While at the last CDA meeting talking about the MOU, it was made clear that things are moving along.  Slow, but they are moving.  I was happy that the city is looking at putting a provision in place that if Wal-Mart would decide to close the store and move that we would not be left with just an empty building.

I would like to share an email I received that poses a question with Alderman Sean Smith leaving.

“Randy, I just wonder if Mr. Smith leaving was not some how in the plans once Wal-Mart was given the go ahead.  Now with Mr. Smith gone, the Common Council would be tied, allowing the Mayor with the deciding vote.  People around me think the election to replace Mr. Smith will be dragged out so that the Mayor has the greatest time with the tiebreaker.  I do know that the Mayor could, at anytime, veto the project, but that would be all on him instead of the line he used before that he was just one vote!  I find it odd that there is nothing on CudahyNow about the election date or the cost of the special election.  Are there not state laws that have to be followed with when the date has to be?”

I have asked around and was told the city would have a date soon.  Just as Mr. Smith’s leaving was personal reasons, I will not speculate that out of respect to his family and Mr. Smith.  Yes, the timing was odd, but I was told that it was done to try and have it coordinate with the general election as not to cost the taxpayers any additional money.  There was a miscalculation of a few days to a week on the announcement and the signed resignation papers.  I do not think there is some plan to kill the project with this development.  I do wish Mr. Smith the best!

Some people have talked that the Wal-Mart should have a design that is unique and a theme of a train station that would go along with the project name of Cudahy Station and the possible train station in the future.  It was also talked about having train boxcars to add to the theme.  I think that is all a wonderful idea!  I would like to see the box cars used for storage instead of truck trailers that many retailers, including Wal-Mart, like to use to store merchandise and shelving/counter parts in.  It would also be nice and neighborly to have the boxcars painted up with local business from Cudahy to act as billboards.

Just as I have said in the past, I do think that Cudahy needs Wal-Mart as much as Wal-Mart needs Cudahy.  If it takes slow and steady to get it right, then that is what should be done.

I have no idea what is going on with the store.  I know the CDA has had closed door meetings about the business conditions, but have no idea if it is moving forward.  Lisa Nelson of Wal-Mart Public Affairs is still out of the state on National Guard duty, so I have not heard from her.

Here is an article from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel talking about Wal-Mart and hurricane Katrina from Saturday August 2, 2008 that mentions the Cudahy Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart and Katrina

I have never understood the anti-Wal-Mart sentiment expressed by so many communities.  The latest example was in Cudahy, where the Planning Commission and the mayor voted against allowing a Wal-Mart there.  (The commission later reversed itself.)

The chain provides massive employment, including to those with disabilities, adds significantly to a community’s tax base and delivers low-cost products to those who need them the most.  Wal-Mart, a study has reported, saves the average shopper about $2,200 a year, a significant amount for those in the lower-income brackets.  My guess is that the majority of anti-Wal-Mart fanatics are not lower income.  But I digress.

Full Story Here

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=778891

It’s been reported today that Jason Furman has joined Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign as Economic Policy Advisor.  Needless to say, we find Furman’s positions on Wal-Mart disturbing.

Furman made big waves in 2005 with his paper “Wal-Mart: A Progressive Success Story,” which openly supported the Wal-Mart business model and helped the company.

Wal-Mart’s low price-low wage model has made American communities poorer, not richer.  Wal-Mart drives American manufacturing overseas, depresses wages and benefits and routinely does whatever it can to dodge its city and state taxes.

Unfortunately, Jason Furman’s got it wrong.

From Walmartwatch.com

Whoever said that Wal-Mart doesn’t mostly fall on political battle lines obviously doesn’t want to admit the truth.

1. Truly, What’s The Beef With Wal-Mart? – This was a question and answer from the Wal-Mart public forum.

2. Recall Donations and Help Needed – Talked about the open record request and the recall and how to donate.  They still need money donations to keep doing the open record requests.

3. Setting the record straight by Lisa B. Nelson  – Guest blog from a Wal-Mart rep to debunk the Joe Henika post in the public forum on Wal-Mart asking for a tax subsidy.

4. Moving Forward  –About the Wal-Mart moving forward and what I thought of the future.

5. Putting People’s Mind To Ease – Some one in the Wal-Mart public forum made an accusation that K-Mart, Walgreen’s, and Pick N’ Save would close if Wal-Mart came to town.  I called and talked to management of each of the stores and they didn’t seem concerned and welcome them.

