<p>Stop & Shop withdrew plans Thursday to expand its Water street store in Vineyard Haven, abruptly ending a 10-month Martha’s Vineyard Commission review of the project that was closely followed and debated.</p>
Stop & Shop withdrew plans Thursday to expand its Water street store in Vineyard Haven, abruptly ending a 10-month Martha’s Vineyard Commission review of the project that was closely followed and debated.
Attorney Geoghan Coogan, who has represented Stop & Shop during the review process, emailed a letter to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday morning “respectfully requesting the MVC allow Stop & Shop to withdraw the present application.”
“It is our sincere hope to move forward with a project in the future,” Mr. Coogan said in the email.
An attached statement from Mr. Coogan and Stop & Shop New England president Joe Kelly elaborated on the reasons.
“Stop & Shop has decided to request a withdrawal of the current proposal from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to digest all of the comments, questions and concerns related to the project. Stop & Shop is a vested partner of this community, and will remain committed to evaluating alternatives to bring back life, vitality and character to the gateway of Martha’s Vineyard and to be the true anchor for the downtown area of the town of Tisbury,” the statement said. “We want to thank our loyal customers and many supporters, and recognize this decision may disappoint those who want and deserve a far better store.”
Greg O’Brien, a Cape Cod communications consultant who has been a spokesman for Stop & Shop, said Thursday morning that there would be no immediate further comment on the matter.
“We feel the statement speaks for itself,” Mr. O’Brien said.
The commission concluded its public review of the project as a development of regional impact (DRI) last Thursday with an eighth and final public hearing at the Tisbury senior center that drew a large crowd. The hearing began in July 2013.
The grocery chain wanted to rebuild its Water street store into a much larger, more modern store that would occupy the block which now includes the grocery store, a former Chinese restaurant and the former Midnight Farm store building. The plan called for elevating the new building in order to meet flood plain requirements and also for building a large new parking garage on the site, which sits opposite the main Steamship Authority terminal and a stone’s throw from the congested Five Corners intersection.
The plan has been the subject of heated contention and much confusion over both the details and the process, especially in recent months. An agreement that called for Stop & Shop to pay the town of Tisbury $1.16 million in mitigation money was drafted but never signed. Public sentiment was running high, and a recent surge of opposition to the expansion plan had critics calling it too big and out of scale with downtown Vineyard Haven. An online petition was started three weeks ago urging the commission to turn the plan down. A number of town leaders, including a majority of the planning board and selectmen, opposed the plan and had asked that it be redrawn on a smaller scale. The Vineyard Transit Authority and Steamship Authority expressed strong concerns about impacts on traffic congestion. The commission was expected to begin deliberations next week with a possible vote in early June.
Then about six hours before the close of the written record on the project Thursday, Stop & Shop withdrew the plan.
Commission chairman Fred Hancock said he was surprised by the decision. “It seemed that after this long of a time they probably would have been just as well to go through the rest of the process,” he said. He said he did not know why the project was withdrawn.
Mr. Hancock said the review process highlighted the commission’s role as a unique regional planning agency. “I think the biggest takeaway, from my point of view, is just to remind people that without the commission this project could have been built as of right,” he said. “There would have been no public hearing, they wouldn’t have needed any permissions from any of the boards, just a building permit. To me that’s pretty big.”
He added: “It does start a discussion on the Island about what do we want the future of that area to be."
Mr. Hancock started Thursday night's commission meeting by discussing the development. "I would like to thank the commissioners who spent so much time on that," he said. "The same 14 commissioners worked on the project the whole time, I know it meant some hardship to some who had to rearrange their lives to make it work."
Tisbury selectman Tristan Israel said Thursday that he hopes Stop & Shop will now rework the plan. “I hope that they will continue to work with the town and the Island community to improve their facility and that after some thought they come back to us with a plan that reflects some of the input that the community has given them,” Mr. Israel said.
Tisbury planning board co-chairman Tony Peak said that by withdrawing the proposal, Stop & Shop may have avoided a turn-down by the MVC. “Sometimes a denial prohibits a reapplication for a certain period of time unless it’s substantially different,” he said, adding: “Given the way we came to feel on the planning board, and myself personally, on what they were proposing at that specific location . . . I’m pleased that they decided to withdraw,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Peak said he hoped the town’s work on the municipal parking lot adjacent to the grocery store will move forward. “I hope that the planning process will continue because I think the planning board’s goal certainly would remain the same no matter what happens with the surrounding area,” he said.
