SPRINGFIELD — The City of Springfield says the former Kroger grocery store on South Limestone Street will be transferred to the Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation, better known as the Clark County Land Bank.
The move is the first step in taking title to the building and getting it in the community’s hands – which was a promise Kroger made to the City before its exodus in March.
“Getting Kroger to commit, donating that building to community was a huge win for us,” Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck told News Center 7′s Jenna Lawson.
Heck said the process of taking ownership of the building has been slow, in part due to COVID-19, but is now beginning to move forward.
The land bank will operate and maintain the Kroger facility while the City continues to work on redevelopment plans for the property.
Heck said they’ve had conversations with potential developers, but nothing has been finalized yet.
As part of Kroger’s commitment to the City, the company said it will not put deed restrictions on the building.
That means another grocer could move into the space.
Kroger also left items like refrigerators and racks in the store, which could prove to be another draw for grocery companies.
Heck said the land bank has done a building survey, and the structure is in good shape.
“I’m hopeful as we come out of the COVID-19 and the retail market kind of adjusts their strategies moving forward -- that we will be able to be successful in landing again some of type of grocer,” he said.
The Kroger on South Limestone closed for good on March 3, leaving 37% of Springfield residents without access to fresh foods and deepening an existing ‘food desert’ on the city’s south side.
Tracey Upshaw, who has lived on the south side for all of her life, said she’s now forced to drive across town to the store on Derr Road if she wants groceries – but she considers herself one of the lucky ones.
The Abilities Connection has been running a free shuttle service for residents who can’t drive to other Kroger stores, but with limited hours.
“A lot of the people are elderly or don’t have transportation,” she said. “It’s a big hit. it’s a big hit even for me -- and I drive. it’s a big hit.”
Others told News Center 7′s Jenna Lawson that they have been forced to eat out more since getting to the grocery has become harder.
Upshaw is hopeful another grocer will move into the space quickly. She said she’d like to see a high quality store with similar products and prices that she notices at other grocery stores in Springfield.
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