6. Business Conditions  – I talk about what I would include in the business conditions with the developer and Wal-Mart.

7. Water-boarding  – I let people know what exactly water-boarding is and how I feel about it.

8. Important Emergency Phone Numbers – A collection of Important Emergency Phone Numbers that I have collected.

9. Lawn Care Part II – Weeds – Creeping Charlie  – This one is about those pesky weeds that are everywhere in Cudahy and southeastern Wisconsin.  They are very hard to get rid of.  Normal weed and feed will not kill it.

10. Audio File – Cudahy State Of the City Address – You can download it or just click on and listen to the speech that the Mayor gave if you missed it.

My guess the continued talks will meet the requirements to have the lawsuit dismissed.  I do think the most of the city would like the development to move forward.  I also feel that many of the city leaders also share the sediment as long as the city gets what is asked for in the business conditions. 

City will not foreclose on Iceport site yet

Although the July 1 deadline for the sale of the former Iceport property was not met or extended, city officials are not moving to claim the land at this time.

Instead, the city will continue to negotiate a developer’s agreement for Cudahy Station, the multiuse development proposed for the site, without altering the land ownership arrangement — at least for now.

City Attorney Paul Eberhardy said there has not been any movement by the Community Development Authority or the Common Council toward filing an affidavit.  He said filing an affidavit is the first step in a foreclosure.

“There has been discussion to continue working with Continental Properties toward crafting a development agreement,” he said.

The Common Council on July 1 followed a Community Development Authority recommendation against extending the deadline, so while the city is not moving to foreclose on the land now, it has the option to in the future.

The negotiation process and drafting of a developer’s agreement will go forward as planned, but likely will be a lengthy process.

“There’s a lot of people and a lot of steps involved,” Eberhardy said.

Drafting the developer’s agreement will be involved, and CDA members will be “examining the document with a microscope,” he said.  It is up to the Common Council to grant final approval.

Brad Hoeschen, Sportsites’ attorney, said a purchase agreement between Continental Properties and Sportsites has been pending for a year, but the deal has not been closed because all the contingences have not yet been satisfied.

One requirement is that Continental Properties receives all approvals to move forward with Cudahy Station.

Eberhardy said the city is now in the position to ensure that the process does not go on indefinitely.

Read Full Article Here

So as I posted before the City would like to finish up the process and move along if all the things in the Business Developer Agreement the city is seeking are met.  I do know some of it was talked about in last nights closed CDA meeting.  From what I heard the city maybe asking for, I hope the city gets what is being asked for.

I received this email this morning.

“Randy could you please post this article on the Cheesecake Factory Server Lawsuit.  While it is a shame that Wal-Mart has violated employee’s rights and wages, this practice is prevalent throughout retail and the restaurant service industry.  A person for whom I will not name, that you have stated you respect will of course not like this fact.  I am sure he is in denial that is favorite place could possibly have violations much like Wal-Mart his least favorite place.”

Servers Fight Back: sue the Cheesecake Factory over pay practices

A group of waiters and waitresses filed a federal lawsuit alleging that The Cheesecake Factory violated federal labor law by engaging in illegal pay practices regarding uniforms, off the clock work, calculation of overtime pay and other related wage and hour violations.

Servers allege illegal pay practices that include:

Unpaid Work Hours -- "Off the Clock" Work.  The Cheesecake Factory has a general policy against paying servers overtime hours.  This policy results in unpaid working hours or "off the clock" work.  Despite The Cheesecake Factory's requirement that servers arrive early for work according to its policy that “early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable,” it routinely attempts to save server clock hours by requiring or permitting the following illegal policies, practices or procedures:

  The Cheesecake Factory’s computerized time system prevented servers from clocking in except for a brief six minute window at the start of their shift.

Servers work “off the clock” runner shifts.

Servers attend pre-shift alignment meetings prior to clocking in.

Servers work “off the clock” before serving their first guests at the start of their shift.

Servers work “off the clock” after closing out their last check at the end of their shift.

Servers are clocked out by managers.  

Uniform and Other Tip Credit Violations

The cost of required Shoes for Crews shoes are deducted from servers’ paychecks.

Servers are required to purchase their uniforms.

Servers are required to maintain, clean and iron, at their expense, their uniform.

Servers are required to purchase aprons.

Servers are required to purchase Cheesecake Factory logo shirts.

Servers are charged $10 for lost computer swipe cards.

Servers are required to purchase tools of the trade including, black order books, pens, lighters, and wine keys.

Servers are required to pay for a customer “walk outs."

