A year's delay because of soil contamination -- that's the latest for Walmart in the Arvada Plaza. (YourHub/Denver Post for Thursday, May 22, 2014)
But what is really going on? How much contamination of soils is at the site? What else is to be found in the ground?
The taxpayers of Arvada are committed by the city council to funnel $5.8 million to developer IRG to make the Arvada Plaza suitable for a massive discount retail building, but ... surprise, surprise ... we aren't to be apprised to why we are paying this money.
What kind of a deal is Arvada Urban Renewal Authority and city council making for us that the public gets to pay, but we don't get to know what is really going on?
Despite using nearly $6 million of public revenue for 'improvements to the blighted property', we aren't "privy to the environmental piece."
What a prime example of "socializing the loss, while privatizing the profit" ... this is especially galling for most Arvadans since Walmart is one of the nation's wealthiest corporations.
Of course, Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, developer IRG and Walmart minimize the impact of this environmental remediation -- but soil contamination, traffic congestion, narrow streets, noise and light pollution, increases in crime, low wages, corporate welfare -- these will never be characteristics the comport with quality Arvada values.
As already attested to by the always near empty parking lot at Walmart's Neighborhood Market at 64th Avenue and Indiana Street in Arvada, the residents of this city won't forget that it is politicians and government bureaucrats that are trying to foist upon us a Supercenter that does not fit with Arvada values.
We Won't Shop Arvada Walmart!
