Thrift Shop Renovation Project
The City of Mercer Island is seeking input from the community on the Thrift Shop Renovation Project and specifically on alternative locations for donations processing. The potential Thrift Shop Renovation Project includes expanding retail floor space at the current Thrift Shop (7710 SE 34th Street) and proposes to relocate donation processing to a secondary site.
Background
Since 1970, proceeds from the Mercer Island Thrift Shop have been used to support services provided by the City of Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (YFS) Department.
The Thrift Shop temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and has recentlyContinue reading
The City of Mercer Island is seeking input from the community on the Thrift Shop Renovation Project and specifically on alternative locations for donations processing. The potential Thrift Shop Renovation Project includes expanding retail floor space at the current Thrift Shop (7710 SE 34th Street) and proposes to relocate donation processing to a secondary site.
Background
Since 1970, proceeds from the Mercer Island Thrift Shop have been used to support services provided by the City of Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (YFS) Department.
The Thrift Shop temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and has recently re-opened for sales on Sundays only. Donation receiving and processing resumed in the fall of 2020 on Saturdays only and was relocated to the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC) to accommodate Pandemic-related operating restrictions.
The existing Thrift Shop does not have the capacity to "hold" donations for a minimum of 48-hours before the items are sanitized and moved to the sales floor. MICEC will continue to host Thrift Shop donation processing until recreation programs and services resume, tentatively anticipated for the summer of 2020.
Expanding Retail by Moving Donations Processing to a Second Location
The ongoing operating limitations at the Thrift Shop presented a unique and timely opportunity to consider a potential capital improvement project at the facility.
In the summer of 2020 the City Council directed the staff to explore a potential remodel of the Thrift Shop to expand the retail floor space. The expansion of the retail floor space requires donation receiving and processing to move to a secondary location.
The City owned former Recycling Center (3205 77th Ave SE), currently used for storage and park restrooms, is within walking distance of the Thrift Shop and was identified as a possible site to house Thrift Shop donation receiving and processing.
Click here for more information on the initial work performed by the architect.
In November 2020 the City Council paused work on the project to request community feedback and to solicit ideas for alternative donation processing sites.
How To Provide Feedback And Location Ideas
To provide general feedback about the project, visit the Feedback section. To share donations processing location ideas, visit the Share Your Ideas tab.
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The City of Mercer Island is seeking input from the community on the Thrift Shop Renovation Project and specifically on alternative locations for donations processing. If you'd like to provide general feedback on the project, please share your thoughts here.
When sharing alternative location ideas for donation processing, there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, donation processing involves moving large bins and items - the space needs to be able to accommodate these items (think furniture). Also, the space needs to be big enough to store seasonal items that will be moved to and from the Thrift Shop as seasons change. Here are a few other considerations to keep in mind:
- Existing, on-island facility or property.
- Adequate square footage, approximately 2,000sf or more is desired.
- Open floor plan to facilitate processing operations.
- Ground-level access between unloading and intake areas.
- Ample access and circulation area for vehicle queuing and on-site drop-off.
- Access for solid waste trucks (garbage/recycling) and bulk sales (loading for larger trucks).
- Access to utilities and restrooms.
In addition to these site and facility requirements, the site will need to be zoned B, PBZ, CO, P, or TC to be allowed by the Mercer Island Unified Land Development Code More information on these zones is available on the CPD website (https://www.mercerisland.gov/cpd/page/zoning-island). Follow this link to view the zoning map.Please share your location ideas below!
SEM8 days agoMercerdale recycling shelter or expand Thrift store footprint.
0 comment0KittyOabout 1 month agoThrift Shop Donation Center should NOT BE LOCATED IN MERCERDALE PARK. My preferred drop off location is behind City Hall.
0 comment0EastSeattleabout 1 month agoModern Thrift Shop/Commuter Parking and Public Safety Thru Environmental Design at the Tully's Site
Please consider Traci G. idea posted on ND -the Tully's site. I think there is an opportunity to meet what seems to be a number of community goals. 1. Using ST dollars for commuter parking 2. continued support of MIYFS by operating a Thrift shop that generates revenue for services 3. having a sustainable community by recycling our stuff 4. increasing retail and foot traffic in the town center 5. increasing public safety through environmental design. Using design principles to ensure a safe and welcoming environment in open spaces and parks: the four elements are natural surveillance and visibility: lighting; territorial reinforcement and space delineation, and natural access control. And the site can go through a rigorous public input, design and build process while the existing Thrift shop is generating money!
0 comment1Michelle Williamsabout 2 months agoWhat about shrinking the amount of parking and expanding the building into the parking lot?
I've rarely seen the lot full.
0 comment3Frank Schottabout 1 month agoCBD May Make The Most Sense
Consider moving all of the Thrift Store to a location in the CBD where it can co-exist with other businesses. This will address the issues with the current location and those that advocate for the Park. My sense is that the CBD will have some vacancies very shortly. Why not put out an RFP to see what kind of offers you get? And then if the City can do anything to sweeten the deal for a developer/owner that would be a bonus. Several lightly used, large retail spaces with parking and loading/receiving areas exist today. Who knows how much longer those tenants will stay in those locations?
0 comment1
Timeline
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Introduction of Project
Thrift Shop Renovation Project has finished this stageJune 2020
First presented at the June 16, 2020 City Council meeting, Council authorized staff to investigate opportunities for relocating donation processing and expanding retail floor space at the Thrift Shop, and appropriated funds to select a consultant to assist with the exercise.
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Analysis and Concept Development
Thrift Shop Renovation Project has finished this stageJune-November 2020
Staff collaborated with an outside architectural consultant (OAI) to develop a concept of the project. At the September 22nd City Council meeting, both concepts – City staff’s early concept and the consultant's approach – were presented. The City Council preferred the consultants approach and authorized the project to move forward to design.
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Public Input
Thrift Shop Renovation Project is currently at this stageNovember-December 2020
At the November 17, 2020 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to suspend design work and conduct a public input process.
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Design
this is an upcoming stage for Thrift Shop Renovation ProjectPotential Future Phase
Upon direction from the City Council, the consultants will prepare construction documents for the project. This phase incorporates all formal land use, environmental, building code, and operational research and design. The final product will be a complete set of construction documents and supporting documentation which will be submitted to the Community Planning and Development (CPD) department for review.
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Permitting
this is an upcoming stage for Thrift Shop Renovation ProjectPotential Future Phase
The City submits construction and supporting documentation and applications to the Community Development Department (CPD) for review. Upon review and approval, building and other permits can be issued to allow construction to begin.
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Construction
this is an upcoming stage for Thrift Shop Renovation ProjectPotential Future Phase
Once funding, contracts, and permits are in place, construction on the project can begin.
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