Take this referendum and shove it
February 27th, 2007 by Atomictumor
Still watching the throw down over the whole Target thing, apparently the opposition to the situation is going door to door trying to get people to sign a petition to put a public referendum down so that we can all go and vote on this Target business. Thing is, from what I’m seeing, the referendum will be in the summer, in a very busy voting season, and the developer wants to roll sooner than that.
Now, something that I’m aware of here, is that developers don’t normally go around looking for the most challenging place to build crap, and then milking the cities out of money to do it. I mean, Armsdorff did, kinda, but he sucks, so thats the difference. I’m not sure how much these people at GBT suck, but I’d imagine that they have a pretty refined business sense, and see a return coming on this situation.
Now, I’m ignorant as hell. Seriously, I’m as dumb as a brick, and normally stay out of city matters for this reason, but it still seems to me that
a. Oak Ridge REALLY needs a shot in the arm
b. Developers are shying away from the existing facilities, because they’re too small, and would cost more to develop than to build.
c. Huffing and puffing over the scalping of a hill, and blaming the developers who are buying it for this scalping by blocking anything being done with it is dumb. Really, really backwards, and really really dumb.
d. The odds of the parking lot at a Target in Oak Ridge being empty are about the same as the odds of me giving up beer for longer than a day or two.
Look people, I don’t like the idea of a refundable 10.something million dollar check heading out to developers. I’d love to see Target head in and pay for it all. I’d love to see universal health care. I’d love to see the moon up close. Theres all sorts of things I’d love, that just don’t happen in the real world. This is one of them.
By insisting on a referendum, these people are playing a calculated tactic to delay the development long enough to any potential tenants to split. As its already been revealed that no money changes hands until Target and other tenants sign up for an extended lease, theres no reason to assume this place will stand empty. You people, Citizens Oak Ridge, or whatever the hell you’re calling yourself, are working very hard keeping this town backwards, with empty buildings, and a crowded road to Knoxville.
Its just the way it is.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Well… That is a good essay AT. I would give you a B+ overall but message is loud.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
There is no such thing as an empty Target parking lot.
February 27th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
If it were up to me, I’d fedex you one of three Targets within a five mile radius of my home. They are in abundance around these parts and interestingly enough the parking lots are always full and the carts run like crap. That said, I couldn’t imagine not having a Target within walking/driving distance. I hope you get your Target soon!
February 27th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
OMG. I just visited the Citizens Oak Ridge site and followed the links to “Get Informed.” Get informed with complete BS, they mean. Some of the numbers and pie charts they are throwing around are absolutely ridiculous.
If the referendum succeeds through the misinformation of these folks, it will be a sad day in Oak Ridge.
February 27th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I know man. Its pretty shortsighted. Theres been some conversation going on at Netmom’s place about it, also
February 27th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I am not an economics person — but I know enough to say that if you are looking to spur on some development someone has got to put up some money. Every town, city, county does it though tax incentives, construction cost, and the like. While oak ridge has its share of vacant retail space it is really not suitable for most operations — especially one as big as target. You know — I don’t really get it. On one hand people gripe about there not being enough tax revenue and on the other they don’t want to put up to start moving in the right direction. I don’t get it. I think that the Target deal is a step in the right direction. I don’t think it will solve all the problems, but it is a step.
March 3rd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Oak Ridger, here…born and raised. Oak Ridge is a retirement town. The folks with the votes that count are the same folks that do all of their shopping at “The Walgreens” and Food City. They see no need for the stores the belong to the younger generations.