I have a 50 mile commute from OC to LA and ventured into many gas stations. This is more of an observation then a formal study. But, I noticed that if the neighborhood gas stations are without graffiti on the pumps, clean water in the squeegee bucket and the parking lot is free of trash, the surround home are nicer and prices are also higher.
Gas Stations, a reflection of the neighborhood
- Thread starter Terran
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Very deep thoughts. So what does it mean when there's a liquor store, check into cash, wig store, water store right next to my house?
Water is wet, fire is hot.
Did you notice a bail bonds place on our walk back home too?
No, that's actually further up the street...located between the guy selling oranges out of a shopping cart and the guy w/ the squeegee ready to clean your windows.
Call me crazy but to me, an ice cream truck is a charming piece of Americana. It is a fond childhood memory of my own and I'd hoped my kids could experience it in a neighborhood one day. They do now. I see it as a welcome attribute. I'll agree with the wig shop, graffiti, etc. though. For some reason, they don't have quite the same sentimental value.
It's because people in Irvine CAN'T afford both.. :-\ That or 85degrees would run them out of business with their Taro buns.... :'(
You mean "inversely proportional"?
There is no Walmart in Irvine. Care to venture a wild guess as to why?
Gas station cleanliness vs neighborhood quality I think is still a chicken-or-egg situation. So which one is the cause and which one is the result?
Are you kidding? It's so obviously the gas station. If a gas station doesn't sweep their trash, clean the squeegee bins, then the rest of the neighborhood goes to hell.
That old Sam's Club parking lot is going to get really busy.
By that logic, if gas stations in areas like south central LA, compton, or inglewood give themselves a really good cleaning, those neighborhoods in general should improve...
I'm leaning towards the opposite. I think the gas stations are beat to the ground because the neighborhoods they're in are just bad to begin with. Therefore gas stations are victims. By that logic, you clean up the neighborhood, in turn you clean up the gas stations.
MovingOnUp
New member
Terran said:
Very deep thoughts. So what does it mean when there's a liquor store, check into cash, wig store, water store right next to my house?
Water is wet, fire is hot.
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
A drunk hispanic transvestite in a Mommy Nutrition strip mall.
MovingOnUp said:
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
The gas station you described also has the most expensive gas posted on its sign too. I think you missed the most important facet of a gas station.
Terran said:
MovingOnUp
New member
I have ice cream and taco trucks that come to my neighborhood all the time. There's also a really nice coin laundry I walk to that gives free coffee and donuts in the morning. When I'm done and start my walk home, there's all these stray dogs roaming the streets that I get to pet.
And as if you had to ask and not to brag, my gas station is super clean!
And as if you had to ask and not to brag, my gas station is super clean!
homer_simpson
Well-known member
MovingOnUp said:
Did you notice a bail bonds place on our walk back home too?
MovingOnUp
New member
homer_simpson said:
No, that's actually further up the street...located between the guy selling oranges out of a shopping cart and the guy w/ the squeegee ready to clean your windows.
homer_simpson
Well-known member
I think we are neighbors MovingOnUp!! I've always wondered what those shoes hung on the telephone wires were about... Everytime I drive through our neighborhood, there's always a person pointing at me asking me how much I wanted... ???
socal78
Well-known member
MovingOnUp said:
Call me crazy but to me, an ice cream truck is a charming piece of Americana. It is a fond childhood memory of my own and I'd hoped my kids could experience it in a neighborhood one day. They do now. I see it as a welcome attribute. I'll agree with the wig shop, graffiti, etc. though. For some reason, they don't have quite the same sentimental value.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I think the quality of the neighborhood increases by the availability of donuts and Chinese food combo shops.
Have you noticed there are less donut shops and Chinese fast food in Irvine? There goes the neighborhood!
(I think I've found my alternative to the kpop meme)
Have you noticed there are less donut shops and Chinese fast food in Irvine? There goes the neighborhood!
(I think I've found my alternative to the kpop meme)
homer_simpson
Well-known member
irvinehomeowner said:
It's because people in Irvine CAN'T afford both.. :-\ That or 85degrees would run them out of business with their Taro buns.... :'(
funkychalupa
New member
irvinehomeowner said:
You mean "inversely proportional"?
There is no Walmart in Irvine. Care to venture a wild guess as to why?
Gas station cleanliness vs neighborhood quality I think is still a chicken-or-egg situation. So which one is the cause and which one is the result?
MovingOnUp
New member
funkychalupa said:
Are you kidding? It's so obviously the gas station. If a gas station doesn't sweep their trash, clean the squeegee bins, then the rest of the neighborhood goes to hell.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Hey... that's supposed to be fixed in 2012.funkychalupa said:
That old Sam's Club parking lot is going to get really busy.
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
10,000 people/gas station in Irvine. I could count the total of gas stations with my fingers and toes. Basically there is not enough to serve the current population and the out of towners employed in Irvine. As a result the gas price is really high and especially the one near the Denny's at Old Town Irvine. No wonder at Costco there is always a long line.
My theory is high gas prices=high home prices to keep the riffraff and taggers from tainting the Irvine gentry.
My theory is high gas prices=high home prices to keep the riffraff and taggers from tainting the Irvine gentry.
funkychalupa
New member
MovingOnUp said:
By that logic, if gas stations in areas like south central LA, compton, or inglewood give themselves a really good cleaning, those neighborhoods in general should improve...
I'm leaning towards the opposite. I think the gas stations are beat to the ground because the neighborhoods they're in are just bad to begin with. Therefore gas stations are victims. By that logic, you clean up the neighborhood, in turn you clean up the gas stations.
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
Gas stations in Irvine compete for customers. The higher price ones attract the big spenders who like it clean. Consumers have a much higher expectation therefore the gas station owners must keep up the maintenance.
Irvine gas stations also do not have the repair component that pollute and stain the premise. Careful planning and zoning isolate gas station and required screening to keep dirt zone out of sight by using landscape berm and tall hedges. Positioning gas stations away from prominent street intersections and corner is another practical solution. At a signalized intersection the visual window is 40 second long while at mid block the window exposure is 1 second driving by.
Gas stations do not get the first pick at the premium locations with a good marketing window. The only way is to operate under a quick mini mart premise to gain more bargaining power for a better location.
City is the crucial factor in enforcing aesthetic appeal and maintenance standard of gas stations. Poor cities needs tax revenue thus willing to compromise on aesthetic and maintenance standard.
Irvine gas stations also do not have the repair component that pollute and stain the premise. Careful planning and zoning isolate gas station and required screening to keep dirt zone out of sight by using landscape berm and tall hedges. Positioning gas stations away from prominent street intersections and corner is another practical solution. At a signalized intersection the visual window is 40 second long while at mid block the window exposure is 1 second driving by.
Gas stations do not get the first pick at the premium locations with a good marketing window. The only way is to operate under a quick mini mart premise to gain more bargaining power for a better location.
City is the crucial factor in enforcing aesthetic appeal and maintenance standard of gas stations. Poor cities needs tax revenue thus willing to compromise on aesthetic and maintenance standard.