WM DRC considers new store at corner of Jackson and Avalon

WM DRC considers new store at corner of Jackson and Avalon

Family Dollar sees heavy foot traffic at site as a good sign

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The northeast corner of Avalon at Jackson may no longer be vacant. A wellworn foot path in the field was taken as a good sign by the developer and contractor that appeared before West Memphis Planners at their April meeting. The lot owned by the VFW got rezoning approval after Commissioners heard the details.

The Design and Review Committee will also survey details before the building project could move forward.

Family Dollar will invest heavily because of the anticipated traffic at the new store. John Flippo of Texarkana represented the project developer and contractor Max Alley. Max Alley was the Family Dollar developer and builder of the year last year.

“We expect 30 percent of our customers will walk to the store,” said Flippo. “We know there is going to be a lot of foot traffic with nearby residences. There is already a well worn foot path through the lot. The average time a car is at a Family Dollar Store is eight minutes.”

Flippo described the plan to the commission that was focused more on the question of rezoning. City Planner Paul Luker was glad for the information saying it crossed a lot off questions off his list of concerns.

“There is really nothing controversial about this at this point,” Luker told commissioners.

“The will be a block building all the way around,” said Flippo. “We will paint it some earth tone color with which the city is agreeable.”

Flippo answered questions about the parking and Mickey Littlejohn of the VFW provided some input about dividing the lot and future hopes for developing the rest of the organization’s

land.

Flippo indicated the serious commitment to the work before the meeting started. The design is

stepped up from a normal steel sided dollar store.

“With the all block walls the construction costs will be pushing $900,000 for this project,” said Flippo.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved dividing the lot and rezoning for the store.

By John Rech