Déjà vu: the new New Pi proposal
The New Pioneer Food Co-op’s Board of Directors is asking members to authorize the potential relocation of the downtown Iowa City store or the opening of a second store in IC.
Talk about déjà vu. This is the third time in a year or so that the Board has approached members with a relocation/expansion proposal. When the latest referendum literature arrived in the mail, I got the urge to double-check my calendar to confirm the date. This is starting to feel like Groundhog Day with organic food, a bakery, and a ballot. The first time we did this was to approve partnerships with potential College/Gilbert developers. When that fell through, the Board sought authorization to pursue a new store in Johnson or Linn County. (The Co-op announced on October 1 that it will open a store in Cedar Rapids.) Now comes the current proposal.
We’re doing this again? I wondered. Yep.
According to the latest proposal, the Board was approached by a local developer
Where exactly will this innovative proposed development be located? Coyly, the Board has not said (which is in its best interest given the possibility of land speculation), but a map included in the relocation/expansion literature identifies “just one possible location for a new site in Iowa City”: the Rec Center parking lot. Technically, the store would be above the parking lot with the storefront on College Street, which is basically a bridge over the Rec Center parking lot and adjacent creek at that location.
Yes, that is certainly an innovative proposal.
The caveat — once again — is that if the relocation falls through the Board will be able to pursue another option. This time it is a second IC location. Where? According to the pamphlet, “At this point we cannot say. The Co-op Board and management have studied a number of locations and all options remain on the table.” The Sycamore Mall (recently rebranded as the Iowa City Marketplace) is probably among the options. The place is awash with empty retail space since Von Maur bolted for the TIF-grown pastures in Coralville and the Co-op may fit nicely into the mall’s new concept. The corner of Rochester and Scott, home to BlackStone, Short’s Burgers Eastside, AAA, and Dairy Queen, is another. However, the on-street parking situation there is awful and some infrastructure upgrades would be needed. Pepperwood Plaza and Towncrest also have oodles of empty space available but are likely long shots. Why? Because those areas are poorer and darker, if you catch my drift. Despite Iowa City’s reputation for being diverse and accepting, there is an undercurrent of prejudice. Iowa City is a progressive island in certain ways, but it is still affected by nationwide shortcomings. The local stigmatization of the Pepperwood Plaza and Towncrest areas and the struggle to redevelop them are likely evidence of that. (The same goes for the Sycamore Mall to a certain extent, though a number of other factors are also affecting all three areas. And Towncrest is currently being redeveloped after falling into a sorry state, so hopefully good things are around the corner there.) Is that any reason the Co-op should not expand to either? Of course not. The Co-op would be a welcome addition and much needed boost for both. However, I think it is unlikely, especially given the uproar regarding the Post Office’s proposed relocation to Pepperwood Plaza.
Hmm… As I have said before, the downtown Co-op needs to be relocated due to its space constraints and the ever present threat of flash flooding. That was the reason why I approved the previous two Board proposals and am leaning toward approving the current one. However, I am hesitant this time. Part of it may be relocation/expansion fatigue. Per the Co-op’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board needs member approval to move forward with relocation/expansion, but still. I am tired of being teased. In that vein, I am also beginning to question the Board’s decision to tie downtown relocation and expansion proposals in one vote. I wonder if the Board has an ulterior motive and is prioritizing expansion. Tying expansion with a potential downtown relocation, a very passionate subject among Co-op members, seems a persuasive and dubious way to gain approval. We are given two options to support together but only one will probably come to fruition. The Board chose expansion once already and I wonder if it is already leaning toward it again. If the latest downtown development partnership falls through, the current resolution gives the Board three years to act on a second IC location.
And, to be honest, a location on College Street above the Rec Center parking lot seems pretty ridiculous to me — at least until more details are released. I am especially eager to know how deliveries would be made. Would there be special access for trucks and vans or will they need to park on College Street? (Also, how will a development there affect the Rec Center?) Of course, that location is supposedly “just one possible location” so it is not set in stone.
Hmm… This one will be a toughie.
