library (transfer, construction, live)

[dubthang]

How is it that two Walgreen's can be built in a year, but the down town library isn't finished yet? This is completely stupid in my eyes. The dead line for the library keeps getting pushed back, and often I don't see any work being done at all on it. I don't even care about the library, I just want the road back to the way it was.
[/rant]

[lrfox]

I was there a few weeks ago and it looked like some progress had been made. It's slow, but it looks like it's moving a bit?

Walgreen's is a major company who builds cookie-cutter shops that are pre-planned and all the same. Not to mention cheap. They can easily go up much more quickly than the retro-fit on the Library which looks like it will be quite nice (from the renderings). Keep in mind that the library is a municipal entity while Walgreens is private company who lives to rapidly expand (though there is a vacant one... maybe it was a rite aid... on Brighton).

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I was there a few weeks ago and it looked like some progress had been made. It's slow, but it looks like it's moving a bit?

Walgreen's is a major company who builds cookie-cutter shops that are pre-planned and all the same. Not to mention cheap. They can easily go up much more quickly than the retro-fit on the Library which looks like it will be quite nice (from the renderings). Keep in mind that the library is a municipal entity while Walgreens is private company who lives to rapidly expand (though there is a vacant one... maybe it was a rite aid... on Brighton).

Walgreen's intention is to run Rite-Aid out of business.

[moughie]

Walgreen's intention is to run EVERYONE out of business!

All the great little local mom and pop stores or local chains ( like LaVerdiers) are gone thanks to Walmart. Pretty soon the local IGA grocery stores will have disappeared too.

And what do we the consumers get in return, CRUMMY customer service.

[dubthang]

Well, I don't care about Walgreen's taking over the world. I grew up with one in town back in NH. It was always a good store in my eyes.

I understand that the library is a somewhat different project, but I see this thing everyday at least 10 times a day. Trust me, the project is dragging. They were supposed to be out of the street back in September, then October, then November... now who knows. I hope they get the barriers removed before the snow flies (it does look like they are close to doing that at least.) I don't even know why we need a giant LCD screen on the library in the first place.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by moughie

Walgreen's intention is to run EVERYONE out of business!

All the great little local mom and pop stores or local chains ( like LaVerdiers) are gone thanks to Walmart. Pretty soon the local IGA grocery stores will have disappeared too.

And what do we the consumers get in return, CRUMMY customer service.

Yeah...and Laverdier's sold ammunition and hunting supplies too! I dont care about IGA...they don't sell bullets.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by dubthang

Well, I don't care about Walgreen's taking over the world. I grew up with one in town back in NH. It was always a good store in my eyes.

My point was Walgreen's is a national company taking over a small regional company (Rite-Aid) and will eventually shut them down and force them out.

Maineah, I remember when LaVerdiers had a pretty big hunting / fishing section complete with ammunition and sold hunting & fishing licenses too. Gone are the good old days.

Dubthang, is the library construction blocking Congress St? I didn't have any reason to go up onto Congress over the summer, I pretty much kept to the waterfront. If it's blocking Congress than I can see why it's a problem. But how often is construction in Maine ever on time anyway? It'll be done by the time it's time to plow the streets!

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by island mermaid

My point was Walgreen's is a national company taking over a small regional company (Rite-Aid) and will eventually shut them down and force them out.

There are over 4,000 Rite-Aids in 31 states. Walmart either recently purchased Walgreens or plans to do so soon, however, while it would be to Walmart's advantage to force out competition, smaller stores like Walgreens actually do better with competition. That is why you see two, three, or four different stores (gas stations, restaurants, connivence, etc.) on the same block or across the street from each other. The more choices you have, the more you stick with the same old sh*t.

Originally Posted by island mermaid

Maineah, I remember when LaVerdiers had a pretty big hunting / fishing section complete with ammunition and sold hunting & fishing licenses too. Gone are the good old days.

I am not familiar with LaVerdiers, but I remember when K-Mart used to sell guns and ammunition. They used to have a pretty decent hunting section for the type of store it is (was).

Originally Posted by island mermaid

Dubthang, is the library construction blocking Congress St? I didn't have any reason to go up onto Congress over the summer, I pretty much kept to the waterfront. If it's blocking Congress than I can see why it's a problem. But how often is construction in Maine ever on time anyway? It'll be done by the time it's time to plow the streets!

That portion of Congress is narrow enough as it is, now with the construction on the library they got half the street closed off with j-barriers, and to mention, the city bus (forget route number) continues to squeeze through. Why it hasn't been rerouted is beyond me.

Why is it taking so long? It is a city project.

[dubthang]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

That portion of Congress is narrow enough as it is, now with the construction on the library they got half the street closed off with j-barriers, and to mention, the city bus (forget route number) continues to squeeze through. Why it hasn't been rerouted is beyond me.

Why is it taking so long? It is a city project.

It isn't a city project, per say. It was bid out.

I drive the city busses, and routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (all the routes) go through this intersection. It is a critical area for accessing down town, the Pulse, and for making transfers between the routes. That is why no rerouting took place.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by dubthang

It isn't a city project, per say. It was bid out.

Oh, well then that is why it is taking so long

Maybe it is not possible to reroute the busses, but I think that temporarily moving the stop at Congress and Elm would be a good idea.