Outgoing selectman Jeffrey Kristal, who is not seeking reelection and was the lone member to support the project, said he couldn’t comment on the decision to withdraw the plan because he wasn’t privy to the reasons for withdrawal.
“I think the town needs development in that area,” Mr. Kristal said, adding that they should clean up the entire B-1 district all the way down the waterfront. He praised the Martha’s Vineyard Commission process.
“I think they did an excellent job in their meetings,” he said.
Commission executive director Mark London was out of the office Thursday and unavailable to speak to the Gazette.
Comments
They're selling...
Ken Esq EdgartownThey're selling...
That is what I heard also so
JohnThat is what I heard also so why bother.
Their letter says “Stop &
Bruce Nevin EdgartownTheir letter says “Stop & Shop is a vested partner of this community, and will remain committed to evaluating alternatives to bring back life, vitality and character to the gateway of Martha’s Vineyard and to be the true anchor for the downtown area of the town of Tisbury.” That's not exactly a "for sale" sign.
FUNNY! i think it's so ironic
Barry Rosenthal WeymouthFUNNY! i think it's so ironic that everyone is concerned what the 'gateway' to the Vineyard and how it looks.
HOW DID WE LET THAT CHINESE RESTAURANT WITH THE FOGGED OUT, DIRTY WINDOW STAY AROUND SO LONG?
And the $700K dump next door.
Joe EdgartownAnd the $700K dump next door.
Because the food was sooooo
Culinarian EdgartownBecause the food was sooooo fantastic. :)
I would not blame Stop and
Eric Malkin AquinnahI would not blame Stop and Shop if they closed all stores on the Island. Who needs the aggravation. I am sure the leaders of the Island would love to go to the mainland to shop
Why would Stop & Shop do that
Katherine TisburyWhy would Stop & Shop do that? They make a lot of money on these stores: They are said to be S&S's most profitable stores, per square foot. This type of comment imputes to corporate entities the thinking of a ten-year-old: I'm going to pack up my marbles and go home. How silly. When it comes to "aggravation," recall that S&S employees and consultants are paid---and, I suspect, paid very well---for every hour they spend doing S&S's business or representing the corporation. It is just their job. Unlike the members of the public and MVC commissioners who have devoted hours and hours to grappling with the issues raised by the proposal. Thus, Eric's comment strikes me as quite immature.
Stop & Shop should be
E. J. Berardi Lambert's CoveStop & Shop should be commended for responding to community concerns about the redevelopment proposal. The decision to suspend the current initiative is timely, and will ensure that decisions about site selection and overall scope are that much closer to reality. The MVC and various town groups should now respond in kind, and pursue ALL available measures to expedite development of an alternative site.
My congratulations to S&S for
Ned Orleans TisburyMy congratulations to S&S for their wise and thoughtful move. They should be aware, however, that as long as they believe they should be the sole welcome wagon for the island rather than being at least a part of a Martha's Vineyard oriented group at that location, there are those of us who will continue to oppose them at that location.
I do not know what to make
John Somewhere-in-the-Middle, USAI do not know what to make off all this, but my initial reaction is that Stop & Shop has thrown up its corporate hands and decided that trying to move any further with this project is simply not worth the aggravation. I don't think I would blame them if that were the case. But, as I mentioned in a comment from some months ago, the existing location is wrong for a project of this scale. If current island needs dictate the need for a store of this scale, that store needs to be located in an area where simplified access is part of the siting process.
For those who object to relocation of a future store because they can walk to the existing store, I say perhaps Stop & Shop can be approached to offer their Pea Pods delivery services pro bono for orders above a certain purchase amount, or outside a certain radius of the store. Keep the mitigation money and put the store in a more logical location that will provide the greatest benefit to the majority of islanders---either further up-island on State Road or somewhere near the airport. I reiterate my contention that, unless the Steamship Authority is going to relocate, Water Street would be best transformed into a transportation hub for the SA, buses, taxis, and bike and car rentals. This hub could also include a few appropriate restaurants or snack shops and perhaps a boutique or two. Everything could be scaled properly, architecturally appealing, and provide the services needed for people arriving on or departing the island.
Heck, since the past always seems to look better than the future, I would not mind going back to the days before the current SA terminal, when you could get a hot dog at the shack across the street while waiting for a ferry, and when the abandoned store fronts were filled. But, since that's not going to happen, it would be wise to consider a Water Street that does not include a Super Stop & Shop........
Don't bother even remembering
Neil Off IslandDon't bother even remembering the mitigation money. As for converting Water Street into a transportation hub, who's going to pay for it? It's reality time.
