Walgreens wants larger downtown Batavia store

Walgreens would like to replace its 20-year-old downtown Batavia store, now located in the Batavia Plaza strip shopping center, with a larger, free-standing store with a drive-through lane.

The proposal was unveiled Tuesday to the Batavia community development committee.

The plan proposes knocking down a building at 122 W. Wilson St. that now houses Prairie Path Cycles. The new Walgreens would be built there. The drive-through prescription pickup would be on the south side of the building. There would be parking in front, to the side and to the rear.

The new store would be 14,500 square feet; the old store is 12,650 square feet.

The 122 site and Batavia Plaza are both owned by Batavia Enterprises real estate management and development company.

Aldermen, while enthusiastic about a national retailer recommitting to downtown Batavia, disagreed about whether it should be allowed to have parking in front. The city's comprehensive plan calls for buildings in the downtown to abut sidewalks. The idea behind that requirement was to create a more urban feel for the downtown, encouraging people to walk to businesses.

“I don't know if I like another parking lot right up against Wilson Street,” Alderman Garran Sparks said. Alderman Jim Volk, who isn't on the committee, was blunter: “This plan stinks,” he said. “They do not need it. We had that same argument from the library.” The Batavia Library, when it built at Wilson and Batavia Avenue, pushed to have its main entrance located on the south end of the building in front of the parking lot instead of orienting the entrance toward either Wilson or Batavia, as some aldermen and businessmen wanted.

But Alderman Susan Stark asked if Walgreens would leave the downtown if it didn't get its way on the parking. Leonard Monson, Batavia Enterprises' attorney, said he couldn't answer for Walgreens. But Batavia Enterprises officials “aren't crazy about spending millions of dollars if they did not have to,” he said.

Stark said losing Walgreens would leave two large spaces empty, as the bike store already plans to move in to a smaller storefront next to Panera Bread. The downtown is not that attractive, she said, and she is loathe to lose one of its best sales-tax producers. “Our downtown is what it is,” Spark said. “Unless you are recommending bulldozing” all the other buildings that have parking in front or are set back far from the street.

Batavia Enterprises Vice President Austin Dempsey said he would discuss aldermen's comments with Walgreens representatives. Walgreens hopes to open a new store in 2012 or 2013. It also has a store on Fabyan Parkway in Batavia.