This week an open community forum was held to discuss plans to build a new Kroger Marketplace along Highway 72 in south Springfield.
Plans call for a store roughly four times the size of the current south Springfield Kroger. It would create about 350 new jobs.
Residents have mixed feelings about the plan, that would include closing the existing Kroger on South Limestone.
Jack Legg, who lives in South Springfield, says he’s happy that the new store would create jobs.
“But, I can see how that could create some additional challenges for those residents on the south side who walk to the current Kroger location," said Legg. "They may be losing some access to that.”
He says there’s been talk about changing bus routes to accommodate those residents. But, he also says some believe public transportation in the city isn’t reliable.
Kroger is currently studying traffic patterns at the proposed location. They plan to go before the Springfield City Council in September to share findings and details of the plan in hopes of breaking ground on the new store next spring.