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City tables financial support for thrift store project
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By: CHUCK CLEMENT, Staff Reporter
| 05/29/2012 |
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The Madison City Commission tabled a motion on Monday in which the city would have provided $150,000 for the purchase and demolition of downtown Madison property for the construction of a new local thrift store.
During their April 30 meeting, the city commissioners received a request from a Thrift Store Steering Committee to consider providing part of the funding needed to locate a thrift store on the 200 block of S. Egan Ave.
Madison's development corporation currently owns part of the property -- the Jensen building -- at the proposed site, and the project's supporters would also need to purchase two other buildings at the corner of S. Egan Ave, and S. 1st St.
During public discussion about the construction of an 18,000-square-foot thrift store, business people from the downtown area voiced their concerns and objections about the project.
Brittany Patro, proprietor of the Sweet Escape Salon, told the commissioners that her business would need to move out of its current location if the project went forward. Patro occupies as a tenant one of the buildings that thrift store supporters would want to purchase. She was concerned about the future of her hair salon and day spa if she had to move from its current site.
Harlan Anderson, a Madison businessman, said the proposal didn't make sense to him because a new thrift store would compete with other consignment and second-hand stores already operating in downtown Madison.
Anderson said if those businesses weren't closed by a new thrift store, their profit margins would decrease from competing with an entity that would sell donated items.
Gayle Maberry, owner of the 4 Seasons Flea Market on N. Egan Ave., spoke about her doubts about the possible success of a new thrift store. Maberry said Madison already had her business and others that served a similar purpose in the community.
"Why put something in town that we already have?" Maberry asked.
The commissioners approved a motion made by Commissioner Nick Abraham to table for 30 days any decision on providing financial support to the thrift store project, allowing the commissioners to hear more public comment.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2013
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