For Snoqualmie residents waiting to know what grocery store will be going in at a new retail development located at the corner of Douglas Street and Snoqualmie Parkway, it looks like more patience will be required.
Waiting Continues for Residents
In January, when it became official that the development would happen, it was stated that Snoqualmie-based EDG Development owner Thomas Erlandson would announce the name of the grocery store at the end of January.
But according to Snoqualmie Community Development Director Mark Hofman, the city is still in waiting mode as a development deal with a grocery store chain remains in the works.
Hofman said his best guess as to when the community may know a grocery store name is early April, saying it’s his guess that contracts and leases just take a while to negotiate.
Hofman went on to say that the increased time it is taking to solidify a grocery store contract is not based on anything like lack of interest, but rather he believes it’s due to intense interest in the development site.
About the New Snoqualmie Retail Development
In December 2015, the Snoqualmie City Council approved amendments and a development agreement that permits a large grocery-store anchored retail development to occupy 7.4 acres (two lots) of the Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park – across from the Snoqualmie Police Station.
Those amendments and agreement allowed EDG Development to purchase the land from Puget Western, Inc. and move forward with the project that was first proposed to the city in August 2015.
The development is expected to break ground in spring 2016. with the original proposal calling for a 43,000 sq. ft. grocery store (about twice the size of the Snoqualmie Ridge IGA), drive-thru retail, drive-thru fast food, retail without a drive thru and a gas station associated with the grocery store.
City design standards are expected to bring a higher quality to the development, including the drive-thru components, something some residents have expressed concern over – worried that drive-thrus would take away for the small town feel of Snoqualmie.
So for now Snoqualmie Valley, let the speculation and guessing games continue. And don’t forget to check back in April
Comments
Finally! “Broaden the tax base, lower the rate” is a basic for any city and something Snoqualmie hasn’t had a clue about in its development. I hope it won’t be a boutique store again though that will inevitably still make me shop in Covington, Issaquah and even Renton for basic food supplies to feed my large family. I believe keeping this a secret and in the hands of a few city officials is also counterproductive, so hopefully there will be an open public forum where Snoqualmie can begin to develop in a way that meets the needs of the community in a common sense way that will bring prosperity to all of us who live in this beautiful valley and would prefer to stay and spend our money here.