both sides have cited this page as proof that they are right. I talked with Warren Porter, city manager in Winfield, and asked him who he thought was right. He said both sides were right, "just depends on how you interpret the data."
See commentary below the pictures
To get the best look at these charts, click on them and they will open in another window, in a more readable size
It is true that the study says about Lowe's
A closer analysis indicates that the US-77 Corridor can only support lower additional square feet for such stores. It would be more appropriate to fill this retail gap with a smaller store, such as a Sutherlands. ...
On the other side, in the chart, note tha Lowes is listed as a "representative retailer" that could fit there, if it used its smaller store .. which is what was in the proposal way back when it was brought to the commission.
so the page seems to say on the one hand that while there is a need for such a store, a lowes is too big, but even in saying that, it says a smalelr lowes would work.
I
I did manage to get my hands on a copy of the report, it is interesting reading.
I may try to post more of it later.
james
Posts
3 comments:
The analysis shows that the county has need of a store approximately 89,000 square feet. Lowe's stores were considerably larger so though the products fit it was probably, but not necessarily, too large for the area. Lowe's has since come out with a store with a smaller footprint. In the diagrams provided by the developer at the original TIF workshop back in March the footprint for the Lowe's planned for Arkansas City was 94,000 square feet, almost the same as was suggested for our area. James Jordan attended that workshop and hopefully will be able to add that information as well.
Wouldn't a smaller Lowes just be another ACE which we already have? You would still end up driving to Ponca for many items. The reason no one mentions the rest of the retail space is that we all know the retial space in the shadow of Walmart is empty and this retail space would be too.
This morning I left a copy of the original TIF workshop presented by the developer back in March with James Jordan. James was there at the original workshop and had a copy, though I am sure he had long forgotten it. It answers more questions about the size of the Lowe's and the plans for the full shopping center. There is also a breakdown of all of the costs. If James can put that online for all I'm sure it will help answer a lot of questions.
Patrick McDonald
City Commissioner
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