Architect Babak Emadi describes plans for the Stowe's Exxon site at a Town Hall workshop Thursday. (Bill Giduz photo)

Developer David Stewart unveiled his proposal for redeveloping the Stowe’s Exxon site on Main Street during a public workshop at Town Hall Thursday, and got an earful from residents about the plan.

Mr. Stewart and his firm, Harris Associates, showed rough drawings and site plans for a 4-story mixed-use building that would sit on the front of the half-acre site, right at the “V” formed by the intersection of South and Main streets.

The brick and glass structure could house ground-floor retail shops and second-floor offices. Residential condominiums, which might have balconies or terraces, could go on the third and fourth floors.

Mr. Stewart introduced the project by noting that he lives on Hillside Drive, only a block from the Exxon. “I have a very vested interest in having this turn out to be something that the town’s proud of and is in line with the (planning) ordinance,” he said.

RESPONDING TO CONCERNS

By the time the workshop ended several hours later, Mr. Stewart was talking about revising the proposal, eliminating a floor and making other changes to reduce the building’s size and impact.

“It’s smaller. That’s what we heard people saying,” Mr. Stewart said around 6:30 p.m., as the workshop was winding down.

Several dozen residents stopped by during the four-hour session. Some had limited concerns, such as whether the building might create parking and traffic on nearby streets, whether there would be room for new trees along the street, and whether it would be pedestrian-friendly.

Speakers listed a variety of uses they’d like to see in the ground floor retail space: a jewelry store, sidewalk café, art movie house, a toy store, or antiques shops.

Doug Surratt, a local business owner, said he liked the sound of the project, and would be interested in renting office space.

Others asked Mr. Stewart and architect Babak Emadi, of the Charlotte firm Urbana, to consider a design more in line with the traditional architecture along Main Street, as opposed to a modern-style glass-and-brick tower.

SOME OPPOSE REDEVELOPMENT

But others questioned the whole idea of redeveloping the site. They seemed unhappy with owner Wayne Stowe’s decision to close the Exxon and sell the site for development. Some said they don’t think Davidson needs more retail space and said they don’t want a large new building in the center of downtown.

(Mr. Stowe told Davidson News & Notes last month he was ready to retire from the auto repair business. He said it has become more difficult to make money in the business and that he had lost many customers to auto dealerships and auto service chains that have opened nearby in recent years. Read our Feb. 6, story, CLICK HERE>)

Resident Bonnie Newell and others wondered why the site needed to be redeveloped. Couldn’t the existing building be renovated into one or two small shops, instead of building a new multi-story building? “Why would the town support yet another claustrophobic” building on Main Street, she wondered.

“It looks overwhelmingly large. I know it’s all about money,” Ms. Newell said. “It looks like Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, to me. It’s, to me, overpowering.”

Two other speakers said they think the 1950s-era gas station building is of historic significance and should be preserved.

Among the most vocal critics Thursday were the Withers family, whose home on Main Street is next door to the gas station. “Why do we feel we need more retail space when there’s empty stores on Main Street?” asked Melissa Withers, who at one point was near tears as she pleaded against the project.

“What kind of people and what kind of noise can we expect?” asked her daughter, Katheryn Withers. She, her mother and sister said they fear new neighbors in a multi-story building would be looking in the windows of their old home.

TIME TO SELL

Mike Kessler, the real estate broker representing Mr. Stowe, said he initially approached buyers who might keep an auto repair business there, or build a new gas station/convenience store. But none were interested in paying what Mr. Stowe was asking.

“This is Mr. Stowe’s retirement,” Mr. Kessler explained. Naturally, he would want to sell for a higher price, he said.

So he began talking to buyers interested in a “higher” use. In February, Mr. Stewart reached an agreement to buy the property. He hopes to complete the purchase in August.

As originally conceived, the four-story building probably would need a variance from local planning rules. But if Mr. Stewart shifts to a 3 1/2-story design, it likely would need only Design Review Board approval, and would not come before the planning board or town board.

Eliminating a floor would probably mean fewer upper-level housing units. That’s likely to come as a disappointment to some residents and others who have already approached Mr. Stewart to express interest in buying units.

Town planner Lauren Blackburn said the town’s planning rules and policies favor the kind of building Mr. Stewart is proposing. “The town wants a mixture of uses to support our economic base, to support transit and other things,” she said.

Mr. Stewart will now work with his architect, Mr. Emadi, and town planning staff to prepare a detailed site plan and building design. Then it will go to the Design Review Board for review. It’s not clear how long that will take.

Mr. Stewart said it’s likely he will present a plan that would not need town board approval, though he may seek the board’s blessing anyway.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Feb. 6, 2007, “Exxon station to be sold for development,” including an interview with Wayne Stowe about his decision to sell the business. CLICK HERE>