STAFF REPORT
A proposed plan for the vacant D.A. Young Building in Kyle by Vanessa Jo Park would bring an independent food pantry, Kyle’s Chain Reaction, to the historic downtown area.
Park’s idea is to create a seven-day-a week food pantry that would provide food as well as toiletries and laundry products, which is a bit different from other local food banks.
But Park will have to jump through several hoops before handing out canned green beans and shampoo.
Chain Reaction applied for nonprofit 501(c)3 status, which can take up to 90 days, according to Park. Other pieces of the puzzle are also in place, including volunteers, food donors and a federal tax ID number. Park is working on the biggest hurdle: getting a building.
She has her eye on the vacant D.A. Young Building at the corner of Burleson and Miller streets in downtown Kyle. Its current owner is the Kyle Fire Department.
“The history of the building is that it was the first permanent store in Kyle,” Park said.
David and Fannie Young ran a general merchandise business at this location in the early 1880s. Over the years, the building has also been the home to Kyle Creamery Company, the Kyle police station and the Texas Game Warden Association.
Park recently spoke during a public forum at an Emergency Services District 5/Kyle Fire Department board meeting about the building. She said the ESD was interested in working with her, but the property would have to first be rezoned for commercial purposes.
