Economic impact

Economic development has been a hot topic since before I arrived here just short of 20 years ago. All local government organizations have been working hard to improve the overall economy of the area and have made special efforts to target areas such as downtown and the northern retail corridors. They have even created an area with a special tax status called a TIRZ. The property tax from this area gets special handling to promote and encourage commercial and retail investment and development. Combine this with the interest caused by the new Super Center, and there is a possibility of some real economic growth on the north side of town. That is, of course, if someone doesn't throw a monkey wrench into the works.

The new Super Center in the north part of town should be a center of retail and commercial activity. There has been new construction there recently, and new businesses have moved in. Some momentum is being developed. One of the prime locations for this momentum to expand is the old Walmart building. It is currently on the tax roles at $1.5 million and could easily double or triple that value when new businesses move in. There is a problem, though. It seems that the Commissioners court is looking at that property for expansion with offices, a maintenance facility, and outside storage. Somehow this seems very counterproductive. First off, it's taking a large piece of property off the tax roles. This is a property that should have very little trouble moving, even in these hard times. Second, maintenance facilities with outside storage seem like a poor fit for a potentially booming retail area. There are plenty of alternative buildings and sites available and most should be available at an attractive price. We can start with the old Circuit City building which has to be in one of the worst retail locations in the city. County offices and facilities might be a good use for that property. There are 5 potential buildings on the Chamber of Commerce site ranging from 52,000 sq ft to 99,000 sq ft. (the old Walmart build is 85,000). Many of these are already industrial/commercial sites. Many have been vacant for much longer than the old Walmart building.

I don't understand why they are even looking at the Walmart building right now. There is a lot of potential for the county to share maintenance facilities with either the city or the school district. There is plenty of space that will probably never be used at the industrial park. When the new library is finished and occupied, space will be freed up in the Edd B Keyes building. There will also be available office space in the new library. Maybe we should wait until the library is completed and see what extra space is really needed by the county for offices before we spend county taxpayers money to take this valuable property off the tax roles and hurt the economic growth of the north side of town.