COLORADO SIGHT FIGHT: SAYING “NO” TOGETHER TO BIG BOX STORES

Topics: | | Community Impact | Environment | Traffic/Sprawl | | | |

Saying No To Big Box Retailers [KRDO (Colo.)]

COLORADO SPRINGS - The Soaring Eagles Community on the southeast side of Colorado Springs is preparing for a David versus Goliath fight. A big box retailer is planning on building a new store at the corner of Powers and Hancock, but who that retailer is, no one is saying.

“I built my whole home with windows so I can see the mountains,” says Evelyn Campbell. She is just one of the 100 homeowners whose views and lifestyle are in jeopardy if the retailer center is built. “I have a 180 degree view of the whole city, now I will have a parking lot or maybe a back of a building and semi-trucks.”

This isn’t the first time the community has challenged big box retailers. Back in 2005, they took on the biggest one, Wal-Mart, and won. Just like last time, they are claiming the development would bring crime, added traffic and devalue their homes. “I just think of the noise and congestion and this will affect our kids in a big way, “ says Campbell.

She points out the elementary school and neighborhood park less than three-tenths of a mile away.

Many of the homeowners aren’t opposed to developing the 25-acre piece of land; they just don’t want a big box retailer. “I would love to see restaurants here, they’re quite away on Powers before you hit a restaurant, there’s a lot of things that would benefit our community not take it away,” says Penny Dokken.

She and others have been working with the developer, even giving them a list of businesses they would like to see build in their neighborhood. “We would like to see community friendly businesses, maybe a Whole Foods, Barnes and Noble… I would love a Starbucks or Target, something that does draw as much traffic as a big box,” says Dokken.

There is a community meeting planned for Tuesday at Soaring Eagles Elementary starting at 6 p.m.
NEWSCHANNEL 13 did contact the City Planning Office and the Real Estate Broker for the vacant lot, but neither got back to us in time for this article.

Posted by Luke West on Tuesday, September 23, 2008