Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- As the city of Charlottesville continues to develop, the Fifeville neighborhood is the focus of a pending redevelopment project at 501 Cherry Ave., the former site of the SD IGA grocery store. To engage the community in this significant project, a public conversation will be held on August 24th from noon to 2:00 PM at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center auditorium. 

The event, organized by local business owner Deanna McDonald, aims to inform the community about the ongoing redevelopment and gather input on the potential inclusion of a grocery store in the space. “It was a grocery for a long time in this community, and it has significant value to the community, and it is currently being redeveloped,” McDonald explained, highlighting the importance of community involvement in shaping the project’s future. 

Panelists for the event include Dorinda Johnson, a long-time resident, Dr. Delane Smith, a UVA professor and community activist, and Eileen Carey from Cultivate Charlottesville, who will discuss food access and the feasibility of a community-owned grocery store. “We felt like these panelists rounded out the conversation and education for the community so that we could hear from the Community about what they want in this space,” McDonald emphasized, stressing the importance of community input in the redevelopment process. 

The conversation on August 24th is the first of several planned discussions, with the next scheduled for September 4th, focusing on community-owned grocery store options. Lunch will be provided at the event, and attendees are encouraged to RSVP to ensure adequate provisions. 

For more information, listen here: