Woman’s Exchange plans remain in limbo

The city’s decision to reject the Woman’s Exchange’s plans for expansion could soon become the subject of legal action, according to both city officials and representatives of the nonprofit consignment shop.

At this point, however, it’s unclear what route the Woman’s Exchange will take — in part, because the city hasn’t yet formally rejected the plans in question.

On April 11, the City Commission voted 3-2 to deny the Woman’s Exchange’s proposal to build a 3,524-square-foot expansion at 526 Rawls Ave. Laurel Park residents appealed city staff’s decision to permit the expansion, arguing a planned loading zone on Rawls was incongruent with the surrounding neighborhood.

Since then, the city has not officially memorialized its decision to reject the expansion by passing an ordinance. According to City Attorney Robert Fournier, that’s a necessary step that must occur before the Woman’s Exchange could challenge the commission’s ruling in circuit court.

In an attempt to avoid a legal battle, Fournier has remained in contact with Robert Lincoln, legal counsel for the Woman’s Exchange. Fournier said that the city is willing to accommodate the store’s plans if the Woman’s Exchange is willing to forego the loading dock on Rawls. As a result, the city hasn’t yet shut the door on the proposed expansion.

“I have taken a position — if they decide they’d like to find a way to do the expansion but for the loading zone on Rawls, I would assist in any way to facilitate that,” Fournier said. “We would recommend whatever code adjustments are necessary.”

Lincoln said there haven’t been any significant developments from the Woman’s Exchange since the city rendered its decision. He said the shop’s preferred course of action should be clearer within the next couple of weeks.

“We’re evaluating the information we’ve gotten from the city to determine whether there’s somewhere else to go with it,” Lincoln said.

As the Woman’s Exchange continues to mull its options, Fournier said he intends to include a resolution formally rejecting the expansion on the June 20 City Commission agenda — barring any indication from the Woman’s Exchange that he should hold off.

“Sixty days have gone by,” Fournier said. “At some point, I’ve got to bring back a resolution.”