Deadline extended for French Broad Co-op expansion proposals

From a press release from the French Broad Co-op:

The French Broad Co-op says yes to requests for more development time, continues working on proposals, hosts more public meetings, and seeks interested local business tenants.

Asheville, NC, – Conversations with potential developers are moving forward and the Co-op is extending the RFPQ deadline to June 1 at the request of interested proposers. As plans continue to come together, the Co-op wants to hear from local businesses interested in becoming tenants and or owner occupants. Please reach out to Sage Turner directly.

French Broad, in its 41st year of operating, continues to set itself apart from big corporations and developers that arrive with plans in hand and rubber stamped solutions. The Co-op has been hosting meetings with Owners, the greater community, neighbors, city staff, city councilors, boards and commissions members, and internally with Co-op staff and board, to involve as many people as possible in the planning stages. Co-op Owners have shared a vision of an expanded store with emphasis on green building and the desire to create a “community hub” with educational and event space and involving great community partners, such as non-profits and locally owned businesses. Area leaders like long time Co-op Owner, Diana Davidson, who chairs her condo association, are helping connect us with groups like D.A.R.N. (downtown area resident network), to survey the needs of residents already living in downtown.

Sage Turner, project manager for the development says:

“Big projects like this require the cooperation of many minds, and I am continually amazed at the visions of our community members. We are lucky to have strong leaders like Justina Prenatt, our board president and long-time social justice activist, and Bobby Sullivan, current general manager of the Co-op, whose advocacy for affordable organic foods embodies our tag line, “food for people, not for profit.” I hope to hear from even more folks as we inch closer to a defined project for Biltmore Ave. Our goal has always been to create a full shopping experience, to remain financially strong, and to continue our community building work. If we can find the right partners, we can address several community needs while creating a destination and hub for a sustainable local economy with the kind of impact we are all working so diligently to achieve. There are obvious trends in the feedback thus far: the need for more parking, more housing, sustainable design, shared community space, more affordable options, and more local businesses. We will do what we can to make these a reality, and I encourage everyone to become an Owner of the Co-op ($25yr or $250 lifetime), and help push this dream along by investing in local businesses that represent the changes we seek.”

Justina Prenatt, board president says,

“The Board of Directors feels excited about the relationships we may develop through the RFP process and are eager to cultivate connections with organizations and local companies that share similar values and mission to those of French Broad Food Co-op.”

Bobby Sullivan, general manager says,

“What’s exciting to me about a development like this, is that the expansion of the Co-op will grow our local food economy in a very real way. The Co-op is not here for a few powerful shareholders to pocket the profits. All surplus capital is allocated to the over 2000 local Owners and reinvested in the company, so that we are able to pay a living wage while lowering food prices. The Co-op is both an enterprise and a community association, with a careful system of checks and balances and high standards in how it is operated. As we grow the Co-op, we grow our ability to have collective security and democratic control over our local economy.”

For more information, see our website at www.frenchbroadcoop.com.