Local Group Works To Prevent Gas Station In Mobile

Murphy USA submitted a plan to the City of Mobile to build a 2,824-ft2 gas station with eight fueling stations, replacing the empty CVS Pharmacy on the corner of Government and Broad streets. The location falls in the Oakleigh Garden Historic District in Downtown Mobile, so the Government Street Collaborative, a group of residents who seek to maintain the integrity of historical Downtown Mobile, is looking at ways to prevent the gas station from developing, WKRG reports. They say the gas station not only raises their concerns about appearances, but also the environment. The city said that, for the past 50 years, the property has been zoned for commercial use, and a gas station would meet that criteria. However, because the gas station would fall in the historical district, the city’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) would have to approve the project, including the vision of the appearance, before the city can grant a building permit. The ARB plans to review the proposal on January 3, 2024.