The proposed Neighborhood Grocery/Pharmacy for Middle Valley is a good thing and it should be considered as progress, growth and taxes needed mentality. Consider the areas around the northern part of our county that haven’t had any interest from national chains of any sort. Why is that? Could it be high crime, low income, sparse neighborhoods, bad schools, undesirable run down dying communities?
Let’s consider the many benefits of an area such as Middle Valley gaining the attention of these national chains. These highly successful businesses do not pick the less desirable, most likely to fail, no need of the service they offer, areas. They pick areas because they see future positive growth for the community and they anticipate their presence being a success for themselves as well as fulfilling a community need. They spend thousands of dollars researching an area before they decide to spend millions in development. Are they only self-serving or are they offering a service that will greatly benefit the community as well? I would rather have the people who specialize in making such decisions allowed to do what they do best – develop the area and provide a needed service to the community.
The people opposed to this idea do not understand what such progress means. They do not foresee the very much needed jobs, tax dollars, convenience, and draw of future successful endeavors. They make the assumption of additional traffic and crime and continue to think they are more likely to know what is best for the area than the experts. Contrary, they are unable to understand all the research that has brought the decision to develop this area. They do not understand the value this will add to their property. They do not consider the fact that growth must take place if they want their property value to increase.
Do new families want to come in and buy 40 year old homes in an area that is dying? No, they want an area that is revitalized and growing with conveniences and cost savings for their busy lives.
The pedophiles they are worried about are already all around them just as in most cities as well as our Hixson/Middle Valley area. Sad but true. I was shocked to see the statistics. They should ask to be put on an email list to be notified of the new comers and given info on the existing ones. Will the new Neighborhood Grocery be a target for robbery and a parking lot of crime? No. And the pedophiles they are worried about parking in the new development lot to watch the children at the school is ridiculous. The view would be so much better in a closer parking lot such as the church or David’s Deli would provide... not the Neighborhood Grocery lot which will be farther away from the school with a poor view.
As for the traffic, it is coming to the school already as teachers, parents, buses, and delivery trucks. The parents will most likely shop while picking up and dropping off the children, these cars will already be in the area and not be additional traffic. They will be there every school day, grocery store or not. The traffic will be most noticed during school hours just as work/rush hours has an effect with traffic flow. The delivery trucks will most likely utilize Hixson Pike to Thrasher and very little traffic problems exist or will be created on this part of Thrasher Pike, especially after the new traffic light is installed. Again it’s the dying areas that become most crime infested not the areas breathing new life.
I know firsthand of people in this area complaining when a new expensive housing development went in, citing their children played in these woods and if homes were allowed to be built, the children couldn’t play any longer and that the woods should remain woods. Same mentality.
Again, they will have their property value continue to decrease in an older area with constantly declining homes and home values, or they can increase up to 30 percdent in value and will bring new families wanting both older and new homes conveniently located and wanting their children in the nice new school. Sometimes people just don’t understand how good progress and growth is for them. More new homes means more county property tax dollars and community grocery dollars spent in the community grocery store will be more tax dollars for the community not to mention the 95+ new jobs. Of course not 100 percent of these tax dollars, but 60 percent additional tax dollars for a community is a value for the community and for the county as a whole. Would they prefer their property taxes be increased instead of having the Neighborhood Grocery fill this need of tax dollars? These folks complaining will be in the door first on opening day for the special bargains and continue to shop thereafter.
Another argument a few folks have against this development is that it should be located in a commercial area, not a residential area. Have they not looked across Middle Valley from the proposed site to see the other 25 year old businesses such as David’s Deli who services TVA and Gann’s school children, and an almost filled commercial strip center that in the past was home to a very successful and long lived pizza dine in or take out restaurant until an unfortunate employee delivery wreck. Look north on Middle Valley to the tire repair station, or the automotive repair shop and then go back south on Middle Valley about two blocks from the proposed site to the three commercial corners at Gann Road with one corner being operated as a gas and convenience store for the past 35+ years, one having had contracts for two different convenience stores but their chains experienced corporate changes and so it remains vacant at this time but still zoned commercial, and a portion of a 17+ acre tract zoned commercial across from the Gann Rd. intersection along with the fire department and another almost filled commercial strip center a few feet south and from there south to Hixson High the majority of development is operated as commercial. Then go east on Thrasher to the new Airplane Museum. There are commercial businesses all around this site and continuing north is only growth.
When most of these folks moved into the area, they knew the commercial businesses were already present and anyone would assume this progress would continue. There’s no doubt, Middle Valley’s growth needs to continue. The few locals opposed to this project will have the opportunity to take their 30 percent increase in property value and move farther out; I’d suggest they move way out because growth must continue.
With people being so busy and gas costing who knows how much in the future, our area needs the convenience of the Neighborhood Grocery/ Pharmacy to save us the time and the cost of driving to a location farther away. Consider the property values in other developed areas such as Northgate, Hixson Pike and Hamilton Place. They were all residential and the property value increase was dramatic. Consider the growth possibilities around Chattanooga; would it be towards Highway 58, Red Bank, North Chattanooga or Soddy Daisy. No. These areas are already developed or not as desirable. Lets make the decision to let the sales tax we pay when we shop, come back to us and our community and help keep our property taxes from increasing as long as possible. Whatever area we shop in, our taxes remain in that area, and will not be spent on our local schools and roads in Middle Valley to help the Middle Valley area.
