[Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?

[Matt Decker]

Andreas,

I understand that big business does not bring as much as lets say a mom and pop store, to our community. It does bring 10-15% of taxes into out community. Money that we can use for our community. Along with the jobs, some managerial some lower end, but these businesses are providing jobs.

I would rather have our council look into some of these corporate businesses, instead of pushing them out of Moscow. Maybe a costco?

Matt

> Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:16:16 -0800
> From: ophite at gmail.com
> To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?
> CC: london at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
> 
> Matt --
> 
> There is a basic economic difference between recapturing dollars spent
> in Moscow and drawing in dollars from elsewhere. One recycles value.
> The other creates value.
> 
> Retail does the former. Local retail actually does the former
> perfectly, whereas major chains ships the majority to their
> stockholders and corporate headquarters. Everything else does the
> latter.
> 
> I am not particularly well-disposed toward replacing perfect recyclers
> of value with imperfect recyclers of value, even though the latter
> might be more efficient for the economy as a whole.
> 
> -- ACS
> 
> On Jan 12, 2008 9:46 PM, Matt Decker <mattd2107 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >  All,
> >
> > In regards to Hawkins. How many with a raise of hands have complained about
> > how Moscow has so few choices in regards to restaurants. Wouldn't it be nice
> > if this mall brought an Olive Garden? Maybe a Red Lobster? Perhaps a new
> > Indian food establishment.
> >
> > What if a brought a  higher end clothes business, or a 20 plex movie
> > facility. In other words businesses that we could actually shop locally
> > instead of heading to Lewiston or Spocompton.
> >
> > A local WSU professor did a study in which he states that 80 million dollars
> > is being spent out of town annually. Now I believe you would have to be
> > stubborn to think that Moscow will never grow. Or that the corridor is not a
> > goldmine for businesses. With Idaho now the fastest growing state, we need
> > to get a grasp of how we can build, and do it smartly. Granted this does not
> > concern Hawkins, being that it's proposed to be in Washington, regardless,
> > we must take notes.
> >
> > We all know that have a Schweitzer or a full Alturas park is optimal, our
> > current council included. There are ways to attract these great businesses.
> > Having a town with some choices is one of them. We all love this town, but a
> > few more options on shopping choices would get very few complaints. Students
> > included.
> >
> > Moscow has and will always have a retail/ construction backbone to it.
> > Many are dependent upon this. Without this, many will suffer. Not everyone
> > has the benefits of a union or a university. Point being is that many within
> > Moscow feel our current council understands that 3% growth, along with some
> > other businesses added, is not the end of our great town.
> >
> > So with sprawl being an issue. I have some questions for all
> >
> > 1. How can we have choices without getting away from the downtown area?
> >
> > 2. Should the corridor ever be developed?
> >
> > 3. How can we attract high end tech businesses?
> >
> > 4. How can we save on water?
> >
> > 5. How can we save money within our current city administration and faculty?
> >
> >
> > Take care cow
> > Matt
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: london at moscow.com
> > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:43:16 -0800
> > Subject: [Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?
> >
> >
> >
> >  Won't it be grand?  The Moscow-Pullman Highway turned into one long strip
> > mall.....
> >  And you can read in today's Lewiston Tribune (below) that the first big
> > step in that direction will likely soon be taken.  The new Moscow City
> > Council is under pressure to sell use of Moscow utilities (like sewage and
> > water, and possibly police/fire protection) to the planned Hawkins shopping
> > center located in Washington state on the Moscow-Pullman Highway.  The new
> > council members (pragmatic politicians that they are) seem to be willing to
> > ignore the real issues and fall for a cheap payoff.
> >  If the Moscow council ships utilities across the state line to enable this
> > strip mall, Moscow will face a series of problems, including:
> >  --depletion of the aquifer that supplies this town with most of its water
> >  --massive sprawl that will further uglify the Palouse and ravage existing
> > downtown vitality
> >  --bankruptcy of Moscow businesses unable to compete with this new shopping
> > mall
> >  --continuing future upgrades of Moscow infrastructure to cover the demands
> > made by this extension of services, upgrades that will be paid for by Moscow
> > taxpayers
> >  Is this what Moscow residents really want?
> >  BL
> >
> >  -----------------------------------------
> >  LEWISTON TRIBUNE
> >  Council shift changes outlook for proposed Hawkins development
> >
> >
> > By David Johnson
> >
> > Saturday, January 12, 2008
> > MOSCOW - Politics here may have shifted enough after the November election
> > to trigger talks about the city providing water and sewer services across
> > the state line for the proposed Hawkins Co. shopping center.
> >  A majority of Moscow city councilors, Whitman County commissioners and a
> > spokesman for Hawkins told the Lewiston Tribune there's renewed potential
> > for cooperation.
> >  This despite Moscow's continued legal challenge of Hawkins' attempts to
> > secure water rights to drill its own wells for the 700,000-square-foot
> > shopping mall.
> >  The situation comes as the first of two public comment meetings has been
> > scheduled in Colfax on Monday. The county commissioners will take comments,
> > beginning at 1:30 p.m., regarding Hawkins' recent request for Whitman County
> > to float revenue bonds of more than $10 million to help fund infrastructure
> > (including water and sewer) for the development.
