Does your town fight over new stores being built?

[grinningghost]

I can't take it anymore!

All that goes on around here is people fighting over new stores, casinos, etc. being put in? And nothing gets done because of it.

There's a Wal-Mart controversy going on right now and I am sick of hearing it.

Does this happen anywhere else?

 

[goofy4tink]

Oh yeah!!! At the moment we're 'discussing' a third Dunkin Donuts. Just what we need. And we had some industrial acreage that we just okayed the new owners' changing it to a nice mall type area with a park. People were really up in arms over that one. When they realized they could have a 'pork fat rendering plant' there they got on board with the nice open mall idea!!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Not in Orlando Are you kidding me?

 

[Roemama1]

We hear it all the time in local areas. I personally can't wait until they build a SuperWalmart near us. OUr local Walmart is not Super right now and it is really S-M-A-L-L!!!

 

[Alice28]

Yes, there is a HUGE controversy about a Walmart going in our town. At first I thought it would be a good thing, since in our town of 40,000 (we are a suburb about 10-12 miles south of Portland) we have a crummy K*Mart and a store called Fred Meyer which is one of those grocery stores/clothing/electromics/toys/garden everything stores. You only have to drive about 10 minutes to get to the mall and Target, but there isn't much option as far as a quick run to get household stuff. But then I have grown to despise Walmart, so I hope it Doesn't come here. Oregon City is trying really hard to preserve it's historical status (it's the end of the Oregon Trail for a little history lesson thrown in) and the city planners just don't feel a huge box store will fit.

 

[ltldeb]

We have a WalMart problem in our area too. There's already one in town and they want to put another one on the other side of town.

 

[piglet too]

Where I used to live it was the residents who never wanted anything built. Of course these are the same people who don't want to pass any school referendums yet complain about overcrowding and lack of money being spent per student and on and on. I learned growing up that all the big stores and the mall in my town helped out the schools and such as far as tax dollars go. Now where I am at it seems the twon does not want the big names (Loews/Target/Home Depot) to come it yet tax payers want them, oh well can't win I guess.

 

[Meriweather]

Nothing goes in our town
Every new thing is outside the city limits.
The closest WalMart is a town over.....we'll never get anything like that here.
TPTB want to preserve the historic small town quality.....good?? Who knows.
So, I drive 20 minutes to get to just about anything

 

[Disney Doll]

Depends on where they want to put it. We have areas on the town line where there is a lot fo commercial stuff...a hotel, small mall, drugstore etc. They are talking about putting a Target and a Lowe's there now. I don't think most folks would have a problem with that.

Frankly, although I dosagree with the "not in my backyard" philosophy", I do agree with carefull planning to ensure that a certain "flavor" of a town is kept intact. Here in New England, we have a lot of histoprical areas and buildings, and I like when they try and fit development in. I mean, picture a 1700's era colonial next to a Target. Planning and zoning has to "work".

We recently had a piece of land on a corner of a semi-commercial area...near the town hall/ town center). It had an older colonial house on it, and the town bought it and fixed up the house into town offices. There were folks who were complainig that they should have torn the hosue down and just put up a brick office building as a town hall annex, but I have to say, keeping the colonial-style house fits in much better with the look of our town, and it is serving the same purpose as a brick box, but the redone colonial building has much more aesthetic appeal.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

We are having a Walmart debate here in Colorado. I am not sure why because it will be built where an old amusement park once sat and is now demolished. Its a big concrete mess with old, falling down buildings...why not let Walmart clean it up!!

 

[stinkerbelle]

disneyDoll - didnt' that new Target (to be finished next year sometime) going in Stratford (or somewhere?) cause a big stink?

I work in your neck of the woods and everyone here is just lovin' it that a Target is coming to the area (I live further north - so there are 2 that I frequent up there.)

I'm just excited to be able to hit a target on my lunch break soon! heheh

 

[TalkisCheap]

Big debate about a casino a couple towns over...that was voted down, but now a new Stop & Shop is coming in...can't believe we voted yes. I hate the thought of it....



-Caroline

 

[Bob Slydell]

Our town fights all new commercial building it seems -- thus we have no large stores anywhere near us.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Our town fought against Walmart coming in but it was build and now it is here.

 

[KarenC]

Several years ago, a plan to build a Kohls/Target Greatland were turned down by our planning commission because people complained they were not "upscale" enough for our community. The plan came up again a few months later and got approved but they made them build the shopping center in a Prairie Style motif. It does look nice, and seems to be filled with our "upscale" shoppers.

A couple years ago they started planning a mixed-use retail center in the middle of the former naval air station. People lined up to complain that the stores going in were too upscale! I guess these weren't the same people complaining about Target, but I'd sure hate to be a planner in my community.

And then they turned down a Steak and Shake because they didn't want a drive thru. It eventually opened, drive thru and all.

So, yes, building stores is VERY controversial where I live.

 

[believe]

Yes....Walmart was the controversy. They won, with some changes to their original plan. I am told that if they want to be somewhere they will get there it is just a matter of time.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Pooh_Friend#1
We are having a Walmart debate here in Colorado. I am not sure why because it will be built where an old amusement park once sat and is now demolished. Its a big concrete mess with old, falling down buildings...why not let Walmart clean it up!!

Because nearby businesses will be wiped out. When Walmart came close to where I live many of the stores within a mile ended up closing, they couldn't compete. I don't know if unions are big in your area, but the labor unions don't like them because they are non-union. Many of our grocery stores here are union.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

All of our more commercial stores/mall are pretty much on one end of town. The downtown area is kept pretty nice and not so commercial with small shops. I like it this way.

 

[Cruisin]

Yes, big controversy and fights, Home Depot wants to build in our town and some don't want it here and others do.

We are one hour away from the bigger cities that have a Home Depot and I think it would do really well here. Others think it will take away from the businesses that are already here.

 

[Poohbear123]

A Home Depot was delayed for about 8 months due to the county/city line, where one ended and one began. Can't they figure all this out BEFORE they start building?