Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Retail Leasing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Transit commission approves lease negotiations with convenience-store vendor for metro station
Summary
The Kenosha Transit Commission voted Sept. 15 to award the metro train station lease to a convenience-store bidder and authorized staff to begin lease negotiations after a coffee applicant withdrew. Commissioners cited local retail gaps as a reason to favor the convenience-store proposal.
The Kenosha Transit Commission voted Sept. 15 to award the lease for the city’s metro train station to a convenience-store bidder and authorized staff to begin lease negotiations.
Transit staff told commissioners the coffee vendor that had applied withdrew an application that included alcohol sales; staff recommended the convenience-store operator as the strongest candidate and the commission approved moving forward with lease negotiations. The motion passed after a voice vote; the chair recorded a nay while the measure carried.
The recommendation came during an administration report when the transit director summarized the evaluation of three proposals and said the convenience-store operator had the highest average score and had removed alcohol from its plan. “While I personally think that the barbecue coffee place would be a good fit, I don’t think in the end that it is the strongest candidate. So, we are recommending that the convenience store operation be the individual that you start the lease negotiations with,” the transit director said.
Vice Chair Marty Hutchings and other commissioners said the convenience store would address a local retail gap. “I think it’d be a wise decision for us to put this convenience store in there because it is a food desert down here,” Hutchings said. Commissioner Pamela Device, who said she lives downtown, added, “I think it’s gonna be a good choice for a convenience store because that way people — we don’t have a store down here.” Commissioner Andrew Schmidt said he agreed with those remarks.
Commissioners made and seconded a motion to approve the lease award and proceed with contract negotiations; after no further discussion the commission voted in favor. The motion as recorded in the meeting minutes named the winning vendor as Beds Incorporated (transcript: “Beds Incorporated”). The motion language recorded in the meeting was to approve the lease for the metro train station and award to that vendor. The meeting transcript does not identify the members who made and seconded the final motion by name.
Staff said they will open lease negotiations with the selected vendor. No timetable for a signed lease or details of lease terms were provided at the meeting.
