You get all the gang bangers coming in to roam around the store and neighborhood.
You get all the make Mc Donalds garbage flying all over the neighborhood.
You get all the petition signers and candy sellers.
The bathrooms have more action then Suzie's video booths atleast on Kings Canyon.
Just say no to Wal Mart

The opening of the Wal-mart Super Center will probably contribute to more vacancies on Shaw in Clovis. In particular, the existing Wal-Mart at Shaw and Peach will probably close. The existing Wal-Mart is just 3 miles away from the proposed Wal-Mart Super Center.

According to the Fresno Bee (Oct 15, 2007):

Council Member Harry Armstrong said he worries whether Wal-Mart will close its existing Clovis store. Wal-Mart has purchased the Shaw Avenue store, and officials say they'll keep it open, but Armstrong said he is not convinced.

"There are so many things with this that kind of bothers me because I don't think they are going to keep the old Wal-Mart open for more than a couple years," he said.

Fresno Bee (Oct. 16, 2007):

Council Member Armstrong sought a guarantee from a Wal-Mart official to keep the Shaw Avenue store open for 10 years.

Aaron Rios, Wal-Mart 's spokesman, said the company bought the Shaw Avenue store and recently made $4.5 million in renovations. But, he also said it wasn't in his authority to make a 10-year guarantee that the store would remain open.

For More Info check out these links:

http://walmartwatch.com/battlemart/archives/clovis_ca_residents_say_wal_...

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/search.php?readstory=2844

When I first moved here a couple of years ago I really like Clovis. It appeared to maintain the small town feel that I appreciated so much growing up in the Midwest. Being close to Fresno there was still plenty of options and it was all pretty good. Soon I learned of Clovis' struggles to not be a bedroom community and regain sales tax it was losing for its general fund.

I like the idea of the technology park our by Temperance and 168 that was a step in the right direction. Good higher quality jobs.

Clovis' recent approval of Wal-Mart center by Fowler and Herndon is wrong. Wal-mart will just put more local businesses out of commission and continue its path to degrade its surroundings.

If ayone disagrees, watch the movie "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices" you can get it On-Demand on cable or rent it. They understaff, underpay, and have a larger percentage of their workers on welfare than any other employer.

I am not against chain retailers, I love me some Target every once and a while, but Wal-Mart will be a burden to Clovis on Herndon just as it is on Shaw.

Please Clovis, look to your future and not just a quick fix!

considering that it would be considered as a 'part time,' special interest concern (the land use,)?

-it may already be factored into another position with the Municipality, as part of somebody's job description, which means somebody is already doing it for next to free....

-it could go as a 'part-time,' work slot for somebody qualified to bring the data together, (which 250.00 is paltry at a first blush, -but a thousand a month, over a series of months still is 12,000.00 a year,

--as a 'grant,' situation, somebody (as a somewhat educational exercise,) could be awarded even lower amounts (10,000.00) as a yearly stipend, (which is not an unusual set up.)

Depending upon which division decides to go after this, it could be something paid 'minimal,' money, ---or something paid much more.

-If you're a developer, and having to satiate laws and try to figure out how best to build up an area (and this is a sort of an environmental impact study,) -this task can be done for thousands, --and best be right.

-If it's a govt. thing... it probably will go for much less, as it has to come from a public coffer somewhere.

(Sort of weird how the spectrum ranges in that situation.)

--Why the figures may be so low?
Well, in terms of 'human services,' and such, the pay scale around here is horrendous (basically half what is paid on the other end of the country,)
-so if some sort of 'public monies,' are used, -you'll be dealing with not a whole lot.
Private sector?
this may be a study required, ---which means somebody with the cred and knowledge could make a tidy fee for their hard-work and knowledge.

-Presented right?
It could also set the framework for the surrounding areas, -as Clovis is sort of viewed (correctly or not) as a front runner in a lot of things.

If handled correctly, this could be a very groundbreaking and important series of data collection/presentation.
(with a lot of impact on what happens around here further.)

[above]

The city of Clovis Planning Department could pay someone $25 a day to develop better land use policies.

I live on shaw a stones throw from this area.

What I'm seeing?

Well the neighborhood is VERY in flux around the college, both to the East and West, and the income levels, and socio-demographics are changing.

What used to be the common saying of 'You're safe until you go below Shaw,' is now 'your safe until you go below Nees,'

(You're basically safe anywhere, so long as you use your head, but I suppose there are neighborhoods where you can more easily wander like a lost princess (or prince,) with more flora and fauna to attend you back to your magic kingdom home, safely...)

I think the article has one aspect correct, but see it as a growth thing.
Cities and towns are fluid things, and they move. Always have, always will.

There is a lot of build up headed East, and the neighborhoods are shifting (in some ways) away from each other (Clovis away from Fresno, in parts,)
-so where you have 'nicer sections,' going up, the stores are sustaining and thriving.

Now, I'm not totally hip to all things retail, but it's my understanding that Vons is NOT the cheapest store in town to buy your groceries at,
--so I expect to see one more up in the ritzier sections of town, -than doing so well down where a Ford Taurus with all the colors of the doors matching means: '..yep, doin good.'

Stores that ARE rockin out?
-well, Winco doesn't seem to be hurting, and yep, Wal*Mart is doing good... (Funny, I see lots of wealthy types shopping at all of the above, 'cause a deals a deal and this is one (ahem) 'thrifty' town.

But I see it as growth, with folks choosing to live in nicer places if they can afford it.
My area, (again, what used to be seen as a well-to-do series of townhomes (years ago,) is actually kind of rough, -and I'd totally not advise raising a kid on my street, (too many dealers and 'bangers, and I'm only one street north from a middle school.)

I'm not sure if it is Sierra Vista or not, -but one of the malls down there has put up a stunning movie theatre (smaller than Edwards, but very well done, elegant, and kind of cozy...) -I recommend it.

Maybe this whole 'redistricting,' of Fresno, Norf Fresno, Clovis, and the S.W. and Kings Canyon will result in different actual 'towns,' and folks will breathe a little easier.
But you do your homework, plunk a store down in the right spot, make your dough,
-and know how to read the direction? You'll do fine.

I work out in that direction... things are starting to get sparse around here (but not super-near here, yet, and not super-sparse). Hopefully it gets better (maybe when the supposed theme-park-to-be comes up... it's just a hop and a skip away)...