Lowe

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When the store was proposed fouryears ago, such an alliances seemed unlikely. One of the city’sa strongest neighborhood associations has long resisted traditionall development near homes with historic as well as risinbmonetary value. But in Lowe’s opened its South Boulevard locationj with the approval ofthe . The retailere made extensive changes after concluding an atypicaldesig shouldn’t crimp its sales. “It was Lowe’s firstr store with parking on the roof and the first with such a closwe relationship to aresidential mixed-use community.
So in thoser two regards this store was completely differenty fromanything Lowe’s had done says Mitch Garrett, a principall at of Tulsa, Okla. Lowe’s won approval from Charlotter City Council for the store three years ago aftee months of community meetings and design The store is part of alarger $30 milliom Southborough mixed-use project developed by Lowe’xs assembled the land along South Boulevard between Magnolia Avenue and Iverson Way and selected Conformityu as its development partner. The 69 residentiakl units in the Southborough projecyt wrap much ofthe store, alongb with three restaurants, office spacew and a parking deck.
was the architect of the mixed-use portion of the project. Getting approvao from the city and the endorsement of Dilwortu leaders required addressing the negative feelings that oftejn ariseabout big-box retailers, Garrett Nearby residents opposed the idea of larger parking lots around the store and a larges structure with little architectural character. Developerr Monte Ritchey of Conformity, alont with Lowe’s executives, negotiated with residents and communitt activists on design changes that would make the projecty workfor all. With the help of land-plannin g firm , Ritchey says Lowe’s officials emerged early with a plan to ensur theproject wasn’t a typical store.
“The neighborhood was expectingb a meaningful commitment in termsof architecture,” Ritchey During the design, the store was repositione d to face Iverson Way instead of busier Soutn Boulevard. Rooftop parking did away with the need for a gianyt lot out front and permitte more spaces than onthe ground, Garret says. Lowe’s worked to design a store to matc the character of the neighborhoos as muchas possible, even when the retailerd prefers to build from an existing prototype. The facadwe incorporates a number of architectural considerations reflective of the industrial history ofthe area.
Brick, warehouse-styled windows and corrugated metapl are a nod to nearbhy industrial buildings dating tothe area’s one-time role as a textild and manufacturing hub. Landscaping features terracedf beds and the planting of large trees to help the building blend with other retail and the nearby The store also includesa 30,000-square-foot garden centee that softens its appearance from the “Lowe’s did a good job of allowinfg the developer to work with the residents. They made majodr adjustments to the proposed plan to mitigat etheir concerns,” Garrett says.
“In the end, the residents were reallty turned and in favor of At 116,000 square feet, the storse is slightly smaller than a typical but sound planning meant neithet sales-floor space nor product selection was says Maureen Rich, Lowe’s