Honest Weight Food Co-Op members voted 185 to 10 approve design plans for the new green grocery store on Watervliet Avenue, and January netted $172,000 toward the organization's independent financing goal of $2 million.
While initially the co-op was planning to renovate the existing concrete block building at 100 Watervliet Avenue, they decided to build new store to suit their needs after doing a side-by-side cost comparison.
According to the presentation presented at the member meeting January 25, whether they rebuild or simply renovate, construction costs are coming in between $4.5 and $5.5 million. "Best case scenario (low ball, lowest common denominator building) for renovation would only save a small percentage over build to suit," the presentation states. "For this we get a building that functions as a store but isn’t very green." The renovated building would offer very little daylight and wouldn't be expandable without rebuilding.
Designs for the new store include an open floor plan with a second floor mezzanine, offices, community space, a teaching kitchen, cafe area, and a large parking lot. The co-op will be seeking the highest LEED rating for environmental-friendly construction. The co-op is working with 3t Architects.
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