Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Deerfield ponders Nordstrom's cost

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Store brings challenges along with dollars

By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — News of Nordstrom Inc.'s plans to open a store has some township residents and officials seeing dollar signs. But others fear the high-end store may carry a heavy price in impact on traffic, local employment shortages and infrastructure.

Aerial view of the Deerfield Twp. farm where Nordstrom store will be (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Many in Deerfield Township, which has gained a reputation as one of the hottest development spots in the Tristate, were caught off-guard Monday by Nordstrom's announcement that it would open a two-story, 144,000-square-foot store in a mall to be built on Mason Montgomery Road. The news traveled quickly through the township of 20,000, and it didn't take long before questions began to surface about what Nordstrom might bring besides a shopping alternative.

        “I see this move as both good and bad,” said John Harris, president of the Mason-Landen-Kings Chamber of Commerce. "I like the idea of an upscale store and residents being able to shop in places they normally couldn't because of geographic distance. But my main concerns are about the infrastructure, work force and, regionally, what impact it will have on Kenwood Centre, Tri-County Mall and downtown Cincinnati.”

        Mr. Harris said Warren County is already operating with “a very tight labor force” and the addition of a mall would further increase the competition among businesses for workers. More than 55,000 people work in Deerfield Township daily, yet some of its 500 businesses complain about labor shortages.

        Township trustees spent more than $10,000 last year to keep Metro buses shuttling between downtown Cincinnati and Warren County. The service delivered more than 600 workers to the township.

        “We'll definitely have to be more creative in our thinking of ways to widen our work force,” Mr. Harris said.

        How to widen roads may also require some creative thinking. Some residents fear placing a new mall on heavily traveled Mason Montgomery Road, coupled with the Fields Ertel Road morass, could create a traffic nightmare.

        According to Warren County Engineer Neil Tunison, between 15,000 and 20,000 cars travel along Mason Montgomery Road daily, while another 2,600 use Irwin Simpson. He said traffic in that area has been increasing at about 6 percent each year since 1997.

        “We would have to conduct a traffic impact study before we could now precisely how much additional traffic the mall might generate,” said Mr. Tunison.

        But township officials say concern about traffic congestion is unwarranted.

        “We really don't have a problem,” said Lee Speidel, a longtime resident and township zoning commissioner. “That area is the one place in the township where the road improvements that the development will need are well under way. So for once, we are ahead of the game.”

        Township officials have planned and begun work on three new roadways — Wilkens Boulevard, Bowen Drive and Merton Drive — they say will help alleviate traffic generated by the new mall. Wilkens Boulevard, which runs parallel to Mason Montgomery Road and connects to Fields Ertel Road, is a five-lane artery slated for completion in two years.

        Mr. Tunison said there may also be a need for additional left- and right-turn lanes off of Mason Montgomery. He added that water and sewer lines are in place in the area that could serve the mall.

        Dan Theno, Deerfield Township's administrator of development and community relations, said township officials will be meeting with representatives from the Rouse Co. sometime within the next 10 days to discuss the project.

        “This is going to be a crown jewel for Deerfield and something we will be very proud of,” said Trustees President Bill Morand.

        Trustee Larry Backus added: ""Over the next several weeks, we are going to get all kinds of reactions to this project. Some people will think the mall is wonderful, others will think it's terrible. But ultimately it will be what we make it.”

        Matt Betley, a 10-year resident, had mixed feelings. He called Nordstrom's move to Deerfield “a blessing,” saying it will be a relief to many township residents to not have to drive all the way downtown to shop at “one of the finest upscale stores in the country.”

        “I know my wife's happy about it, but I'm not,” said Mr. Betley, 60. “Because now I know where all our discretionary income will be going.”

   RADEL: Nordstrom boon to boonies?
   A closer look at Nordstrom
   City council concerned about Warren store
       

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