DTGroc projects newest core group member, Janice (Janice Prairie Melland), agreed to providing her superb writing skills by up-dating our DTGroc projects Fact Sheet. Here is a copy. BTW, The Chamber - Lawrence Ks asked for this Fact Sheet as they prepare to have an Executive Board vote of support for Downtown Grocery project. Thank you to Janice Melland and Larry McElwain. DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE GROCERY STORE INITIATIVE: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -Why another grocery store? In spite of multiple chain grocery stores, part-time farmers’ markets in several venues, and the Community Mercantile, significant portions of the city are classified as food deserts where there is no close access to a full line, affordable full time grocery store with quality fresh produce. This has been true for several decades in North Lawrence and downtown and East Lawrence causing inconvenience, hardship and even depressed nutritional outcomes particularly for lower income residents, seniors, disabled, and people without access to private transportation. Grocery stores represent a unique hybrid type of business, as much a service as a traditional business venture . -Why in downtown? Downtown is at the geographical hub of the poorly served areas, is well-served by major streets and public transportation, as well as being visited by many others who work, shop, and come downtown for entertainment and cultural events. Therefor there is high visibility and high traffic in the historic heart of Lawrence. In addition the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods are experiencing revitalization and high-density residential development with high-rises, lofts, Cultural Arts District, 9th St Corridor, Warehouse Arts District,etc. The populations in this area, whether residents or visitors represent a vibrant mix across socioeconomic status/class , age , family composition, cultural backgrounds and certainly are a growing market for a neighborhood grocery . A grocery store in the downtown area would also obviously create new job opportunities. -Why the now vacant Borders store? This site sat largely empty for a couple years until the Lawrence Public Library utilized it as its temporary site during remodeling; the site is now vacant since late July. This building has 20,000 square feet of retail space, there is a loading dock which accommodates a semi-trailer for loading stock. There is adequate off-street parking both on the property, as well as in nearby city lots. Having an existing structure will expedite the ability to come on line to the benefit of the community. Why support local grocer Checkers ? The Lewis family has a decades long successful track record in the grocery business. They and their warehouse supplier have invested much time and energy into doing the necessary market feasibility research . There has been wide community support on the Downtown Grocery Facebook page and online petition for this initiative(gopetition/petitions/lawrence-for-downtown-grocery.html); multiple official City and community entities have likewise indicated support. A list of those supporters follows. Many have specifically indicated their deeper respect and support for a locally-based store versus a national chain. Why now? This ideal site at the old Borders store is not going to be available for long and once another tenant moves in, may not be available for a very long time. Developing other alternatives would produce long delays to actualization, if ever. With the major downtown and neighborhood revitalization efforts well under way, now is the time to move boldly forward with establishing a long-needed downtown locally owned grocery store to serve as an anchor for this part of Lawrence . David Crawford, lead organizer; dcraw4@hotmail Ted Boyle, President North Lawrence Improvement Association; pboyle@sunflower Dan Wildcat, Haskell Indian Nations University; [email protected] Richard Kershenbaum, East Lawrence neighborhood preservationist; [email protected] KT Walsh, East Lawrence Neighborhood Association & Lawrence Cultural Arts Janice Melland, Mass. St business owner and East Lawrence homeowner; [email protected] Alison Dishinger, North Lawrence resident; awdishinger@gmail Eileen Horn, Douglas County-City of Lawrence Sustainability Coordinator; ehorn@douglas-county LIST of SUPPORTERS (VERBAL) Mayor Mike Amyx, Vice Mayor Jeremy Farmer, Commissioners Michael Dever, Dr. Terry Riordan, Bob Schumm, County Commissioners Mike Gaughan and Nancy Thellman City Manager Dave Corliss Robert Cohon, Director of Asset Management, Agree Realty and Tom O’Leary, Sr VP, Lane4 Property Gp Douglas County Food Policy Network Brad Allen, Director, Lawrence Public Library Boog Highberger, Candidate for State Representative District 46 Mike Logan, President, Downtown Lawrence Inc. and Sally Zogry, Exec. Director Downtown Lawrence Inc Healthy Food for All, LiveWell Lawrence LETTERS OF SUPPORT ON RECORD Patricia Miller, President, Pinckney Neighborhood Association Andrea Repinsky, President, Brook Creek Neighborhood Association Aaron Paden, President, East Lawrence Neighborhood Association Ted Boyle, President, North Lawrence Improvement Association Kathy Nemeth Tuttle, President, Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association Laura Routh, Past Chair, Lawrence Assn. of Neighborhoods and Laura Bush, President, Lawrence Assn. of Neighborhoods
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 14:43:25 +0000
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