Elk Grove's Economic Director Recommends $8 Million Pappas, Costco Kickback - Without it 'Project Would Likely Not Be Built'
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2017/04/elk-groves-economic-director-recommends.html
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| Elk Grove Economic Development Director Darrell Doan recommends approval of the controversial incentive. | |
April 7, 2017 |
Elk Grove's Economic Development Department is recommending the Elk Grove City Council approve an $8 million incentive being sought by Pappas Investment for a new Costco store.
The recommendations justifying approval of the controversial multi-million dollar incentive are contained in a staff report from the City's Economic Development Director, Darrell Doan. The staff report was released this afternoon as part of next Wednesday's regular Elk Grove City Council meeting agenda.
As part of the recommendation, Doan says the proposed location near Elk Grove Boulevard and Bruceville Road is "Costco’s first choice
for developing an additional store in southern Sacramento County, and that
its second choice is property just outside and to the northwest of the City’s
jurisdiction."
Although the report does not specify any particular alternative location for store, the 800-acre Delta Shores in Sacramento, which is currently under construction, is located adjacent to Elk Grove's northwest side. Currently there are no membership warehouse stores like Costco or Walmart's Sam's Club planned for that shopping center. See video of Delta Shores below.
Pappas Investments, through its The Ridge EG East, LP subsidiary says, according to the staff report, that without the $8 million incentive, the 17.43-acre site would not be economically viable. Pappas' targeted return on investment is 14.4-percent, and without the incentives, the "Landowner has indicated that its IRR [internal rate of return] for the Ground Lease is negative
15.92%. A negative or lower return on investment for this type of project
would not, based on the Landowner’s representations, induce it to move
forward."
In laying out several of his justifications for approving the incentive, Doan says over the life of the 25-year incentive, the Costco store will generate in excess of $27 million in sales tax revenue, and absent " the economic incentive, the project would likely not be built in
the City, resulting in 100% of the Costco sales tax never being
realized. "
Next Wednesday's meeting starts at 6 p.m at City Hall.
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4 comments
I realize this story is about the incentive being offer to Costco and Pappas, but the specter of Randy Starbuck just cannot escape me.
What exactly is Mr. Doan's job? Call me silly, but isn't the job of an economic development director to bring new jobs and industry to Elk Grove? To be a closer.
If this is the best he can do - writing reports justifying an incentive for a retail parcel that was planned years ago, we got a set of steak knives for him.
PUT THAT COFFEE DOWN - Coffee is for closer's only!
https://youtu.be/QMFwFgG9NE8
I cannot say I am a fan of offering incentives for big companies to move here; I'm of the opinion we should be offering incentives and cutting risks for residents to start their own businesses here.
However, Costco would certainly be a step up from Walmart. Unlike Walmart, Costco has a much better record with its workers. Costco is a union friendly shop; and strong unions are exactly what we need.
So despite my hesitation to offer incentives to outside companies; I'm willing to pull up a chair and listen if it's Costco.
Wouldn't you think that a city like Elk Grove, with access to two main freeways and a population of 167,000 or so residents, be able to attract a shopping center and a Costco without being fleeced by developers? Is it just us or did the city of Lodi have to pay incentives to get their Costco built?
"Lodi officials said they offered no incentives to entice Costco. In 2007, leaders in Manteca approved a plan to return $3.7 million in sales tax revenue over 10 years to Costco in exchange for building a warehouse store there".
source: recordnet.com (12/15/2009)
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