Des Moines' east side fights for grocery store over new storage unit
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Updated: 6:48 PM CDT Jun 30, 2021
Des Moines' east side fights for grocery store over new storage unit
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Updated: 6:48 PM CDT Jun 30, 2021
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CYNTHIA? CYNTA: STACEY, THIS BUILNGDI WAS JUST SOLD LAST MONTH TAO GROUP OF INVESTORS IN DENVER WHO PLAN TO TURN IT INTO STORAGE UNITS THAT NEIGHBORS DON’T WANT HERE. >> I RNIUNNG A PETITION AM INITIATIVE TO STOP THE BUILDING OF A STORAGE UNIT AT THE OLD GORDMAN’S. CYNTHIA: HEATHER CHAMBERLAIN IS GOING DOOR TO DOOR DRUMMING UP SUPPORT TO FIGHT THEEW N BUSINESS WITH HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES. >> WE GOT ENOUGH STRAGE UNI.TS WE HAVE THE U-HAUL, AFFORDABLE FAMILY, WE NEED GROCERIES. CYNTHIA: NEIGHBORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS OLD GORDMAN’S BECOME A NEW GROCERY STORE. RIGHT NOW, THEY SAY THIS HYVEE ON EAST EUCLID IS THE ONLY ONE WHILE THERE ARE ALREADY SEVERAL STORAGE UNITS NEARBY, INCLUDING THIS ONE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. >> WE HAVE ENOUGH STORAGE UNIT WE HAVE TOO MANY STORAGE UNITS ON THE EAST SIDE. WE HAVE ONE ACROSS THE STREET, ONE DOWN THE STREET, ONE EVERYWHERE ON THE EAST SIDE. CYNTHIA: THE PETITION NOW SIGNED BY NEARLY 1500 PEOPLE ASKS CITY COUNCIL TO STOP THE STORAGE,ND A BUILD A STORE. COUNCIL MEMBER LINDA WESTERGAARD SAYS NEIGHBORS WERE NOTIFIED AND D HAA CHANCE TO BRING UP THEIR CONCERNS AT A MARCH BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING BUT NONE ATTEND.ED SHE SAYS IT’S NOT THE CITY’S JOB TO GET INVOLVED IN PRIVATE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. >> THE ONLY CONTROL THE CITY H IS A DUTY TO MAKE SURE WHATERVE GOES IN IS GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SAFE AND HEALT. CYNTHIA: WESTERGAARD SAYS ETH CITY IS USING THE CHANGE TO IMPROVE E THPROPERTY, REQUIRING THE NEW OWNER TO REMOVE EXCESS PAVEMENT AND REPLACE IT WITH LANDSCAPING, AND ALLOW NO STORAGE OUTSE.ID >> HAVING A BUSINESS IS BEERTT THAN HAVING A VACANT BUILDING. WHEN A BUSINESS DECIDES TO CEOM IN TO A VACANT BUILDING, IT’S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHO. CYNTHIA: THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HAS ALREADY APPROD A STORAGE FACILITY FOR THIS BUILDING, BUT WESTERGAARD SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO ATTRACT A GROCERY STORE TO THE EAST SIDE. CYNTHIA FODOR, KCCI 8 NEWS, IOWA’NEWS