By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
November 9, 2011

If all goes as planned, a Sun Fresh Market could soon be erected in Historic Northeast.

The Chas. Ball Market of Missouri, Inc. is proposing a plan to redevelop 5.2 acres at the northeast corner of Hardesty and Truman Road, replacing the current Thriftway and El Molino Bar & Grill.

Two months ago, the company filed an application with the City Plan Commission to rezone the property as an “urban redevelopment.”

Representatives from Chas. Ball met with the Blue Valley Neighborhood Association Oct. 20 to explain their plan.

David Biersmith, president of the Truman Road Corridor Association, said the store would include a deli with a sit-down eating area, along with a salad bar.

“They’re putting one heck of a lot of money into this grocery store,” Biersmith said.

The building itself would span 52,650 square feet and create at least 100 jobs, said Jacky Ross, president of the Blue Valley Neighborhood Association.

Instead of selling hard liquor, the store would only sell beer and wine, he said.

Biersmith added that Sun Fresh would also benefit from the Truman Road Community Improvement District, which would provide funding for Chas. Ball’s unexpected expense of the storm sewage issues.

“I’ve been here all these years and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Biersmith said. “It’s the best thing that’s happened to Truman Road in the last 25 years. It’s going to help the economy and the crime issue, I think. It’s going to make things better.”

Chas. Ball is hoping to secure Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding for the Sun Fresh project. The developer requested a one month continuance of the public hearing and the TIF Commission was expected to approve that request during the Nov. 9 meeting.

Chas. Ball is scheduled to present a preliminary plan to the City Plan Commission at 9 a.m. Nov. 15 in the council chamber located on the 26th floor of City Hall, 414 E. 12th Street.

The public is encouraged to attend.