Comments on: New grocery store on the east side? http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:59:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ray Kircher http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-3055 Ray Kircher Sat, 30 Jun 2007 15:07:00 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-3055 Interesting comment. I suspected as much, but that is what they sell, used food and products. Further research has found this store to not be so neighborhood friendly, yet they want to be placed abutting residences. But Oak Ridge has a problem with tax revenue. Many elected and appointed officials are unable to look past that. I believe your and my comments have fallen on deaf ears. Boeing property is slated to fall the tax abatement way, this is quantity enough allowing ALDI to have what they want in City of Oak Ridge, to further protect the elite of West Knoxville by selling out City of Oak Ridge residents. Interesting comment. I suspected as much, but that is what they sell, used food and products. Further research has found this store to not be so neighborhood friendly, yet they want to be placed abutting residences. But Oak Ridge has a problem with tax revenue. Many elected and appointed officials are unable to look past that. I believe your and my comments have fallen on deaf ears.

Boeing property is slated to fall the tax abatement way, this is quantity enough allowing ALDI to have what they want in City of Oak Ridge, to further protect the elite of West Knoxville by selling out City of Oak Ridge residents.

]]> By: ex-aldi insider http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2965 ex-aldi insider Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:15:47 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2965 just passing on a little info your city may not know about aldi. they have a couple of recent discrimination charges against them that were filed with the eeoc. they withheld vacation pay from a couple of their ex-employees one of which the ex-employee contacted the department of labor and won the case. aldi only staffs a limited amount of employees on any given shift so beware of the refrigerated and freezer products as they may get left a checkout by a customer who has changed their mind about purchasing the product and that product may not get back to the freezer or refrigerator as quickly as it should. just passing on a little info your city may not know about aldi. they have a couple of recent discrimination charges against them that were filed with the eeoc. they withheld vacation pay from a couple of their ex-employees one of which the ex-employee contacted the department of labor and won the case. aldi only staffs a limited amount of employees on any given shift so beware of the refrigerated and freezer products as they may get left a checkout by a customer who has changed their mind about purchasing the product and that product may not get back to the freezer or refrigerator as quickly as it should.

]]> By: Ray Kircher http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2816 Ray Kircher Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:45:59 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2816 LeRoy, we need more synergy of our citizens. The more talk out of this city just may get someone to look at us with both eyes open. I guess some people are just for talking while some are listened to. Maybe why Dr. Bailey doesn't bite business as much as he bites citizens is that he doesn't know any better. It is about time his network is energized, as important as retail is to this city's gossip I would think he would step out and say something. It would be too difficult to change the mind of Oak Ridgers, which is why some of us are just not bread to be an elected official, but for the upcoming Charter Committee and to change, housecleaning, our policy, I would like to see you there if you have the time. LeRoy, we need more synergy of our citizens. The more talk out of this city just may get someone to look at us with both eyes open. I guess some people are just for talking while some are listened to. Maybe why Dr. Bailey doesn’t bite business as much as he bites citizens is that he doesn’t know any better. It is about time his network is energized, as important as retail is to this city’s gossip I would think he would step out and say something.

It would be too difficult to change the mind of Oak Ridgers, which is why some of us are just not bread to be an elected official, but for the upcoming Charter Committee and to change, housecleaning, our policy, I would like to see you there if you have the time.

]]> By: LeRoy Gilliam http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2772 LeRoy Gilliam Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:21:40 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2772 On a daily basis, I become enamored with amusement at the many Happenings in the windy city of Oak Ridge in impinge upon double standards. Most recently citizens where lambasted with the retort that Oak Ridge schools where under funded and desperately need a New infusion of taxpayer money. So the sitting city council passes a 10 cents Per 100 and gave 5 cents to the schools. All during this in cooperation with the City Council and the IDB tax abatements have been steadily passed out to preferred businesses . While this has been going on there has not been a whimper from the school board nor the City Council. I have always felt that both the City Council as well as the School board has intelligent citizens serving. But I have not heard anyone address the fairness in the thousands of taxpayer property taxes (school tax money) given away at my expense. To businesses to escape school taxation after all that what property taxes are for? LeRoy Gilliam On a daily basis, I become enamored with amusement at the many
Happenings in the windy city of Oak Ridge in impinge upon double standards. Most recently citizens where lambasted with the retort that Oak Ridge schools where under funded and desperately need a New infusion of taxpayer money. So the sitting city council passes a 10 cents Per 100 and gave 5 cents to the schools.

All during this in cooperation with the City Council and the IDB tax abatements
have been steadily passed out to preferred businesses . While this has been going on there has not been a whimper from the school board nor the City Council. I have always felt that both the City Council as well as the School board has intelligent citizens serving.

But I have not heard anyone address the fairness in the thousands of taxpayer property taxes (school tax money) given away at my expense. To businesses to escape school taxation after all that what property taxes are for?

LeRoy Gilliam

]]> By: Ray Kircher http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2542 Ray Kircher Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:44:24 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2542 As retail concerns involve much public opinion, I hope for a correct stand on keeping Oak Ridge attractive better than the tax abatements have done. I do not know if ALDI CEO's made their decision on Oak Ridge because of it, but they are here and filling the time of our wonderful citizens volunteering in our city’s boards. Upon first look, I see SONIC could use some help with their entrance. A future service road is a possibility for the commercial lots located there. Will that intersection of the Fire House, Home Depot and Sonic be upgraded? This should be utilized to further promote retail and safety. As the article stated, a Florida Avenue entrance is also in the plan. I'm waiting to hear the advantages and disadvantages from the officials and citizens affected. I believe this would be the main entrance for clients, vendors, customers, employees, and trucks. That is a problem, as the ORGIS has those lots as residential. I feel another business corridor is being pushed upon the citizens there, and this should be handled as intensely as S. Illinois is going through. My picture of the ALDI store is in line with Ms. Shelton’s thoughts. My interpretation of loading docks in front is like driving down Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville. Those homes back up to businesses, and the corridor of business there mainly has frontal loading docks or service bays. That road becomes very congested with delivery trucks for it is the only serviceable road to those businesses and the docks are always filled with empty crates, carts, trucks, and cars. That I see is our future if ALDI is allowed to put front loading docks. This appears to be just the fate of business, a negotiation of give and take, they are taking tax credits but what are they giving the citizens? As retail concerns involve much public opinion, I hope for a correct stand on keeping Oak Ridge attractive better than the tax abatements have done. I do not know if ALDI CEO’s made their decision on Oak Ridge because of it, but they are here and filling the time of our wonderful citizens volunteering in our city’s boards.

Upon first look, I see SONIC could use some help with their entrance. A future service road is a possibility for the commercial lots located there. Will that intersection of the Fire House, Home Depot and Sonic be upgraded? This should be utilized to further promote retail and safety. As the article stated, a Florida Avenue entrance is also in the plan. I’m waiting to hear the advantages and disadvantages from the officials and citizens affected. I believe this would be the main entrance for clients, vendors, customers, employees, and trucks. That is a problem, as the ORGIS has those lots as residential. I feel another business corridor is being pushed upon the citizens there, and this should be handled as intensely as S. Illinois is going through.

My picture of the ALDI store is in line with Ms. Shelton’s thoughts. My interpretation of loading docks in front is like driving down Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville. Those homes back up to businesses, and the corridor of business there mainly has frontal loading docks or service bays. That road becomes very congested with delivery trucks for it is the only serviceable road to those businesses and the docks are always filled with empty crates, carts, trucks, and cars. That I see is our future if ALDI is allowed to put front loading docks.

This appears to be just the fate of business, a negotiation of give and take, they are taking tax credits but what are they giving the citizens?

]]> By: Ellen Smith http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2532 Ellen Smith Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:43:13 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2532 Actually, I expect that ALDI will be asking for property tax abatements under an arrangement enacted by City Council in 2004 and renewed more recently. Abatements are available for most retail developments with more than $1M capital investment, although to get this abatement the business must be willing to deed the property to the Industrial Development Board (some will not do so). When a project gets city government reviews/approvals one-by-one (this one is already properly zoned, but it needed or needs engineering staff review, Traffic Safety Advisory Board review, Planning Commission approval for the site plan, and City Council approval for highway access, and it probably will need IDB approval for a tax abatement), the applicants feel like they are running a marathon and the entities providing the approvals don't have the full picture of the impacts of the development. I share your concern that the goal of increasing sales taxes should not be the sole concern of city government in considering retail development proposals. Increasing city revenue definitely is a big concern for city government, but the city government also needs to be concerned about maintaining and enhancing community character/liveability. Furthermore, I don't think it is realistic to <i>assume</i> that the current profitability of sales taxes for local government will continue for many years in the future-- there are many reasons to expect the situation to change. Actually, I expect that ALDI will be asking for property tax abatements under an arrangement enacted by City Council in 2004 and renewed more recently. Abatements are available for most retail developments with more than $1M capital investment, although to get this abatement the business must be willing to deed the property to the Industrial Development Board (some will not do so).

When a project gets city government reviews/approvals one-by-one (this one is already properly zoned, but it needed or needs engineering staff review, Traffic Safety Advisory Board review, Planning Commission approval for the site plan, and City Council approval for highway access, and it probably will need IDB approval for a tax abatement), the applicants feel like they are running a marathon and the entities providing the approvals don’t have the full picture of the impacts of the development.

I share your concern that the goal of increasing sales taxes should not be the sole concern of city government in considering retail development proposals. Increasing city revenue definitely is a big concern for city government, but the city government also needs to be concerned about maintaining and enhancing community character/liveability. Furthermore, I don’t think it is realistic to assume that the current profitability of sales taxes for local government will continue for many years in the future– there are many reasons to expect the situation to change.

]]> By: Ray Kircher http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2520 Ray Kircher Sat, 23 Jun 2007 18:55:30 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2520 Now that Mr. O'Connor is moving to allow tax abatements for GBT, I find this will hurt the ALDI store even if given tax abatements. As a business owner, the realization of profits would be favorable in any tax abatement, but what is the gauge of equity for the city when giving tax abatements? Is it only to raise sales taxes? This is why a covenant is placed in the deeds of surrounding properties. Particularly, it gives protection to Wal-Mart for unfair practices acted out by a city council. This is how I see our city manager is acting, playing favorites within a policy. How is the equity of sales tax found? It isn’t Freedom. Now that Mr. O’Connor is moving to allow tax abatements for GBT, I find this will hurt the ALDI store even if given tax abatements. As a business owner, the realization of profits would be favorable in any tax abatement, but what is the gauge of equity for the city when giving tax abatements? Is it only to raise sales taxes? This is why a covenant is placed in the deeds of surrounding properties. Particularly, it gives protection to Wal-Mart for unfair practices acted out by a city council. This is how I see our city manager is acting, playing favorites within a policy.

How is the equity of sales tax found? It isn’t Freedom.

]]> By: Ray Kircher http://ellensmith.org/blog/2007/06/15/new-grocery-store-on-the-east-side/#comment-2150 Ray Kircher Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:45:15 +0000 http://ellensmith.org/blog/?p=66#comment-2150 Yet another opportunity for City of Oak Ridge retail, this is obviously not the last time a retailer would consider Oak Ridge, would Oakridgers allow this there? There could be other locations, but retail is calling the moves and not a developer. In addition, I feel the UGO would be urged to step up to shopping convenience like an easier storefront, better parking, etc, … "The devil is in the details." It would seem such a store could easily be placed with side loading docks, leaving its rear appearance adaptive to residential design. I would hope this next retail approach is taken seriously with the actual structure and landscape improvements included with if any city proposal of funds. But to follow a trend our elected officials have refused to buck with interrupting action within commission and board actions, I would bet another tax abatement is granted with very little given to the improvement of easiness and safety of use by the citizens. I hope this retailer will take its own responsibilies to find a place in City of Oak Ridge while the city finds its way to make the location a safe place to shop. Yet another opportunity for City of Oak Ridge retail, this is obviously not the last time a retailer would consider Oak Ridge, would Oakridgers allow this there?

There could be other locations, but retail is calling the moves and not a developer. In addition, I feel the UGO would be urged to step up to shopping convenience like an easier storefront, better parking, etc, … “The devil is in the details.” It would seem such a store could easily be placed with side loading docks, leaving its rear appearance adaptive to residential design.

I would hope this next retail approach is taken seriously with the actual structure and landscape improvements included with if any city proposal of funds. But to follow a trend our elected officials have refused to buck with interrupting action within commission and board actions, I would bet another tax abatement is granted with very little given to the improvement of easiness and safety of use by the citizens.

I hope this retailer will take its own responsibilies to find a place in City of Oak Ridge while the city finds its way to make the location a safe place to shop.

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