I commend the Stop and Shop
Marie Laursen TisburyI commend the Stop and Shop representatives and the members of the Martha's Vineyard Commission. It has been a rough last few months. I especially commend the people who have desperately been trying to get the public's attention focused on this proposal. They have worked tirelessly. It has been, at least, a learning experience for everyone. Before commentators start in on those who opposed this plan, let me remind you that no one at any time received a penny's worth of reimbursement for their time and efforts. I call on Stop and Shop to reach out to this community, to form a new plan after thoughtful consideration of the proposals submitted by architects and others. Are you willing to work with the community you serve? Have you seen the writing, or just the writing on the wall?
I would like to amend my last
Marie Laursen TsburyI would like to amend my last comment to say that I hope Stop and Shop is sincere in its' desire to work with the community. How it will do that remains to be seen. Thank you, Stop and Shop, for listening.
The statement by Joe Kelly,
Bruce Nevin 101 Chase Road, EdgartownThe statement by Joe Kelly, “We [...] recognize this decision may disappoint those who want and deserve a far better store”, is contradicted by the more measured statement in the letter, “Stop & Shop is a vested partner of this community, and will remain committed to evaluating alternatives to bring back life, vitality and character to the gateway of Martha’s Vineyard and to be the true anchor for the downtown area of the town of Tisbury.”
The letter says that Stop & Shop expects to come back with a revised proposal. Mr. Kelly suggests that this decision means that they are bailing out, and there will be improvement to the old store. This is an unfortunate fanning of flames, insofar as it fosters the mistaken impression that opponents to their first proposal don't want any change and that the town is losing an opportunity.
This opens the opportunity to a better solution. The process is working as it should.
An Island of self-righteous
Danton ParisAn Island of self-righteous whiners!!! You make Parisians look reasonable.
They'd be silly to spend any
Doug Ulwick Oak BluffsThey'd be silly to spend any more money on this. If the loud chest thumping people don't want change, or worse yet want change that will bring them no return on their investment, then so be it. Status quo. Stay there. Rake in the dough. Let the place go to hell. Old and decrepit is "charming", right ?
Too bad. The present
Mr. B. ChilmarkToo bad. The present structure is lacking on every level and some improvements would have been nice. But, you can't please all the people all the time, despite what some folks might think. In the end, it's the wrong place for a decent supermarket. There's just not enough space. The fun part will come when they offer to sell the place to the highest bidders and leave us to Cronig's and the Edgartown branch.
". . . and some improvements
Katherine Tisbury". . . and some improvements would have been nice." I think we all agree that "improvements would be nice." So why do proponents of this proposal keep beating this dead horse? I wonder whether proponents are aware that there has been no environmental impact review; no tests carried out to assess the basic feasibility of placing a extremely heavy building on piles in this area, which is fill; no plan for on-site treatment of toxic runoff from the parking garage; no information as to how the parking garage would be vented; not basic information on the levels of vibration from the construction process, and consequent damage to neighboring structures; no construction data on file; no economic impact study as been done, etc. One can infer that the applicants saw the writing on the wall at the May 1 hearing---that commissioners had to face the fact that this project continued to be a very big pig in a poke. I am amazed at the unconcerned, blase attitude of proponents of the proposal that this community, and the Commission, should just cross their fingers and hope for the best with this thing. That is without even mentioning the encumbrances on public property and unknown financial impacts for Tisbury.
It's a grocery store, not a
BobIt's a grocery store, not a nuclear power plant.
Only on Martha's Vineyard.....
A big problem for the
Neil Off IslandA big problem for the opponents is none have given any indication they'll ever make an effort to clean the current mess that is Vineyard Haven. And that hurts your credibility when you argue against a new store.
Isn't this great? I'm so
Michael Newhall Edgartown, MAIsn't this great? I'm so glad that S&S has rescinded. I enjoy so much better the old dumpy building that they have right now and the abandoned building next door. The new building that they planned on building would have looked a lot worse than what is there now. I like that when people get off the ferry the first thing they see is a semi-truck parked next to a grocery store and an old Chinese restaurant.
I'm sure that everyone who opposed the S&S plan has one point in there life stepped foot into the Vineyard Haven Location.
Just a shame! I blame the
Bob VHJust a shame! I blame the Tisbury selectman with there hands out and the politics of the MV commission.
Cool....if they are selling
feed me VHCool....if they are selling out.......I hope Market Basket takes their place.....WAY BETTER PRICES!
