New look proposed for block wall of grocery store

5/30/2001

The Regency Realty Group, Inc., has submitted new plans for the Farmer Jack grocery store under construction in the central city, preventing a stop-work order that city officials threatened last week.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner gave Regency an ultimatum on Thursday to submit plans for improving the Sherman Street side of the grocery store by the end the business day yesterday or have the work halted. Regency is building the Farmer Jack at the intersection of Cherry and Bancroft streets.

Residents in the area and leaders from neighborhood organizations complained that the cement block wall on the back side of the store has the appearance of a fortress and is unsightly.

City officials said the design of the wall did not conform to the plans Regency submitted that were approved by the city plan commission.

Deborah Younger, acting director of development for the city, said yesterday that Regency submitted plans for how it intended to improve the wall, which include staining it a variegated red brick color and adding veneers to give the wall the appearance of having decorative window wells.

She said neighborhood representatives have been invited to view the new plans and the city intends to meet with Regency officials tomorrow to discuss their concerns.