The residents in this area need this progress to allow more businesses to help continue this growth and revenue source. If this development is turned down, what other major retailer will ever consider evaluating the potential? If the Commission turns this down it will speak loud and clear that we don’t want you, we don’t need you or your expertise in considering new locations and we don’t need your help with us bringing in additional tax revenue… If the Commission allows a small group of people who lack the mindset needed for progress and procuring much needed additional tax dollars, to speak for the people who specialize in such developments, then hopefully the needs of our outlaying communities can be reconsidered by the Commission to allow wisely researched development to begin doing what it will do for our community and the county bottom line. We need the jobs, taxes, convenience and savings this will provide us.
Consider Knoxville, Nashville, even Ooltewah. Where would they be if major retailers were highly insulted and turned away? Wake up Middle Valley or fall down under your progressively aging homes and falling property values and commissioners please don’t be fooled that the majority of the residents don’t want this; actually the fact is that the majority of folks are working and relaying on you, the commissioners, to see the need and make the right decision and not give much validity to the few that showed up to protest. Compared to the actual number of home owners and business owners in this area, they are not the majority. The businesses that are trying to support the community with their hard work and tax support should be highly considered because any new traffic coming into the area could benefit them as well. This could be the deciding factor whether they can afford to remain in the area. Their concerns should outweigh the petty and totally unfounded complaints of a few residents.
Another huge consideration should be to the elderly who have lived many years in this area and may not be able to make it to the meetings but are sure hopeful of a local grocery and pharmacy as they have waited a long time for such progress and much needed conveniences, maybe more than anyone. Also, please consider the Soddy Daisy area which had the foresight to allow the many new developments which took the area into a progressive mode providing jobs, tax revenue ($178,000 for January alone) and I don’t think any additional crime. Did it hurt or help that area?
The proposed business for this site is a pharmacy, gas and grocery only; no tires, bedspreads, or sporting goods. Only the items needed to save us time in our busy lives. I like to think I can drive five minutes and use a cup of gas instead of driving 25 minutes and using gallons of gas.
By the way, if you have any doubts as to our desire for this development, my husband and I still own approximately 30 acres in Middle Valley after having sold over 65 acres during the past 28 years, and we are for it. If not now for Middle Valley, when?
One other unreasonable objection of the few is that this Neighborhood Grocery/Pharmacy will put others out of business, I haven’t known of any business that could sustain itself, without the support of the community so in fact, if this happens, the community will put the other businesses out, not the new four walls and a parking lot.
Bob and Kristie Jackson
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With all due respect, a new Walmart does not bring progress....It just brings another Walmart.
Think about it.
David Terry
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Try looking at the big picture. The Neighborhood Grocery/Pharmacy is a major brand that other national chains like to follow. The big picture……will this lead to more popular stores wanting to come into this area? Hopefully. Will the combination of all the sales tax paid to these businesses result in a huge amount of revenue for the county? Yes. Could it possibly prevent additional property tax increases for a time? Surely. Will all these possible businesses generate a much higher value for our property? Yes.
Is progress having other types of businesses build on this already zoned commercial property that do not bring in sales taxes such as a daycare, a dental office, car wash, rehab center, beauty salon? No. The community will not be able to voice their opinion of several types of businesses that could end up being here. Also the sales tax paid, if any, would be considerably less and if more money is needed by the county, our property tax will be increased.
Would having a different commercial business that will not generate as large an amount of sales tax be better to offset a property tax?
What is progress for Middle Valley?
A grocery/pharmacy store will bring in several hundred thousand dollars a year for our tax base. What amount of taxes could a few other retail stores bring in to add to that amount from our grocery purchases? Maybe over a million per year?
Not progress, only a Walmart?
And the value of our seniors being able to drive more safely to buy groceries and prescriptions without having to fear the four lane routes to the other stores, is priceless.
What is progress for Middle Valley?
Only a Walmart? See the big picture and then think about it.
Kristie Jackson
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Mr. and Mrs. Jackson,
Thank you for voicing your opinion and thoroughly explaining why you feel the way you do. I have long been on the fence on this issue, but now find myself leaning heavily toward wanting the new Walmart Neighborhood Market. The one question I still have (and anyone with the answer, please respond and provide said answer) is this: How will it bring additional tax dollars to Hamilton County, since everyone who will be shopping at the new store already does their grocery shopping in Hamilton County? Is the answer as simple as noting that the county won’t have to share its portion of the taxes with a municipality, as it does in Soddy Daisy?
Moving on, there is no question it will help revitalize the area. Middle Valley has a lot of potential, but that can not and will not be realized unless businesses locate here. Sure, it would be much better if the market could be built at the corner of Thrasher/Hixson Pike, but when it comes down to it, I would rather it be built at the current proposed site than not be built at all. Regardless of whether or not you like shopping at Walmart (statistics show that the majority of us do), the new store does indeed represent progress, not just “another Walmart”, as Mr. Terry claimed (with absolutely nothing to back up the assertion).
As for the complaint by some that the Neighborhood Market will put other businesses out of business – well, if that’s the case, it’s because we the consumers are getting a better deal. Money talks, so everyone who is against the new development will have an opportunity every single day to send a collective message to Walmart and its competitors by spending their hard-earned money not at Walmart, but at its competitors’ locations. Personally, I’ll be spending my money as efficiently as possible, and we all know where that is.
Sam Horn