Coalition seeks public input on potential grocery store on Cherry Avenue

When the Charlottesville City Council approved a rezoning for 501 Cherry Avenue in September 2023, that gave Woodard Properties permission to build up to 71 apartments in conjunction with the Piedmont Housing Alliance. 

The terms of the rezoning also set aside space for a community space desired by the Fifeville Neighborhood Association (FNA).

“Owner agrees to reserve a minimum of 5,000 square feet of commercial space at the Property for lease to a small grocery store or neighborhood grocery store that sells fresh produce,” reads binding language in the rezoning agreement. “The space will be reserved exclusively for a grocery store use until the issuance of any certificate of occupancy for the Project.”

Since then the FNA has led a coalition of groups seeking to turn that into a reality and have had a series of community events. Now the FNA has launched a community survey to get feedback from a wide group of people. There are three specific areas. 

• “What the community most values in a grocery store
• If community members know someone who might want to be the owner/operator of this proposed grocery store
• If community members might be interested in forming a nonprofit or a community-owned food co-op, led by Black residents, to own/operate the store.”

The information collected will only be accessible to the Equity Center at UVA. There is one more opportunity to fill out a survey in-person and receive a gift card. That is Friday, November 1st from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the City of Promise offices at 708 Page Street.

One of the community engagement events was held on in early October and is available on YouTube.

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