What's fair for one is fair for all, right????

Redstone Investments finds it more advantageous to
leave their buildings in the Ames Plaza vacant (and
perhaps it is to their advantage because they also do
not have to maintain the property that well?). Thus
when a Walmart or other box store purchases land and
builds their own store and departs (which they
eventually do), won't they also find it to their
advantage to keep these buildings owned but empty? And
the town or village will again have no ability to
control the situation? We could be easily dealing with
three or four empty plazas.
Our understanding in the Walmart case is they will
build 2-3 stores in close proximity and once they shut
down the local businesses they consolidate and leave
empty stores that never get filled forcing their
shoppers to drive to the store they keep open
(possibly a Lancaster one in this case). Also they
rent the stores to themselves, paying themselves the
rent and deducting it from their state taxes. I hope
you can get this article I found. Actually my husband
read about this elsewhere.
Perhaps Redstone is taking advantage of this loophole
too as you noted already or something similar. Could
we not get the state government involved in this? I
would think Governor Spitzer would be interested.
Also I have to agree with TL mentioning persons from
neighboring towns who would want a Walmart (but not in
their backyard.) We know people who moved to Marilla
last year just to be away from the Target that was
going up in their backyard on Transit (the new
Lancaster/Cheektowaga one). They wanted to be "in the
country" and they did not want a store in their
backyard. But when the proposed Walmart in Alden was
mentioned they were very excited because they really
missed the close shopping they had in the outer ring
suburbs. As long as it is not in their backyard they
want it! But like you mentioned they are not looking
ahead to the results of this urban sprawl. If Buffalo
was vibrant I don't believe we would be dealing with
this entire issue.
Thank you-BL

MODERATOR COMMENTS: Since Redstone received a tax
reduction because they have vacant store fronts,
shouldn't ALL town businesses receive the same tax
reduction if they also have empty store fronts? or
landlords, if they have empty apartments?