A proposal for a food co-op store across the street from the Sabathani Community Center will be discussed at a community meeting there at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Seward Co-op is proposing a store for the site, at 38th Street and Clinton Avenue S., after negotiating a purchase agreement with Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for their property.

The Seward Co-op says that its success has put it in a position to add a second store and bring healthy food to a "food desert," after hitting capacity in its current location on E. Franklin Avenue. It must still secure financing and go through design and site approval. The Seward Co-op will need approval from neighbors on rezoning, and neighbors will weigh in on land-use applications. It may be at least a year before a new "friendship" store is built.

The Carrot Initiative, which is funded through separate community donations, is working with the Seward Co-op on the process and is jointly sponsoring Tuesday's meeting.

Maya Rao

@Mrao_Strib