Interesting.

This plan seems to generally seems to meet preservation requirements so will probably be approved with little change. It is my understanding that it would have to go before the Plan Commission for special use because of the drive through. Hopefully they will consider that we need another downtown bank like a hole in the head. In my opinion, a bank is the opposite of pedestrian friendly and would significantly isolate the west portion of our retail corridor.

I know beggars can't be choosers here. However, this building seems to lose all of its original charm in becoming a bank drive through. I know this will probably end up being approved by the city, because it does keep the building's original structure, but I don't think I've seen anything so ugly. Not to mention the increased traffic on an already dicey corner with no stoplights (and please don't add another just because of the bank). I just see accidents galore.

Dear Readers,

Here's a perfect example of how to build a lifetime of good will and then blow it in two short months.

Everything Joe Stanton did for Geneva prior to this waste of time now means nothing because this is what he will be remembered for. He went before the city council and said he had no choice but to tear down the building complete with architect in tow. Then, one short month later, he says he really didn't have to tear it down at all.

It's really sad.

Jeff Ward

One word: STUPID

Is this building currently the cute little garden center? I don't remember the name, but is it closing? I'm sorry I'm a little out of the loop - having just moved here and subscribing to this fabulous website!

I know this will be considered unproductive but I couldn't agree with Rob more: STUPID, ugly, and tacky.
Why the city bending over backwards to accomodate a guy who wants to shoehorn a bank drive through in a historically significant building that already houses a thriving business when THERE IS A VACANT BANK WITH A DRIVE THROUGH 2-BLOCKS AWAY is beyond me.

There will be a lot of discussion and a lot more to report, but at first glance, it's hard to see this as anything but a win-win. It allows a business to come to the downtown, preserves the historic character of the community—much the same as the preservation of the former Community Hospital building facade, and to a lesser extent, the Herrington Inn (which preserved more of the old creamery's sandstone than its architecture, if I recall correctly. It adds parking, and has enough flexibility to allow different adaptive uses down the road. The devil is in the details, of course, and we'll see where it goes from here, but I say kudos to Joe for coming up with a creative option.

My only question is how does generate income for the city other than property taxes. There is no guarantee that people who bank there will partake of the other businesses downtown.

It is indeed much more charming, adorable and lovely as a garden center. Although I'm excited to hear the building won't be torn down, and logically I give kudos for there being an alternative, it's a little sad seeing such an extremely charming garden shop being turned into a boring old drive-through. It doesn't get much more boring than that, really, and like some other commenters said - there are enough of them already (?)

Having been involved in the community effort to save and adapt the original building I see this as an acceptable (not perfect) compromise. I would really prefer that the building be completely restored and the Pure Gardener allowed to stay there but that does not seem feasible, given the economic circumstances that exist.

We wanted, more than anything, to save the Pure Oil building. Restoring and adapting the building as a drive thru is better than having it boarded up and left to rot, which seemed to be the alternative.

I agree that having a bank in there is not a popular option but let's face it, they will be paying for the restoration; a good deal for Geneva. And, as electronic banking takes over, if the bank goes out the building will still be there and still be adaptable to yet another use.

So, nobody gets everything that they wanted. We compromise and maybe get enough.

As Rick said, the devil will be in the details. If the HPC approves this plan and it clears the other city department reviews we trust that the restoration and landscaping will live up to the plan that is presented. If so, overall, it will be a plus, I think.

As to the Pure Gardener, I would love to see them stay in Geneva and continue to thrive. I would love to try to get a community effort to help Craig and Annette move to a new location. Unfortunately, I understand, through rumor only, that Batavia may be wooing them more effectively than Geneva. I hope that's not true.

Keep in mind that any business that brings traffic to downtown Geneva is a good thing. Examples include the post office and the library—even City Hall. One of the big losses for Geneva, as I understand it, was the exit of the downtown courthouse. Good blog on the topic coming at noon today by Mike Bruno, with a different opinion than mine.

Much how many attorneys have been viewed, banks and bankers are often seen as necessary evils infringing upon society. Especially after the banking meltdown and bailouts while huge salaries were given to their inept top management.
Besides, do they generate any sales revenues for the locality? No.
The bigger view here is why there needs to be another bank on another viable business corner while a nearby building that was formerly a bank (Hamilton and N Third Streets that has drive-thrus) sits empty.
In this day of electronic banking, I nfail to see how a bank, especially a Drive-thru type is actually needed - hence, brings customers into the business district.
Take note the next time you're at a drive-thru. They hardly have any tellers! Why? Because they're cutting corners - cannot afford them. A more encouraging sign would be a simple kiosk with an ATM.
If I were customer of this bank, I would question why my money is not being put to better use through interest on my accounts. Not spent on something whose time has past.

This may have been Plan A all along, since so many things about the original proposal didn't make sense. Most likely city staff will recommend the new plan and special use approval. With demolition off the table, the bank becomes more palatable, even though another bank is the last thing we need. It doesn't say much for Joe's imagination that every historic property he buys starts to look like another financial institution. But it's his property and I'm sure the project suits his purposes of preserving the view from his other building. Unfortunately, filling up the historic district with banks doesn't really fulfill the purpose of an historic district. I assume that the bank will close its other facility on Randall, leaving another dead bank in Geneva. We seem to be piling up bank carcasses as we sacrifice more real estate to the insatiable appetite of banks wishing to relocate. If banks reinvested in the community instead of themselves, we might actually start to see some improvement in the economy.

Yuck.

(as posted in Mike Bruno's thread) There is only one problem with this plan- it looks like The PURE Gardener with flowers, benches, etc BUT it's not. We will no longer be there. The Art Box will not be there. The photography shop has seemed to disappear over night ( I peeked into his window) after supposedly just signing a month to month lease with it's landlord- St. Charles Bank. The owner of Always in Style told me that if we are not there , she really has no interest in resigning her lease. That is three retail businesses gone in one swoop. Not to mention the young family that lives in the house behind The PURE Gardener. The house that is stated to be insignificant. I wonder if they have learned of their fate? All of the highschoolers that we employ will not be able to walk to work after school anymore. And, last but certainly not least, where is Daffny the duck going to lay her eggs? She lives there too.

Annette,
Couldn't agree with you more. It isn't about another bank drive through in a prime retail location...it is about the continued destruction of what makes Geneva so special. I wonder if the powers that be will ever learn that once you shoot the golden goose, there are no more golden eggs.