HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Stacey Johnsoni ~ ECE~D
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August 11, 1998 g-~/- ~sj AUG 1 1 1998
CITY OF MERIDIAN
TO: Meridian City Planning and Zoning
RE: Plans for a new mall on Fairview and Eagle Rd.
Since I am unable to attend the public hearing scheduled for tonight regarding the
plans for this site, I would like to submit this letter in an attempt to voice my
concerns.
It is my opinion that putting a mall in this area will compromise the small
independently-owned businesses in Meridian that are the heart and soul of this
community and have managed to survive amidst the incredible growth of this area
over the years.
It's bad enough that property taxes for these select businesses on East First
Street are increasing 100%. Now the city is proposing a huge mall with chain
stores that have the buying power and corporate funds to blow the small
businesses of Meridian right out of business! These hard-working people have
struggled to survive amidst the addition of big chain stores such as Fred Meyer,
Rite-Aid, Albertsons, and soon Waremart and Home Depot. Is this any way to
pay back the people who kept this town alive-while Boise was booming? The
people of Meridian have struggled for decades to remain a seperate entity from
Boise. We can't let Meridian become just an "extension of West Boise" now! If
we allow this to happen, the small-town community atmosphere that so many of
us moved here for in the first place will evaporate. It would be a very sad sight
indeed to drive through the heart of Merdian to see only vacant buildings with "out
of business" signs in the windows...a virtual "ghost town" of our own making!
i propose the following: if it is absolutely necessary to build a giant mall to
compete with Boise Towne Square and take much-needed business away from
Karcher Mall in Nampa, another struggling community, include a covenant that
states that no tenants will be allowed in the mall that will directly compete
with any of the small independently-owned businesses already inexistence
in Meridian.
Enough is enough. We've got to do something to save our lovely town.
Thank you for your consideration.
~ Z~'7v~~~%Z~-'
Stacey Johnso , 1575 N. Santa Rosa Place, Meridian, 884-0492
p.s. In case you're wondering...yes, I am, in a way, personally affected by this
proposal. I am a part-time employee at The Herb Tree, a business on East First
Street that has been independently owned and operated by the same person for
15 years. I am 32 years old and (make minimum wage. It's not all about
money; it's also about doing what's right and doing what we love.