In an unprecedented move, town council took a huge step toward regenerating downtown Pagosa Springs last month.
The town entered into an economic development agreement with Hometown Food Markets (Hometown) to bring a larger grocery store back to the downtown.
The agreement states in part, “WHEREAS, The Town hereby finds that the Grocery Store will provide exceptional benefits to the community for the following reasons:
a) “The Grocery Store will help provide a distinct identity for the downtown area;
b) “The Grocery Store will provide an amenity for downtown residents who would no longer have to travel uptown for grocery shopping, which is of particular benefit for those downtown residents that have transportation difficulty;
c) “The Grocery Store will occupy a significantly large property that has been vacant for almost six years;
d) “The Grocery Store will serve as a catalyst for other vacant properties in the same shopping center and nearby downtown properties;
e) “The Grocery Store will serve a large number of tourists both who are driving through the Town and those who are enjoying downtown;
f) “A downtown grocery store is a specific goal and action item in the Council’s adopted 2015 Goals and Objectives.”
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