The city commission on Wednesday night moved forward with plans to bring Lowe’s to Emporia.
The commission voted 5-0 to create a Transportation Development District to finance part of the costs of infrastructure improvements at the site at the northeast corner of 24th Avenue and Industrial Road.
A 1 percent sales tax within the district will help finance the construction and improvement of streets, signs and signals, streetscape improvements and other infrastructure projects related to the site.
“(One) goal is to improve certain infrastructure things that we’re going to have to pay for anyway,” Commissioner Jim Kessler said. “To me, this is a start.”
The commission then voted 4-1 to adopt an ordinance creating a redevelopment agreement that specifies the obligations of the developer, D.J. Christie. Commissioner Julie Johnson cast the dissenting vote.
“This is one of those issues for me that is an honest difference of opinion and an honest difference in philosophy of what the role of government is in retail development,” Johnson said. “... My research and my reading has led me to conclude that TIFs and TDDs, while they may look good on paper, in the long run really do not work as far as retail economic development tools. ...”
The development agreement has a built-in expiration of 24 months, to ensure the development is started in that time frame. According to a preliminary schedule, construction could begin as early as July. Dave Christie said the plan is to have Phase One of the project, with Lowe’s finished and open for business, wrapped up in December of 2010.
Commissioner Jeff Longbine said the agreement was strong and well thought-out and was put together with protections for the city.
“What started out as a bond issue quickly became pay-as-you-go,” Longbine said, describing Christie’s agreement to pay for construction and site work with private loans because of the state of the bond market. “The developer is the one who has a stake in the game at this point. ... I think the important thing to remember is that no money will be reimbursed or paid to this project until this project is generating revenue.”
Longbine said if the project performs as expected, it will be paid off sooner. If it doesn’t, “the developer’s going to end up short.”
The struggling economy could mean delays in the project, but supporters of the plan say that Lowe’s is committed to coming to town.
“It may get protracted further,” Kent Heermann, Regional Development Association president, said. “I think Lowe’s is optimistic on the economy, but they’re also realistic. The economy will turn, it’s just when.”
In other business, commissioners:
F authorized Agler to sign a proclamation declaring Feb. 25 as “Jeline Harclerode Day” in Emporia. Harclerode recently was selected as one of the seven Kansas Master Teachers for 2009.
F approved an engineering contract with Professional Engineering Consultants, Inc. in the amount of $344,000 for improvements to the water treatment plant and to develop a master plan to identify a strategy for the city’s future water supply. Improvements needed at the plant include the replacement of the middle basin train and work on the raw water pump station, the chemical feed building and the high service pump station.
F appointed Samuel Tosti to serve a three-year term on the Board of Zoning Appeals.
F appointed Chris Vahsholtz to serve a four-year term on the Golf Advisory Board.
Tell (anonymous) says...
I understand that Ron Rhodes the water treatment supervisor also has done or currently does consulting work for the same Professional Engineering Consultants who we just entered into a contract with.
February 19, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stevo (anonymous) says...
Great Job Commisioners...Now we can loose more businesses and jobs in Emporia, Why can't we try to keep what we have and add to it..Why do you always have to ruin businesses to make one... There goes 20 businesses by 2010..... The bright side is that the "Emporia Gazette" won't be able to do their business slam "Best of the Flinthills" for there will be only one left of each business since the Commisioners and Gazette will see to that.... (In my opinion, every business in the flinthills are "The Best" not just the ones that Mommy and Daddy left you..There are many businesses that were started by the owners 10-15 years ago...
February 19, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sadinemporia (anonymous) says...
Is Ms. Harclerode the only Emporia teacher that has been named a Master Teacher in Emporia history? If not, are there days named for every other Master Teacher from Emporia?
February 19, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Wow! must have been a rough day!
February 19, 2009 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Matt66647 (anonymous) says...
Still Fantasizing that Lowes is Coming to Town?
Don't Think So....Take a Look at Today's News...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pi...
February 20, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Genesius (anonymous) says...
I am mystified after reading this, so much so that it is keeping me up at night. Have our city officials looked at a news article outside of Emporia recently, or even read the articles right beside the ones that mention their names????
Really? REALLY? Our city officals honestly believe that right now, at this moment- bareing the financial neck of the city before the big box store gods is the best decesion to make?
Just a few things-
1. Economic Depression- do you know what that is? Do you even know what that means?
2. Declining sales for the 2nd straight quarter (or is it third now?) in Realestate, Construction, and home remodeling.
3. Maybe, just maybe we should focus on incentives and programs for our LOCALLY OWNED stores whose profit margins are more likely to be reinvested in EMPORIA KANSAS not the Hamptons.
February 20, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
therealme (anonymous) says...
Here are my thoughts. Sutherlands products are not that great. most of its overpriced junk. Mark II is great. I go there for all that i can but they dont carry alot of the things that i need therefore i am always driving to a lowes in topeka or olathe. I know alot of people that do this. It would be best for emporia to have a lowes. Also i have tried purchasing from some of the places in emporia to help give back to the city but honestly i end up getting the run around from salesman when i try to buy things here they tend to try not to sell me anything. I'm so frustrated with most the local retail businesses in this town that ill drive somewhere else to spend my money now days. These businesses need to start returning phone calls and be nice to their customers to keep them coming back.
March 11, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )