A group that usually works to bring industry into Jackson County turned its attention to retail last week — and didn’t like what it saw.
The end result was a consensus to begin exploration of ways the county can entice high-traffic retail stores.
John Buchanan, who develops property for retail clients, brought the matter up last week at the Jackson County Industrial Development Authority’s meeting.
Noting that he deals with realtors in every adjoining county, Buchanan said there appears “to be a lot more movement in the surrounding counties” in retail projects than in Jackson.
Buchanan rattled off a list of projects in Hall County over the past 10 months comprising 150,000 square feet of retail space, then did the same thing for Barrow County.
“We seem to be in a dead area,” he concluded. Buchanan pointed out that Jackson County has no Chick-Fil-A restaurants, no Walmart, Home Depot or Lowe’s.
“It just seems that people are bypassing this county,” he complained. “We need some kind of concerted effort to bring that kind of business to Jackson County.”
Industrial Development Authority turns attention to retail business
The most important business to attract, Buchanan said, is Walmart, which he said attracts other business. He pointed to the development around the Walmart at Hamilton Mill Road just into Gwinnett County as an example.
“When you open a Walmart, it becomes the heart and nucleus for tremendous activity,” Buchanan said.
Board of commissioners chairman Hunter Bicknell expressed the view that Jackson County has been “pre-empted” in regard to the big-box development.
“All of those things are kind of on the edge of Jackson County,” he pointed out.
According to several IDA members, there has been talk that the Banks Crossing Walmart wants to expand and cannot do so on its current site, raising the possibility that it could relocate to Jackson County.
“I feel confident that at some time there will be a Walmart in Jackson County, either in Braselton or on (U.S.) 129,” Bicknell said.
Referring to the possibility of the Banks Crossing Walmart relocating, Bicknell said, “We could become a two-Walmart county.”
Buchanan floated the idea that “it makes sense” for Jackson County to donate land to entice a Walmart, but Bicknell quickly nixed that concept.
“The cost of land is insignificant to Walmart,” he said. “That is not what drives their decision. …They look at it from the revenue end back. Giving them the land isn’t going to make them make a decision.”
Bicknell also reminded the group that Jackson County has just one hotel or motel.
“How do we tap into the hotel business?” he asked. “Talk about being under-served!”
“When you open a Walmart, it becomes the heart and nucleus for tremendous activity,” Buchanan said.
Board of commissioners chairman Hunter Bicknell expressed the view that Jackson County has been “pre-empted” in regard to the big-box development.
“All of those things are kind of on the edge of Jackson County,” he pointed out.
According to several IDA members, there has been talk that the Banks Crossing Walmart wants to expand and cannot do so on its current site, raising the possibility that it could relocate to Jackson County.
“I feel confident that at some time there will be a Walmart in Jackson County, either in Braselton or on (U.S.) 129,” Bicknell said.
Referring to the possibility of the Banks Crossing Walmart relocating, Bicknell said, “We could become a two-Walmart county.”
Buchanan floated the idea that “it makes sense” for Jackson County to donate land to entice a Walmart, but Bicknell quickly nixed that concept.
“The cost of land is insignificant to Walmart,” he said. “That is not what drives their decision. …They look at it from the revenue end back. Giving them the land isn’t going to make them make a decision.”
Bicknell also reminded the group that Jackson County has just one hotel or motel.
“How do we tap into the hotel business?” he asked. “Talk about being under-served!”
The IDA, commissioners, etc should be concerned with finding ways to bring people to the 700 month supply of residential lots before it stretches into a 1400 month supply. In all honesty there is nothing they can do. A depression has to be worked out of, especially one where mortgage debt is crippling people's disposable income after job loss or lower income from their job.
This economy, the US economy, has to shrink another 20% before it can be considered sustainable. That means more unemployed, more foreclosures and acceptance of a lower standard of living for everyone.
The ballot or the bullet. If the ballot isn't working, we're going to have to resort bullets.
Taxation without representation sparked the American Revolution. We're now at a point where our tax rates are at such historically low levels that we don't raise enough revenue to support our country. And we've already lost our representation to corporations and lobbyists.
Wake up people.