Say What?

I know the importance of civic engagement, supporting local businesses, and the havoc that giant corporate entities like Wal-Mart can wreak on a small community.

I've lived it more than once in small towns in South Dakota and Iowa. But that story has been told over and over, and some just don't want to believe it, so we'll leave that one for the history books.

- "Efforts of PARD must go on," Patricia Freitag Ericsson, Letter to the Editor, Moscow- Pullman Daily News, July 18, 2008

I'm wondering if Dr. Freitag Ericsson, a WSU English professor and professional colleague of PARDners T.V. Reed and Alex Hammond, would be willing to elaborate more on how Wal-Mart "wreaks havoc on a small community."

According to her CV, she graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1972 and then worked as a high school teacher in Vermillion, SD. Wal-Mart did not open any stores in South Dakota until 1990. In any case, she worked at Dakota State University in Madison, SD from 1982 to 1997. There is no Wal-Mart in Madison, SD.

I'm not sure where Iowa fits in. Wal-Mart didn't open any stores in Iowa until 1983, when Dr. Freitag Ericsson was living and working in South Dakota. She did receive a master's degree in 1988 from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, which is on the border with Iowa. But Rock Island is part of the Quad Cities area that has over 400,000 people. Hardly a "small town."

She then taught at Michigan Tech in Houghton, MI from 1998 to 2003. Houghton does have a Wal-Mart Supercenter, as well as a ShopKo. However, Houghton was recently included in the book The 100 Best Small Towns in America. That doesn't sound very havocy. But to be fair, she didn't mention Michigan.

I'm anxiously awaiting Dr. Freitag Ericsson's next letter to the editor where no doubt she will detail the exact havoc that was wreaked, as well as the specific places where it occurred. Like Agent Mulder, I want to believe.

"Local developers work to build towns, save schools"

Whitman County's small towns are not agonizing about "sprawl" or "architorture." They just want to survive.

From yesterday's Whitman County Gazette:

While many eyes in the county are focused on the Hawkins’ development and the income it is expected to generate, other developments are popping up on the edges of many small towns in the county. Local residents have been taking on the role of developers to keep their schools viable and strengthen and build their communities.

“We just think we’ve got good options for people here,” said Art Schultheis, co-developer of Southview in Colton.

As a former member of the planning commission, Dale Miller, Uniontown, came to realize the town needed to increase its population. The commission encouraged people to develop and one family started to, but backed away due to costs.

“It’s not cheap to develop land,” he said. Miller noted that since small towns don’t attract developers, locals have to shoulder the load. He is a managing partner of the Rolling Hills development which is located on the land that started to be developed. He said that locals becoming developers in their small towns was an investment in the community.

Miller and Schultheis both noted the need for more houses to keep the school district viable. Schultheis pointed out that the school has the same number of families as when he graduated 25 years ago, but with fewer children per family the enrollment numbers have dropped. The solution is to bring more families into the district which would require more houses.

Paul Hendrickson, Garfield, also realized the need for more housing. As a member of the school board he has seen the number of students dwindle as farms become bigger and the families operating them become smaller. He said that the problem was not that the community was drying up within city limits, but the school district was losing rural families. Rural bus routes that once produced a load of children are no longer taken because there are no children to pick up.

Hendrickson is developing Sunrise Ridge Estates with lots two to six acres each on the 80 acre development. The land was once farm ground, part of which was already within city limits, and was annexed into the city for development. Hendrickson chose to go with the larger lots and have them zoned for large animals.

“We needed alternatives in our housing,” he said. He noted it was difficult to buy only five acres in the county and wanted to increase housing options for people.

“We’re trying to add some growth,” he said. To attract attention, Hendrickson felt smaller communities need a niche to attract new families.

Schultheis also found that to be true. His said the next development plans will include smaller lots for retired people or new homeowners who can’t afford larger homes and/or don’t want to maintain a large yard.

Schultheis has also developed what was once farm land that was already within city limits. In 2003 Schultheis and brother Greg broke ground on the cropland and started putting in lots for a subdivision. Since then 28 lots have been added. At first they sold only lots, but when contacted by buyers who wanted to move into a home, the brothers started to build houses on some of the properties. They are currently building the third house.

