Walmart: West Seneca's responsibility

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

It's my understanding that this Walmart is actually in West Seneca. If so, if this Walmart is run as poorly as the one on Harlem and Walden, I believe in time most town residents would rather head out to Hamburg's Walmart than shop there. Such a business venture is rare in neighboring urban Buffalo, outside of the Elmwood/Hertel/Delaware area, for good reason. West Seneca Police would likely be further burdened with problems on that side of town. I don't feel this is a worthwhile venture for the town. Even if Walmart pays full taxes on the parcel.

Is Walmart receiving any tax breaks or handouts ?

[wnyfuture]

It's my understanding that this Walmart is actually in West Seneca. If so, if this Walmart is run as poorly as the one on Harlem and Walden, I believe in time most town residents would rather head out to Hamburg's Walmart than shop there. Such a business venture is rare in neighboring urban Buffalo, outside of the Elmwood/Hertel/Delaware area, for good reason. West Seneca Police would likely be further burdened with problems on that side of town. I don't feel this is a worthwhile venture for the town. Even if Walmart pays full taxes on the parcel.

Is Walmart receiving any tax breaks or handouts ?

My understanding, Walmart would not receive any tax breaks.

There is no question that part of West Seneca is the black-eye of the town and the police is frequently to that part of the town. I've seen data that supports my claims and you can read police blotters to know where the most crime in West Seneca occurs.

That area has been dieing for years, they could use much needed face-lift.

What would rather have, vacate building or a business creating jobs and potential additional business to a dead area?

[FMD]

speaking to a good friend who owns property that butts up against the piece walmart wants... walmarts is saying that EVERYONES surveys are wrong, and that Walmarts surveys are correct, therefore they are demanding that every resident must give walmart 8ft of their backyards to walmart.... and this includes garages and stuff people have on their properties...

8ft is alot of land... and im not sure where walmart gets off demanding that all these homeowners hand over 8ft of their backyard to them for nothing.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

I hope Walmart will scrap the plan and re-focus on building the store they want on Milestrip Rd. It's just as close for most town residents. I read where Mayor Brown is all for the Seneca St. locale. He knows this store would serve mostly city residents and the city cops won't have to deal with the headaches of loitering, shoplifting, vandalism and whatever other problems that likely will occur. It's easy walking distance for the ever present throngs of people with seemingly nothing much else to do but hang out, up and down Seneca St, particularly when the weather is nice.

I'm sure these are also the reasons why Senior Housing developers aren't seeking or being directed by the town to build there.

[FisherRd]

They should fence that area of West Seneca off like they did to manhattan in "Escape From New York".
As long as they leave Seneca Texas Hots accessible.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

"This project is a game changer for Seneca Street," said Assemblyman Mark J.F. Schroeder. "There has been a great deal of momentum on this business strip, and a new Walmart will take Seneca Street to the next level. The store will inject new life into a property that has been vacant for far too long.”

This lot has been vacant for a long time for good reason. To imply there will be some kind of rejuvenation is grasping and wishful thinking at best. To say it will be a burden to no one except West Seneca would be the only thing anyone could correctly predict.

This is also a delusional assessment of Seneca St. business upswing. Take a drive down Seneca St., or for the very very brave, a walk. It's unsettling to say the least. Very inner city like. Two of the nicer places on Seneca St. are the new Italian restaurant, Francesca's, and the Blackthorn Pub. Their small parking lots are rarely ever full. The Blackthorn has even taken to offering an escort for customers in order for them to get to their vehicles safely after dark. The mini Tops thrives solely out of necessity. Walmart must be figuring the same and this store will surely operate with minimal standards like the rundown one at Walden and Harlem. The only business I see that has taken Seneca St. to the "next level" is the expanded liquor store at Seneca and Parkside.

[DennisMulqueen]

I hope Walmart will scrap the plan and re-focus on building the store they want on Milestrip Rd. It's just as close for most town residents. I read where Mayor Brown is all for the Seneca St. locale. He knows this store would serve mostly city residents and the city cops won't have to deal with the headaches of loitering, shoplifting, vandalism and whatever other problems that likely will occur. It's easy walking distance for the ever present throngs of people with seemingly nothing much else to do but hang out, up and down Seneca St, particularly when the weather is nice.

I'm sure these are also the reasons why Senior Housing developers aren't seeking or being directed by the town to build there.

