Residents aren’t the only ones arguing over Webster Square; businesses located near the redevelopment site also have mixed feelings about the plan’s possible effects on the neighborhood.

The controversial plans to redevelop the vacant Lincoln Park Hospital site had unanimous approval from City Council earlier this month, despite opposition from newly elected 43rd ward alderman Michele Smith, and local residents represented by attorney and former 43rd ward alderman, Martin J. Oberman.

Sandz Development Co. will convert the site into 95,00 square feet of medical and professional office space, 152 residential units and a 20,000 square-foot Fresh Market Grocery on the southeast corner of Lincoln and Webster Avenue.

As it was with residents, the grocery store was the topical point among businesses operating near the site, representing both positive and negative aspects of this thorny debate.

Jacob Bosques, an employee at the 7/Eleven on the corner of Webster Avenue and Geneva Terrace, said he hears local business owners complain that their opinions are not considered in the matter and feel that they didn’t have any other option.

“People are just mad that all of this will lessen the value and history of the neighborhood,” Bosques said. “They think the new ‘Webster Square’ will become an eyesore.”

Dominick Murphy, an employee of Bacino’s Pizza, 2204 N. Lincoln Ave., thinks the Fresh Market will bring in additional traffic and noise to the area.

“The [grocery store’s] delivery trucks, traffic, and noise will be a huge issue,” Murphy said. “There are five grocery stores within a mile of each other and this proposed plan is taking