Our final question is from Joe Sabel.
As a large discount store looking to build a new store in Boulder. Bringing with me, good prices, 200-300 new jobs and 3 or 4,000,000.00 in yearly tax dollers. What does Boulder offer in return?
Rob Smoke
Did not participate.
Ken Wilson
Did not participate.
Matt Appelbaum
Did not participate.
Philip Bradley
A Home. If Boulder wants to promote affordable living we have to buy into the whole package. affordable way of life. i can't afford to shop a Whole Pay Check I shop where I can to make end meet and if Boulder thinks that we can mandate our way out of affordable housing we are dead wrong. Affordable needs to encompass it all food, rent clothing( it is getting cold) utilities and unless we allow for discount retailers like (Target) to exist we might as well but a sign up at the edge of town that says $70,000 or less to live here.
Seth Brigham
Did not participate.
Shawn Coleman
Well the answer today is nothing of course. The city has started a new economic incentive program but it is minimal. We must be understood is that economic incentives are the rule not the exception in this increasingly national and international market and we must play by the rules to be competitive. The public needs to understand that with economic incentives come the ability to insist on some community values we hold dear, and if we want to maintain economic diversity of both population, and employment opportunities we will need to have some discount retailers, otherwise our investment in keeping people and their dollars, local, and out of cars is wasted. This is as much and environmental concern as it is an economic, and I for one will be working towards continuing and expanding our economic vitality programs
Macon Cowles
Did not participate.
Angelique Espinoza
Boulder offers the best thing a large discount store could want, a large demographic that is presently underserved in that particular niche. In other words, Boulder offers a "captive audience" of lower and moderate income shoppers who don't have a lot of other places in town to shop. If I were on council, I would look at how the city and the discount store could work together on a workable solution to provide that demographic with more retail options.
Crystal Gray
There is a trend in retail away from large box stores and more to mid box so this question might be moot by the time we fill up 29th Street and start to look beyond. Boulder did not 'offer' , or TIF, any thing to 29th Street-it was all market driven and I suspect that any large box, or mid-box retail will be market driven. What the city can offer is assistance to see that retail, or any other business, iis assisted thru the development process and
has the right use for the land they are looking to re-develop or develop.
A TIFcomes with a huge price to many programs and I do not support them.
Andrew Harrison
Did not participate.
Philip Hernandez
Locating in Boulder has many advantages for any company-skilled workforce, large market, attract surrounding community shoppers. We shouldn't have to offer anything. But, we need to address the disincentives for the company to locate here. We need to provide affordable housing for lower and mid-level workers, improve library and recreational facilities, address transportation issues.
Nabil Karkamaz
Did not participate.
Kathryn Kramer
- Boulder offers a mountain view that can not be duplicated and is a drawing card.
- It offers a workforce that is better educated and healthier (because of the Boulder lifestyle) than some of the other cities.
- Boulder has tax incentives for businesses.
- Boulder SHOULD offer broadband.
- Boulder should also make it easier for businesses to find housing for employess (which is another reason for the need of affordable housing).
- Boulder needs to address the traffic problems because that is a huge detriment to businesses that need to draw people to their locations.
- Boulder also needs to make it easier to renovate office buildings which will draw in neighboring businesses so that the proposed store will be have potential customers already there.
Adam Massey
Did not participate.
Lisa Morzel
Did not participate.
Alan O'Hashi
if you're eligible you can apply for all the same economic vitality incentives and programs available to all other businesses. in exchange, for incentives.
Susan Osborne
Did not participate.
Eugene Pearson
Boulder has an economic incentive program to help mitigate what can be expensive regulations to overcome (perhaps we should change these onerous regulations to begin with). We also offer the concept of mixed use development so that your employees and shoppers can live near by. We have a huge need in the community for your type of store so that it can be successful. I will make sure I am one on council who allows a seat at the table for you to voice your concerns and we can find market based solutions to address them.
Susan Peterson
In return, Boulder offers:
- 100,000 residents and 50,000 workers who could potentially shop at the store and generate, conservatively, a matching $3 or 4M income for the store owner.
- A great place for their employees to live and work.
Larry Quilling
In today’s environment, they would be greeted with regulations, restrictions and social activism. We need a discount store in our community to serve those who need it most! Our poor and struggling community members deserve a discount store without social activism blocking the way. If you don’t like the discount retailer who comes to town don’t shop there.
We need to attract a discount retailer to Boulder and I’d support site and tax incentives to make it happen.
Tom Riley
I will not allow us to sell out. What Rob Smoke promoted with the 29th st. Mall in terms of not giving tax credits is right on.
If a business can be successful in our community it must be successful without us being held hostage to the idea that more tax dollars will come.
That said, I have the highest standards for business incentives. I support strongly, the notion that we should provide monies that support local businesses. 85% of our businesses are locally owned and have less than 20 employees. Our focus, in order to sustain a financially viable future, must support local businesses. Selling out to a “big box” for the demand that we give something upfront shows to me that this “big box” might not be invested in Boulder’s future.
In addition, our zoning codes and regulations are onerous and cumbersome. I support a streamlining of codes and land use regulations such that unwarranted and unneeded obstacles are mitigated. The promotion of local business must be a focus of city government.
Eric Rutherford
I would not support a large discount store, because it simply doesn’t fit with the culture or history or Boulder. So Boulder would really not have anything to offer. However, I would support a mid-sized shopping alternative that meets the needs and shopping desires of people who currently leave Boulder to do their shopping. Boulder would be providing a consumer base to the retailer and the City would recoup much needed sales and property taxes.
