Oro Valley Looking To Make It Easier For Developers

In an article in the July 25 Explorer, writer Patrick McNamara tells us about a new contract Oro Valley has signed with Texas-based Buxton.

For those who may not recall, Buxton is the company that Oro Valley paid $50,000 a few years ago to tell us about our demographics, and why a retailer like Nordstrom won't be coming here.

That was a precursor to Vestar going through their "CHARADE" asking us which retailers we would like in their Marketplace.

Well---- I could have saved Oro Valley the $50,000 if they would have asked me. I, as well as just about everyone else, knew a community the size of Oro Valley came up a million or so short in population for a retailer like Nordstrom to even consider us.

In due respect, if memory serves me, Buxton did tell us we had a large enough per capita household income, for us to expect something more than a Wal-Mart.

That brings us to the Explorer article. Did anyone other than I,"catch" the quote from David Welsh our Economic Development Director? Welsh noted the "focus of analysis (contract with Buxton) was the intersection of Tangerine and Oracle roads."

Although this program will be of assistance to other developments, isn't that the location of Vestar's Market Place? Didn't we GIVE Vestar $23.2 million of our future sales tax revenue to bring us an "upscale, unique" shopping mall?

And now, we are going to spend OUR money for "an analysis to show how good of a match Oro Valley properties are for various retailers."

Are We Nuts, Or What?

Vestar already proved they don't give a damn what Oro Valley citizens want or what's a good match. Vestar proved they will bring in who they want, when they want, and not show the least bit of concern for Oro Valley citizens.

Click here if you still want to read the article.

Art