Community: Development

Rainbow Foods Redevelopment

STATUS UPDATES

October 26, 2009: The Planning Commission approved the site plan for the proposed development yesterday, October 25, 2009.

July 18, 2009: Roundy's & RSP met with the Planning Commission's Committee of the Whole on July 16, 2009 to discuss their upcoming project. CoW appeared to like the project and had some minor comments about the design. Roundy's indicated they do not have site control yet, as they are in the process of acquiring the property from the current landlord. Hoping to get approvals in September. Renderings are below.

Project Details
Architect: RSP
Current Use: Single-story Rainbow Foods
Post-Development Use: Multi-story parking ramp, Rainbow Foods, and Retail
Proposed Height: 48 feet (3-stories)
Retail Space: 101,127 Sq. Ft. (10,404 Sq. Ft. General + 90,713 Sq. Ft. Rainbow)
Parking: 250 Stalls
Bike Parking: 20+ spots, sheltered

Project Description
Rainbow Foods would be closed for up to a year while Roundy's constructs a new building on the Rainbow Foods site. The new building would feature 10,400 Sq. Ft. of retail space on the ground floor, 250 total parking stalls on the ground and second floors, and contain an 84,000 Sq. Ft. Rainbow Foods on the third floor. The Rainbow Foods would be the largest grocery store in the Uptown area and be more than twice the size than the existing store (38,000 Sq. Ft.).

Rainbow Foods would likely close in early 2010 to make way for the construction and then reopen in late 2010 or early 2011.

Plans from July 8, 2009 indicate that the building would occupy the entire 2.24 acre site with the exception of the rear 60' of the parcel, as the current loading dock area would be reconstructed as West 29th Street. The new street would provide access to the building's loading dock area, which would be located on the Dupont Avenue side of West 29th Street.

Patrons of Rainbow Foods would access the store at the Emerson Avenue and Lagoon Avenue corner at what appears to be a large entry atrium. Those arriving by car would access the atrium on one side and those from the sidewalk would access it directly from the corner. The ground floor is envisioned to house a flower shop that Rainbow Foods would operate. Two elevators and several escalators (one appearing to be a cart escalator) would provide access to the second level, where shoppers apparently (based on plan interpretation) would transfer to a second escalator to get to the third-level Rainbow Foods.

Parking would be contained on two levels, on the ground and second floors. The first level would contain +/- 116 stalls and the second level +/- 135 stalls. The parking structure would be accessible from approximately the same locations as it is currently, mid-block on Emerson Avenue and Dupont Avenue.The parking structure would be partially screened by columns, architectural metal treatments, and landscaping. The architect stated at the Committee of the Whole on July 16, 2009 that the neighborhood group expressed some concern about safety, specifically about the need for seeing in and seeing out of the parking garage.

The building's exterior would be a mix of brick, glass, metal, and another material that was said to be more durable and interesting than hardiboard. Rainbow Foods on the third level would have a lot of windows, though some may have screening of some sort, much like those on buses, to reduce spoilage of the produce. At the Committee of the Whole on July 16, 2009, the Roundy's representative said it is not their intent to use those windows for "signage."

Rainbow Foods is weighing the potential for a patio on third floor on the Dupont Avenue and Lagoon Avenue corner. It would be adjacent their deli.

DOWNLOADS

None

Articles

- "CARAG Report" Uptown Neighborhood News Jul. 2009.
- "Roundy's plans to redevelop Uptown Rainbow " Southwest Journal 29 Jun. 2009.

Updated July 18, 2009

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