tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1057262584896477189.post6106308066513999994..comments2023-03-07T02:03:23.535-08:00Comments on Poway Blog: Supersize Me- Part2: Poway WalMart's Impact on Our CommunityChris Crusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489810250555135219noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1057262584896477189.post-81395030446385498262009-06-03T06:52:58.445-07:002009-06-03T06:52:58.445-07:00I am not particularly fond of Walmart and some of ...I am not particularly fond of Walmart and some of their practices, but I honestly feel that the city council can't do much to stop this even if they wanted to. And I don't think they want to stop the Walmart expansion.<br /><br />Why would the council want to stop this expansion? If you put car dealerships at the east of town you want high traffic flow in the area. And that will require masses from outside of Poway coming to town. Lease and sale value of commercial property is partly based on area traffic flow. High traffic translates into business and raises the value of these properties. I doubt you will find many, if any, retail business owner in Poway against area traffic. The city council would be shooting themselves in the foot if they crossed Poway business owners.<br /><br />Walmart probably wouldn't be proposing an expansion if they weren't already being successful in Poway. In my opinion, if you want to stop Walmart you have to show Walmart executives that the community does not want them here. That requires grass-root community involvement and you need a large base of resident supporters.<br /><br />The community of Poway has changed radically in the last 20 years. I am surprised when I hear people still quoting the words, "The City in the Country," like it implies Poway is a country town or that local government has fought to make it so. Poway has good community people, but it has become a city of franchise retailers, big-box stores, and strip malls. There are still some good one-of-a-kind mom and pop stores here, but many have been forced out. I still mourn over the loss of Mikey's Coffeehouse, but places like that don't fit into the model of some people's Poway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1057262584896477189.post-70274446076775028132008-03-28T12:33:00.000-07:002008-03-28T12:33:00.000-07:00The Poway Wal-Mart’s proposed SuperCenter needs to...The Poway Wal-Mart’s proposed SuperCenter needs to be considered as a quality of life issue.<BR/><BR/>Many South Poway residents in the Midland Road/Community Road/Old Poway Park area have not been happy campers with the Aubrey Park-PGSL (POWAY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE) scream-athon. PGSL’S so-called “field of dreams” is an ongoing field of nightmares for Aubrey park residents. This is in addition to -- yet another -- city sponsored 80-unit low income housing complex under construction on Brighton Avenue near Midland Road. The impending negative impact of this high density housing complex has many nearby residents upset. <BR/><BR/>Thus, the last thing this former quiet and desirable neighborhood needs is another high-traffic, high-density monstrosity. A gigantic 200,000 sq. ft. Wal-Mart SuperCenter operating 24 hours a day/7 days a week is simply too intense of a commercial facility to place in the middle of this South Poway neighborhood -- surrounded on three sides by families and lots of kids in apartments and homes.<BR/><BR/>Besides, where is the benefit to the City of Poway? After Poway deals with expenses for extra sheriff staff and traffic-related problems and costs, there will be little, if any, net gain in sales tax for the city. Note that Wal-Mart's proposed expansion will primarily sell groceries which are non-taxable. Inevitably, one or two of South Poway’s current grocery stores, Von’s, Stater Brother’s and Henry’s, will likely be forced out of business which will eliminate shopping choices for all Powegians.<BR/><BR/>In order to proceed with building the SuperCenter extension, Wal-Mart will need approval from the City of Poway for a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (C.U.P.). Concerned Powegians are strongly encouraged to contact our City Council Members and let them know what you think about this proposal.KAREN KNECHThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12598067576513270288noreply@blogger.com