Local Development

So there's a DH story today about the possibility of a Walmart (WalMart? Wal-Mart?) being built just east of I-5 as part of a large shopping center.

I don't like Walmart.

Furthermore, there is already a Super Walmart just south of Lebanon on Highway 20.

This second Walmart is unnecessary except for one reason: the company wants saturation and wants to drive others out of business. For example, Albany already has Target, Fred Meyer, Shop 'n' Kart, CostCo and probably a few other big box stores I'm missing. Corvallis has Fred Meyer, BiMart, WinCo, Albertsons, etc. From a consumer-need perspective, Wal-Mart is redundant.

But such is life with the so-called world's largest retail employer.

I had half a mind to go into some sort of globalization-related diatribe about how the Blue Devil is so large it can set wholesale prices, much to the detriment of suppliers, or maybe how poorly it treats its employees, or even how it's such a fucking dilemma because so many can't afford to shop anywhere but Walmart that the low, low prices mean low, low wages for others. But I don't have the will for that. It's all been said before.

And besides, when it comes down to it, I'm pretty sure I believe that where one shops is overrated as a social change tactic. While shopping local does really help local folks and keep money local, shopping at Walmart vs. shopping at Fred Meyer doesn't really make that much difference. If it's Walmart's head you're after, "consumer preference" doesn't really mean shit.

Corvallis is Changing

Inspired by this post at Blue Oregon (even though the post in question doesn't really touch on what I want to talk about all that much), I think Corvallis is in the midst of shooting itself in the foot, the leg, the thigh and possibly the femoral artery.

What? My lousy metaphors don't make sense? Deal with it.

Anyway, this is something that has been percolating for quite a while in my brain, and now that the heat of the day has passed, I'm going to try and explain a bit.

I started going to college in the fall of 2001, so I was in town pretty much every day. I moved to Corvallis in the spring of 2002 and have lived here ever since. Also, I like to eat out often, as does my partner. As a result, we have a decent sense of the ebb and flow of restaurants and other businesses in town since we end up all over the place in search of food.

In the last 5 years, I've noticed that there's been a lot of change in town - new buildings, renovation of old buildings, the closing down of old shops, etc. Among the more notable are the closing of Albright and Raw, the Avalon, Lyons Restaurant and several large businesses on 9th St.

Most of these things have either been replaced, razed, or stand as empty buildings. They've been replaced with - you guessed it - chain stores.

Paul Turner of the Darkside (and formerly of the Avalon) has something to say about chain stores that pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter:

I’ve done my part to bring this type of cinema to town. Now it’s your turn. Do you want the Darkside, the Majestic, Robnett’s, Red Horse, and Sunny Side Up in your future? Make no mistake: every dollar you spend at Carmike, Home Depot, and Starbucks is another nail in the coffin for these local establishments.

I think he's spot-on, and that's why I think Corvallis is in the midst of some fundamental long-term change: In the last 5 years, I've seen at least a dozen chains enter town, including Borders, Carmike Cinemas, Home Depot, Ruby Tuesday's, the forthcoming Applebees, an Elmers Restaurant, multiple Dutch Bros., Bed Bath & Beyond, and more. All of these have put pressure on local businesses, even forcing some of them to go under. Hell, even the local Goodwill built a new store that looks just like a low-budget Walmart (scary, I know).

My point is that Corvallis has a reputation - which the Blue Oregon post alludes to - as a great place to live. Part of that reputation is due to some very specific land-use planning: Lots of parks and green space, but more importantly, a limit on the size of stores to limit big-box stores and a genuine effort to keep downtown vibrant by promoting and support local business.

I think the reputation has lived on well after the fact.

Don't get me wrong; my understanding is that the downtown businesses wield some clout, and they are judicious in defending their turf. I'm referring more to the set of decisions (probably made the city government and City Council, though I have admittedly not followed closely enough to be sure) that have allowed the new development.

In other words, I think the mentality of many Corvallis residents has changed and they don't remember why their town is so awesome in the first place, and the consequences of that forgetfulness are going to be, in the long run, a shift from local and independent businesses to mega-corporate chain stores. Corvallis, I predict, is going to lose a lot of what makes it unique and loved by everyone, and lots of people aren't going to be any the wiser, especially since I'd bet new arrivals don't have any idea of the history of the town.

And don't even get me started on the class aspect of all this; I'll save that for another post. Suffice to say, this G-T article has some useful information.