> >  A Whitman County pro-business citizens group, meanwhile, Friday endorsed
> > the proposed bond issue and called on Moscow officials to drop their water
> > rights appeal against Hawkins.
> >  "It's clear Moscow's appeals are not about water but about keeping out
> > particular kinds of businesses," April Coggins, spokeswoman for Businesses
> > and Residents for Economic Opportunity wrote in a news release. "That
> > attitude was rejected by Moscow voters in November and it is our hope that
> > the new Moscow city council will see things differently and seek to
> > cooperate with their neighbors."
> >  Moscow's waterlines extend right up to the Hawkins property, and the sewage
> > treatment plant is located nearby.
> >  "Hawkins is always open to talking to the city of Moscow," said Jeff De
> > Voe, project manager for the proposed shopping center. He declined further
> > comment because of the pending legal appeal.
> >  It remains unclear how much money Moscow might make (through fees) or
> > Hawkins might save if the two entities can reach an agreement about water
> > and sewer services. But City Attorney Randy Fife and Public Works Director
> > Les McDonald confirmed that a hookup of services is both legal and
> > technically possible.
> >  Whitman County Commissioners Jerry Finch and Greg Partch, who continue to
> > champion the Hawkins project as the beginning of retail development between
> > here and Pullman, said it's time for Moscow to either join ranks or get out
> > of the way.
> >  "Moscow didn't say no, they said hell no," Finch said about the city's
> > refusal to cooperate with development of the mall. "Before the election,
> > it's pretty obvious the door had been slammed."
> >  Three new Moscow councilors were elected in November and appear to have
> > become part of a five-member, pro-business majority. The three, Walter
> > Steed, Dan Carscallen and Wayne Krauss, along with council President Bill
> > Lambert, all said they are willing to talk with Hawkins and Whitman County
> > officials about water and sewer services. Councilor John Weber couldn't be
> > reached for comment, but indicated in the past he favors cooperation.
> >  Only Councilor Tom Lamar, who has gone on record opposing retail
> > development in the corridor, balked at renewed talks. "I think the best way
> > for Hawkins to tap into our sewer and water is to locate in Moscow," Lamar
> > said.
> >  Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, who's been accused of spearheading efforts to
> > thwart the Hawkins project, said her intentions are rooted in environmental
> > and groundwater concerns. That was confirmed by McDonald. "The mayor's
> > driving concern," he said, "is the water resource that the whole region
> > relies upon.
> >  "Moscow has always been open to talking," said Chaney, adding that the
> > table for such discussion has already been set through the water rights
> > appeal. She said the city has proposed mediation as a means of settling the
> > issue.
> >  But Partch said talks, if they happen, shouldn't happen in a legal arena.
> > Withdrawal of the appeal, he said, would be the best way for Moscow to show
> > good faith. "That would be a huge gesture on their part," he said, "and we
> > would certainly like to work with them."
> >  The water rights appeal hearings are scheduled to begin in March.
> >  "You can't build without water," Finch said, adding that many people think
> > Chaney is simply using the water issue as the only legal lever available to
> > stop retail development in the corridor. "She's the one who seems to be dead
> > set against it."
> >  A shopping center, said Finch and Partch, is not necessarily a big water
> > consumer. But it would surely be a big revenue producer for the county.
> >  According to county records, the undeveloped Hawkins acreage, which abuts
> > the Moscow city limits and the Washington-Idaho state line, currently
> > generates about $1,400 in annual tax revenue. If the mall is developed to
> > full capacity, it could produce nearly $1.8 million in annual property and
> > sales taxes for the county, De Voe told the commissioners when making his
> > pitch for the $10 million in infrastructure bonds.
> >  While Moscow couldn't directly tap into those tax dollars, councilors here
> > said the city might be able to negotiate a fee for water and sewer services
> > that translates into a profit.
> >  "If it's going to happen and we can sell them something," Lambert said,
> > "why not?"
> >  "I'm very anxious to get together with entities across the border," said
> > Krauss.
> >  "I would be interested in talking about the possibility of extending
> > services to Hawkins," Steed said.
> >  "I think that I would," Carscallen said about talking. Whether Hawkins
> > connects to Moscow or drills its own wells, he said, doesn't seem to make a
> > lot of difference. "They're going to get it out of the same tub we're
> > getting ours."
> >  Researchers have said the underground aquifers on the Palouse have been
> > steadily dropping. But, lacking data about just how much water is available,
> > the same scientists have said a water management challenge is at hand, not a
> > crisis.
> >  Finch suggested its up to Moscow officials, since they've filed the appeal
> > against Hawkins, to propose new talks. "If they send us a letter, I would
> > find it more receptive," he said.
> >  But Lambert said the catalyst for talks might have to come from elsewhere.
> > "I don't see why it would hurt for these people to approach us. Somebody has
> > to generate it, but it wouldn't be something generated by the council, per
> > se."
> >  Moscow City Supervisor Gary Riedner said the city might reach out. "I will
> > do what we can to facilitate it at the mayor's direction."
> >  "I know lots of people are talking about talking," Fife said.
> >  De Voe, meanwhile, told Whitman County officials that his company wants to
> > begin construction this summer. As proposed, the shopping complex would be
> > anchored by a Lowe's home improvement center.
> >  ---
> >
> > ________________________________
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