Open a store on Milestrip??? Why not just reopen the one they closed at 7 corners? Nice vacant building within 2 miles of the new one they proposed how stupid is that?
The Walmart in that Seneca area might actually help out the neighborhood otherwise its just another vacant eyesore like the one on 7 corners.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

A Walmart there would add very little to the "quality of life" for most town residents. That said, I'm not suprised by the lack of concern the phony NIMBY nation and "Enviromentalists" that previously came out in bunches to oppose the last two Walmart plans in West Seneca. They assuredly are breathing a sigh of relief. They won't have to worry about the urban like "clientele" that will be the main source of this Walmarts customers, and them being in proximity of their neighborhoods, which is really why they were anti-Walmart to begin with when they crusaded against them being built in town previously.

[dtwarren]

From the West Seneca Town Board minutes of the March 2007 meeting:

OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED WAL-MART ON MINERAL SPRINGS ROAD

Robert Watroba, 315 Casimer Street, commented on the proposed Wal-Mart to be located on Mineral Springs Road and stated his strong opposition to the project due to flooding issues.

Town Attorney Timothy Greenan stated the property on Mineral Springs Road was zoned properly for a Wal-Mart store, so they did not have to go before the Town Board for any approvals. However, they had applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance and interpretation of the statute. They also would be required to obtain a flood plain permit to develop the site and would be subject to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The Town Engineer and Code Enforcement Officer will need to review the plan along with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Army Corps of Engineers, and County of Erie. Mr. Greenan stated that Wal-Mart had withdrawn their application to the Zoning Board of Appeals because they had not come up with a plan that addressed the flooding issue in a manner that was satisfactory to Town Engineer George Montz.

http://www.westseneca.net/bdmin07/mi070326.html

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

From the West Seneca Town Board minutes of the March 2007 meeting:

OK, fair enough. You can stick a feather in your cap with that victory. For whatever that's worth. Walmart did succumb to your gangs "enviromentalist" objection.

Do you have an opinion of the latest Walmart endeavor in West Seneca ?

Did you have an opinion on Walmarts first venture in town when they initially wanted to put a Walmart near the Ridge and Orchard Park area (very near the former Seneca mall) ? I think that would have been the ideal spot for it. It had great potential for a spinoff type effect. Unlike the Seneca St. locale does.

[dtwarren]

I have already stated my position on it. I believe that is a good location for it. It is reusing already developed property rather than eating into the greenspace of the town. That location was already used for that purpose and is appropriately zoned and therefore there will be little, if any, environmental issues, in fact the original statement said that WalMart would be using 10,000 sq. ft. less than its previous use by Ames.

In fact if I remember correctly when WalMart was considering the Mineral Springs location the citizens were asking why not consider this site.

If the town did not want that space to be used for that purpose for the reasons you state they should have re-zoned that property.

[therising]

The site is so appropriate for WalMart - in that its reusing an eyesore, there are tons of rooftops there, it will draw largely from SB -- my only reaction is "why didn't this happen years ago?"

[therising]

It's my understanding that this Walmart is actually in West Seneca. If so, if this Walmart is run as poorly as the one on Harlem and Walden, I believe in time most town residents would rather head out to Hamburg's Walmart than shop there.

Come on, well all know why that particular WalMart is a mess. This one won't have the same problem.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

Come on, well all know why that particular WalMart is a mess. This one won't have the same problem.

Pardon my ignorance and clue me in if you will, but I do not know why that Walmart is a mess ?

I have already stated my position on it. I believe that is a good location for it. It is reusing already developed property rather than eating into the greenspace of the town.

I don't know what you stated regarding Walmart's initial want to build at the Orchard Park and Ridge Rd. corner back some 6 or 7 years ago. I am only left to assume you feel a Walmart at the Seneca St. locale is a better fit to serve West Seneca residents and add to its tax base, even though there is no where for spinoff developement like the the Ridge Rd.and Orchard Park Rd. area (another and in a much more convenient and more recently developed location, empty box store than on Seneca St.) offers that Walmart first desired to develope with ample commercial space all around for further developement including the Seneca Mall "chasm" that is right off a thruway exit

[dtwarren]

Pardon my ignorance and clue me in if you will, but I do not know why that Walmart is a mess ?
I don't know what you stated regarding Walmart's initial want to build at the Orchard Park and Ridge Rd. corner back some 6 or 7 years ago. I am only left to assume you feel a Walmart at the Seneca St. locale is a better fit to serve West Seneca residents and add to its tax base, even though there is no where for spinoff developement like the the Ridge Rd.and Orchard Park Rd. area (another and in a much more convenient and more recently developed location, empty box store than on Seneca St.) offers that Walmart first desired to develope with ample commercial space all around for further developement including the Seneca Mall "chasm" that is right off a thruway exit

I did not have an opinion one way or the other on it 6-7 years ago and more than likely it would be the same as the one I have stated about this location. I was answering your first question not your second question: http://www.speakupwny.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=14