2008 Woodie Awards
Too close to home
Potential liquor store near campus raises concern
Natalie Niemeyer
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
There may be a new business coming to the Kirkwood Community College vicinity. Along with this business comes a lot of controversy.
There are talks of a liquor store moving into a vacant spot in the Kirkwood Plaza where a tanning salon used to be. The Kirkwood Plaza currently houses Paul Reverie's Pizza, Cost Cutters, Beijing Express and a Laundromat. The Plaza is surrounded by Kirkwood Courts student housing and across the street from Eagle's Pointe student housing.
"We're concerned that a liquor store in walking distance is creating high potential for a problem," Kirkwood's Public Information Services Director Steve Carpenter said. "We are supporters of entrepreneurship and free enterprise but we have to balance it with the overall need of our community."
Besides being in close vicinity to student housing, the store would be a short distance from the Rec Center, Kirkwood Kids childcare center and Four Oaks, a care and treatment facility.
"We just feel like it is a situation that has more downside than upside potential," Carpenter said. "Kirkwood wants to be proactive. We have a contingent of our students who are experiencing freedom for the first time. It's a rocky road sometimes from taste of freedom to responsibility."
Carpenter added that Kirkwood offers many extra-curricular activities for students to give them positive activities to do in their free time. Student Life sponsors events like Spring Fling, Pack the Stands and Talent Shows to keep students busy.
Kirkwood has been speaking with the community, the Area Substance Abuse Council, housing managers and Kirkwood counseling staff at forums about the possibility of the store.
It is unknown what business is inquiring about the spot or when a decision will be made if the store will be allowed to move in. The project is in base proposal stages right now. The decision now lies in the hands of city planning and zoning committees.
There are talks of a liquor store moving into a vacant spot in the Kirkwood Plaza where a tanning salon used to be. The Kirkwood Plaza currently houses Paul Reverie's Pizza, Cost Cutters, Beijing Express and a Laundromat. The Plaza is surrounded by Kirkwood Courts student housing and across the street from Eagle's Pointe student housing.
"We're concerned that a liquor store in walking distance is creating high potential for a problem," Kirkwood's Public Information Services Director Steve Carpenter said. "We are supporters of entrepreneurship and free enterprise but we have to balance it with the overall need of our community."
Besides being in close vicinity to student housing, the store would be a short distance from the Rec Center, Kirkwood Kids childcare center and Four Oaks, a care and treatment facility.
"We just feel like it is a situation that has more downside than upside potential," Carpenter said. "Kirkwood wants to be proactive. We have a contingent of our students who are experiencing freedom for the first time. It's a rocky road sometimes from taste of freedom to responsibility."
Carpenter added that Kirkwood offers many extra-curricular activities for students to give them positive activities to do in their free time. Student Life sponsors events like Spring Fling, Pack the Stands and Talent Shows to keep students busy.
Kirkwood has been speaking with the community, the Area Substance Abuse Council, housing managers and Kirkwood counseling staff at forums about the possibility of the store.
It is unknown what business is inquiring about the spot or when a decision will be made if the store will be allowed to move in. The project is in base proposal stages right now. The decision now lies in the hands of city planning and zoning committees.
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