Two more campus-area tenants may be on the verge of extinction if a submission of a setback variance for a proposed CVS drugstore passes approval of the zoning board and current residents are either denied lease renewal or bought out.In a recent trend in which mom and pop shops are slowly fading or being phased out of the University District to make way for corporate chains, Short Stop food market and Arby’s appear to be next on the hit list after maintaining business on the northeast corner of High Street and Lane Avenue since the early 1970s.Ed Fought, co-owner of Short Stop, said his family-owned business has been a perpetual establishment for 29 years.”We always try to give students deals,” he said. “We fight and scratch, but what else can you do?”According to Fought, CVS has been interested in leasing the premises since Christmas break.The area of land CVS covets includes current residents Arby’s and Short Stop, along with the former Burger King estate.The property is owned by Richard J. Solove and John J. Chester. Solove is an alumnus of OSU and major contributor to the university. In January he ponied up $20 million to fund the “Threshold of Discovery” campaign for the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and now the Richard J. Solove Research Institute, which was renamed in his honor.Dave Reiss, planner for the city of Columbus, said a proposal was filed by Frank Petruziello with the zoning board asking for the setback variance.Petruziello, vice president of Skilken Properties in Columbus, said this setback variance would actually bring the proposed CVS building back up to the street wall with the other High Street buildings. Columbus city code specifies buildings must be off the street, unless approved through this process.For commercial uses of property, one parking space per 250 square feet of retail area is needed, the building needs to be a specific distance from the curb and a certain amount of front yard and back yard within the property boundaries is needed. With all properties combined, the requirements would be met.Reiss said the case on the variance is scheduled to be heard June 22 by the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and whatever the outcome, it is effective immediately.No matter what happens, Petruziello confirmed it is only a matter of time until a CVS is built in that area. He said construction could begin as early as six months, but it depends on how Solove handles his current tenants.Solove, president of R.J. Solove and Associates, said he is seriously considering the CVS proposal, but no document has been signed to finalize the deal.He said negotiations are currently in progress between the tenants and his attorneys, but agreements have not been reached. What baffles Fought is why CVS is so eager to possibly set up shop in that location, since three CVS stores encircle the campus area. He said he had actually considered expansion before he was the recipient of the news May 20.”How many Band-Aids and prescriptions can they sell in a 3-mile radius?” he said.Morry Silverman, regional director of real estate for CVS, said he had no idea about a variance being filed for CVS in that location and that a past developer must have taken the action searching for a possible future site.He said he does not even review any plans related to a site until the structure is ready to be built.Silverman did however say CVS is looking to edge closer to campus, but said they also have considered other undisclosed locations.He considered campus a “market void” because the CVS stores around the area are not as convenient to the abundant amount of individuals living directly adjacent to the university.Bill Courson, director of community development for Campus Partners, said possibly seeing a CVS on that corner does not conform to the guidelines of development that the campus rejuvenator would like to see.He said a building placed on the property line with parking behind was suggested.Reiss said the only thing his department deals with is the application of the variance and not any contract or lease agreements between the property and store owners. The cost for a filed variance is $950.”We will accept an application on any plot in the city as long as the property owner knows what is going on,” Reiss said.Courson could only speculate on the probability of a CVS moving in that plot of land, but said he did not know why anyone would file for a re-zoning action if they were not serious about wanting to move to the location.”It’s like if someone goes out and gets a driver’s license, you assume they are going to drive,” he said.Spencer Pidgeon, manager of Arby’s, said there has been an ongoing battle between the roast beef chain and the property owner. He said Arby’s is interested in purchasing the old Burger King castle, then combining the two properties to build a new store complete with drive-thru and abundant parking.However, he said, much of this is still up in the air.”I am not really sure what is happening,” Pidgeon said. “I’d like for us to stay here because there is really no place to go. If we did relocate it would probably be somewhere on Olentangy (River Road), and that wouldn’t benefit the campus area.”Solove said he was never approached with the idea of combining the properties. Pidgeon said Arby’s lease is set to expire April 2000.Fought fears he is on the out and it is only a matter of time before an offer comes to the table to buy him out. His lease expires in 2002. “When you’re working with R.J. Solove he can get anything done he wants,” Fought said.