Sunday, May 06, 2007

Does Maple Valley Need "Big Box" Stores?

Does Maple Valley need big retail stores? A feature in the Seattle Time's Sunday
SE Living supplement examines that question. Our close proximity to Covington and Issaquah provides expanded shopping options. Are we missing out on Sales tax revenue. Most residents speak about the possibility of losing our "small town feel" However new housing is built consistently.
Without the option of curtailing or stalling population growth, it may be imperative to encourage more retail options. Perhaps we can look at neighbor Issaquah, which has allowed the stores and still kept it's attractiveness.

8 comments:

steve said...

Evey things up to date in Maple valley
they've gone about about as fer as they can go They have a city hall in a strip mall..dadadada..dadadaa.dadada!

Coffee Time with Cindy said...

Not living in Maple Valley I don't know how the locals feel. I do know that if you let them come in I would be very careful when it comes to what types of "Big Box Stores" you allow to grace your community.

About a year and a half ago they went from a Wal-Mart to a Super Wal-Mart in the town of Norton, Virginia. I have seen many businesses close (some of my favorite grocery stores). I’m sure many more took a huge hit to their profits. It's sad. I miss my little "Country Store" which was the only place I could buy German beer. (O:

Maybe there is a good middle ground.

Mike Barer said...

But our scenery is to die for.

Mike Barer said...

Cindy, Maple Valley is not like any other town. The locals do not really ever come together on anything since it is made up of several housing subdevelopements. The town was incorporated in 1997. There is a scattering of strip malls on each end of the city limits on highway 169, with a Bartells, QFC,Safeway, etc and a couple McDonald's. Not much in the way of local business, other than Service station, a restaurant, and a hardware store. We are so close to Covington, which has Costco, Wal Mart, and the like that I don't think anything MV allows will have much effect.
I think a bigger concern is the proliferation of 0 lot housing. Cheaply built, which will clog the roads, and put a strain on schools and services will doing everything that we accouse the big bad corporations of doing as far as the environment.

Michelle Sorro said...

Hi Mike, thanks for including me in your blog and for commenting on mine. Your blog is great, I just got started and don't know how to do all the fancy things you do (labels, photos, etc) but hopefully in time. :) I actually live in Bellingham for several years when I was young, how was it? Have a beautiful day! Michelle

Michelle Sorro said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mike Barer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike Barer said...

Michelle was one of the candidates on this season's Apprentice. Thank you for your comments, Michelle!