OWOSSO — Plans are underway by the Owosso Dollar General to move a new location at 210 S. Shiawassee St., just south of the M-21 intersection.
An application to rezone seven total properties along the west side of Shiawassee (M-52) Street, between Clinton and Genesee streets, from industrial to commercial use was unanimously approved by the city’s planning commission Tuesday.
The discount retail outlet is currently located at 344 W. Main St., but likely won’t be for much longer. Developer Peter Oleszczuk of Spring Lake-based Midwest V, LLC, said Dollar General rents its current site, with the lease set to expire next year.
Prior to the approving the proposal, officials heard from two people living in homes that would be demolished to make room for Dollar General.
Officials believe all of the homes, currently owned by Rosalyn Henry, are occupied by renters.
One of those individuals, Shirley Chalker, told commissioners she would be negatively impacted by displacement without a new, affordable housing option.
“I’ve been looking for a place in my range, but I can’t find anything. So, I hope it doesn’t pass,” she said.
However, Oleszczuk said due to the project’s timeline, residents of those homes would likely have months to find a new place to live.
“The development is going to happen in tandem with the lease expiration on that site, so there is quite a time frame from the approval process to then, when construction will start,” he said. “It’s not something that will happen immediately.”
A site plan could come before the commission during its June meeting.
(2) comments
Dollar stores...yet another ominous sign that the middle class is disappearing. I am happy to see a thriving business in our community, but this is not good news.
Aren't there other empty lots they could buy without having to tear down someone's home? come on people.... How about the corner where the former Clark station was? Still in the neighborhood....
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