Another Walmart for the Westside?

[thelakelander]

Costco is considering opening up a 150,000 square foot store across the street.  However, it hinges on COJ moving forward with building a $3.9 million extension of Parramore Road through the shopping center site, so they'll have access to Argyle Forest and Blanding Boulevards via Youngerman Circle. Councilman Love states that the store would generate $2 million annually in sales and property taxes.

http://members.jacksonville.com/business/premium-business/2013-09-23/story/costco-eyes-westside-second-jacksonville-store-location

[ricker]

Hi Ennis,
When complete, will Parramore pop out immediately west of the retention pond next to Keith Pierson TOYOTA?

Also, wouldn't the westward/SW continuation of Youngerman to Argyle Blvd as a 4-5 lane section be included in that package price in order to accomodate all parties?

[copperfiend]

I still can't picture a Costco going there

[icarus]

What Councilman Love did not explain is that that $2 million in sales tax revenue comes at the expense of all the other stores in the area losing sales to Costco.  The good people of the Westside aren't suddenly going to discover money trees in their yards to create new and unique purchases at the new Costco.

In terms of walkability, do we want to foster small local businesses or large box retail.

[fsujax]

Good, we so badly need another Costco. A city our size with only one is ridiculos. The crowds at the SS location are out of control on the weekends.

[tufsu1]

Good, we so badly need another Costco. A city our size with only one is ridiculos. The crowds at the SS location are out of control on the weekends.

so join BJs instead...they have 3

[johnny_simpatico]

Icarus is right.  Love is not so sharp.

When evaluating public projects, incremental sales tax revenue is typically a transfer from one taxpayer to another or from one retailer to another.  If the Costco stimulates additional spending apart from the business it steals from Publix, Wal-Mart, Target, etc., then sales tax related to that spending is merely a transfer of financial resources within the community.  If people are coming from Starke or Palatka to the store, bringing new tax flows into Jacksonville, then that's a net economic benefit (assuming sales tax revenues in Jacksonville stay in Jacksonville ... for all I know, they could wind up in Miami).

Love also needs to be more careful about assigning the property taxes to the Costco project. The store apparently is part of a larger retail complex.  If they don't lure Costco to the place, one of their competitors might just fill the void, providing Duval with the same slug of additional property tax flows.

"Love said based on the average sales of a Costco store and property taxes generated from it, a new store would generate $2 million a year in sales and property taxes annually.

"If you put up $3.9 million [for the road] to get back $2 million every year, I would say financially it's a good deal," Love said. "It will pay for itself."

[I-10east]

Eh, I wouldn't expect some dramatic drop off in profits at the area Publix, Target etc just because CostCo locates to Collins. Publix and Target are doing fine at the STJC. There's plenty of money to go around. 

[I-10east]

According to jacksonville.com (members only content) the Westside Costco is 'up in the air'.

[thelakelander]

^It's because the city is seeking federal funding to pay for the construction of the street.  They aren't sure if Costco is willing to sit around and wait or look for a location at another Westside site.

[I-10east]

Plans are in work for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on Wilson & Lane in the old Food Lion building. I sorta had an inkling that was gonna happen; I think that would be great for that area, but I'm sure that most will disagree. The surrounding supermarkets will be fine IMO (W/D on Wilson, 103rd Wal-Mart etc); They were fine when Food Lion was there, so I see no difference. Anytime an empty building is put to use, to me that's a good thing.

www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540890

[thelakelander]

I'm at the TPO meeting and this project is being discussed. The CAC does not want this road project and asked for it to be deleted from the TRIP Eligible Project funding list. It seems like the TPO and FDOT don't agree. Costco won't build their store without it. The TPO and FDOT both believe this project will help alleviate congestion on Blanding.

[thelakelander]

TPO (actually the TRIP agency in this case) just voted to keep Parramore Rd on their list. CAC = Citizens Advisory Committee.

[mtraininjax]

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market

This is not a 100,000 square foot shopping center. Its a neighborhood grocery store. Lane and Wilson could use a replacement to the food lion, in a land of food deserts. Its a zero sum issue, as they are replacing a like with a like item in the area, but hey, if the residents want to walk down to Wilson and Blanding for the Dirty Dixie or the Family Dollar down Wilson, amen to them.

[funguy]

I enjoy Walmart, to me it is like going to a carnival...