Farms Council OKs Demolition of Former Kroger Store

The Grosse Pointe Farms Council unanimously approved Monday night a bid to demolish the former Kroger on Mack Avenue near Moross Road for $37,500. It was the low bid and demolition will begin soon. 

The store closed in November when the rebuilt Kroger in the Village opened and the company's possessions were removed in late February. The building is owned by the city and was rented by the grocer. 

The building was not in good condition, and the city felt it was better to demolish it and make it into a green space, at least temporarily. In addition to removing debris from the site, the demolition also will include the dispersing of clean topsoil and grass seed on the site.

Additional landscaping requests will likely come before council later this year. 

Zoning Variance Granted

The council also unanimously passed a zoning variance for 39 Beverly Road, where the homeowners want to convert a temporary awning area into a permanent side entrance to the 1927 home. The home is in a historic district, and the Farms historic commission already approved the plans prior to the council's vote Monday. 

The addition of a permanent side room and entrance also will enable the homeowners to remodel their kitchen to further improve the value of their home. 

Engineering Study Approved

Council also unanimously approved an engineering study for the intersection of McMillan Road and Kercheval Avenue, in which the city has been identified as being eligible for a safety grant. 

City Manager Shane Reeside told council members the study would look at eliminating wooden utility poles and moving most of the intersection's traffic signals to underground wiring, like much of what the Farms has already done throughout the city.

The council approved the study for $18,000 preliminarily, with the requirement that the study results come before council again for a final approval before the project is started.

Nonprofit Recognition Granted

Donna DiSante, program director for the Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library organization, requested the city recognize it as a nonprofit to enable them to obtain a raffling license. 

DiSante's appeal included information about the "deep financial trouble" of the libraries and noted that the raffling license will allow the Friends organization to do some fundraising in an effort to support the libraries. 

Voters are expected to be asked for an increased millage in November by the library system to pay their bills, trustees noting there is no other option.