Welcome to "Actual Factual," a regular column in which I, Becca Godwin, answer reader questions about goings-on in north Fulton. Here's one I did recently about what’s coming in front of that one Roswell Kroger.
Now that you're familiar, you'll find information for submitting your own questions at the bottom of this column.
Reader Jennifer asks: Where is the actual proposed spot for Aldi? Is it in that open area right in front of Alstead at the corner of Eves and Holcomb? Or is it across Holcomb near the park?
Great, and heated, question. It's one that speaks to the larger issue of the state of development in East Roswell.
For those who may be unaware, an Aldi grocery store is in the works for the area.
An application to build a store at 2000 Holcomb Bridge Road was submitted with the city’s design review board in April 2016. The estimated cost: $1.5 million.
“Aldi is a very stable and neighborhood friendly grocer and will be a great asset to the city of Roswell as well as the surrounding neighborhood,” a letter of intent filed with the application said.
That last part is important because the letter said the site was "an outparcel of Alstead," a townhome community.
Alstead backs up to what is currently an empty lot.
So, Jennifer, it appears your first guess was right.
Aldi has since bought the empty 1.98 acre tract of property from John Wieland Homes.
But although the business is officially approved to develop, there seems to be a slight hangup.
In September, Aldi filed an application to increase the building size from 18,600 square feet to 19,787 square feet (including a canopy).
During a Dec. 6 meeting to discuss the request, several Alstead homeowners spoke out, vehemently opposed to Aldi.
One said the store would “completely change the value of their community,” and was not something that neighbors were expecting.
Another wondered why Aldi didn't put a store in the empty Kohl's space down the road; or if a grocery store is needed at all, with "three Krogers, two Publix, a Super Target and a Fresh Market," already in a three-mile radius. (That Super Target has since closed.)
And one “really sad” resident, who recently moved to Roswell from Ohio, said no one ever told her “that they were going to pay over $600,000 for a house and look at an ALDI’s.”
Alstead wants Aldi to incorporate “design elements” from the neighborhood in the look of the store, according to a document filed after that December meeting.
Aldi’s revised building proposal is set for review at a Feb. 21 meeting.
The new store would be nearly four miles away from an existing store on Mansell Road.
Aldi has multiple locations in metro Atlanta, with stores opening recently in Gwinnett and DeKalb.
I, Becca Godwin, am a staff writer with the AJC and a lover of metro Atlanta. To submit “Actual Factual” questions, contact me at becca.godwin@ajc.com, @BeccaJGGodwin on Twitter or via the form below. Please include as much information as possible, including which city your inquiry regards. Thanks.
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