Remember when S&S took over
ROBERT EDGARTOWNRemember when S&S took over the A&P everyone said the prices will be much better and look at them now. Same old excuses of SSA screwing rates (btw are true) and the cost of living on MV which boil down to SSA screwing rates which include the cost of trucking fuel here.
S&S prices are exactly the
Dee Ouchman Isles of LangerhansS&S prices are exactly the same as off Island S&S stores.
Dee:
Katherine TisburyDee:
I know for a fact that you are simply wrong about this.
I shop regularly in Falmouth and I cannot think of a single thing that I buy that is not cheaper, and in some cases very much cheaper, in Falmouth than here. Just one teensy example: a pound of S&S butter is $2.49 in Falmouth; $3.99 in the VH store.
I wonder what kind of person posts a comment that is so easily demonstrated to be untrue. The only people who would ever believe Dee' comment would seem to be those who never get off-Island and never shop at the Falmouth store. In fact, I have heard that the Nantucket store's prices are better than ours.
To Katherine, to the penny
Dee Ouchman Isles of LangerhansTo Katherine, to the penny the prices are the same in the two off island S&S stores I frequent. Even the flyers and their specials are exactly the same. I keep my receipts and compare. I've been doing this for 3 years now. The only products that are cheaper are beverages that because no deposit is required.
Cool! The newer Market Basket
Ken Esq EdgartownCool! The newer Market Basket store in Sagamore is 67,000/sqft not including the parking lot. That'll work!
The Market Basket opened in
Neil Off IslandThe Market Basket opened in Hudson MA is 76,000 sq ft. I think it would fit in nicely on the island. Found an article with a snapshot of the register area, I hope the Gazette allows it. The designer managed that big box feel in such a small area. http://www.telegram.com/article/20130513/NEWS/105139897/0
ROTFLMAO...this island is a
noislandforoldlocalsROTFLMAO...this island is a floating insane asylum
As a self-proclaimed vested
Diane Becker Lambert's CoveAs a self-proclaimed vested partner in the community, it would seem responsible for Stop and Shop to clean up their current venue which is an anathema to the beauty of the remainder of the Island. The people above complaining about the dumpy site and abandomed building next door ought to hold S and S's feet to the fire to meet codes and maintain their current building, and the Town has long neglected remediation of the unconscionable mess adjacent to it. A megastore is the only alternative to a poorly kept site? Indeed, it was that mess that enhanced my opposition-- the mega-store alllowed them to potentially create an even bigger dump. Try a Trader Joe's or some market with class and good merchandise. This is a good time for S and S to seek another venue--off Island! Speaking of messes, when is the Hall family going to be held accountable too?
I remind the readers, again,
lucid voice TisburyI remind the readers, again, for how many years, Stop & Shop has neglected any improvement for their stores. A small improvement in every few years could have avoided the derelict appearance of theirs today, and they somehow made us look away from the fact that its condition now IS S&S's own responsibility.
In fact, all the business owners and landlords should tidy up their store front, to maintain a healthy, inviting business environment.
Following this drama and
noislandforoldlocalsFollowing this drama and reading all of the comments posted online by the locals it is shocking that this island has running water and electricity.
If you can't let them improve
I dunno West tisIf you can't let them improve this overgrown 7-11 they have there than shut it down! The whole scene is despicable. Let's tear it all down put in more parking and put a park there where people can sit and watch the tourists come off the boat. How bout this a farmers market every Sunday for the walkers. Let the rest take the bus to edgartown to the s&s. I feel for all the folks trying to save "poor Martha" but sorry to say Martha's been had. S&S was willing to meet more than halfway to help the community with over a 1 mil in green. What? I see the point of the larger store but it would have been a huge visual improvement.
I don't see the town of
Neil Off IslandI don't see the town of Tisbury as willing to spend the money to purchase the land from Stop & Shop. It will be interesting when repeated flooding makes the Black Dog Bakery building unusable. Will they raise it or raze it?
It's amazing that some
Bob Oak BluffsIt's amazing that some commenters are still talking smack and looking to make demands of Ahold. This is your reality check people. You can now argue over what should be done with the property for years - after they leave.
"talking smack"?
Katherine Tisbury"talking smack"?
"Making demands on Ahold"?
We'll soon see who is getting a "reality check"!
Yes. Vineyard Haven is so
BobYes. Vineyard Haven is so very special, S&S is lucky that you let them conduct business here. I'm sure they will be crawling back in short order, hat in hand, and willing to concede to your every whim and demand. You'll show them, won't you?