Servers are required to pay for any cash shortages resulting from customers short paying their check, cash handling errors, or problems with the cash out machines.

Servers are required to tip out an excessive percentage of their tips

Illegal Pay Practices are common in the restaurant industry. 

In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor has targeted restaurants for enforcement because violations are so common. 

These violations are particularly troubling because restaurant workers are among the lowest paid in the nation.   

http://www.techlawsuit.com/

I can make the statement that I do not approve of the actions Wal-Mart has been in violation of workers rights and I hope the lawsuit sticks.

I can tell you as a manager for K-Mart we were told to have the employees punch out and clean and straighten the aisles.  K-Mart called it code “S” and if you are in a K-Mart around 9:00pm you will hear a page “Code S is now in effect, Code S is now in effect”.

So you would think that Wal-Mart and the developer Continental are done with the Iceport.  Well not so fast.  It seems the city may be okay with dealing with Continental directly.  You may also now understand that Joe Henika was right about given Sportsites money, but he kept making it sound like Wal-Mart was getting the tax break.

That was not the case, yet his post in the public forum is being used as so.  What the whole thing was about was not giving a dime to the Sportsites people.  The problem was that the common person and those who wanted to believe it was true that Wal-Mart was getting a tax break because Joe wrote his post in such a manor.

In fairness people need to reread Lisa from Wal-Mart’s rebuttal (Setting the record straight By Lisa B. Nelson) on Mr. Henika’s post of the tax subsidy.

If you listen to the Mayor’s State of the City address at 36:36 he tells you Wal-Mart is not getting a tax break.  Still have the issue of the 10 Million TIF for the Wave Center and since Sportsites is the ones who brought Continental to the table, can the city even talk to them directly?

So what did happen at the CDA yesterday and at the Common Council tonight?

The city did not extend the deadline with Sportsites and Continental.  This being said the city did not end the discussion with Continental (thus Wal-Mart).  The thought is discussions can continue with the hopes that something happens soon.  From what I was told, Steve Wagner understands this and is still willing to talk.  I know they could even be in front of the CDA very soon.  The approvals still stand, I was told.

Do I think this is a good thing?  Yes, if the city can get the development with Continental and some how win the lawsuit, it is a total win win for Cudahy.  While this may not be the final that the NO Wal-Mart fans were looking for, it is not a sure thing the other way either.  I would naturally be happy not to over pay for the development, but something does need to happen.

While Joe Henika made the mistake of thinking I wanted to pay Sportsites money, if we just gave up after the May 5^th meeting, this would not be able to move forward.  I know that some components of the deal are/were looking at other cities, namely oak creek.  I hope something soon happens.  Sitting too long makes people nervous.  Sitting too long makes people want to do crazy things.

It was the fact that Continental saw in the voting from the past CDA meeting and the last Plan Commission meeting the willingness of the city in wanting this project as a whole to move forward.  Without that, Continental would have just walked away.  I have been in support of the project as a whole.  I have been very stern that Wal-Mart makes a building that looks good.  If you listen towards the end of the Mayor’s State of City address you will hear me say that exact thing.

The fact that the city is willing to have discussions shows interest and merit with the project.  The fact that Continental came back after the May 5^th and still would like to have discussions shows interest and merit with the project on their behalf.  Again let us hope it haves soon.  We need an answer either way and I hope it is with this project moving forward.

The developers of the defunct Iceport project have filed a multimillion-dollar claim against the City of Cudahy, saying the city committed fraud by rejecting a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the same parcel.

Below is the Iceport developer’s file claim of fraud lawsuit paperwork that was filed against the City of Cudahy, saying the city committed fraud by rejecting a Wal-Mart Supercenter. 

I am sorry for the grainy version.  I am trying to obtain a nice clear electronic version.

Please click on the individual picture for it to enlarge.

From the lawsuit, you can see that as of August 14^th 2007 or about Mayor McCue knew the intention of Wal-Mart’s involvement. 

Here is an article from October 24 2007.  Talking about Wal-Mart’s involvement.

Whispers of Wal-Mart at Iceport site swirl

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=678106

While Wal-Mart is not everything or all things, it is something.  I do not believe in the dooms day prediction of Packard Ave. if Wal-Mart comes to Cudahy.  I do believe that Wal-Mart is a piece of the puzzle towards recovery in Cudahy.  I do believe that Lee Barzcak can still and will still find tenants of the public market.  I feel it will actually get easier for him once Cudahy Station is finalized either way for the clogs Lee needs to find to complete his wheel called the Public Market.

