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    Fred Meyer Retail Complex - Impacts

    Our Goal: To improve the livability of Florence through public education and community involvement.
     
    Impacts of Large Footprint Retail Development

    For every action, there is a reaction.  The development of a large retail complex in a small city cannot help but have an effect on local residents, businesses and property owners.  Following is some information from the City of Florence regarding commercial land values following construction of the Fred Meyer Retail Complex in 1998-99.
  • 01/16/02 - Impacts of Large Footprint Retail Development
  • 05/01/01 - Florence's New Fred Meyer Store
  • 08/15/00 - Keep a Hold on Old Coast
  • 08/11/99 - Fred Meyer Says No to Lincoln City

  • 12/08/98 - A Job Doesn't Mean A Living 

    The City of Florence recently hired an appraisal firm to conduct an appraisal of property which the city was "taking" in order to extend Oak Street from 37th Street to the southern entrance to the Fred Meyer retail complex.  As part of that appraisal (dated January 16, 2002), the City's appraisers conducted an analysis of comparable commercial land sales and listings in the area.  Following are some excerpts from that analysis.  The entire appraisal report can be obtained from City of Florence.


    Land Sale No. 1 - 10/16/97 Sale - Page 12, "The property was acquired for development of a 15-space mobile home park, but the permit was denied by the city of Florence." Page 35, "No development has taken place on the property since acquisition."

    Land Sale No. 2 - 1/22/98 Sale - Page 14, "There have been no offers on the property during the 9 months of this listing."  ... the data indicates a decline in value of approximately 40% since 1998.  The listing broker for this property indicated he believed a decline in the 30% - 40% range was not unreasonable due to the impact of Fred Meyer on the retail community."  Page 35, "The listing broker indicated there have been no offers on the property over the nine-month listing period."  Page 38, "Overall, this sale is not applicable to the valuation of the subject property, but is important as an indicator of the loss in value over time."

    Land Sale No. 4 - 7/13/99 Sale - Page 19, "The property was originally acquired for development of a real estate office, but development plans have been delayed."

    Land Sale No. 5 - 9/8/99 Sale - Page 21, "The listing broker ... indicated there have been no offers for the pad site."

    Land Listing No. 7 - Page 26, "The owner and broker indicated there have been no offers for the property during the two-three year listing period." Page 36, "The broker indicated there have been no offers for the property."

    Land Listing No. 8 - Page 28, "The sites were developed after the announcement of the adjacent Fred Meyer acquisition.  There have been no sales of the properties since the initial listing in 1999."  Page 36, "The listing broker indicated there have been no sales of the properties during the 2-1/2 year marketing period.  Discussions with the broker of the Westwood Development pad site on the south side of Fred Meyer indicated it is very uncommon for pad sites to remain on the market for this length of time, as they are usually acquired for service station or fast food restaurant sites within a very short time frame, taking advantage of the customer base and traffic generated by Fred Meyer.  The broker indicated the current economic uncertainty and the lack of additional demand for the typical uses are the probable causes for the lengthy marketing time."

    Land Listing No. 9 - Page 30, "The listing broker indicated the site has been listed several times over the last two-three years, with no activity during the three months of the current listing."  Page 37, "The property has been on and off the market several times over the last two or three years.  The broker indicated market activity has been very slow over the last two or three years for vacant commercial land."

    Land Listing No. 10 - Page 32, "The listing broker indicating strong interest in the property at the current listing price, although the property has been listed for approximately three years at a slightly higher price.  There have been no written offers for the property."  Page 37, "The site had been listed for approximately three years at $350,000 according to the current listing agent."

    General comments:

    "First, sales activity has been very slow since approximately 1998. Discussions with local brokers indicated the market for commercial land deteriorated at about the same time as the development of the Fred Meyer Store.  The majority of local retailers cannot compete with Fred Meyer in terms of price, and there has been very little expansion of the retail sector since 1998-1999."  "The majority of these sites have been available for several years, with declining asking prices and no offers or activity.  Limited sales activity coupled with abundant listings typically results in a market with continued inactivity or declining prices/values."

    Data in the following table was taken from a table provided in the appraisal report.  All properties mentioned are currently zoned Highway-Commercial.
    Land Sale/Listing #
    Sale/Survey Date
    Price 
    per Square Foot
    Land Sale No. 1 
    10/16/97
    $ 2.72
    Land Sale No. 2 
    01/22/98
    $ 10.88
    Land Sale No. 3
    01/07/99
    $ 3.17
    Land Sale No. 4 
    07/13/99
    $ 6.61
    Land Sale No. 5 
    09/08/99
    $ 4.59
    Land Sale No. 6
    08/20/01
    $ 6.63
    Land Listing No. 7
    12/12/01
    $ 6.40
    Land Listing No. 8
    12/12/01
    $10.47
    Land Listing No. 9
    12/12/01
    $ 6.38
    Land Listing No. 10
    12/20/01
    $ 2.25

    Source:  January 16, 2002 Appraisal conducted by Duncan & Brown, Inc., Real Estate Analysts, for City of Florence "taking" of property for Oak Street Improvement Project.


     
  • Impacts of Large Footprint Retail Development
  • 1/21/99 Settlement Agreement
  • News
  • 10/30/98 LUBA Decision
  • 5/26/98 CFF News Release
  • 8/25/98 BLM Decision on Dune Lease
  • 1/21/99 CFF News Release
  • 7/15/98 CFF LUBA Appeal Brief
  •  
  • 8/19/99 AHBL Meeting Minutes
  • June 1998 CFF Thoughts
  • 4/30/98 Letter to Editor
  •  

  • Fred Meyer Retail Complex
    Proposed
    Outlet Mall
    Sewage Treatment Plant

     
       
     
     
     
     
           
     
    Citizens For Florence
    P.O. Box 1212
    Florence, Oregon 97439
    E-mail Address: citizensforflorence@yahoo.com
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