Market Basket would jump on
feed me VHMarket Basket would jump on that property......and if you have ever been in one, they are not a huge store. S&S is not the only chain grocery store on the map, people! Shaws would fit in this location nicely to. The size S&S wanted to put on our water front, we may as well allowed Costco or BJ's to go there, because that is the same square footage. When we start allowing "super-sized" stores to be here, we are forever changing the landscape of what Matha's Vineyard Island is. The charm of this island is what brings tourism here, not big box grocery stores in your face when you walk or drive off the boat.
The traffic at the Edgartown S&S in the summer is a nightmare to say the least , and S&S wanted to more than triple their store
size in VH, to create more traffic chaos than we already have with SSA boats unloading and loading every hour. Thank you, to all the people that defended what the fabric of Martha"s Vineyard is.
Thank you Mr's Kelly and
village Life VHThank you Mr's Kelly and Coogan for withdrawing this proposal,
We know though that "it ain't over until the fat lady sings"
This withdrawal is only a delay tactic. So we hope you have listened and we can look forward to a properly scaled and architectural designed store to fit within the Town of Tisbury.
I hope they close and leave
John Oak BluffsI hope they close and leave all of you hippies up island and all the blue bloods in Vineyard Haven to go hungry (or better yet pay .05 a bag a cronigs!!) You are all such fools. S&S doesn't make money as it is now and not allowing a bigger and better store insures they will continue to not make any money. Enjoy the vacant lot, the loss of $1m in shakedown money. Slow clap for the commission for once again doing more harm than good. I'll be at Reliable paying fair prices and supporting a great family if you need me....
Hahahaha well said.
Ty Rossi edgartownHahahaha well said.
Re:
Katherine TisburyRe:
S&S doesn't make money as it is now . . .
People in the trade have stated that this store is S&S's most profitable, per square foot, store in New England. Check your facts before you post and just confuse people. I very much doubt that S&S is going away. It is to be hoped that they take responsibility: For their rundown property, for taking on board input from the community, and for coming up with a more appropriate design, scale, and business model. Forget imposing the Giant Carlisle Central Aisle format on a small site in the middle of a resort village. By the way, you can see Ahold's model (Giant Carlisle Central Aisle Format) for its American stores here: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=255s+Spring+Garden+St+Carlisle,+PA+17013…
255s Spring Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
That same thing has always
deshandra brown obThat same thing has always been said about the Edgartown Store being the 'most profitable'. Perhaps for 8 weeks a year. If the numbers don't add up, its up to Stop and Shop(not public referendum) to do nothing, renovate the current store, or go begging the MVC and politicians for what would have be a nice improvement to that rundown area after just being knocked down. Its also their option to close it and let it sit vacant. All of the posters with their ideas of what store 'should be there' are dreaming because its owned by Stop and Shop and, unless as one of the other posters stated (for sale), their input is of no consequence.
Please don't leave S&S, love
Dan Danneman New York CityPlease don't leave S&S, love your maple leaf hotdogs!
Grocery store margins, even
James EdgartownGrocery store margins, even in a high-priced region like MVY, are quite small. I can't imagine that Market Basket, Trader Joe's or any other grocer would be enthusiastic about opening in VH after witnessing what Stop & Shop has endured. Instead of a bigger store with more parking, instead we'll have the same small grocery, limited parking and un-welcoming eyesore along the west side of Water Street.
I would LOVE for a Trader Joe
feed me VHI would LOVE for a Trader Joe's to move into the S&S location. I am pretty sure corporate Trader Joe's is very well aware of what is going on here with S&S. Trader Joe's would be a awesome grocery store for VH. And for the record, how long has S&S been in the VH location? It looks like it did when it was the A&P in the early 70's...S&S has done nothing to improve their "eyesore" in how many years? Now that they want to expand triple+ the size, they have all these wonderful ideas to beautify the location.....S&S cares about their bank account, they know perfectly well even as an "eyesore" the VH S&S is one of their top 100 money making stores in the USA, along with the Edgartown store and the Falmouth store.....that "eyesore" is a bigger money maker than any NY store. ~~~~ Trader Joe's~~~~ where are you?
A check of the TJ website
Mr. B. ChilmarkA check of the TJ website would indicate a well-thought out business plan: putting their stores in zip codes with very high incomes and large numbers of people. Vineyard Haven would meet that requirement for about 7 weeks/year. Oh--and they would want parking, too.
To all of you who are
Bill ObTo all of you who are suggesting they just renovate and leave it at that, how do you suppose your insurance company would react if you renovated a multimillion dollar asset that's below grade in a floodplain?
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