Comments on: Selig Seeking Public Financing for Suburban Plaza “Urban Store” Redevelopment

By: nearbyneighbor

nearbyneighbor — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:44:09 +0000

oops – small viewing of comments led to double paragraphs when posted. message is good if not the editing.

By: nearbyneighbor

nearbyneighbor — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:40:40 +0000

Suburban is a quirky, funky shopping area. From trophy shop to uniform shop, antiques to sewing supplies and then there’s Last Chance and Picadilly. Sure there are empty storefronts, but that is the case everywhere. The funkiness can be saved and space filled if Trader Joe’s comes in instead. Don’t think many neighbors would oppose Trader’s Joes. And those heading toward Hwy 78 could shop on their way home.

Walmart could build less than1 mile away at the empty, rundown Ford dealership – already an eyesore. With an additional traffic light on L’ville Hwy and a light on Church St access would be good without adding congestion to an already congested 6-way intersection. All adjacent properties are commercial already. The condo’s across L’ville Hwy would benefit from the traffic light as well.

I can see no benefit to a Walmart at Suburban as there are already multiple Walmarts close by. Chamblee at PDK, Memorial Dr at Columbia, Tucker at Lavista & L’ville Hwy and Hwy 78 (for those leaving the Clifton Corridor headed out to St Mtn, Snellville and Lithonia).

Walmart could build less that 1 mile away at the empty, rundown Ford dealership – already an eyesore. With an additional traffic light on L’ville Hwy and a light on Church St access would be good without adding congestion to an already congested 6-way intersection. All adjacent properties are commercial already and the condo’s across L’ville Hwy would benefit from the traffic light as well.

Dekalb is raising the property tax rate to compensate for property tax revenue lost due to lower appraisal values. The area surrounding Suburban is one of the few areas to not suffer significant loss in property values. SO… drive the appraisal value down nearby so less property tax revenue collected and use public funding to assist a major corporation in driving adjacent property values down. Does anyone besides me see the contradiction.

Walmart at Suburban is a lose / lose situation for everyone except Walmart and Selig.

By: Bo

Bo — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:49:37 +0000

My reasoning is that they would make more money because less of the site would be taken up by surface parking, allowing them to put additional retail or other uses on the property. From a developer’s standpoint, that’s the case for density.

By: fifi

fifi — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:23:17 +0000

I get the point about negotiation for concessions that add value for the community. Anything substantive, though, would take serious focus and cooperation on the part of County Commission members. I question whether they’d be able work together in an open, reasonable manner for this type of negotiation.

Even if they do hammer out a good deal in exchange for developer incentives, I wonder if the County departments involved would properly monitor the project to make sure all is completed as agreed. Seems like most of the County departments are short staffed and inefficient.

By: TWB

TWB — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:43:59 +0000

The flip side is that a Wal-Mart will generate a ton more tax revenue than small start-up businesses or most mixes of thrift, mattress or dollar stores. I’m emotionally against the idea of public subsidizing of private business but understand that sometimes ya gotta play the game. The county should only get involved financially if it’s clear that Sub. Plaza will continue its decline without it and it sees a clear path to recouping any subsidies in the not-too-distant future.