LIVONIA (WWJ) -- A $60 million plan to build a new Meijer grocery store and townhouses in Livonia, where a vacant Kmart store now sits, is heading to city council for a vote.
The Livonia Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to approve preliminary plans that include 102 townhomes, along with a special Meijer store at Seven Mile and Farmington roads.
The Kmart store on the site has been vacant for seven years, and is considered by many to be an eyesore in the community.
Meijer executive Chris Jones told the committee the planned 75,000 sq. ft. store would be "unique to Livonia," and will be smaller than the typical Meijer superstore.
Who is this meant for?
"We see a demographic and a shopper for this product that's very busy, time-starved is what we call it." Jones said. "You know, they have two working parents and a family, and they...almost are shopping three, four time as week."
Developers have re-worked their plans over the past year to satisfy city leaders, but residents living and working in the area said there are already many places to shop in the city.
Among those speaking out against the new store was Joe's Produce owner Joe Mariana, whose store is also at Seven and Farmington.
"I need to stand up for my 150 full and part-time employees whose livelihoods are tied to Joe's Produce Gourmet Market," Mariana said. "Adding new jobs is one thing, but preserving existing jobs should also be important to the city goal."
Some who oppose the plan are also worried about increased traffic and noise, or are just unsure whether these townhomes makes sense for the area.
The planned townhouses will have two or three bedrooms, with rent expected to start at about $2,500 a month.
Speaking at the commission meeting, resident Gini Krenz took issue with the high cost of these homes.
"Where in this did they read the room? Did the read the neighborhood to see if they could get tenants, constantly getting tenants at that much rent?" she asked, adding: "If you can pay that much for rent, you can pay that much for a mortgage."
Krenz also noted that Meijer officials did not talk about store hours, asserting: "If you are at the corner of Seven Mile and Farmington at 9 o'clock in the evening, the neighborhood is asleep. Everybody has done their shopping."
Another resident, Steve King, mentioned building materials — specifically real brick, as opposed to veneer for this project.
King said while he understands that "the city is desperate" to put something on that site, residents want this done correctly. "I think the council's going to approve this plan," he said, adding: "And so I think the best we can hope for is to make this as good as it possibly can be."
It's not yet clear when the City Council vote will take place.