I will say, as I have said before, that a few places will choose to close along Packard Ave.  I will say that even though I thought it was a bad idea, that some of the shops will move from Packard Ave to the Cudahy Shops (mainly the cell phone shops) and will have a negative effect since it will leave open a shop on Packard Ave.  I will say that by 2011 as many if not more places along the “heart of downtown,” as Mayor McCue likes to call Packard Ave, will be filled.

I will state this again for those who choose to not understand or if it was my fault for not making it clear.  I don’t love Wal-Mart, I like to shop there and would have fought just as tough, hard, and loud if it was a Target, Kohl’s, Costco, K-Mart (of course people then would have said I was biased for working at K-Mart) or any big box store.  I think having a big box store in that area which is NOT downtown was fine and is fine.  It is not as if there will be row after row of big box stores.  I have asked many people to define where Cudahy’s downtown was and is and never received a good description.  I got many well, this or this, but never right here to there.  If you listen to the Master Plan Guy, it is in flux moving west along Layton and will end on Pennsylvania.  He talks as if it is a trolley car. 

In the end, or more correctly to say as time moves forward, a big box at that location will be just fine.  Would it have been nice for Quad to come?  Sure but they high tailed it back to Pewaukee.  Could Cudahy have sat on the land until the right thing happen?  Sure, just ask all the single people still looking for their soul mates after many years, how that is working?  How long do you wait, a year, two, five, ten, twenty?  Could Cudahy have found someone else willing to be the big box store?  Sure, but Wal-Mart was not the first to be asked, but the seventh.  How would it have looked if we sat on the land and after five years it was still a Wal-Mart?

What you have to ask yourself is why didn’t those other big box stores want to come to Cudahy.  If the Wal-Mart goes through, Cobalt Partners will have it easier to get their big box store.  For one reason, Wal-Mart will have blazed the way.  Two, for Wal-Mart is now not on Cobalt’s list and Three, Wal-Mart equals traffic, which equals success and profits.  So the other big box store will know Wal-Mart will drive people into Cudahy even if those people are just Cudahy and St. Francis people. 

A tip to Cobalt Partners, if you need someone to be the voice for your development just ask me, I will help.  It doesn’t matter who it is I will help.  I am very pro-business, yet I understand we cannot give it all away for free.  The other side is, it takes money to make money and there is a cost of doing business.  Others would like to try and single handily give me credit for helping to give a push for the Wal-Mart when the push was needed.  And those are the people against the project not those in favor.  I am not willing to take such credit.  I am a voice, but a single voice.

So Cobalt Partners if it is an IKEA, hell everyone will be for that, but if it is Shopko I will fight along side of you to champion the cause.  I will take the criticism that I must be being paid by them, promised a job, or I love them, just for the cause.  It will benefit Cudahy even if the naysayers don’t think so.

If people took the time to know me, they would understand me.  Some people love me, hate me, don’t care for me, like me, know me, don’t understand me, can’t figure me out, get me, or just plain don’t care about me.  That is all okay will me.  I was never trying to make enemies nor was I looking to make friends.  I most likely made both.  That is all okay will me as long as you have enough respect for me to respect my right to be.  That is all okay will me as long as you have the respect for yourself to respect me and my family.

The city will do what is needed with the business conditions to make the needed protections.  I do have a suggestion that was once talked about that is no longer seen.  Have the developer put the water park connected to the or in the hotel, as it was first hyped up.  Push them to make the retention pond people friendly.  Push them to make more offices above the smaller retail shops to have more mixed use.  Push them to make the building look good within reason.  Push them to have a big American flag displayed.

While moving forward understand that I have not gained anything personally from any of this, expect what we all gain, that is choices.  To shop there or not.  To have the convenience or not.  To have lower prices or not to care.  It is not the silver bullet.  It is penicillin to a patient that has multiple illnesses.  It is the shot in the arm and is now up to time and the rest of the antibiotics with treatments to fix the city.  We cannot stay in the past or idle in the present, but move forward. 

With statements of don’t call or say he doesn’t love Wal-Mart I almost feel the crusade to stick up for Wal-Mart since so many think they are evil.  I will not though.  Wal-Mart is a big company and has plenty of ways on their own to do so. 

Remember twenty years ago at the excitement when Wal-Mart was first coming to the Milwaukee area?  The jubilee people had for this now concerted evil place.  I have stated this before, when the Wal-Mart came to Milwaukee I was at the Hales Corners K-Mart.  Mike Koehler and I would drive over and compare prices and match them.  Just as the Walgreen’s Corp person told me that the sales will dip and then go up.  That is what happened at K-Mart in Hales Corners.  Mike Koehler who also lives in Cudahy can back that up. 

