Putting a gas station, no less one the size of a Sheetz, is a horrible use of valuable downtown land.
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I’ll NIMBY the hell out of any proposed Sheetz near downtown.
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I’ll jump on the NIMBY bandwagon here. Put Sheetz OTB. No problem there. No need for it ITB.
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If a gas station was placed on this location it would be the Third gas station consecutively in a row down New Bern. A grocery store would be ideal, the closest for us is the Publix.
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The pastor must really like Sheetz sandwiches
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The chance of the city putting a gas station on land they will likely long-term lease, directly across from two gas stations as @Drew mentioned is next to nil. There’s also the troubled gas station at Raleigh Blvd. and New Bern, and a relatively new BP not too far down New Bern in front of Alamo. I know the city has had trouble in the past remediating acquired blighted old gas stations (there was one where Lavelle Moton/Lane St Park is now) and there’s no way they’d want that headache - in addition to the host of others reasons it would be a bad idea. It’s possible they could include a bay of EV chargers though I suppose.
It’s possible that a mini food hall/incubator, for minority businesses, could be entertained since some of the old restaurants in the area have disappeared and folks from the community have mentioned that when minority businesses were priced out or red lined of Hargett Street they moved to this stretch of New Bern. There are pop up BBQ and other food trucks and tent stops along the Rock Quarry corridor nearby and this could give those a spot to get more established. Just a top-of-the-head idea though. Feel free to poke holes.
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Sheesh lmao. I know it’s not the ideal location ITB seeing that it’s next to two other gas stations, but other than that, I really don’t get all the Sheetz hate. We don’t have any other 24/7 gas stations downtown currently.
A(nother) gas station on the BRT line? That would be a total waste of resources, I don’t care how nice the gas station is.
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It’s not Sheetz hate, it’s not practical and as many others have said, a huge waste of land near the core of a city center. Perhaps if it were the 1st floor of a multi story building it would make some more sense, but still ironic that we’re trying to increase density and encourage public transit along this line while installing a very LOW density GAS station along the BRT route. Drive a few miles more OTB and get gas.
I even thought about the EV chargers as @JetsJessie mentioned but those would also be a waste given they can be installed nearly anywhere, where gas tanks/pumps can’t. Drop some charging stations at the Alamo parking lot, or in a parking deck along the BRT route if that’s needed. I do appreciate the EV charging banks at Sheetz while traveling, but they’re off HIGHWAYS in LOW density areas so it makes sense.
BTW, CHANNELLING my inner @Jake TODAY 
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I really hope numerous incubator and stepped up spaces are included in whatever design is finally approved, both office, retail and restaurant. I know the restaurant spaces are a lot more expensive to design/build, but if we are looking at this project as an economic engine for the area they are essential. I also think that would bring a lively market like atmosphere to the development.
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I agree this area would benefit from a grocery station, but I fear that the grocery that will come in will be a fairly expensive one (like a Whole Foods or a Harris Teeter) that anticipates a lot of wealthy residents moving in. Food Lion or one of the deep discounters like Aldi would do a lot more to provide affordable food options. (But I wouldn’t count on Food Lion moving in - they might have enough nearby locations that it could probably cannibalize their existing stores.)
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For Food Lion, or any grocer, the alternative to cannibalizing their stores would be losing all their customers that drive from that area. Living around this side of downtown, the closest option is Publix. You give me any place that I can walk to that is closer, and I’m not going to that Publix anymore.
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Aldi would be great and has a smaller footprint.
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You’d think I was proposing a Gucci store
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I mean I’m not exactly beating myself up over our decision, nor are my neighbors unfriendly about us being here. But I know a lot of my Black neighbors are out here trying to build generational wealth, keep family houses, and keep a sense of their community. I want to support that as a newcomer. Always interested to read articles like that with some ideas on how.
The renters are for sure the most vulnerable here as far as I can see. There are a number of them on my block. I know at least one family will be moving soon. They’re not really getting anything out of this whole situation, and now having to uproot and probably find new work wherever they end up.
I feel if all of this is because we messed with the organic system like Strong Towns claims, it’s not unreasonable to mess with it more to try to push things in the right direction. Their arguments were fairly cogent, I’ll have to think about it and read more.
This is probably headed toward Affordable Housing as a topic, though.
As for the DMV property, I’d love to see some incubator spaces for locally owned business! Would not say no to Aldi either. I may be relatively wealthy but it’s not like I love dropping tons of money on Whole Foods. I think there’s good demand for low cost groceries here. I do wonder what will end up in the Moore Square spot, though.
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I capitalize specific words for EMPHASIS…
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I do love that you still have that picture for your profile.
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I would welcome an Aldi or LIdl in this location. Trader Joe’s is another option, and they don’t like to over provide parking as a business rule.
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Got a Food Lion right on Raleigh bvld. What’s wrong with that . Just right up Glascock