What Should Go In The Old Sparks Location at Main and Grove?

Let's call this a modern spin on community planning—Melrose Patch's version of a charette, a digital drawing board where all ideas are on the table.

Each month we'll present a new vacant building or lot and ask you to tell us what you think would be the best use. Forget what zone it's in, ignore setback regulations, dump lot coverage rules and all the other zoning jargon that puts people most to sleep. If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use for the community?

We launch this new series by featuring the former Sparks Computerized Car Care building and lot at the corner of Main Street and Grove Street. The site, officially 42-44 Grove St., is at the southern gateway to the downtown business district.

After , in July 2008 the Melrose Planning Board approved plans filed by Matt and Tara Philbin to build a three-story building on the lot. The first floor would have 3-4 retail spaces, and the second and third floors would have 12 one-bedroom units, one of which would be designated as affordable.

Since that approval, no ground has been broken at the site as the fiscal crisis stymied new development. In the summer of 2010, the Philbins sought an extension from the Planning Board on the site plan approval. However, it turned out the the extension wasn't necessary, as Gov. Deval Patrick then signed the Permit Extension Act that extended all permits in effect between August 2008 and August 2010 by two years in order to promote economic development.

The new deadline for site plan approval is July 28 of this year, but Melrose City Planner Denise Gaffey told Melrose Patch that her understanding is that they may now be trying to sell the property.

"I’ve not had contact with the owner/developer myself personally, but had some real estate people come in and tell me that," Gaffey said. "I’ve also had some developers come in and look at the plans to evaluate whether to purchase the land ... it's been out there for three years, which is a long time, and we’d definitely like to see something happen. We liked the plans the Philbins had come up with."

What do you think should go in this lot? Tell us in the comments below.