While two years is a long time from now I am sure those places will be just fine.  You can call them if you like, hey as humblepie said I am just an idiot off the street.  So you can call I posted all the info including who I talked to.  Verify it for yourself!

Wal-Mart reaching fuel goals for truck fleet: exec

The world's largest retailer also plans to introduce hybrid trucks into its fleet of more than 7,000 trucks later this year, said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of sustainability for Wal-Mart.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1347612420080613

Rumors are such a wonderful thing.

Is it true that Pick 'n' Save and K-Mart have gone on record as stating that if Wal-Mart comes to Cudahy, they will leave?

Okay so I did what anyone could do, I called them.  Here is what I said to all of them.

I am hearing that with the impending Wal-Mart you are going on record that you are intending on leaving and closing the store.

First up St. Francis Pick 'n' Save Store number 6857 St. Francis 4698 S. Whitnall (414) 769-8801.  I asked for a senior member of management and talked to Rebecca.  She laughed and no absolutely not that is a false statement.

Next I called Cudahy Pick 'n' Save Store number 6873 Cudahy 5851 S. Packard Avenue (414) 744-8883  I asked for a senior member of management and talked to Bill.  He laughed as well and stated they look forward to the competition and have no problem with Wal-Mart.

I called the Cudahy K-Mart 6077 S Packard Ave, Cudahy, WI. Phone: 414-769-6560.  I asked for store manager Debbie Bonkowski and found out she was not in so I talked to Nick.  He again laughed at the statement and said absolutely not that Wal-Mart will have were little impact and by no means are they closing.

Walgreen’s 3201 E Layton Ave Cudahy, WI 53110 (414) 481-8220 I talked to Hillary and she said NO, and again laughed.  She directed me to the Corp number 1-847-914-2962

Walgreen’s 6241 S Packard Ave Cudahy, WI 53110 (414) 762-9717 I talked to Mark and he said no and any type of decisions have to be done at the Corp level.

Walgreen’s Corp 1-847-914-2962 I talked to Tiffany and she told me it is not true, just as only Walgreen’s can sell prescriptions on Layton ave as someone rumored at the meet the mayor meeting is not true.  In fact, Tiffany told me that the Wal-Mart should increase their sales, as that is what happens nationwide with the increase of traffic.  She laughed just as the rest did.

. 

We’d like to set the record straight with regards to claims that Wal-Mart is asking for a taxpayer subsidy to build in Cudahy.  Those making this claim are wrong, and are attempting to scare taxpayers and city officials.

Let us be clear:  Wal-Mart will not receive, and is not asking for, any financial subsidy for its development.

It’s important to know however, that the City of Cudahy created a tax-increment finance district (TIF) years ago to develop the Iceport site, which failed.  The City of Cudahy borrowed over $5 million to invest in this site.  The city has spent this money, development has not occurred and because of that, a tax base at the Iceport site does not exist to repay this debt.

We want to be part of the solution.  Wal-Mart will indeed pay taxes, and will create the property value necessary in the TIF to generate the revenue needed to finally make the Iceport site a success for Cudahy.

Continental Properties has put together a top-notch development that will create the tax base the city needs to repay its debt.  At the same time, this plan brings a national discount retailer to the community and includes a state-of-the-art destination sports facility, retail shops and a hotel.  All put together by a local, well-respected developer.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Close to a month ago, the plan for Cudahy Station appeared to be dead.  But following some careful, creative planning, and the persistent, positive support of Cudahy residents, the plan for Cudahy Station has been given new life.

On June 10^th a new plan will be presented to the Cudahy Plan Commission that addresses the concerns that have been raised.  A great deal of time and thought has gone into its development, and we are appreciative for the opportunity to present again and answer questions.

The success we’ve had at Wal-Mart is very real – and it’s not only because we save people money, but because we help them live better.  We do this in many ways, through jobs, opportunities, community involvement and of course, low prices that help stretch hard-earned dollars in today’s economy.  We want to do that in Cudahy.

Please join us for the meeting on June 10^th at 6:50pm at the Cudahy Municipal Building to see the new elements in the plan, and help us bring them to life in Cudahy.

Lisa B. Nelson
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc 

1. April Top 10 – With over 170,000 views for just the top ten of the month of April that is fantastic.  Thank you to all that read my blog!

