Owner of Sandy's Quilt Shop asks Joshua City for help after rent doubles

At the public forum, Sandra Hammonds, owner of Sandy's Quilt Shop, told the council she has operated the business in Joshua for 29 years and said the new owner of her building has raised the proposed monthly rent to $10,500, up from an amount she previously negotiated at $6,000. Hammonds said her lease is up Jan. 31 and that she cannot afford the increased rent.

Hammonds said she has financing in place and a builder ready to construct a replacement building on roughly 1 acre she owns just outside town but asked the council for help to preserve the business. "My lease goes up on January 31. I will have to sign another lease, and I cannot sign another $6,000 lease," she said, recounting the negotiations and the sudden rent increase.

Council members acknowledged her request. Staff said they had discussed the matter with the city attorney and would follow up, and one councilmember asked staff to return with more information before the end of the year. Hammonds said she intends to give the landlord 30 days' notice but hoped for assistance from the city to explore options that could allow her to remain in business in Joshua.