Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Officials say retail follows rooftops as Adams County, Westminster partners monitor grocery access near Federal Boulevard
Summary
A Westminster-area caller asked why grocery stores shut down near 80th Avenue and Federal Boulevard; county officials said retail locates based on population and market conditions and that new apartments may make the corridor more attractive to grocers.
A listener from Westminster asked why two grocery stores closed near the 80th Avenue and Federal Boulevard area and whether there is a plan to restore grocery access as new apartment developments proceed.
Commissioner Kathy Henson noted parts of the development sit within the city of Westminster and that Adams County can partner with municipal leaders but cannot unilaterally require a grocer to locate inside another jurisdiction’s city limits. “Those apartments going in at 80 Fourth And Federal are actually going to be in the city of Westminster,” Henson said, adding county staff will support municipal partners.
Jenny Hall of the county’s community and economic development staff explained the retail-development maxim that “retail follows rooftops,” meaning that grocery retailers look for population density and market factors before locating stores. She said county staff maintain contact with brokers and work with municipalities to assemble incentives when appropriate, but final decisions rest with private operators.
Chair Lynn Baca added that the area includes portions of unincorporated Adams County, Westminster and Federal Heights, and that the Colorado Department of Transportation is studying bus-rapid-transit for the Federal Boulevard corridor — a project commissioners said could be transformational over time.
Commissioners said they will continue to coordinate with Westminster, monitor redevelopment, and work with brokers and municipalities to attract grocery and retail services. No direct county-funded grocery incentive or store commitment was announced at the town hall.
