Urban Gas Station Model? (metro, largest, suburban, planner)
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I've long noticed planners have found it difficult to integrate service stations into urban communities. When once is placed into a neighborhood, it becomes a hindrance to walkability and vibrancy. After all, gas stations demand wide open space for parking, pumps and other amenities such as car washes, air pumps, convenience stores, electric charging stations, bathrooms, etc. I can actually see it being a nightmare trying to design an urban gas station and I've never seen a true urban model executed in person. I did however take a picture of a decent attempt at an urban service station with this Delta Sonic recently built in Rochester, NY.
I was impressed when I came across this. As you can see, the car wash tunnel was designed within a newly constructed brick building set to the sidewalk, one that is meant to mimick an early 20th century commercial structure. While not perfect, this enhances the neighborhood far more than just a simple lot with pumps would.
I wonder if other urban models either similar to this one, or even better, exist throughout North America or the world. It's definitely something I'd like to see more of from urban developers.
There are lots of these all over the country. They are certainly not as plentiful as they should be, but they exist. Your example looks pretty nice though. Here are some from thejaxson (formerly metrojacksonville) website: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article...-into-brooklyn
There are lots of these all over the country. They are certainly not as plentiful as they should be, but they exist. Your example looks pretty nice though. Here are some from thejaxson (formerly metrojacksonville) website: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article...-into-brooklyn
Thanks for sharing. That was interesting. The BP station in Milwaukee is very impressive. I would love to have something like that in my community.
I guess when I think of an 'urban filling station' I think of one that is located at the entrance to an underground parking lot and has maybe six pumps and a small office. Some have a car wash incorporated. most of the ones show in this thread I would call 'dense suburban' not urban.
While searching for more examples, I instead found articles about how gas stations in London are a dying breed and several examples of converted gas stations. Some have been turned into restaurants, a cinema, bars, etc. Perhaps it's a sign of the times.
This used to be a gas station and is now a burger joint (Byron)
This one has been converted into an outdoor cinema (aptly called The Cineroleum)
A restaurant/bar from a previous gas station (aptly called The Filling Station)
This one in Shoreditch has been converted into a street food market (aptly called The Pump)
That station in London is intriguing to me. I've seen very similar structures in Taiwan. It's actually a very practical model that fits an urban environment perhaps better than even the examples I posted and responded to above, but I wonder if housing pumps underneath a multistory building like that would be a safety concern. I've never seen anything even remotely similar in North America but large cities such as New York, Chicago and the like may benefit from such a design if there were demand to build more in their city centers (although I'd prefer there wouldn't be).
Quote:
Originally Posted by MidValleyDad
I guess when I think of an 'urban filling station' I think of one that is located at the entrance to an underground parking lot and has maybe six pumps and a small office. Some have a car wash incorporated. most of the ones show in this thread I would call 'dense suburban' not urban.
I'm not sure I've seen these stations in my travels. I'm having a hard time picturing this. Where are you located, if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like it would be viable. What I was describing in my OP though is certainly dense, maybe somewhat suburban in nature, but it's something that integrates service stations into an urban area with a better design than the traditional one.
Those aren't too bad. I see them in New York and have been to plenty in Philly. I don't love them though. They're still a wide open lot with a small, set back store.
Those aren't too bad. I see them in New York and have been to plenty in Philly. I don't love them though. They're still a wide open lot with a small, set back store.
Well you need a certain amount of open space for the cars and delivery trucks. By having the open space out next to the street you minomize the amout needed because the largest vehicles (delivery trucks) can use the public right of way as part of their turning radius. As far as putting stations in the urban core, Why? Most people want to exclude vehicles from the urban core as much as possible so having vehicles that 'live' constantly in the core should be ones that use fuel sources such as electricity and get that where they are garaged. Vehicles that are used to get into or out of the core should be fueled outside the core (Where it would be cheaper anyway and most probably already do it)
For some reason, I have never seen this in the U.S.
I think it because the station would loose the high margin from convenience store items and need to charge a higher price. I've seen people drive 10 miles (maybe $1 in gas) to save 5 cents per gallon (maybe 80 cents). When it comes to gas prices, Americans are completely irrational. That irrationality would make it hard for this much better solution to compete.
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