Phil concludes that the ”only alternative, at this point, is to join a drive to get the citizens of Oro Valley and surrounding towns to sign pledges to shop locally and not at the Oro Valley Marketplace.”
In a letter dated February 24, 2007 to the Vestar Company’s attorney, with a copy to the Oro Valley Town council, I suggested an alternative to Wal Mart. Vestar’s shopping center in Chandler, AZ substituted two anchor stores for the Wal Mart SuperCenter in response to citizen pressure. I have yet to receive a reply.
On Vestar’s web page and flyers they stated the following: "Opponents (of the tax rebate) seem to want an 'Anywhere USA' shopping plaza without any of these features and without movie theaters. Oro Valley Marketplace is seeking to land stores and restaurants that don’t currently exist in the area. And soon, you’ll be enjoying the towns first-ever movie theaters, signature shops and a choice of many new restaurants. We expect a collection of first-in-market and destination tenants."
I believe the citizens of Oro Valley are owed an explanation from both Vestar and the Town Council. How do the tenants Vestar announced, Wal Mart Supercenter, Linen’s & Things, Petco, Chase Bank, Danny’s Family Car Wash, Best Buy, Olive Garden, and Cost Plus fit the above criteria?
It would be good, wouldn't it, for Town Council to explain to all of us exactly how these new tenants, especially WalMart, match the promises Vestar made to all of us.
