O'Fallon, MO
I read this article today:
"O'Fallon, Mo., leaders point fingers amid sales tax slowdown
By Nancy Cambria
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/03/2007
O'FALLON, MO. — With a six-mile stretch of shopping centers along Highway K, O'Fallon has been considered the land of milk and chain stores when it comes to retail in St. Charles County.But a $600,000 shortfall last year in expected sales tax revenue has city officials nervously evaluating the surrounding competition and picking old political fights."Is it time to panic? No. It's time to be concerned," said Council President Peter Cantwell, who noted the city had only a few major commercial developments come before the planning board this past year and even fewer that broke ground.That's a slowdown Cantwell said the city can't afford as large competing shopping centers have already gone up in nearby Lake Saint Louis and Dardenne Prairie on the Highway 40 corridor...."
As I read it I realized suburban sprawl development conditions folks to go to whatever is new. Since nothing has true character such as a downtown Webster or Kirkwood. Why would a consumer go to an old Target when their is a new target in Dardenne Prairie. This is the challenge with sprawl developments - they have a short life. O'Fallon needs to work on improving the aesthetics and traffic on Highway - K. Additional development on a congested and frustrating "K" is going to further push sales down. The same will happen in other areas that just keep building with no forsite.
Highway K - should be termed Highway 'K'haos. O'Fallon needs to quit just approving strip center after strip center.
"O'Fallon, Mo., leaders point fingers amid sales tax slowdown
By Nancy Cambria
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/03/2007
O'FALLON, MO. — With a six-mile stretch of shopping centers along Highway K, O'Fallon has been considered the land of milk and chain stores when it comes to retail in St. Charles County.But a $600,000 shortfall last year in expected sales tax revenue has city officials nervously evaluating the surrounding competition and picking old political fights."Is it time to panic? No. It's time to be concerned," said Council President Peter Cantwell, who noted the city had only a few major commercial developments come before the planning board this past year and even fewer that broke ground.That's a slowdown Cantwell said the city can't afford as large competing shopping centers have already gone up in nearby Lake Saint Louis and Dardenne Prairie on the Highway 40 corridor...."
As I read it I realized suburban sprawl development conditions folks to go to whatever is new. Since nothing has true character such as a downtown Webster or Kirkwood. Why would a consumer go to an old Target when their is a new target in Dardenne Prairie. This is the challenge with sprawl developments - they have a short life. O'Fallon needs to work on improving the aesthetics and traffic on Highway - K. Additional development on a congested and frustrating "K" is going to further push sales down. The same will happen in other areas that just keep building with no forsite.
Highway K - should be termed Highway 'K'haos. O'Fallon needs to quit just approving strip center after strip center.
posted by Opinion at 7:27 AM
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