2. Reminder of Recall Meeting Today –I talked about when and where the meeting was to be held and a few of the reasons I was told for it possibility.

3. The Recall Of Mayor Ryan McCue  – Had a few emails about the recall and voting in the plan commission.

4. Wal-Mart & Wave Pushed Away  – Talked about the plan commission vote, thus ending the Wal-Mart and Wave site plan.

5. I Was Wrong Mayor!  – Satire of an apology to the Mayor.  I go over the Mayor’s platform and highlight important sections.

6. Tar and Feathers For McCue?   – Title came from an email to me from a McCue supporter asking me to stop the recall.  I listed a few of the reasons people emailed me why they support the recall.

7. Questions and Statements  – I took peoples’ questions and statements out of the public forum and answered them.  I had the drawings of the Wave and Wal-Mart buildings.

8. Thank You for Voting Against Wal-Mart Mayor McCue!  – Another satire this time from a person that wrote in the public forum thanking McCue for voting NO.

9. The Forbidden Store – Talked about Cobalt’s email to me and not trying to interfere with the proposal on the table.  This is before the vote.

10. Internet Child Predator Sterotype Changing Study Shows – Talks about how new studies show a change in the habits of the Internet Child Predator.

The adding of business conditions on Cudahy Station is tricky, because of the involvement of the council and CDA.  If a business is not regulated by municipal ordinance or code (roller rinks hours of operation are in city code, for example), then it would be up to the Plan Commission to put any additional restrictions on a business.  The Plan Commission has certain powers and they could have made any reasonable conditions, such as hours of operation, noise, landscaping, at the Plan Commission level. 

However, here is the tricky part, because this is a public / private partnership between business and government (council and CDA), either or both body could ask for business conditions to be added into the development agreement, or as additional conditions (an addendum) to the agreement.  The key here is ask.  So far they have not asked.  McCue made a mention of it in his reason for not explaining, but the conditions were not asked yet.  But usually, main restrictions would be at the Plan Commission level and would have been set in advance for both parties to look at.  This did not occur.

Razing fees for big box stores is something that I brought up at the first Master Plan meeting and is something that should be hammered in to any big deal.  Don’t get me wrong, I want the Wal-Mart in Cudahy, but it needs to be a nice looking store and has to have the right conditions on it.  I think putting in a clause that will either force Wal-Mart to find a new tenant in reasonable defined time or include something which assesses developers a fee that can be used for demolition if needed, as counterproductive to attracting new business, is needed.

We need to protect the city from unneeded and unsightly vacant sites, so-called ghost boxes, the remains of what are often big box stores left vacant when retailers downsize, relocate or go out of business.

Hours of operation – I am in support of a 24-hour store as long as crime during that time doesn’t increase.  Typically, Supercenters are open 24 hours and with its location just next to Patrick Cudahy, which employs people who work all shifts, it makes sense.  It would be nice when the kids get sick late at night to be able to shop close to home at anytime.  The Walgreen’s is no longer open 24 hours with the closest one in South Milwaukee, I was told from a manger at the Cudahy store.  I say let the store stay open for the 24-hours but watch it for crime at those hours, if after a set time period, 6, 9 months or 1 year mark, look over the crime reports.  Why get all upset about something that may not happen, why not do the right thing and watch for it?  It may not even be a problem.

Lighting – Work with the Police department, the city personnel and the citizens on the lighting.  Make sure the lighting is very good, yet is not over done for the residents who will complain.

Noise – Use nature barriers like shrubs and bushes rather than fences where you can.  It will give a good look as well as natural look and appeal.  The use of Evergreens is best since it will keep its foliage year-round.

Look at these things as well - adopt a big-box ordinance that requires developers of buildings 50,000 square feet and larger to set aside 20 cents a square foot in the city's land conservation fund.

Higher architectural standards that make buildings easier to reuse; requiring developers to take out demolition bonds; and banning clauses in leases that prohibit the owner of a building, once vacated, from renting it to a retailer's competitor.

Take a look at Wauwatosa's provisions has been touted by the American Planning Association as one of the innovative ways communities can protect themselves if a retailer departs.

In the end, discussion is the best thing to do and it takes all of the parties involved to do.  Without discussion, you would never know if someone would be willing to change something or if someone has a better idea. 

Wauwatosa information provided by Milwaukee Journal and Wauwatosa’s Big Box Ordinance.

Wauwatosa’s Big Box Ordinance

Chapter 24.25 LARGE RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS