Gas Tax Debate: Project that would bring Costco gets bumped up

[thelakelander]

Whether to extend or not extend the gas tax is one thing.  What's going overlooked is the proposed projects we'll be paying for if the gas tax is extended. Many are unfunded BJP road projects.  Has anyone stopped to consider if many of these projects are actually needed? 

Are the better projects out there worth pursuing that would stimulate a higher return of investment for the public dollar?  Should the public have a say? Lots of valid questions that are unanswered at this time and that may remain unanswered, considering the way we've done things in the past.

Anyway, one of the road projects will be the extension of Parramore Road to help pave the way for a Costco off of Collins Road and I-295.

After weeks of fine tuning, a list of projects that could be funded by extending the 6-cent gas tax another 20 years is just about complete.

And that means another contentious debate at City Council isn't far behind.

City Public Works and Jacksonville Transportation Authority officials have met several times in recent weeks to prioritize a list of projects, with the latest Thursday coming in at 30 projects for about $236 million.

One of the biggest changes in the latest list, compared to the one in late March, is a substantial priority jump for a $5 million Parramore Road extension. It went from being No. 16 — on the fringe of being funded — to No. 4.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=542686

[spuwho]

Will this Costco have a gas station?

What is the expected local tax revenue (sales and property) forecast for this Costco?

If Costco is leasing the land, for how long?

How many employees are they looking to hire?

Were any incentives used (other than the road) to get them to place there?

What is the offset to the revenue collected from the Southside Costco (which has no gas station)

[fsujax]

Jacksonville needs another Costco. I mean if Anchorage, AK has two then I think Jax can support two.

[thelakelander]

I wonder if Anchorage taxpayers were asked to pay $5 million to built a road to land Costco?

[spuwho]

I wonder if Anchorage taxpayers were asked to pay $5 million to built a road to land Costco?

I think there is more at stake here than a Costco. I seem to remember some debate about this area and its impact on retail before Costco was even mentioned.

[thelakelander]

Yeah. There's a strip mall on the line. Costco would be one of the tenants.  I believe a Walmart shopping center is proposed on the other side of Collins.

[fsujax]

Don't think so Lakelander,  but they did subsidize the newly opened Cabelas and the soon to open BassPro. :-)

[pierre]

Don't think so Lakelander,  but they did subsidize the newly opened Cabelas and the soon to open BassPro. :-)

Aren't Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops basically "welfare queens"?

[spuwho]

I ran into a couple of small biz owners last weekend who have been anxiously awaiting this development to manifest itself.

In fact they admitted they have been deferring other business in anticipation of this occurring because of how much it will bring to their accounts.

So it's not just a welfare queen event. There are several Duval based suppliers for whom this will have a long term benefit.