McDonald’s Proposal the Result of Engineers
Today I decided to look into the firm behind the McDonald’s “design” for South Grand. No surprise the firm, Core States Engineering, specializes in fast-food restaurants, big box stores and large-scale gas stations. They are engineers, not architects or planners.
From Core States Engineering’s website:
We are extremely proud of our close working relationships with Fortune 500 corporations on national development programs. Clients such as Amerada Hess, Circle K, Sam’s Club, Kmart, Phillips 66, Kroger, Tosco/Circle K, 7-Eleven Corp., Tesoro Petroleum, and Wal-Mart Realty all turn to Core States for their retail development needs.
Wow, what a client list. We all know how sensitive these businesses are when it comes to building in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods…
Reading through their site I found nothing about making projects fit into the context or trying to be pedestrian-friendly. I did find their engineering approach enlightening:
Our site engineering design team incorporates the clients’ marketing goals into the existing site geometry and topography while working with the municipal authorities to obtain site plan approval as fast and efficiently as possible. Each site has its own set of challenges to overcome… challenges derived from zoning ordinances, site topography, soils conditions, environmental issues, and availability of utilities. Identifying these challenges and presenting options early in the site development saves time and money for the client.
Our professional engineers and design staff have the technical expertise and professional experience to design cost-effective developments and obtain municipal approvals quickly. We have testified before hundreds of zoning boards and planning boards, and know how to plan for questions and concerns that arise at these public hearings. Our success in obtaining board approvals comes from extensive preparations for these meetings, including preparation of in-depth site investigation reports and meetings with civic groups and municipal authorities to identify issues and concerns prior to public hearing.
Interesting, I don’t recall seeing any of these “in-depth site investigation reports” or any discussion with them prior to the public hearings? I’m guessing Ald. Florida assured everyone involved that she could handle the residents.
This firm is headquartered in Atlanta with seven additional branch offices in North America (list), including one in our suburb of Crestwood. If they are such a big and great engineering company why is it they cannot figure out a way to build a new McDonald’s on the current site? They brag about working with existing site geometry and topography yet I hear claims that it can’t be done. I think we need to ask them why it is impossible to rebuild a McDonald’s at the current location at 3737 S. Grand.
You can contact the St. Louis branch office by phone at (314) 843-4320 or email at pbennett@core-eng.com and the main office toll-free at 866-865-1785 or via email at info@core-eng.com
Isn’t that a revelation! Thank you, Steve!
This reminds me of the totally incomprehensible conversation that ensued when I responded to a TRAFFIC ENGINEER who had asked for my input on the new&unnecessary Mississippi River Bridge…. I was totally calm (really) when I asked if the historic Brecht Butcher Supply warehouse was going to come down and asked how I would be able to walk Downtown from my house after the bridge was built, and he still had to get all shouty and up in my face&personal space about it. Yep, engineers….