The information flow for the proposed Revelstoke Crossing shopping centre continues as the city has provided another report on the potential impact this centre will have on our town, although this new report focusing on economic impact does not necessarily make us more informed.
A previous report released in question and answer format included two requests for information, but these needed more time and have been addressed in this latest report. One request was for evidence from Salmon Arm as to how its local businesses have been impacted following the approval of a 300,000 square foot highway retail development. The second request was for a similar case study of Merritt and the impacts highway development has had on its local downtown.
Neither Salmon Arm nor Merritt town officials could provide reliable data to these queries nor, as stated by Revelstoke’s director of community development Alan Mason, are their situations similar to Revelstoke. Salmon Arm’s retail development included the big box store Walmart.
“What is proposed on the highway in Revelstoke is not a Walmart, so we are not comparing apples to apples, and I do not think many of the comments related to highway retail development in Salmon Arm have much relevance for Revelstoke,” Mason states in the report. “The one comment that may have some significance is that having a greater number of retail stores in a community may help to keep residents shopping in town and prevent retail leakage.”
Merritt has a similar population to Revelstoke at 7,195 but its highway developments are much larger than what is proposed for Revelstoke.
“My observation on Merritt is that the downtown area is not nearly as attractive nor as vibrant as downtown Revelstoke,” Mason stated. “The town has made some efforts to enhance the downtown area, but there are still sections that are run down and unattractive. I do not think that travelers would pull into downtown Merritt and immediately find it attractive and welcoming as they do in Revelstoke. Again, I do not think many of the comments related to highway retail development in Merritt have much relevance for the development that is being proposed in Revelstoke.”
To see the full report, go to page 451 of the Revelstoke Crossing council report.
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