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Staff outline grocery-access work after Fred Meyer closure; transit and community outreach ongoing
Summary
City staff and partners are providing targeted outreach, transit planning and community coordination to support neighborhoods affected by the Fred Meyer closure, while also pursuing longer-term site conversations with the property owner and coordinating with Sound Transit and local partners.
City staff updated the Parks and Built Environment Committee Oct. 8 on short- and long-term efforts to address grocery access in South Everett neighborhoods after the Fred Meyer closure.
Staff described a mix of immediate outreach and longer-term planning. Everett Transit and city staff said they have conducted bilingual surveys (Spanish and English) to learn about travel habits, needs and barriers in the Casino Road and Westmont-Hollywood neighborhoods and are refining a transit map showing nearby grocery, pharmacy and food resources. “Everett Transit has been working to provide new access to other grocery stores, and they are…working to learn more from the community on needs,” a staff presenter said.
Immediate community supports and partnerships
- Local outreach and coordination: City staff said they are meeting weekly with Connect Casino Road, a neighborhood group, and the group has developed a relationship with Walmart for transportation and prescription access. Police volunteers canvassed neighborhoods with updated transit maps and gathered contact information from apartment managers to improve communication.
- Community-led efforts: Neighborhood groups have organized or planned food drives and local listening sessions; Connect Casino Road has a listening session scheduled in October to continue community input.
- Partner engagement: Staff reported ongoing work with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) on longer-term responses such as increasing food-bank hours and site-activation ideas. Economic-development staff (Julio Cortez) has done business outreach to inform small merchants and employees about the closure and available supports.
Longer-term planning and site reuse
Staff said Economic Development staff (identified in the meeting as Dan Earnesty) is attempting to contact the property owner to learn redevelopment plans and any constraints, and that Sound Transit’s station-site work may overlap with future decisions: staff noted a Sound Transit environmental-impact study that includes site options and that the EIS was expected to be released early next year. Committee members emphasized that redevelopment depends on owner consent.
Other transit and access points were discussed — including existing Swift and Route 7 services — and members urged continued coordination with Community Transit and Sound Transit on potential route or stop adjustments.
Ending: Staff said they will continue weekly coordination with community groups, refine transit options, pursue owner outreach for redevelopment conversations, and return with updates to the committee.
