| Author | Message | ||
     amy singer Citizen Username: Asinger Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2005 |
Wegmans would be wonderful, but so would Trader Joe's... | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 13361 Registered: 10-2001  |
Sheesh. | ||
| The Libertarian Citizen Username: Local_1_crew Post Number: 545 Registered: 3-2004  |
i am hoping its a gun range/ preschool. if you get my drift. hee hee | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7885 Registered: 5-2001 |
Solo, good point. However, did you notice the change in tone about traffic when you are talking Target, Lowe's, Wegman's or Trader Joe instead of WalMart?  I think in the SO thread Mark Rosner posted that Wegman's needs nearly twenty acres for a store. My gut is that the driving range isn't that big. Sorry to disappoint you kiddies on that one. | ||
| amy singer Citizen Username: Asinger Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2005 |
Well, I do not think that Trader Joe's would need 20 acres. Their stores seem to be smaller than that. And, yes, there does seem to be a negative attitude to WalMart. That's the way it should stay. | ||
| Mark Fuhrman Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 1404 Registered: 9-2001  |
TJ's would not locate in a stand-alone spot like that. They like to be integrated into strip shopping areas with high traffic volume, strong demographics, and other food retailers nearby. They also only want smaller stores in the range of 25,000-30,000 square feet. Wegmans does indeed require up to 20 acres to encompass both the store size and a large parking field. Lowes needs at least 15 acres, if not a bit more. Of course, all retailers will bend their rules if they want a location badly enough, but the golf range site is fairly isolated from other retail, so whatever goes there has to be a draw in its own right. Notice that Target, WalMart, et al have taken difficult sites on Route 22 and Route 10 (behind other buildings, limited signage and visibility) because they want to be near other retailers--agglomeration at work. | ||
| Mark Fuhrman Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 1405 Registered: 9-2001 |
By the way, if you really want a Wegmans (or Target or Lowes) in Maplewood to lower residential tax burdens, the best site would be the golf course. Lots of open space, reasonably developable land (with flood control), tremendous demographics, good access from Vauxhall Road, accessible for delivery trucks from 78 and 24. You could also do some cluster housing, perhaps also senior housing, and still have lots of open space left over for bike paths, ball fields, etc. It is the largest contiguous parcel of undeveloped land in Maplewood. Then again, I am not a golfer, so it does me no good as it stands now. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 1865 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ok - fine.. how about a super Shop-Rite then? The one in Wall is amazing - if we had one of those nearby I'd never cook again! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 1915 Registered: 5-2001 |
The golf course is in a flood zone, I believe, and not suitable for this type of development. (Ignoring the desirability or lack thereof.) | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 43 Registered: 2-2005  |
There is a Super Shop-Rite in Garwood, between Westfield and Cranford. Not that far away... | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7887 Registered: 5-2001 |
Not that I am advocating it, but the flood problem can be engineered. Most of the area near the river north of Memorial Park was a flood zone before the river was dug out and the banks built up. | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 137 Registered: 10-2004 |
There is a MUCH closer Wegmans in Woodbridge right behind the Woodbridge Mall, right down the GSP. I'm not a huge Wegmans fan, but the wife is. It's sorta over priced and healthy (sorta like Whole Foods) but a little more like a really big, but normal supermarket. The bigger locations have bakeries and butchers, and fish stands, and chocolatiers, and pastry stations, and a place to sit and eat the prepared food. | ||
| spw784 Supporter Username: Spw784 Post Number: 667 Registered: 5-2001 |
Anyone know the acreage of the Kmart/Pathmark in West Orange? Would it be big enough for a Wegmans? | ||
| mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 796 Registered: 3-2001 |
A number of years ago at a time when the country club was not as prosperous as it is today, there was talk of selling off some acreage along Valley St near Tuscan Road. Well, if you think the cell tower issue raised Cain, there is no comparison to the hostility aimed at this scheme. Traffic at Tuscan and Valley was the main concern - the prospect of additional traffic exiting and entering a (I think) town house development had parents up in arms. Valley is a very narrow road with no way of widening it. The street near CHS is a bottleneck - is a proposal for a Wallgreen there still viable? | ||
| lizzyr Citizen Username: Lizzyr Post Number: 165 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Kmart in West Orange is set to become a Sears Grand this spring. This is a new concept of Sears that is suppose to look and feel more like a Kohl's for clothing, but have Sears traditional appliances and tools. | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 1676 Registered: 5-2001  |
I am told that the space will be a spa and nail salon with a warm buffet. | ||
| blackcat Citizen Username: Blackcat Post Number: 304 Registered: 6-2001 |
Once again, isn't the driving range in Vauxhall? How would that affect Maplewood taxes? | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5156 Registered: 5-2001 |
It would only affect Maplewood taxes if the new use of the site served to stimulate or depress the values of property further along SA and its environs in Maplewood. Close proximity (just a short drive or even walk away) to a really desirable business (or businesses) could have a positive impact on property values and provide a boost to nearby Maplewood businesses on SA, Millburn Avenue and parts of Valley Street. Close proximity to a negatively viewed business could have a downward impact and might serve as too much competitition for similar businesses in our town. Traffic congestion, noise pollution and other negative effects on our town could result if the new land use relied on Maplewood roads to get customers to/from the business or if added congestion made it harder for persons in those parts of town to access 24/78, Vauxhall Road and other thoroughfares. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7899 Registered: 5-2001 |
Someone, I think Mark, mentioned that Lowe's likes to locate near Home Depot's. I had to drive to Marlboro earlier today and noticed on Route 9 that there is a Lowe's a half mile down the road from a HD. Yeah, this may be wishful thinking, but it would make so nice to have a Lowe's in the immediate area. | ||
| L'Angelo Misterioso Citizen Username: Misterioso Post Number: 38 Registered: 10-2003  |
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that, if they fixed the flood zone issues and made the golf course into a develop-able tract, then Maplewood would probably be on the hook for satisfying "Mount Laurel" affordable housing requirements on at least some of the land. |