Miller noted Uniontown can attract families that commute to different metro areas. He feels the town’s location halfway between the Moscow-Pullman and Lewiston-Clarkston areas makes it a good place for families to split their commute.

The small town appeal for those looking to get out of urban area also works in the small towns’ favors. Miller noted the development could also draw people looking to get into a rural setting, but not have the problems and hassles of living in the country.

“We know we have a really nice little town,” he said.

Despite all the developments, small towns are not about to be inundated with empty lots and houses. The Rolling Hills development has a total of 40 lots on 25 acres, but Miller noted only 15 lots are currently being development with paving and water system installed and other lots will be developed as they sell. He felt the ideal population for Uniontown would be 400 to 600; a number which would support the town and attract business.

Schultheis aims for sales of three or four houses a year, hoping to sell at least one a quarter.

With the increase of families and people, an increase in business is anticipated.

“More people will always influence the community,” said Hendrickson.

Miller also pointed out that more citizens means more people who can volunteer to help out in the community. Each lot that sells also increases the city’s tax revenue with connection fees and property taxes.

“But you’ve got to have people first,” Schultheis said.

EC Hay & Sons is building a development in Tekoa, but could not be reached for comment before press time.

Shiny Happy People

According to yesterday's Lewiston Tribune, that could have ben the title of Queen Nancy's "State of the City" address Wednesday in Moscow. Nothing says "economic development" more than a bank teller that knows your name:

Moscow mayor reflects on city's 'evolving vision'
Chaney delivers her annual address to chamber

MOSCOW - Amid lists of accomplishments, goals and challenges, Mayor Nancy Chaney on Wednesday voiced some of the governing philosophy that continues to guide her into the next two years of her four-year term.

"One of the objectives of city government is to put in place the rules, plans and resources necessary to guide a community toward its collective, evolving vision," Chaney told members of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce during her annual State of the City address. "Moscow is doing just that as we revise our guiding document, the comprehensive plan, last drafted in 1999."

Through what she characterized as public outreach on a "grand scale," Chaney said a series of objectives, ranging from preserving small town community character to providing employment opportunities for all residents, has been established as a template for the future.

Chaney has been criticized for attempting to rein in economic development that doesn't fit her vision. She continues to question, for example, retail development across the border in the Moscow-Pullman corridor. Instead, she touts the concept of a "knowledge corridor" geared less to physical development of the eight-mile stretch of highway and more to educational exchange between the University of Idaho here and at Washington State University in Pullman.

The mayor spoke to a crowd of about 75 during a noon luncheon at the University Inn-Best Western.

"The state of a city is undoubtedly reflected in economic statistics, and they are important," Chaney said. "What sustains a community through good times and bad, including economic downturns, are personal connections and place identity."

She listed various price discounts and gestures like bank tellers knowing people by sight as "the stuff of community, and what keeps so many of us ferociously protective of whatever it is that makes Moscow, Moscow."

Chaney said the deaths last year of City Councilor John Dickinson in an automobile mishap and police officer Lee Newbill in a multi-death shooting showed that Moscow is not immune to tragedy, but is filled with "extraordinary support and compassion."

The mayor took office with a city council that leaned toward not only her politics, but her vision. That, according to most observers, changed last November. "Our new city council begins its journey in the midst of the comprehensive plan revision," Chaney said, comparing the route ahead to what Alice took in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

"If, like Alice, we didn't much care where (the city is going), we wouldn't be at this meeting today," said Chaney, "and frankly, probably wouldn't have government or State of the City addresses at all."

But people who live in a community, said Chaney, want and seek order, safety and social structure. And to that end, they create rules, guidelines and government. All of it adds to the complexity and costs of ensuring a community's future, she said. "Because we are Moscow, we endeavor to accomplish those objectives Moscow's way."

"As the nation enters a period of economic downturn, it is especially important to focus on local assets and strengths in our regional economy and ways we can reinvest in Moscow," Chaney said. She listed education, health care and technology as logical areas of focus. The town can be insulated from negative outside economic forces by increased interest in renewable energy, green building and a buy local mentality, Chaney said.

