The Grand Rapids City Planning Commission tabled a decision Thursday as to whether it would permit a controversial liquor store relocation until its next meeting.
Requesting the relocation was Ravinderpal Singh, owner of convenience store Oliver’s Market in the Boston Square neighborhood. Singh requested permission from the city to move his operations next door to a larger building and said he plans to cease operating out of his current location if approved.
Singh argued the move would increase foot traffic in the area, strengthening the neighborhood as a result. Several community members submitted letters of opposition to the commission, arguing that Oliver’s Market has become a nuisance and a hub for violent crime.
Among them was Jon Ippel, the executive director of city nonprofit Amplify GR, which operates out of the nearby HUB 07 community center. Ippel argued the business is a hub of loitering, drug activity, prostitution, and fighting.
“Amplify GR has experienced repeated incidents that raise serious concerns regarding public safety,” Ippel wrote. “Among the most troubling was a shooting involving patrons associated with the business that resulted in bullets striking HUB 07, placing community members and visitors at risk.”
Singh acknowledged these concerns in his remarks to the commission and said he was taking steps to improve conditions, such as increasing security, upgrading identification verification for alcohol sales, and regularly cleaning outside the building.
“I’m not asking you to ignore the concerns expressed by members of the community, and I’m not asking you to take a chance on someone who has no plan,” Singh said. “I’m asking you to consider what I have already done since taking ownership, what I am proposing to do at 1554 Kalamazoo Avenue, and whether those actions demonstrate that I am committed to operating this business civilly.”
“I’m not saying that everything is perfect,” he added. “I’m saying that when I see a problem within my control, I take responsibility for addressing it.”
Singh also addressed the letters of opposition, saying neither he nor his employees have witnessed the activities they depicted. Community members present at the meeting argued that Singh’s business is not right for the neighborhood.
Victor Williams, president of the Boston Square Neighborhood Association, said residents repeatedly complain about Oliver’s Market and that he had personally witnessed loitering, fighting, and drug deals at the location.
“The question before you is much simpler: Has Oliver’s demonstrated that it is a good neighbor to Boston Square?” he asked. “Based on my experience, I don’t believe it has.”
Kenneth Hoskins, a pastor and Boston Square resident, said he is “consistently harassed” by Oliver’s Market patrons and that the street near the business is often covered in trash.
“I stand here to vehemently say that I’m opposed to this, to moving forward with this,” he said. “And if we do move forward with it, I believe there should be some accountability.”
Ippel also spoke to the commission and reiterated his stance that it should reconsider granting the request due to the business not meeting standards in the city special land use code.
“Our experience includes persistent litter and trash, loitering, fights and disturbances, excessive traffic and many other things such as drug activity and prostitution,” he said. “We’ve had extensive conversations with GRPD regarding drug and other types of illicit activities that’s happening adjacent to Oliver’s liquor store.”
In response to the public comments, Singh said he understands the community’s concerns and is committed to correcting them.
“In the future, I can fix all those things, I’m willing,” he said. “I am sorry about what happened in the past. Of course I can make that better.”
In deliberations, members of the commission acknowledged that denying the request would not cease operations at Oliver’s Market and that the problems could still persist. They decided to table the conversation to allow Singh to create a good neighbor plan, which requires businesses to acknowledge potential negative impacts of their business and create a plan to prevent them.
The commission then unanimously moved to table the conversation until its next meeting.
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