[Vision2020] no superwalmart -- Tribune report
Matt Decker
mattd2107 at hotmail.com
Tue Jun 20 22:22:14 PDT 2006
Mark,
Hey you might be right, Hawkins might not build. However, I until that point
I will assume they will. Check out the 6" gas line going to the border. Do
you think that is was put in for a one acre telecom business? Maybe the
Nissan dealership smack in the middle of Moscow and Pullman? I think not. In
fact I would willing to bet Whitman county will run a 12" water main out to
the border within 2 years. Why? Beacause they are smart and will enjoy the
revenue. Money for their children, law enforcement, science centers, etc. We
on the other hand don't want the tax revenue.
We want to imagine that Moscow will stay a 20 K populas forever. Lets wise
up though, its not. In fact its one of the fastest growing states .
Couerdalane is the fourth fastest growing small towns in the US. Idaho will
grow. Point being do we want to weigh the differences and realize that we
can have growth, maintain or since of community, and conserve our precious
water?
On a different point Mark, you keep bringing up the point of taxes being a
small point. Why? Property taxes of a walmart or lowes or sportsmens
warehouse or whatever will bring about 20-30 k per year. Sales tax per your
12-17 percent of the sales tax staying locally would bring on a conservative
annual gross income of 10 Mill, around 60 K(yes my assumptions but Im sure
realistic). Which would eqaul 80-90 k not even including donations towards
our area. Granted we take a chance of big black empty spots if they go
under. Doesn't any business?
Mark whats gets me, is that I find you as a very intelligent and devoted
man, which I respect. I don't understand why you don't have any solutions
towards our problems. Such as water, what whould we do? Grey Water,
resevoirs, remove yards all together? What would be the growth that you
would like to see specifically? I agree that a Naylor Farms or a Walmart are
not the best answer, but limiting all growth on an iffy water issue, which
could be resolved by a little thought and elbow grease is not the sollution.
Good night
MD
>From: Mark Solomon <msolomon at moscow.com>
>To: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>, jeffh at moscow.com,
>london at moscow.com, vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] no superwalmart -- Tribune report
>Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 05:21:31 -0700
>
>Matt,
>
>Read my previous posts and columns on why it is unlikely that the Hawkin's
>development will be built (water supply) and the difference in taxation
>structures between Idaho and Washington that diminishes the importance of
>sales tax revenues in the general scheme of things in Moscow. Sure, there
>would be an increase in property tax revenue if a building was built in
>Moscow, but that can be of a very fleeting nature witness the dark
>Tidyman's building and the 33% reduction in assessed value now that it is
>dark. That spiral down will continue each year it is empty as part of the
>commercial property assessment formula is an "income test".
>
>Mark
>
>At 10:25 PM -0700 6/19/06, Matt Decker wrote:
>>Mark,
>>
>>How was the party? Was everyone giving high fives to the fact that Wally
>>world is gone? Did we all have a good time since this was the best for
>>Moscow? I myself laugh in dismay wondering why we push these companies 100
>>feet over the border.
>>
>>Now the new rumor is Walmart is trying to move in with the Hawkins
>>development. Well hey you won. You might have managed to push them over to
>>Whitman county, allowing hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax revenue
>>to be spent over there. My kids will hopefully have a new school by the
>>time they are 16, but not at this rate.
>>
>>Face it Mark, tax money is crossing the border. Why shouldn't we join in?
