Post in A bad place for a good project

Jan 07 23:33 UTC

Hi All,

I also attended the city council meeting last Wednesday and I spoke in favor of
the Trader Joe’s 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
Joe’s 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 Joe’s development will not only increase St. Paul’s 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 Joe’s 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 Joe’s 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 man’s wife would give the permit clerk?  You don’t
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. Paul’s tax base, but will add 75 new, good paying jobs to
St. Paul’s workforce.

I am supporting Trader Joe’s development in Highland Park as a very positive
step forward for St. Paul.

Sincerely,

John Krenik
Highland Park, St. Paul, Minnesota