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<div>Jeff,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>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.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Beyond that, hats off to Schweitzer for building their business
in the Palouse. We all benefit.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Mark S.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>At 12:27 AM -0700 6/18/06, Jeff Harkins wrote:</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Commissars<br>
<br>
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).<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Oh, that hissing sound you hear - don't worry about it.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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???<br>
<br>
... and Beebe withdrew his proposal for Grain Elevator
Condos????<br>
<br>
I wonder if the town center will be paved in red bricks?<br>
<br>
<br>
At 04:09 PM 6/16/2006, you wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="+3"><b>Wal-Mart shelves
Moscow super center</b></font><br>
<font size="+3"><b></b></font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-1"><br>
<br>
<br>
By ELAINE WILLIAMS<br>
of the Tribune<br>
<br>
Wal-Mart has put plans for a super center in Moscow on the back
burner.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
"Wal-Mart has decided to re-evaluate our opportunities for a
super center in Moscow,'' Fallow said in a Thursday announcement.<br>
<br>
"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.</font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-1"><br>
Wal-Mart will continue to operate its existing Moscow store, Fallow
said.<br>
<br>
Wal-Mart will also seek to open a 223,000-square-foot super center on
Bishop Boulevard in Pullman, Fallow said.<br>
<br>
That project has been appealed by Pullman Alliance for Responsible
Development in Whitman County Superior Court.<br>
<br>
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.''<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Wal-Mart's decision is directly related to action taken by the Moscow
City Council last month, Fallow said.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
At the time, the council indicated that a rezone request for a lesser
amount of property might be acceptable.<br>
<br>
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.''<br>
<br>
First the land needed to be rezoned and then how much needed to be
rezoned wasn't clear, Fallow said.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
"We certainly respect the decision Wal-Mart has made,'' said Bill
Belknap, assistant city supervisor. "We wish them the best in
their endeavors.''<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
"It's great news that the most predatory retailer on the planet
won't be gaining any larger presence in Moscow,'' Solomon said.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.''<br>
<br>
Solomon disagreed. Wal-Mart jobs replace better paying ones in
existing local businesses, Solomon said.<br>
<br>
------<br>
<br>
Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or at (208)
743-9600, ext. 261.<br>
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