Frick's Market owners are a step closer in beginning construction of a store addition and doubling the size of the store parking lot.

Union aldermen passed an ordinance by a 7-1 vote to vacate Locust Street from Washington Avenue to Jefferson Street in order for the store to expand. Alderman Don Wurdack voted against the ordinance.

Mayor Mike Livengood said the street will be closed down when Central Market Inc., owners of Frick's Market, can begin work at any time.

"We gave them permission to shut the street down whenever they want to start doing construction," he said.

Preliminary plans call for the building to be expanded toward its parking lot and the lot would be extended north. The plans call for doubling the store's parking spaces which also could allow for more special events.

Buildings on the north side of Locust and along Washington Avenue, as well as the Quality Chevrolet building on Main Street, are expected to be demolished.

Wurdack told The Missourian that not enough has been done to investigate the impact of closing the downtown street.

"I truly believe the city did not do due diligence and does not have set protocol for closing a street," he said. "They did not investigate. I asked for a public hearing, that was verbally agreed upon, and we didn't have that - I asked for a traffic study and got a car count."

Wurdack, and some residents, have said that if the road is closed, it could cause problems when traffic is shifted from Locust Street to Main Street and Springfield Avenue.

He also has warned that closing the road could set a dangerous precedent.

"I am not against the petitioners, they fulfilled every obligation," Wurdack added.

The ordinance includes conditions in the contract between Central Market Inc. and the city, including a stipulation that once the ownership group purchases the former Quality Chevrolet building, the structure would be razed within a few months of purchase.

Following a meeting with a city committee in August, Frick's owners met with Community Development Director Joseph Graves. After that meeting, the owners submitted a letter to the city including a tentative construction schedule.

Frick's owners were not available for comment as The Missourian was going to press, but following is a tentative agenda submitted to the city in August:

• Day one - Receive confirmation on vacation of Locust Street;

• Day one to day 14 -receive official document from the city to ensure abandonment of Locust Street and contact Quality Chevrolet, and other buildings owners to set a sale date;

• Day one to days 45-60 - Real estate closing of property;

• Day one to day 90 - Finalize comprehensive plan for two-block area, including Frick's Market remodeling and updated time line for demolition and cleanup of buildings; and

• Day one to days 90-120 - Demolition of northern property, including Quality Chevrolet building.