She challenged those attending to make a list of Moscow characteristics that attracted and kept them here. "They are the same things that will attract new businesses, academics and families here," Chaney said. "With active marketing, Moscow is on the path to becoming the model for solid economic development and coveted quality of life."

Chaney solicited questions at the end of her address, but none were asked.

Too bad. I can think of at least a couple.

"Madam Mayor, you mentioned your opposition to retail in the corridor and a 'buy local' mentality. Would you care to square this with the reality that the two largest businesses to open in Moscow during your administration are national retailers Old Navy and Bed, Bath and Beyond, the University of Idaho's negotiations with Home Depot to locate behind the Palouse Mall, and the plans for national chain drugstore Walgreen's and chain restaurant Shari's to open soon in the city?"

"Madam Mayor, one more question. You have focused on what you call the 'sustainable revolution' and developing a so-called 'knowledge ccorridor' of high-tech businesses. But did you realize that the employees of the Alturas Technology Park and their families consume 2.07 times the annual water use of a Wal-Mart Supercenter?"

Perception Becomes Reality

The Perception:

With the denial of a rezone that would have brought a Wal-Mart Supercenter to Moscow and the institution of the Large Retail Establishment Ordinance — aka the big-box ordinance — in February, some people say there is a perception Moscow isn’t welcome to new business, or is too selective on what it allows.

Some are concerned that Moscow will lose its status as “retail base of the Palouse” to Whitman County, while others say they are just trying to protect the Moscow they know and love.

- "Chilly climate for commerce?", Moscow-Pullman Daily News, December 19, 2006

The Reality:

From last Saturday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Home Depot puts brakes on Moscow store

The Home Depot won't be locating in Moscow anytime soon.

The national home-improvement and garden retail outlet had been working toward an agreement to build a store behind the Palouse Mall in Moscow, but corporate officials have decided to take a step back, said Gerard Billington, real estate officer for the University of Idaho.

"We had been working with Home Depot vigorously and we thought we had an agreement, but they declined," Billington said. "They didn't think the deal worked out for them.

"They were crunching numbers, looking at site numbers, site prep costs, land costs, development costs and potential revenue from sales in smaller markets."

The University of Idaho owns the 600-acre piece of land where Home Depot was looking to build, and any deal between the UI and Home Depot would have been a ground lease.

Billington said as far as he knows, the fact that Lowe's - a national home improvement store planning to locate in a proposed retail development in Whitman County - could be coming to the area had nothing to do with Home Depot's hesitation.

"I'm sure Lowe's would impact a future Home Depot and Home Depot would impact a future Lowe's, but I don't know that it was a decision point," he said.

UI officials have had a couple conversations with Home Depot since last fall in an attempt to work out an agreement, but no commitment has been made.

"They wanted to take another look at the agreement," Billington said.

He said he hasn't heard anything from Home Depot since the UI's last conversation with company officials in December.

"Home Depot continues to review and monitor the market and trade area for a site that will work for us and serve the community well," Home Depot spokeswoman Kathryn Gallagher said. "To date, an economical solution has not been found. However, we are constantly turning over new ideas, leads and solutions."

The Laws of Attraction (and Destination)

Wikipedia defines a tourist attraction as "a place of interest where tourists visit." A tourist destination, on the other hand, is a "city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism" and has multiple attractions.

For example, Silverwood is an attraction that people are willing to drive several hours to get to and spend the day there. Orlando, with dozens of huge theme parks, is a destination where people come from all over the world to spend a week or more visiting. The same comparisons can be made between the Coeur d'Alene Casino and Las vegas.

The destination principle applies to retail shopping. That is why we have auto rows, shopping malls, strip malls, and clusters of big box stores.

Scotty touched on this quite well the other day. We have two grocery stores and two building supply stores in Pullman, but the photos in the paper showed WSU students and their parents purchasing groceries and lumber at Winco and Tri-State in Moscow. Why? It's Business 101. West Pullman Road in Moscow, with Wal-Mart, the Palouse Mall, and the other large stores lining the street, is the shopping destination on the Palouse. When people think of going shopping, that is where they go; they don't drive all over town to widely separated stores.

Today, Old Navy will open in the Palouse Mall, to be followed soon by Bed, Bath and Beyond. These are shopping attractions that will further enhance the status of Moscow as the shopping destination of the Palouse.

According to last Saturday's Daily News

The first thing Lindsey Kwate, 4 and her 8-year-old sister Sarah wanted to do once they got to the Palouse Mall was to go to Old Navy.

The store isn't open quite yet, so they'll have to wait for the grand opening scheduled for Wednesday.

Old Navy, along with Bed Bath & Beyond are replacing Gottschalks, which closed over the winter.

Bed Bath & Beyond hasn't announced an official opening date, but Palouse Mall leasing and property manager Jim Bendickson estimated an opening date in the middle of August.

The Kwates slurped on smoothies from Orange Julius with their babysitter, Beth Bailey of Moscow.

"I usually go to Maurices when I go to the mall, but now that Old Navy is here I'll probably come a lot more," Bailey said.

Bendickson said he has been working for four or five years to get Old Navy to the area.

"They are marketable to students and their families in the Palouse and the Lewiston/Clarkston area," he said.

He said Bed Bath & Beyond was a little less of a challenge and has taken about two years.

"A lot of people go to Spokane to go to these stores, and now they don't have to travel as far; it's also good for the LC valley," said Stacey Holbrook, marketing director for the Palouse Mall.

Bendickson said bringing the stores to the Palouse keeps people shopping locally and not filtering out to places like Spokane or the Tri Cities.

Old Navy is employing 50 people and Bed Bath & Beyond is employing 100 people, according to Holbrook.

Bendickson said the flavor of the mall has changed over the years, but he would like to continue to include local stores into the mix.

He said he is looking forward to having more of a draw of entertainment, restaurants, foods and services at the mall.

"We are going to continue in that direction and we're working with possible tenants usually in larger major metropolitan areas, and in spring 2008 I think you're going to see tenants that have been wanted by consumers for a long time," he said. "We are looking at what can we do to add stores that complement each other, not drive each other out."

He said he has heard a lot of positive feedback from the public.

"The public is very excited about clothes coming to the area, right here in market," he said.

Melanie Waldron of Moscow walked by Old Navy and Bed Bath & Beyond to view the progress.

"I'm excited that the mall is getting better," she said. "It'll be nice to have more of a variety of clothes... Bed Bath & Beyond always has interesting things."

Bailey said she made a trip to Spokane to go to Old Navy last weekend.

It will be nice to have Old Navy closer by, she said.

"Going to a large city makes shopping more exciting, but it will be nice to have more variety close by," she said.

"We are going to continue in that direction and we're working with possible tenants usually in larger major metropolitan areas, and in spring 2008 I think you're going to see tenants that have been wanted by consumers for a long time." That's what our local elitists don't get. People WANT national chain stores. Only the snobs who can afford boutique shopping feel that they will "ruin our small town charm."

The Old Navy in Moscow will be like a license to print money what with two universities close by. My family does extensive back-to-school shopping at the Old Navy in Spokane Valley every year. It will be more convenient, but I'm very envious. Not as much money may escape from the Palouse now, but it sure will continue to escape from Pullman and Whitman County.

The only way Pullman can hope to become a shopping destination is to have a variety of big-time shopping attractions. That starts with the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Bishop Blvd., which is already bringing in lots of smaller retail stores. In time, Bishop Blvd. could become another West Pullman Road. But you can't just depend on those smaller, PARD-approved stores. There would be Universal Studios Orlando without Walt Disney World. And Pullman will never be a shopping destination on the Palouse without a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

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Losing That “Small-Town Charm”

I am constantly amused at the almost weekly letters in the Daily News from left-wing Idaho residents complaining about how “urban sprawl,” “big box stores,” and “aquifer depletion” are threatening the “small-town charm” of Moscow.

Does anyone realize that yesterday’s shooting death (the fifth in four months) near Genesee gives Latah County a homicide rate of 14.2 per 100,000 residents? That’s higher than the 2005 homicide rates in Miami, Boston, San Fransisco, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Las Vegas. And the year is just half over.

I realize that the homicides this year are a fluke and I’m not trying to exploit tragedy, but could it be that “small-town charm” has nothing to do with a Wal-Mart Supercenter or a shopping center in the Pullman-Moscow corridor?

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