The construction project will house a 14-screen theater along with major retail chains on the west side of of the city is under way. However, Menards, once thought to be a major player in the project has yet to commit to Williston for a future home. City officials announced last year that Menards would be the first of the big box stores to be located in the shopping center — a claim Menards has never verified.I've opined on the Menards story months ago. It's been so long ago that I've long forgotten where it's posted.
A Menards spokesperson emailed the Williston Herald this morning that the store has “nothing to report at this time.”
With or without Menards, the project promises to bring in a more retail options to people of not only Williston, but the region. The nearest shopping center of similar size is in Minot, about 120 miles away.
Granite Peak Development, the Wyoming-based developer of Sand Creek, said talks are still ongoing with Menards.
Meanwhile, another link and story (this is a video link and the link will likely break sooner than later) sent by the same reader who sent the link above:
Homes for thousands of people and retail and commercial space for many companies took a step toward becoming reality west of Williston today.I do remember the name, the Loomers. Good for them. Especially the part about moving to Wyoming. Smile.
Ground was broken for the new Northwest development, that promises more than 1,300 multi-family units and more than 200-thousand square feet of retail space as well as a 157-room hotel.
Governor Jack Dalrymple said state oil funds granted to Williston played a key role in making the development possible.
Mayor Ward Koeser said the project involves a lot of risk.
(Ward Koeser - Mayor of Williston) "The investment is huge. There is a huge risk that is taken betting and investing in the community but we are going to move forward and we are so thankful for that. We need help...we need people who are willing to come here from other areas, buy land, build on it, develop it, and help us become a better community."
Land for the project was sold by 20-year owners Jenelle and Orville Loomer who have now moved to Wyoming.
They operated an RV park on the land, and lived in a building located on the property.
They say they're glad the land is being used for a new community.
I had the pleasure of learning how to "slickline" wireline from Orville Loomer while we both worked for Wisco back in about 1978/79.
ReplyDeleteOrville's co-wireliner that ran the other truck was Rick Saboe who I took over for when he retired. Both good guys and some of the best times of my life in those years living in Williston.
The first time I remember meeting Orville and Rick was when I was just getting into hot-rodding the family car. These guys ran the local "speed shop" out of a gas station on the kitty corner from the "Old Armory." Orville had a Mustang and Rick had one of the fastest cars around, a 1966 Chevelle, he told me stories of guys coming by his house in the middle of the night, waking him up to come out and street race, probably out by the Lake Park Drive-In Theater. If you read this Orville.....Hello! Mike Rustad
Sometimes a person needs to read between the lines and do a little research to get information...I feel pretty confident that Menards will indeed be coming into the Sand Creek Towne Center...this from the May 8th Williston City Commission meetings minutes.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cityofwilliston.com/DepartmentContent.aspx?DeptID=WND.CW.CM&PageID=143
"2. Developer’s Agreement – Granite Peaks
Kautzman stated there is a revised Development Agreement – with Menards taking all risks away from the City. This would speed up the process for them instead of having to go through the City."
I may be reading into this the wrong way? But I'm thinking it means Menards wants to drop the city incentives and coming in on their own terms????
Sometimes a person needs to read between the lines and do a little research to get information...I feel pretty confident that Menards will indeed be coming into the Sand Creek Towne Center...this from the May 8th Williston City Commission meetings minutes.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cityofwilliston.com/DepartmentContent.aspx?DeptID=WND.CW.CM&PageID=143
"2. Developer’s Agreement – Granite Peaks
Kautzman stated there is a revised Development Agreement – with Menards taking all risks away from the City. This would speed up the process for them instead of having to go through the City."
I may be reading into this the wrong way? But I'm thinking it means Menards wants to drop the city incentives and coming in on their own terms????
I'm impressed! That's a lot of notes to wade through to catch that. You do the same thing I do: if you follow stuff closely enough long enough you start to get a feeling of what's going to happen and then you look for things that support your argument.
DeleteThe Menards story has really perplexed me. It didn't hurt them to wait, but it was surprising to see how early they made an announcement (two years ago?) and how long it's taken --- and we still don't know for sure. But the fact that "Menards" came up in the minutes again suggests things are moving along.