>>
>>Matt
>>
>>>From: Mark Solomon <msolomon at moscow.com>
>>>To: Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com>, "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>;,
>>> vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] no superwalmart -- Tribune report
>>>Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 07:13:00 -0700
>>>
>>>Jeff,
>>>
>>>I never said I was not concerned about the loss of sales tax dollars. I
>>>did say that due to the ID sales tax distribution formula and the
>>>difference in tax structures between WA and ID, the weight of sales tax
>>>revenue in the decision to approve or disapprove a motor business rezone
>>>in Moscow was a minor part of the issues to be considered, especially as
>>>the Pullman supercenter was expected to siphon off the Pullman trade that
>>>had been coming to Moscow. Let's remember that we were not given a
>>>choice between building a store in Pullman or Moscow: the Pullman store
>>>was well on the path toward approval while the Moscow store had not even
>>>been heard of. And to answer your question ahead of time: I would have
>>>opposed a Moscow supercenter even if it was the first out of the blocks
>>>as we already have a Walmart and a Winco.
>>>
>>>Beyond that, hats off to Schweitzer for building their business in the
>>>Palouse. We all benefit.
>>>
>>>Mark S.
>>>
>>>At 12:27 AM -0700 6/18/06, Jeff Harkins wrote:
>>>>Commissars
>>>>
>>>>Yes, this was disappointing news - the loss of this retail investment is
>>>>tragic. But, perhaps WalMart will reconsider the Pullman location and
>>>>move the supercenter store to the corridor (and close the current Moscow
>>>>location).
>>>>
>>>>Grocery patrons can then enjoy sales-tax-free grocery purchases - and
>>>>get all the shopping benefits of a supercenter - without actually having
>>>>to have one in Moscow. I recall Solomon and others not concerned about
>>>>loss of sales tax revenue since there is not a direct return on those
>>>>dollars to city coffers.
>>>>
>>>>With the new four-lane road, access should be great and my guess is that
>>>>there will be more than adequate parking. In all likelihood, WallMart
>>>>will allow the Moscow-Pullman shuttle bus to use their location for a
>>>>bus stop. Proximity to Bike trail will make two-wheel access easy.
>>>>
>>>>I had the chance to visit the new Kennewick WalMart supercenter store a
>>>>couple of weeks ago. They had a very good organic food section (most of
>>>>the produce locally grown - Tri-Cities area) and the best selection of
>>>>Mexican/Spanish condiments I have seen outside of Mexico.
>>>>
>>>>Oh, that hissing sound you hear - don't worry about it.
>>>>
>>>>Perhaps it passed your noting, but front page of Daily News also carried
>>>>a story about job growth in Pullman. It was noteworthy to see that
>>>>Schweitzer Eng. will expand its manufacturing facilities in Pullman and
>>>>add another 300 jobs. Presumably the initial infusion of salary dollars
>>>>to Pullman will be approximately $20 MM dollars annually (300 jobs at
>>>>$65,000). As those salaries are converted into product (all of which
>>>>are exported utility grid and related components), the gross effect to
>>>>the Pullman area could exceed $50 MM annually - as a point of reference,
>>>>that is about $15 to $20 MM higher than the total annual gross
>>>>production of agriculture in Latah County.
>>>>
>>>>Meanwhile, our own local brain trust is busily crafting their vision of
>>>>the ultimate planned economy ... high rise condos and apartments within
>>>>one mile of downtown? Mixed use neighborhoods with easy access
>>>>shopping, electric car repair and laundramats - ???????? Will
>>>>neighborhood taverns be allowed???
>>>>
>>>> ... and Beebe withdrew his proposal for Grain Elevator Condos????
>>>>
>>>>I wonder if the town center will be paved in red bricks?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>At 04:09 PM 6/16/2006, you wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Wal-Mart shelves Moscow super center
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>By ELAINE WILLIAMS
>>>>>of the Tribune
>>>>>
>>>>>Wal-Mart has put plans for a super center in Moscow on the back burner.
>>>>>
>>>>>Wal-Mart will not pursue a location on the southeast corner of Mountain
>>>>>View Road and Highway 8, east of a former Tidyman's site and near
>>>>>Eastside Marketplace, said Karianne Fallow, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart
>>>>>in Boise.
>>>>>
>>>>>"Wal-Mart has decided to re-evaluate our opportunities for a super
>>>>>center in Moscow,'' Fallow said in a Thursday announcement.
