By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
A long-empty storefront in one of Burlington’s Highway 36 strip malls has been filled.
After a store in Lake Geneva closed this year, Sears Home Store has relocated to the former Fashion Bug space in Burlington Crossing – the small strip mall next to Tractor Supply Company.
“It’s great,” Miller said.
The filling of the vacant storefront is the first of what Miller is hoping will be a trend. The city reworked its contract with the Racine County Economic Development Corporation to address the empty storefronts in the city – specifically in downtown Burlington.
That contract was approved by the City of Burlington Common Council last week for 2016, and changes the focus from industrial development to retail, Miller said.
“It’s primarily a way of revitalizing downtown,” Miller said. “(City Administrator) Carina (Walters) is working with RCEDC and their rep.”
RCEDC has assigned Tina Chitwood as a specific representative to work with the city as part of the newly renewed contract to work with Walters and determine how best to fill the downtown area.
The new focus, however, will not be broad enough to touch on two large areas of vacancies – the Burlington Crossing, plus the former Kmart building, located in the Fox River Plaza on Milwaukee Avenue.
“It doesn’t mean that if something comes up … those will not be included to a retailer as the space is available,” Miller said. “But their main thrust of focus is going to be downtown.”
There may be another addition coming soon to the Burlington Crossing. According to Miller, the developer who purchased the Burlington Crossing two years ago alluded to the possibility of a fast-food business coming to the development – if another entrance is added.
As of Tuesday, the new entrance – which allows for a right turn in and out of the south side of the Walmart area off Milwaukee Avenue – was almost finished. It appeared that construction crews were putting the final touches on that Tuesday afternoon.
“Whether they still have that in their hip pocket, we don’t know,” Miller said. “But it would make that lot more desirable.”
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Burlington city officials were warned about this phenomenon when it welcomed Wal-Mart with open arms, particularly Bill “Doc” Stone, who predicted it would devastate the retail community here. For that, Stone, I commend you! That took intestinal fortitude on your part and kudos to you!
But these officials, many of whom still sit on the city council, turned a blind eye and simply saw Wal-Mart as a cash cow! So sadly, now it’s time for Burlington to pay the piper that other communities have that, as time elapsed, decided to be like lemmings and embrace Wal-Mart.
I even once traveled to West Bend and did a story on the vacancies in that community due to Wal-Mart opening a Supercenter there, but again people ignored what I tried to point out and report in an unbiased manner, based upon a real-world experience.
That’s among the myriad of reasons I decided to forego my career in journalism, as while I reported on this financially devastating trend, as the adage goes, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink!”
Oh well, as the power players at the time in municipal government have washed their hands of this mess and moved on to political careers elsewhere, as they were rewarded for the kowtowing they did at the time (Don’t worry, I won’t name names and implicate them, but if you want to know as a reader, just inspect the meeting minutes at city hall and request copies under Wisconsin’s Open Records law.)
Just one word sums up this scenario: DEBAUCHERY!
I would like to correct the statement “many of whom still sit on council”. The current City Council is mostly a Freshman Council. There is only 1 council member (Alderman) that I am aware of that was serving during this time. 7 of us have served 8 or less years. Seeking to vilify the current council on the decisions of past councils is misleading and inaccurate.
That is true….Oh how I do love how people keep calling us the good old boys. This council is made up of mostly rookies. Jon and I were both elected 3 years ago. Tom P was the year before that. Bob and John were just elected last year. I’m pretty sure the only Alderman that is still sitting that was on the council when Walmart passed was Tom Vos.
I’m sorry, Ruth Dawidziak, in that my intent was not to deride or lambaste the current city council members in the least!
As I stated, but not clearly enough, most of those past elected officials have left and moved on to more prosperous things, leaving current officials that are reputable and honest, like yourself, to figure out how to pick up the pieces of this travesty, as they moved on from it and left behind, leaving people, like yourself, to undo the damage they caused, which is shameful of them!
I wish you and the current council Godspeed in trying to rectify and resolve this matter, as it will take not only determination, but perseverance!
You seem like a pretty straight-shooter to me, so I’m glad you posted your comment, as it led to me helping to set the record straight and I strongly persuade Burlingtonites not to point their proverbial finger at the wrong people.
I wish you the best in the forthcoming election in retaining your seat on the city council! You could have talked some sense into these misguided city officials from the past and possibly staved off this debacle.
Gotta love low information persons who refuse to do any investigative work, sticking their comments where they do not belong! I commend the Burlington City council on their common sense decisions they have made lately!!!