenue and Margaret Street. The two men explained that the property is owned by Bonavita and will be developed by The Colvest Group, and Starbucks will sign a 10-year lease, with the option of signing on for 10 more if they are happy with the location. "We will demolish the existing building, which is an old tire and repair shop," Bonavita told the audience gathered for the meeting Wednesday night. The new building would be 2,000 square feet and would include landscaping and fencing which currently do not exist on the property. LaPointe explained that the "short" side of the building would face East Columbus Avenue, while the "long" side would face Margaret Street. He also said there is "more than adequate" room in the drive-thru. He explained that, because of the nature of the drinks made at Starbucks, no more than five cars would be in the line at a time. "They don't sell doughnuts, they sell biscotti and scones," LaPointe said. He explained that, since Starbucks' coffees and drinks are made to order, no one would stay in line further back than five cars because those customers would be there for about 20 minutes. Residents asked questions about lighting, traffic, fencing, landscaping and security, since the Starbucks is hoping to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One resident said she wanted to make sure that, when customers exit Starbucks onto Margaret Street, that they realize it is one-way only. Questions about the quality of life of the residents around the property were dismissed by LaPointe and Bonavita, given the fact that if Starbucks didn't want to put a store there, it could have been open to anything else in the business zone. "What if it isn't a success?" one resident asked. "This would be the first one nationally [that failed]," Bonavita said. City Councilor Kateri Walsh was present and said she was happy to be at a meeting in the South End which was discussing positive development. Some questioned the standards of cleanliness that would be adopted and the two men explained that the property will be cleaned regularly and as the need arises. The property owner, Bonavita, said he would be responsible for contracting that work out and billing Starbucks for the services. Those responsibilities include mowing the grass, keeping the landscaping healthy and clean, sweeping the parking lot, and so on. LaPointe estimated that Starbucks would bring 20 to 25 jobs to the area and would welcome residents from the neighborhood to apply. The two men will appear before the City Council tonight to hear whether or not they have been approved for the special permit which will allow Starbucks to operate a drive-thru. The City Council will also take into consideration the fact that, while a non-binding vote, the South End Action Citizens Council supported the Starbucks' drive-thru. The group also made a list of conditions they would like the City Council to consider if they approve the special permit. At press time, the conditions were not yet available. Bonavita and Lapointe said that construction will most likely begin at the end of July. | ||||||
