Historical November–December 2005 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This is a sad story whose last word has not been written.
There is a facility on Delmar that used to house Waldman Glass.
I remember it well because my car’s side window was broken 10 or 12 years ago and Waldman repaired it with great dispatch. Waldman closed up shop a few years ago.
I sort of hoped it was because they weren’t getting as much business from Skinker DeBalivere.
The site has an unusual configuration and we all hoped a tenant could eventually be found.
The first prospective tenant who visited our Delmar Committee was Michael Bowe, from Cabinets Flooring and More.
His family had lived on 61xx Westm i n s t e r.
It was clear that they wanted a storeroom more than a showroom.
When we argued for the latt e r, they withdrew from their lease. Mike Rasch was the next person to visit our committee.
He wanted to go into the granite business and have his showroom at the former Waldman location.
He told us that there would be no major granite cutting.
He was told about the redevelopment ordinance which prohibits open storage.
We made clear we wanted a retail business.
He said he would conform and moved his new business to Delmar. What happens next is confusing. Rasch said he was surprised by the volume of business he began to enjoy which forced him to take steps he had not intended to take. Lo and behold there were sheets and sheets of granite hanging in his parking area.
The granite was cut on site with particles going into the sewer system. Complaints f rom other Delmar businesses were heard. Rasch said to give him time and he would fix it.
His proposal was to place a high fence on his parking area facing Delmar to hide the sheets of granite.
A date was set at City Hall to examine his violation of the redevelopment ordinance.
On the one hand, it is a pity to perhaps bid adieu to a successful business drawing clientele from throughout the area. At the same time, if violating the ordinance is allowed to continue, what does that do to the enforceability of the ordinance in the future? Rasch knew the rules of the game when he stepped up to play.
The Delmar Committee unanimously voted to ask him to use his business site as a showroom and fabricate elsewhere.
The Board of Adjustment held its hearing on Oct. 19 and has notified Rasch that conditions of his occupancy permit are in violation, that these conditions must be complied with at all times, including no noise or business activity after 8 p.m. Additionally, Graniteworks must now submit parking lot and fencing plans to the Building Division within 30 days to obtain necessary permits. Also, he now has 90 days to provide a written letter from MSD approving the sludge removal system.
A lot of pain for all involved could have been avoided if the business had complied with conditions from the beginning.
The Delmar Commercial Committee believes “sticking to the plan” and providing consistency in enforcement have been big factors in the successful redevelopment of Delmar.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2005.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2005_11.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
