Is it good news or bad?

Is it good news or bad news?

Thoughtful folks have been pondering that question ever since word leaked out that Wal-Mart is going ahead with plans to build a “supercenter” store on the west side of Portland within the next couple of years.

Sure, it would be nice if the county seat had a second supermarket; competition is a healthy thing.

But with a mega-store of the sort being planned by Wal-Mart, competition can be also deadly.

Dozens of small retailers — businesses which have been part of the social and economic fabric of the community for generations — could be crippled or destroyed when trying to compete with the deep pockets and wholesale buying power of the largest retailer in the United States and a store of the type being envisioned.

That fact alone ought to be enough to give the community pause.

Then there are the complex issues of drainage, traffic, and neighborhood impact posed by the West Votaw Street site involved.

None of those is simple, and each of them deserves the closest scrutiny possible by city and county officials.

Surface water drainage in the northwest side of Portland is already a problem. Adding a huge roof and a huge parking lot has the potential to make matters much worse if not done properly.

Traffic could be a mess as well, with a series of T-intersections onto Ind. 67 from both north and south over a period of several blocks. Since that area is already home to Jay County Hospital and the central JEMS base, traffic is going to be a serious concern.

As to neighborhood impact, we can only imagine how residents of Heritage Commons feel about the likelihood of having a big box store on the doorstep of a retirement community.

As if the threat to established retailers, drainage concerns, traffic worries, and the impact on the neighborhood weren’t enough, there are other issues to weigh as well.

Portland and Jay County have worked hard to build a reputation for being supportive of economic development. There’s an understanding that growth is good.

So is it possible for the community to say “no thanks” to one type of growth without sending a “no growth” message at the same time? That’s a question our friends up in Decatur are struggling with at the moment.

Not complicated enough? Then consider the fact that the land proposed for the megastore is owned by the John and Margaret Finch Charitable Trust.

As anyone who knew the Finches would attest, the last thing they would want is a huge store or a factory developed on that land. We think they would have found the notion of a retirement community and assisted living facility adjacent to the hospital appropriate, but we can’t believe they would approve of a Wal-Mart on land that was so close to their hearts.

On the other hand, proceeds from the sale of the land would go into their charitable trust, with investment earnings benefiting local charities and non-profit agencies. So, again, it’s complicated.

Is it good news or bad news? There’s plenty to think about in that seemingly simple question. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]