The Waterloo City Council on Aug. 25 adopted a resolution releasing a mortgage the city held on property developed for All In Grocery, after city staff said the developer met the contractual requirements that triggered release. Staff advised the mortgage impeded a planned property closing and release of the mortgage would clear title for a purchaser.

Noel Anderson, community planning and development director, told the council the city had provided a $400,000 grant toward land acquisition for the All In Grocery site as part of an earlier development agreement. The agreement required the company to construct a specified commercial building; staff said the developer constructed a larger 26,131‑square‑foot building and met the substantive requirements in sections 2 and 3 called out in the agreement, so the mortgage could be released. Anderson said the mortgage was a title defect the purchaser needed cleared before closing.

Councilors asked about the timeline and whether the mortgage release should be contingent on an imminent closing; staff said the developer met agreement conditions and the mortgage is typically released after performance criteria are satisfied. Councilors also asked if any payments had been made on the mortgage; staff said no payments were due to or paid by the city.

Separately, councilors received an update on project leader Kerry Sutherland. Council members said Sutherland told the community he has been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer, has had two months of treatment and is now ready to resume work on the store. Ward councilors said Sutherland was transparent about treatment and remained focused on ensuring the store accepts EBT benefits and secures distributor arrangements. Council members offered support and well wishes.

The council’s roll‑call vote to release the mortgage was affirmative. Staff noted the legal language of the original agreement and subsequent amendments that changed timelines and conditions; staff advised the release was consistent with the terms that had been met.