The North Shore Design Review Committee on Thursday approved a new Walgreen's at the site of the Town and Country Restaurant.
The vote was 3-2 with two members abstaining. In favor were David Kling, Will Womack and chairman John Clark. Against were Blythe Bailey and Barry Bennett. Abstaining were Karen Hundt and Tony Green.
The 15,000-square-foot building will have a brick facade typical of nearby buildings on the front on Frazier Avenue.
Mike McGauley, representing owner Bill Hall, said it was not feasible to move the building directly to the corner of North Market and Frazier or to have a second floor for use by other tenants.
The Town and Country has been at the site since 1945. Mr. McGauley said business has picked up significantly since the announcement of the closure for people "wanting to get that last meal there."
Mr. McGauley said Walgreen's had been willing to make concessions to fit the unit into the historic neighborhood.
He said it provides a needed neighborhood center and also provides new storefrontage on North Market.
There will be a strip of landscaping on the Frazier Avenue side, especially at the Woodland Avenue corner.
There will be a decorative fence or masonry wall screening the parking area.
A small office building at the rear will remain.
Committee members said they had concerns about the look of the building on the Woodland Avenue and Frazier sides.