Developers seeking to open an early childhood center at 107 Kirchival Avenue faced an extensive public hearing and divided council reaction Tuesday; council did not take a final vote on the preliminary site plan.

Brad Regan and Reed Fenton presented plans to convert the former Rite Aid building into a multi-level child-care facility they said would serve infants through preschool-age children and include interior play space and rooftop mechanicals. Their presentation described a roughly 10,000-square-foot first floor with additions on a second floor, a proposed play-garden area, and operational details intended to minimize impact on peak parking: they identified about 220 spaces in the surface lot, said the highest counted usage was 53 cars in a morning slot, and said they would lease 35 spaces in a nearby Henry Ford parking structure for staff and would request limited use (12–24 spaces, depending on the hour) in the surface lot for drop-off and pick-up.

Supporters — including parents and residents who described long wait lists and limited infant care in the area — urged council to use the city’s master plan guidance to expand services for families. Joanna Drever said the proposal aligned with the master plan’s goal of supporting families “at every stage of life” and urged the council to approve procedures to manage impacts rather than reject the concept outright. Several parents described extended waits and difficulty finding infant slots and said nearby businesses could benefit from increased daytime patrons.

Opponents included Hill business owners and landlords who said the Hill district’s compact footprint, delivery activity, and existing peak-hour traffic make the proposed site unsuitable. They questioned the developers’ parking and traffic assumptions and asked for data and commitments: one landlord said the operation would diminish the value of nearby properties and requested the council require contributions to the hill parking fund; business owners said delivery trucks, morning school traffic and surge parking could create safety hazards for children and pedestrians.

Council members who voiced concerns said several outstanding items must be resolved before a vote: an independent traffic or turning-movement study, a written parking agreement or lease with Henry Ford for staff parking, clarity about whether the Liquor Control Commission would view proximity to licensed establishments as an issue, and direct representation or written commitments from the proposed provider (the developers said the U.K.-based provider had not sent a U.S. representative). Council member Wood said he could not support the plan at this location without further study and emphasized public safety and enforcement resource implications. Mayor Pro Tem Soroka and other members expressed strong interest in addressing the community’s child-care shortage and suggested carefully tailored operational restrictions (for example, prohibiting arrivals between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. to avoid overlap with school dismissal peaks) or additional safeguards.

No formal preliminary-site vote was taken at the meeting. The council offered options to the applicant: withdraw and return with more information, request tabling for additional materials, or proceed later with a vote after submitting the requested studies and agreements. Developers said they had explored many potential sites over a long period and argued this location was among the few economically viable options; opponents said other locations should be pursued. Council members asked staff to collect written agreements and independent traffic analysis and to obtain any necessary letters from the Liquor Control Commission before any final approval.

Next steps: the council requested additional technical materials and legal assurances; the applicant may return for further review or withdraw the petition.