Dear Editor,
Let?s hope politics do not deter Westfield Corporation from
considering Gilroy as a potential location for future economic
retail development.
Dear Editor,
Let?s hope politics do not deter Westfield Corporation from considering Gilroy as a potential location for future economic retail development.
Councilman Craig Gartman was upset (?Council chafes at being left out? published Sept. 20) because he was not given advance notice of Westfield?s intentions to build a mall here in Gilroy. I agree with Economic Development Director Larry Cope and City Manager Jay Baska who kept the preliminary discussions private at the request of Westfield Corporation. They are obligated to first listen to what a corporation or any business is proposing before it goes public.
Mayor Al Pinheiro also did the right thing by telling Westfield of the potential obstacles they will face in moving the project forward. For better or for worse, this is potentially a huge project that could bring more tax dollars to the city as well as the other retail projects that are springing up on the eastside of U.S. 101.
The day they actually submit or file something with the city is when city staff, elected officials, appointed commissions, the public and any other interested parties have their opportunity to review and voice their opinions of the proposed project.
As a citizen, several questions come to mind immediately with a proposed project of this magnitude. Traffic is already a concern with residents regarding the new retail already developed. When will the upgrades be completed to relieve the traffic on 10th Street and Highway 152? Will more retail lure other businesses to Gilroy that will pay higher wages? A lot of these concerns can be addressed as the project works it way to the City Council. Until then let?s worry about projects already in progress (downtown streetscape and new police station) that need to be completed in a timely manner.
Arthur C. Barron Sr., Gilroy
