Is This Our Plan to Partner with the Tribes?
ByOK, so maybe this isn’t a Tribal fireworks stand, but DuPont took a giant leap toward giving up on being a master planned community this week when a large white tent was erected on the site identified as “Future Retail” at the intersection of McNeil Street and Center Drive. Soon, DuPont will look a little more like Hawk’s Prairie [sic] or Ponders, just without the actual retail.
There have been fireworks stands before in DuPont but has there ever been one so symbolic of the city’s failure to provide legitimate retail? While I jest about DuPont looking more like Lacey or Lakewood there is really nothing to laugh about. In spite of this “unprecedented recession” Lacey still continues to build more retail. Shouldn’t Lacey be hurting as badly as DuPont? Because if they were then there wouldn’t be a new WinCo market being built on Martin Way.
That makes three supermarkets within walking distance from the Martin Way Mobile and RV Park (another planned community, I am sure).
Oh, irony of ironies, the fireworks tent is in plain view of DuPont Business Association president Mike Davis’ office. Behold! A business as temporary as the military families it serves.
It is also frustrating that, in a town that has reported numerous fireworks related fires in the past, it has just thrown in the towel so easily and now will permit them to be sold in Northwest Landing. The city pledged action but yielded to their yellow streak and did nothing meaningful, again, when given the opportunity to address the fire risk to our protected areas. Forget the survey where the number one response to the opinion of fireworks was to ban their use in the city limits all together; the city chose this as an outcome.
Someone please remind me, weren’t we suppose to have “intensive public education” and “outreach” regarding fireworks safety and our impotent city code?
I guess not.
I think the most offensive part of having a seasonal temporary business show up at the crossroads of DuPont is how long we, not those who are stationed here but those who have invested here, have waited for retail; and how seven years later (six years before the recession) we have a moonscape with a tent on top of it.
It also begs the question of what other types of businesses might we expect in the future? Pawn shops? Rent-to-own furniture? A Taco Bus?
No, my vote is for something military and non-military families can enjoy equally: Bikini coffee stands!
Let this be an open call to Bikini Baristas, Cowgirls Espresso, Bikini Bottom, Hot-Chick-a-Latte, or any of the Hot Shot establishments announcing that DuPont has thrown away its plan and we are open for business!
And to think, it all started with a white tent…
This is unbelievable! What can we do? I guess if DuPont burns down the mayor will no longer have to govern!!!!
DuPont needs to stop pretending that it is something that it is not.
I’m with RealDuPont that would be fantastic getting some Coffee Slut Huts in town. Seriously that’s a fireworks stand in that covered tent?
This is actually a good idea. We can make sure they embrace our rich cultural history. They can call themselves 1843 Missionary Position or Big Bang Dynamite Espresso or Do the Dynamite Train Latte. It will give new meaning to Welcoming for 5000 Years.
You mention the survey. All I remember of it was that getting a market scored pretty high. Were there any other actions taken based on the survey? It never was mentioned at their meetings that were televised.
Maybe the fireworks sale is just another way for the city to make money like the spaghetti feed or bingo.
How much do you want to bet that the city had not clue this tent was going up in town to sell fireworks?
I sent city hall an email on Friday trying to find the an swer to that very question. Have not heard back as yet.
I meant to say city council…
The council is off doing their pet projects. War memorials, mission sites, pointless transportation initiatves. Please don’t bother them with things the citizens want them to do.
Will it be one of our homeless churches selling fireworks like in Lakewood?
DuPont just took a step closer to becoming Tilicum today.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012228616_apwafireworkssale2ndldwritethru.html
I am disgusted at how “low rent” this fireworks stand makes our town appear. It is really a sad time for DuPont.
What’s the deal with the sign that reads “tax free” on the tent? Please don’t tell me that fireworks are tax exempt. If that’s the case, why the heck did the city allow the tent to go up if you can’t at least get revenue off of them?
How much revenue were we talking about anyway? $5000? It is peanuts compared to what actual retain would bring in. The city is run by visionless fools!
Anything is better than nothing. If you do business in the city, you should pay into the system. There is no free ride anymore, or at least there shouldn’t be.
Taxfree because the group is a non-profit; a Lacey baseball team.
Let them sell that crap in Lacey.
A majority of people in DuPont enjoy the freedom of watching a free fireworkds display put on by our neighbors. The day the city bands fireworks is the day they will need to begin a $100-200k a year fireworks display over the Golf course. Lastly, the tent is a temporary business in the same style of tent that would be used for an outside wedding so I don’t think they could have done any better. In addition, it provides an alternative to the ‘large’ fireworks at the reservation.
So how about enjoying the 234th birdthay of your Country vs. compaining about the sparkly things in the sky.
Sorry Rich, but the city’s own survey stated that people in DuPont do not love free fireworks as much as you claim. This morning there were M-80s going off before 11AM in my neighborhood. Is that celebrating Independence or just being annoying? I also do not buy you argument that if we banned fireworks we would then HAVE to provide an expensive extravagant profession fireworks display. I don’t mind fireworks that people buy and shoot off for the holiday so long as they are respectful of their neighbors. But this article is about DuPont’s lack of retail growth and about the city’s inaction to their own word regarding fireworks. Since fireworks are involved it was sure to become contentious.
I agree with Rich. What can be more American than lighting your money on fire or a product made in China?
Fireworks are a long tradition. Rich hits it on the spot. DuPont Citizens whine over just about everything from Dog poop to “those fireworks are too loud, my ears”.