Talk about déjà vu. This is the third time in a year or so that the Board has approached members with a relocation/expansion proposal. When the latest referendum literature arrived in the mail, I got the urge to double-check my calendar to confirm the date. This is starting to feel like Groundhog Day with organic food, a bakery, and a ballot. The first time we did this was to approve partnerships with potential College/Gilbert developers. When that fell through, the Board sought authorization to pursue a new store in Johnson or Linn County. (The Co-op announced on October 1 that it will open a store in Cedar Rapids.) Now comes the current proposal.
We’re doing this again? I wondered. Yep.
According to the latest proposal, the Board was approached by a local developer
with an innovative idea for relocating our downtown store…. The proposed development would include space for a New Pi store with slightly more retail space than our current store on Van Buren Street. If the project goes forward, a new building would be constructed sometime in the next two-three years.
Where exactly will this innovative proposed development be located? Coyly, the Board has not said (which is in its best interest given the possibility of land speculation), but a map included in the relocation/expansion literature identifies “just one possible location for a new site in Iowa City”: the Rec Center parking lot. Technically, the store would be above the parking lot with the storefront on College Street, which is basically a bridge over the Rec Center parking lot and adjacent creek at that location.
Yes, that is certainly an innovative proposal.
The caveat — once again — is that if the relocation falls through the Board will be able to pursue another option. This time it is a second IC location. Where? According to the pamphlet, “At this point we cannot say. The Co-op Board and management have studied a number of locations and all options remain on the table.” The Sycamore Mall (recently rebranded as the Iowa City Marketplace) is probably among the options. The place is awash with empty retail space since Von Maur bolted for the TIF-grown pastures in Coralville and the Co-op may fit nicely into the mall’s new concept. The corner of Rochester and Scott, home to BlackStone, Short’s Burgers Eastside, AAA, and Dairy Queen, is another. However, the on-street parking situation there is awful and some infrastructure upgrades would be needed. Pepperwood Plaza and Towncrest also have oodles of empty space available but are likely long shots. Why? Because those areas are poorer and darker, if you catch my drift. Despite Iowa City’s reputation for being diverse and accepting, there is an undercurrent of prejudice. Iowa City is a progressive island in certain ways, but it is still affected by nationwide shortcomings. The local stigmatization of the Pepperwood Plaza and Towncrest areas and the struggle to redevelop them are likely evidence of that. (The same goes for the Sycamore Mall to a certain extent, though a number of other factors are also affecting all three areas. And Towncrest is currently being redeveloped after falling into a sorry state, so hopefully good things are around the corner there.) Is that any reason the Co-op should not expand to either? Of course not. The Co-op would be a welcome addition and much needed boost for both. However, I think it is unlikely, especially given the uproar regarding the Post Office’s proposed relocation to Pepperwood Plaza.
Hmm… As I have said before, the downtown Co-op needs to be relocated due to its space constraints and the ever present threat of flash flooding. That was the reason why I approved the previous two Board proposals and am leaning toward approving the current one. However, I am hesitant this time. Part of it may be relocation/expansion fatigue. Per the Co-op’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board needs member approval to move forward with relocation/expansion, but still. I am tired of being teased. In that vein, I am also beginning to question the Board’s decision to tie downtown relocation and expansion proposals in one vote. I wonder if the Board has an ulterior motive and is prioritizing expansion. Tying expansion with a potential downtown relocation, a very passionate subject among Co-op members, seems a persuasive and dubious way to gain approval. We are given two options to support together but only one will probably come to fruition. The Board chose expansion once already and I wonder if it is already leaning toward it again. If the latest downtown development partnership falls through, the current resolution gives the Board three years to act on a second IC location.
And, to be honest, a location on College Street above the Rec Center parking lot seems pretty ridiculous to me — at least until more details are released. I am especially eager to know how deliveries would be made. Would there be special access for trucks and vans or will they need to park on College Street? (Also, how will a development there affect the Rec Center?) Of course, that location is supposedly “just one possible location” so it is not set in stone.
Hmm… This one will be a toughie.
