Ogden "Snags" a Downtown Wal-mart

Boss Godfrey's mushroom dream to be fulfilled

We've discussed the possible arrival in Emerald City of a Wal-mart Supercenter so many times over the past few years that today's Standard-Examiner story seems almost anticlimactic. But here's the announcement that many of us have been dreading, under the headline, "Ogden snags its very own Wal-Mart." Walmart's coming to town, just as Boss Godfrey predicted back in January of 2005. Here's the lead setup, straight from this morning's Ace Reporter Schwebke morning piece:

OGDEN — Developer Gadi Leshem will present site plans to the city’s planning commission next week for a proposed 176,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter at the northwest corner of 20th Street and Wall Avenue.
Plans call for the store to occupy about 17 acres, said Greg Montgomery, the city’s planning manager. The property, which is owned by Leshem, is already zoned for retail.
Several buildings on the property will have to be demolished before construction on the store can begin, possibly later this year, Mayor Matthew Godfrey said in a phone interview Thursday from Las Vegas, where he was attending the Snowsports Industries of America annual trade show.
The store would generate $700,000 to $1 million a year in property and sales tax revenue for the city, as well help rejuvenate downtown, he said.

As our Ogden city center proceeds with its urban revival, we suppose we can forget the images of Gucci, Cartier and Prada. A year from now instead, Emerald City will have the Wal-mart brand endelibly stamped all over it.

Anticipating the lumpencitizens' possible uneasiness about the addition of Wal-mart tackiness to our snazzy new downtown, Ace reporter Schwebke offers soothing words of reassurance:

Leshem could not be reached for comment Thursday. However, his spokesman, Alex Auerbach, said Leshem is pleased by how negotiations are proceeding with Wal-Mart.
The city won’t provide Leshem or Wal-Mart any financial incentives for construction of the supercenter, Godfrey said.
The city’s Redevelopment Agency has obtained and transferred purchase options for at least 38 parcels within the second phase of the Ogden River Project to Leshem for the construction of Renaissance Village, a proposed 60- to 80-acre mixed-use development.
The Wal-Mart site is outside the boundaries of the river project and is not one of the 38 parcels.
The Wal-Mart store, which would have architecture that would complement downtown historic buildings, would help increase trade for other local businesses, Auerbach said.
Wal-Mart is also committed to participating in an initiative to clean up a two-mile section of the Ogden River downtown as part of a project being spearheaded by Leshem, he said.

As to the issue of whether this new downtown big box store will help increase trade for other local businesses and otherwise be good for Emerald City, let's just say that remains a matter of some debate.

So what say our gentle readers about all this?