I have started this blog to gauge reaction from Ward 5 and the rest of the District on a potential Walmart store on Rhode Island Ave, NE.
As most people know by now, the Safeway on Rhode Island Ave, NE is closing it's doors after many years of service. Unfortunately, this is occurring under not so favorable circumstances, due to the recent rodent infestations. One of the reasons cited by Safeway was the recent opening of a Giant store nearby. It is unfortunate that instead of maintaining and keeping clean their store that they would decide to leave our community. It is certainly not because selling groceries in our community is unprofitable. Witness the success of the new Giant, to the point that they are remodeling it after only a few years in business.
In my opinion, the entire Safeway shopping center could use an extreme makeover, and with the also recent departure of National Wholesale Liquidators, the area could really use a discount general merchandise retailer (Target, Kmart, Walmart, etc.).
Kmart was interested in opening several years back in the Rhode Island Place shopping center next to Giant, but pulled out due to financial problems. Target has recently opened a store in Columbia Heights. As Walmart does not have a store yet in the District, I think this would be a great time to try to lure them to our community.
A large corporation like Walmart would be able to make the investment necessary to dramatically reshape and improve the Rhode Island Ave corridor, much like Target has done in Columbia Heights, and the Home Depot has already in our community. Other stores and services tend to follow a store like Walmart, so there is a strong possibility that other retail services that are sorely lacking at the present time would follow. Imagine, a future Rhode Island Ave with stores and restaurants instead of used car lots, Chinese carry outs and empty storefronts.
If a Walmart did open, I would like to see a 2 story model used, with underground parking and other retail services as well. I've seen this layout used in other Walmart locations, and it works quite well. If we work together as a community, we can possibly help determine the final results and even win some concessions from Walmart for being their first location in the District.
Please vote in the poll and provide your opinion on the matter.
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I've seen the Walmart movie, and have heard all the arguments against one. They say that a Walmart forces small business out of business. There are a lot of small businesses on RI Ave already out of business, from decades of anti-business litigation by DC. I just don't see how a Walmart can make it any worse. By bringing in more foot traffic to RI Ave, it will improve business at other merchants in the area.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go to Home Depot, I see people there from all over the city. These people would never come to NE anywhere but now they do, and their spending dollars follow.
Also, think about all the MD commuters that go out RI Ave. Having a Walmart right there on RI Ave would capture some of their dollars as they head home. These are dollars that would never get spent in the District otherwise.
What about their low wages? Oh wait, there's a lot of people that are unemployed in Ward 5 and a low wage is better than no wage.
ReplyDeleteNo one ever said a minimum wage job should be a career. But an entry level job at Walmart would give a lot of economically disadvantaged people a job and a stepping stone to be able get some experience to get an even better paying job someday. Everyone has to start somewhere.
I'm not against a walmart as part of a more urban, mixed-use development. That whole shopping center needs to be redeveloped into a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly residential and retail center.
ReplyDeleteBamoll,
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think this should be a prerequisite for redevelopment of the shopping center. I would like to see a wide sidewalk along RI Ave, with store fronts up to the sidewalk. The pedestrian bridge from Metro should be maintained as well. Any parking should be underground.
By working with city and Walmart officials, we can make our desires known so that new development serves the community.
I'm going to be the first to admit, I've never been a huge WalMart fan. But that was usually because I lived in small towns/suburban areas where there were lots of options that were easy to get to. With the traffic situation in DC, it's not always easy to get to these bigger stores, and the metro/bus are not always time-efficient either.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I know some people would be concerned about the possibility that this would attract other low-brow shopping, I would just have to point to my hometown (just outside of Richmond, VA). WalMart opened on abandoned farmland. Soon there was a Target and Kohl's (can we have a Kohl's, please, please, please!!). Now there's a high-end shopping mall, Whole Foods AND Trader Joe's, Best Buy, and an REI. These stores came because there were already customers coming to WalMart.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI'm not the biggest Walmart fan either, I just want to see some useful development on RI Ave.
A lot of people turn their nose up at Walmart, but the fact is you can't get any more low brow than what is on RI Ave right now. I mean, c'mon, Foreman Mills? AJ Wright? rat infested Safeway? empty store fronts and carry out joints? A Walmart is like Tiffany's compared to what's there now.
Brentwood and NE DC in general just doesn't have the demographics to attract a Whole Foods or anything upscale. There's nothing wrong with Walmart, Target or Kohl's. Whether people admit it or not, they probably shop at those stores and probably drive to MD or VA to do it. Just go to the Target in Columbia Heights on a Saturday and witness the crowds. More shopping traffic in this area would also help other neighborhood establishments by bringing more foot traffic to the area. The adjacent metro would also allow a lot of people to arrive sans car.
Completing DC I-95 via the basic concept proposed by JFK would help the local economy, and doing it via my Grand Arc proposal would immensely beautify the area.
ReplyDeleteAlas, DC is run by those that long ago lost their credibility.