what’s shakin’ GrowingPains
T
he Syracuse Real Food Cooperative is at a proverbial fork in the road. After 38 years in its current Kensington
Road location, the member-owned grocery is in search of a new home. As more Cen- tral New Yorkers seek healthier options for their grocery shopping, the co-op is busier than ever. General manager Travis Hance said the time is right to begin giving cus- tomers more options, and increase relation- ships with local farmers and distributors.
Co-op administration has been considering
an expansion for more than a decade, and is particularly interested in property at 2200 E. Genesee St. But residents have grown increas- ingly skeptical about how a larger, busier co- op store would fit into their neighborhood. “We were, for the most part, very happy
with the idea of the co-op moving here at first,” explained Andrew McTyre, pastor of Park Central Presbyterian Church and a resi- dent of Allen Street for nine years. “But when we started learning about some of the plans, and saw how they were withholding some of that information from the public, it was disap- pointing. A lot of people don’t realize exactly what was in the variance request.” The property, currently owned by Dr. John
Robert Smith, is within a residential district. The proposed zoning variance—which will
be voted on by the Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday, Aug. 19—would waive those per- mitted uses and some requirements under the current zoning designation. The building has been for sale for two years. One tenant, Dr. Enrique Armenta, would remain until 2012. Residents on the streets bordering the site
are concerned about changes in current traffic patterns, particularly from diesel-fueled delivery trucks; increased noise, trash and lighting; and the potential for alterations to the property that could encourage vandalism and attract rodents. Although an environmental impact study
is not required for this kind of zoning vari- ance, Hance said a traffic study was done. “We’re not really creating that much more traffic,” Hance maintained. “And as for the noise—a food store isn’t a noisy operation.” Residents are also concerned that, should
the co-op fail in its new location, a larger store with less regard for the neighborhood could move in. According to the city’s Office of Zoning Administration, the variance, if approved, would remain with the property. “This is a residential neighborhood, and if you put a major commercial business in the middle of it, it can have an impact,” McTyre said. “This isn’t the same little ol’ co-op that everyone cares about and loves.” During a recent interview, Hance indicated that the project has the support of local neigh-
Zoning out: The Syracuse Real Food Co-op is attempting to obtain a zoning variance so it can move out of its quaint, but cramped, Kensington Road location.
borhood groups and co-op membership. West- cott East Neighborhood Association (WENA) and Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today (TNT) initially drafted letters to the BZA in support of the variance, but both groups had rescinded their support by the end of July. WENA president Barbara Humphrey said
that the decision to rescind support was due to the neighbor concerns. After hearing from those living near the site, WENA could not agree as a group on whether or not to support the request, and chose not to take a formal position on the matter.
“The residents in the neighborhood are
concerned about the size of the proposed expansion, but they are also concerned that the variance would be a permanent thing,” Humphrey said. “There is also concern about what could follow the co-op if they left. So, we decided not to give our formal support to the project at this time.” McTyre said about 85 percent of the resi-
dents of the 100 block of Fellows Avenue and the 400 block of Allen Street oppose the variance. A petition with their signatures was given to the BZA on July 29.
continued on page 10
on the SU Hill
Jmichaelshoes.com
8 August 18 - 25, 2010 Syracuse New Times NEWS & OPINION FEATURE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS CLASSIFIED
MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO
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