Institutionalizing sprawl and looking past existing infrastructure

Shoppes at Wyndham Village: Fill vacant space or BUILD MORE?

So, the Sentry grocery store at the corner of Rawson and 76th has announced that it will close by the end of October. The store was superfluous (throw a rock in Franklin and you'll hit a Pick n Save; I have three to choose from in proximity to my house), but the property will be a blight as long as it stands vacant. Across the street from that soon-to-be-empty building are a vacant coffee shop and vacant martini bar. The Shoppes at Wyndham Village outbuildings are largely vacant as well.

Meanwhile, at the Economic Development Commission meeting last night, I suggested that we focus at least part of our efforts on nurturing small, local businesses to fill some of these vacancies and encourage rehabs and retrofits. A fellow (and long-serving) commissioner responded to my suggestion by gravely reminding all assembled  that "our mission is development of tracts of land to attract business."

Really?

I will argue in a series of subsequent posts (and at the next EDC meeting) that our mission must be much, much broader than that. Stay tuned.

Comments

[Greg Kowalski]

John,

Yet another example of leadership not realizing that the times have past them. Perhaps term limits should be imposed on commissioners, aldermen, and the mayor's office to ensure that there will be some form of "new blood" in those positions within a certain timeframe.

To have EDC member(s?) react with an answer like that to your very valid point of filling in current vacancies only tells me that they're still thinking Franklin is in the midst of an economic development boom.

Such commissions like the EDC need to put priorities together, and put current Franklin developments first rather than on the backburner in favor of more "empty" proposals - literally.

[John Michlig]

I think the EDCs focus is narrow - and NARROWING - when it has to get much broader. It may fall to me to rock the boat and endure a few more icy stares.

[J. Strupp]

If the EDC's primary mission is to facilitate the, "development of tracts of land to attract business.", then you guys are going to have an extremely light workload the next few years.

[John Michlig]

I may have to someday post the audio from the now-infamous "Michlig meeting" where I had about 5 items on the agenda -- all batted away until the last one (my coffee shop/co-working concept).

Light workload, indeed.