FIGHTING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES >>>

Never assume Central Tacoma folks are less passionate about the city of Tacoma's special character than North and South Tacoma neighborhoods. Tacoma's Central Neighborhood Council has done themselves activist-proud the past year, rapidly mobilizing a passionate and intelligent public outcry against the digital billboards and abandoned shopping carts - and now the development at the Tacoma Elks Lodge Site.

As you may of heard, Wal-Mart plans to build a 150,000-square-foot store on the Central Tacoma Elks site despite the Tacoma City Council's moratorium on big-box stores.

Tacoma's Central Neighborhood Council is not happy.

Yesterday at its Sept. 1 monthly meeting the CNC unanimously passed a resolution opposing large-scale retail development at the Elks Lodge property.

According to CNC Secretary Justin Leighton, the CNC's major concerns with the development - besides the obvious increase in traffic hell at 23^rd and Union - is the economic hit to local businesses.

"If this city is serious about protecting small business interest, building a sustainable market and protecting family wage employees then this city needs to stand up, stand strong and be bold in our actions," Leighton says. "Wal-Mart has not afforded this city any of that and that is clear and apparent in their actions thus far with trying to quietly sneak this by.  If it was not for strong questions by (Tacoma) City Council Members Mello and Fey at EPW last week and the CNC's vigor at public records request and shaking this to light we would not even know about it today." 

The CNC would rather see a mixed-use center with residential and commercial elements on the Elks property.

A large single purpose retail store with surface parking will not benefit the neighborhood," commented Tricia DeOme, CNC chair in a release.  

What's CNC's next move?

"We will continue to public records the city to insure all things are coming to light," explains Leighton.  "We want to make sure the city adheres to all the policies its in acting including the Mobility Master Plan, the Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Improvement plans."

"Wal-Mart will hurt business," he continues. "They will not draw in a new market place they will just try and shift it from one to the other which as we indicated in our release is pure market saturation and lacks market diversity."

According to Leighton, the CNC encourages the other seven neighborhood councils in Tacoma, community groups, business district associations and neighbors to join them in this opposition.  

LINK: Central Neighborhood Council website