A bad place for a good project
From:
Gary Thompson
Date:
Jan 08 03:53 UTC
Short link
We visited Trader Joe's in Woodbury during the Holiday season and did so via a
third
party description on where it was. We had so much trouble finding it, that we
almost gave up. Two pedestrians did not know where it was, so I actually had
to
stop at a quick stop to ask where it was. We really liked the place! It had
good
quality foods, many gluten-free products, and great prices! It was very busy,
even
though there were probably hundreds of other stores nearby and many with food.
Having said this, I drive past this intersection several times a week and my
wife
does so daily. I agree that it is very congested now and would be much more so
if
the deal goes through. I have yet to hear any information about the half dozen
or
so houses that will be raised for the project. Have the owners objected, or
has
Trader Joe's advance people already bought up the homes?? I feel that a much
better
location is on West 7th near 35E...by the Burger King. They could raise the
Burger
King and not have to destroy any houses. I would definitely drive a little
farther
to go to that location.
Gary Thompson
Highland
--- John Krenik <<email obscured>> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I also attended the city council meeting last Wednesday and I spoke in favor
of
> the Trader Joeâs development in Highland Park.
>
> The Traffic issue was addressed at length the council meeting. This traffic
study
> recommended several roadway infrastructure improvements to increase traffic
flow
> through this area that Mr. Mischke talked about. In fact the developers have
> offered to improve the roadway and make other infrastructure improvements
leading
> into the development at NO cost to the city. Traffic engineers from the city
> spoke at the city council meeting and supported this development, stating
that the
> increased traffic for this development will not be a problem. In fact the
road
> would still be well under capacity. Just a note here, with the opening of
Ayd
> Mill Road several years ago, traffic has been greatly reduced at this
intersection
> (Lexington Parkway and Randolph Avenue) by over 10,000 cars a day (City of
St.
> Paul).
>
> Parking has also been addressed with an underground parking facility of 58
parking
> spaces with an equal number of surface parking spaces. There will even be an
> elevator.
>
> Truck deliveries would be very limited. Like the Ford Motor Company, Trader
> Joeâs has their deliveries computerized so the items for the store will
come
> from one central location. It was explained that there would be only three
to
> four trucks delivering goods to this store daily. This is the green approach
to
> delivery of goods, as there will not be 30 trucks coming in and out of the
> facility daily.
>
> I will say this again this development is a win-win situation for St. Paul.
The
> Trader Joeâs development will not only increase St. Paulâs tax base, but
also
> will add 75 new jobs and not cost the city a dime. Just a note here, the
average
> full-time Trader Joe's employee earns $50,000.
>
> After the city council raised our property taxes last month by 15.1% and 8.6%
last
> year, this development is a step in the right direction for turning St. Paul
into
> a business friendly town instead of a unfriendly business town.
>
> Sure this company could put their store anywhere in the city they want. They
> could also decide not to put it in St. Paul. Trader Joeâs has done their
> homework on this particular location and they have decided that this location
is
> the best fit for them. They also have worked with the city on the details of
this
> project. Did I mention they are footing the bill to locate here at NO cost
to the
> city? Trader Joeâs already has 294 stores and this company seems to know
what
> they are doing in the marketplace. If their management team feels that this
is
> the right location for their store then I say why not. It would be the same
thing
> if you wanted to build a home in a particular part of town. You locate the
> perfect lot for your needs, hire a design team and draw up plans for your
house.
> Then when you go down to the permit office, some clerk tells you that it
would be
> better if you built your house in another part of town. Now I can see this
> happening in another country,
> but in America, the Land of Opportunity this type of dictation of
investment
> only discourages development. Have I left out the look the manâs wife
would
> give the permit clerk? You donât want the look!
>
> St. Paul needs 100 more developments like this. It is my hope that council
member
> Dave Thune will see the merits of this important development, that will not
only
> expand St. Paulâs tax base, but will add 75 new, good paying jobs to St.
> Paulâs workforce.
>
> I am supporting Trader Joeâs development in Highland Park as a very
positive
> step forward for St. Paul.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> John Krenik
> Highland Park, St. Paul, Minnesota
>
> John Krenik
> Highland Park, St. Paul, Minnesota
> Info about John Krenik: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/johnkrenik
>
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