July 1, 2025 10:45p
(WGTD)---A redevelopment project in Racine's uptown neighborhood appears to be dead for now following the failure of the city council to override a mayoral veto Tuesday night.
Mayor Cory Mason had nixed the granting of a beer license to the owner of a long-vacant gas station at 930 Washington Ave., saying the area already had too many license-holders. Bashar Qedan, who along with his family has operated the Twins Food Mart on 16th St. for a number of years, had planned to spend $2 million to rehab the Washington Ave. building and turn it into a state-of-the-art gas station and convenience store.
But the alderman of the area, Malik Frazier, spoke Tuesday night against granting a beer license and in favor of upholding the veto. "I strongly believe in bringing business into the 1st district--the downtown area," Frazier said. "This building has been sitting dormant for 15 years. I think the concerns that I have been told are the public safety aspects of it."
Other alders spoke vehemently in support of the project, saying the city could ill afford to turn their backs on people who were willing to invest $2 million. Alder Olivia Davis, who represents a district adjacent to the property, noted that Qedan plans to offer fresh food. "This will provide the neighborhood with access to affordable fresh and healthy food," she said. "It's not just about a gas station. It's a lifeline especially in a community like ours where access has been delayed for too long."
During citizen comments, all but one speaker spoke in support of the project. Business owner Tad Ballantyne, who identified himself as a supporter of the mayor, said the city would be foolish not to grant the license to the applicants. "Just on the surface, given their track record of a dozen years of reinvesting, there's no question that they don't do it right. They don't seem to ask the city for money. They're reinvesting their own money. How can you deny somebody who's willing to invest in the community?" Ballantyne asked.
The vote to override appeared to fall one vote short of the two-thirds majority that was needed. Alder Sandy Weidner, the last alder called upon to vote, appeared to remain silent after it became apparent that the override attempt would fail. Weidner had spoken passionately in favor of overriding. The clerk announced that the vote was 8-6.
After the meeting, a disappointed Qedan told WGTD that he's pulling his redevelopment plans and will let the building sit dormant.
Qedan did not address the council Tuesday night. An alder had wanted to ask a question of Qedan, but Mayor Mason ruled the request out of order.
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