++++++++New Store News 8/3/08+++++++++

*** Apologies for the late posting of this information, folks have been out of town on vacation and we're just learning how to use the blog.

Check our latest postings at honestweight.coop. The facilities info will be under “What’s New at the Co-op”.

What’s new this week:

Building Green:
LEED certification: We completed a two-meeting LEED charette, which is a time devoted exclusively with the architects and engineers and customer to discuss which of the criteria we can meet. We have determined that we will easily achieve certification, and if each one of our maybes can become a yes (this depends on how the construction and our funding unfolds….) we may be able to achieve a GOLD rating. Platinum may not be completely out of the question, but it would be a stretch. Remember the mantra: we will strive for the highest energy efficiency and most sustainable practices we can afford, and we will not lose sight of our mission.

Design:
A schematic design was presented and met with strong support from the facilities committee and the CMT (Collective Management Team). We made a list of issues we wanted addressed and 3t (our architectural firm) is working on incorporating them and presenting a second draft next week. Our store is going to be fantastic, and not only that, but it will reflect our collective values, provide educational space, efficient product management, etc. The schematic design will change as we engage in our discussions, but we will be presenting it at a meeting for the membership on August 17 at FUUSA. You’ll be receiving a postcard with the details shortly, so save the date!

Our Cooperative Development Services consultant, PJ Hoffman, has been reviewing our programming and equipment planning for each department.

Membership Matters:
During the month of August we will be holding a membership drive, for several reasons. The first is that what we have is great, and our mission is to introduce new people to share in it. Other reasons: many people are not aware that our economic structure is cooperative and that they can also own it; we desire to keep our investment local and the more folks who own a piece of it, the stronger we will be; we’d like to broaden our support base before moving into a larger store, and over 60 percent of our customers are not members.

Funding:
Our loan task force is putting the finishing touches on the loan materials for your review. Other co-ops have had great success borrowing money from their shareholders. It puts us in a better position with the larger lending institutions because it’s a concrete way to measure your support. We hope you can make a generous loan.

What’s on the schedule next for owners?

> Come to an informational meeting on August 17, where 3t architects will present the schematic design. The facilities committee will also be in attendance to clarify any questions you might have.

Reaching us….
> Email Cindee Lolik at cindee@honestweight.coop or Lynne Lekakis at kandL@capital.net with suggestions or concerns. Drop thoughts in the project suggestion box in the front of the store under the project time line and posted news.


More soon. –The Facilities Committee

Shareholder Informational Meeting at the Unitarian Church, Emerson Hall (located at 405 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY) on Sunday August 17th, 2008. Social half hour to begin at 6:30 pm, meeting to begin at 7:00 pm. Come and see a presentation by 3tarchitects and the Facilities Committee of the current schematic design for the new store at 100 Watervliet Avenue.

Background

Considerations for a new location for the HWFC:

• Receiving area sub quality
• Sales per square foot maxxed out
• Inadequate parking
  – 47 spaces, oddly configured
  – 50 borrowed from Clearview on nights and weekends
• Access extremely limited

A new space was found at 100 Watervliet Ave in Albany. The advantages of this new space are:

• Corner site – easy access in and out
• Concrete block construction lends to easy remodel/renovation
• Some amenities: water, sewer, electrical, sprinkler system, air conditioning
• More residences closer than our current location
• Many compatible businesses, schools, and nonprofits within comfortable walking distance
• Off the “miracle mile” yet close
• Neighborhood Association supportive
• Space for loading and unloading
  – Site currently has several interior and exterior loading areas
  – space for truck access on left side of building
• Space for over 200 vehicles possible
• Easy to reach from Central Avenue and Everett Road
• Very close to I-90 Everett Road exit
• Two busses stop out front
• Two blocks from Central Avenue, the route with the highest ridership
• Shape is ideal for a supermarket: Square is most desirable; Largest area of this building is 30,000 square feet. Part of it is partitioned for a rental, so around 27,000 sq ft remain. Our plan for a 20-28,000 sq. foot store would easily fit in this space.
• Large enough for extras: flexible community room, demonstration kitchen, café, etc.
  

On Oct. 21, 2007, co-op members voted 189-13 to purchase property at 100 Watervliet Ave. in Albany as a future site for the Co-op. The closing was held on Oct. 31.

After a lively meeting on June 1, co-op members voted 123 to 11, with one abstention, to pursue a design for the new store that presumes building to suit on the 100 Watervliet Avenue site.