(July 15, 2009) -- In response to inquiries from LBReport.com, LB's Redevelopment Agency staff indicates it may offer incentives to facilitate an agreement currently in negotiation and not concluded at this point to locate a Fresh & Easy market at LB's downtown City Place.
If there were an agreement between the parties and RDA staff offered incentives, the specifics of the incentives would become public and would require approval by LB's Redevelopment Agency Board. The City Place location is within LB's Downtown Redevelopment Project Area.
Fresh and Easy markets offer [website text] "fresh and wholesome food choices" and "everyday staples: plus its own line of "fresh prepared meals and organic items [to] make quick eating easy and affordable").
LB currently has a Fresh and Easy location at Spring St/Palo Verde Ave. in ELB and another is "coming soon" at 7th St/Nebraska Ave. The latter location is within LB's Central Redevelopment Project Area. LB city and RDA officials say no RDA or City Hall incentives were provided at either LB location.
City Place Shopping Center offers multiple businesses, retailers, restaurants and services between 3rd and 6th Sts. from LB Blvd. to Pine Ave.
Lakewood has two Fresh and Easy locations -- one at Paramount and Del Amo Blvds. and another at Woodruff Ave. and South St. City of Lakewood spokesman Don Waldie says neither Lakewood City Hall nor its Redevelopment Agency provided incentives for those locations.
News of the talks was reported in a July 14 blog dispatch by Karen Robes Meeks on Press-Telegram.com.
