city

The Client
City Market Onion River Co-op, a Vermont grocery co-operative open to members and the public that began as a buying club in 1973.

The Project
When the Onion River Co-op outgrew its former store, it began to search for a larger location that would bring its selection of local and organic groceries to a more central location for its existing base of urban consumers in downtown Burlington, VT.  When the site of the former Burlington City Police Station became available, the Onion River Co-op jumped at the chance to relocate, creating a newly named City Market and increasing its size from about 7,000 to 26,000 square feet.

The Challenges
• To be considered for the site, City Market had to enter a lengthy and competitive proposal process conducted by a review committee assembled by the City of Burlington specifically for this project.
• During the bidding, a vocal group closely associated with one of the rejected proposals began to drum up opposition to the market.
• This negative buzz led to members of the community raising several objections, necessitating several rounds of proposal revisions.
• While wading through the proposal process and subsequently developing its new location, the co-op had to continue operating its existing store.

The Solutions
• When it became clear that bidding on the site would be challenging, City Market contracted White + Burke for guidance and project management through the process.
• Working with the City, we negotiated "supermarket principles" into the lease agreement, which put into writing City Market's pledge to carry a certain percentage of conventional discount- and national-brand items alongside its natural and organic selections.
• We took a public role in defending the project by participating in community forums and publishing a "My Turn" column in the Burlington Free Press to help set the facts straight about the grocery co-op's mission and the products it planned to carry.
• Once lease terms were settled, we conducted a thorough financial analysis for the store, led City Market through the permitting process, assembled and managed the design team, helped secure favorable financing terms, and managed the construction phase of the new co-op.

The Outcome
Burlington's only downtown grocery store has thrived since it opened its doors in 2002, steadily increasing sales year after year at a time when larger grocers have gone out of business.  The finished store became a model of sound urban design, redeveloping an "infill" site to bring a basic service to the largest population center in the state.  The rumor mill is a thing of the past and City Market has become a valuable city neighbor offering affordable, local and healthy foods and numerous charitable and educational programs to every member to the community.