I've lived in Greece 50 years and especially along the Dewey Ave corridor-seen the rise and fall of Northgate Plaza. I've walked to and from the former Britton Road School (now Wegmans) and of the thousands of students who attended, no one was ever hit by any cars. Now if you look up and down the stretch, you can count 7 gas stations (8 if you include the one on Stone Road) from the city line down to Latta Road! Add to that an auto repair shop, a collision shop, an auto parts store, a Goodyear tire store, a Jiffy Lube, a Valvoline, a Midas Muffler, and in case you didn't like their mufflers, go right across the street to Monroe Muffler!! Talk about "feeding the big bottom line"---these oil companies make more money each day then all the Walmarts in the country make in a year! Yet we are a captive audience and have no choice but to fuel our vehilcles (and even then don't we shop for the cheapest price?).
So I'm glad the car gets ALL its needs met....but where do we go here to buy a new coat, pair of boots, new kitchen appliance, baby seats for grandma's car?Driving and dodging those barrels on Ridge Road and wasting the gas to do it is not smart shopping.
Walmart on Dewey Ave would be the best thing that happened to that Plaza in well over 10 years, and I'll offer up these reasons why: it's a matter of public record that 30% of our students in the Greece Central School System are receiving free/reduced lunches. There are currently 14,000 enrolled....do the math, that's 4,200 children whose parents don't have the $2.00 for their lunch each day. (And in the summer months, parents must provide for all their meals themselves on what is already a tight budget). And since no child lives alone, you can double, or triple, or quadruple that number!
These children deserve the same quality in their standard of living as anyone else.....they need new school clothes, a bicycle, a basketball, toys for the holidays and the list goes on. Not everyone can afford to shop the Mall, some do not own vehicles, and Northgate is on a busline. Walmart is a store for all seasons for all reasons.
And if anyone has a handicap sticker and you try to shop the Mall needing the assistance of an electric cart....you can only get one by the Macy's store where you pay 2 bucks for limit of 2 hour shopping time (don't forget to figure in "travel time" ) And that cart does not allow you entry to all stores....Circuit City is completely outside the Mall, and several stores have their merchandise all jammed up in front blocking and prohibiting easy access. Walmart has several carts, wheelchairs, and call it hokey.....but I LIKE the idea of someone greeting me and offering their assistance when needed.
In closing, I've been to the town meetings, seen the new plans for the Plaza and they are beautful!!A colonial theme with brick, a 2nd story facade with white trim windows, 2 multi-gabled roofs with 2 cupolas on top. A clock tower will sit at one end of the Plaza. No big box, no big signage. The already existing stores can only be enhanced by the totally new facing they will all receive.
And all the "naysayers" may change their opinion one day when the gas prices get to $5.00 and $6.00 a gallon....they will be thankful that Walmart came to THEM instead of them having to go all the way out to Walmart!
7/07/2007 3:34 PM
Petrena said...
Thanks for the comments Diane. I guess I never realized just how many car care places there are on Dewey Avenue! Quite a few huh? I'm not for a Wal-Mart at Northgate...I think there are many other things that can go there. I just worry about it turning into Ridge Road. I understand what you're saying though and you make a lot of good points. After the next meeting I'll write another blog and hope you join the discussion. All voices are welcome.Thanks!
7/07/2007 3:47 PM
Diane said...
Well, Petrena, I found your comment interesting in that you say you can think of "other things" that can go in Northgate yet you don't elaborate. Truth is a company would have to have strong financial backing to afford the renovations, pay their rent, and pay the taxes. No good offers have come to the table except Wal-Mart.
Put a strong store in there and other smaller ones will follow...after all, it is zoned for commercial use.
I heard through the "grapevine" (employees at Northgate) that demolition begins in November. It'll take 9 mo. to build. I believe it'll happen. NY case law states that the zoning board cannot stipulate what store can be there; NY case law also says a store can't be prohibited from going in because it offers competition; NY case law also states zoning board can't listen to people saying their property will decrease in value. Don't know if anymore meetings are planned....but hope to meet you at the Grand Opening!
7/07/2007 11:53 PM
Petrena said...
The reason I didn't elaborate is because I've written quite a few blogs on this topic and myself along with many other readers have gone back and forth about other things we'd like to see there. Some have also said that they'd like to see a Wal-Mart there.
We've also discussed the zoning laws on previous blogs. I'm well aware of what the town can and can't do with commercial property. I've called the town more times than I care to admit for information.
I'll tell you that when this idea first came to light I was all for Wal-Mart coming to Northgate. But after many, many discussions about it and things others have said...I changed my mind. Is Wal-Mart going to ruin the neighborhood...probably not. Will it be good for many people to have a place nearby to shop...probably.
I would just rather have a few stores that are more specialities. Maybe a bunch of little shops. A Cheesecake Factory, a shoe store, Trader Joe's and leave Radio Shack there.
I see your point of view, heck, I was of the same mind not long ago. I hope you can see mine too.
I believe it's a done deal and I've said as much before. I'm sure I'll be there at the Grand Opening to take a few photos and write a few words about it. Maybe we will see each other. :)
7/08/2007 12:22 AM
