Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) members generally agreed at its March 29 meeting that representing the community in upcoming discussions with Whole Foods should be a main goal of an ad hoc Whole Foods Committee the council set up in early March.
In February, the council voted to oppose Whole Foods’ planed move to Hyde Square.
But back-and-forth continued between council members at the recent meeting about whether the committee should also be actively encouraging other uses for the former site of the Hi-Lo supermarket at 415 Centre St., despite the fact that Whole Foods has signed a 20-year lease with property owners Knapp Foods.
It was generally agreed at the meeting that it is extremely unlikely that any other organization would publicly express interest in a space under lease. But some members said they want to make it clear that the JPNC is willing to work with other organizations that might be interested in the space.
In the end, the JPNC adopted a mandate for the new committee that includes language suggesting it would still be open to discussions about alternative uses and their potential impacts.
The committee, which held its first meeting April 12, is seeking members from the community. For more information, see www.jpnc.org.