>>>>>
>>>>>"While we're fully committed to continuing to serve our customers on
>>>>>the Palouse, we can't continue to delay our relocation plans at this
>>>>>time,'' Fallow said.
>>>>>
>>>>>Wal-Mart will continue to operate its existing Moscow store, Fallow
>>>>>said.
>>>>>
>>>>>Wal-Mart will also seek to open a 223,000-square-foot super center on
>>>>>Bishop Boulevard in Pullman, Fallow said.
>>>>>
>>>>>That project has been appealed by Pullman Alliance for Responsible
>>>>>Development in Whitman County Superior Court.
>>>>>
>>>>>And Wal-Mart will also look for alternative super center sites in
>>>>>Moscow, Fallow said. "We still continue to view Pullman and Moscow as
>>>>>two very distinct markets.''
>>>>>
>>>>>Fallow said Wal-Mart has no plans to build a super center in Lewiston
>>>>>at this time. Rumors about such a store have been circulating in
>>>>>Lewiston for months.
>>>>>
>>>>>Wal-Mart's decision is directly related to action taken by the Moscow
>>>>>City Council last month, Fallow said.
>>>>>
>>>>>The panel rejected a request to rezone 77 acres from
>>>>>agriculture-forestry to motor business, a designation that could have
>>>>>opened the door for a number of big-box retailers on the site.
>>>>>
>>>>>At the time, the council indicated that a rezone request for a lesser
>>>>>amount of property might be acceptable.
>>>>>
>>>>>But Wal-Mart isn't interested in following up, Fallow said. "The city
>>>>>council has continually changed the rules of the game. And creating a
>>>>>guessing game for any kind of development is a very expensive
>>>>>endeavor.''
>>>>>
>>>>>First the land needed to be rezoned and then how much needed to be
>>>>>rezoned wasn't clear, Fallow said.
>>>>>
>>>>>Then it wasn't possible for the store plans to be reviewed before the
>>>>>rezone and other parts of the process were settled, Fallow said.
>>>>>
>>>>>Attempts to reach the city's elected officials Thursday afternoon by
>>>>>e-mail were not successful. All of them were out of town, most of them
>>>>>attending the Idaho Association of Cities conference in Lewiston.
>>>>>
>>>>>"We certainly respect the decision Wal-Mart has made,'' said Bill
>>>>>Belknap, assistant city supervisor. "We wish them the best in their
>>>>>endeavors.''
>>>>>
>>>>>Mark Solomon, a coordinator of No Super Wal-Mart, said Moscow already
>>>>>has the services a Wal-Mart would have provided at its own store and in
>>>>>retailers owned by Palouse residents.
>>>>>
>>>>>"It's great news that the most predatory retailer on the planet won't
>>>>>be gaining any larger presence in Moscow,'' Solomon said.
>>>>>
>>>>>Solomon's group already had a party planned for 7 p.m. tonight at the
>>>>>1912 Center in Moscow to mark the previous zoning decision of the city
>>>>>council. "There will be additional cause to celebrate Moscow's
>>>>>vitality,'' Solomon said.
>>>>>
>>>>>But Fallow said it's wrong for Moscow residents to view her employer's
>>>>>decision as a victory. "With a super center comes additional jobs,
>>>>>additional tax revenue. You name it, there are a lot of benefits to
>>>>>having a super center in the city.''
>>>>>
>>>>>Solomon disagreed. Wal-Mart jobs replace better paying ones in existing
>>>>>local businesses, Solomon said.
>>>>>
>>>>>------
>>>>>
>>>>>Williams may be contacted at ewilliam at lmtribune.com or at (208)
>>>>>743-9600, ext. 261.
>>>>>=====================================================
>>>>> List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>>>http://www.fsr.net
>>>>>mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>>>====================================================
>>
>>
>>>=====================================================
>>> List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>> http://www.fsr.net
>>> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>====================================================
>>
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