Comments on: The Roundabout: Getting What You Wished For http://www.wickenburg-az.com/2009/10/the-roundabout-getting-what-you-wished-for/ Your independent source of information about Wickenburg, AZ. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Maria Langer http://www.wickenburg-az.com/2009/10/the-roundabout-getting-what-you-wished-for/#comment-1071 Maria Langer Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:46:43 +0000 http://www.wickenburg-az.com/?p=1028#comment-1071 Downtown certainly is quieter and it's a lot easier to cross the street. But Wickenburg still lacks what's needed to make it a destination. Until the decision-makers figure out to how market the town to visitors, it'll be the same sleepy place it's been for the past 8 to 12 years -- sans traffic. Note to decision makers: it'll take a lot more than pink sidewalks, tacky statues, and "Welcome to Historic Wickenburg" signs to make people want to come here. Downtown certainly is quieter and it’s a lot easier to cross the street. But Wickenburg still lacks what’s needed to make it a destination. Until the decision-makers figure out to how market the town to visitors, it’ll be the same sleepy place it’s been for the past 8 to 12 years — sans traffic.

Note to decision makers: it’ll take a lot more than pink sidewalks, tacky statues, and “Welcome to Historic Wickenburg” signs to make people want to come here.

]]> By: Allan http://www.wickenburg-az.com/2009/10/the-roundabout-getting-what-you-wished-for/#comment-1070 Allan Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:05:51 +0000 http://www.wickenburg-az.com/?p=1028#comment-1070 Dan, I am not qualified to speak for Wickenburg's business sector, but I read the article you have referenced. My inclination is to take that report's numbers at face value. Overall, sales revenues and sales tax receipts were down in 2009, and that trend has continued (if not worsened) through 2010. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, I think everyone would agree it is easier to get around on Tegner Street these days and - unless you enjoyed diesel fumes and the noise from tractor-trailer rigs - the downtown area is a more pleasant place to be. To be honest, I do not know if anyone has conclusively demonstrated that bypass traffic has hurt any businesses other than the Circle K (at the corner of US-60 and US-93) and the Woody's gas station on North Tegner. Perhaps a more objective test would be to examine sale tax receipts from businesses that are located away from the downtown area. For example, the Mobil gas station at Vulture Mine and US-93 would seemingly be unaffected by the bypass. Are their tax receipts down? If yes, then I would attribute it to the economy and not the bypass. Another measure might be to look at businesses on West Wickenburg Way, such as Safeway, Alco and CVS. These operations certainly do not depend upon bypass traffic. If their tax receipts are down for the year, I would again be inclined to blame it on the economy. In the final analysis, the Town of Wickenburg and our downtown merchants have known the bypass was coming for a long time. The aesthetic improvements on Tegner Street are nice but, by themselves, are they enough to make the Phoenix-Las Vegas crowd stop and get out of their cars? That is unlikely; their destination is not Wickenburg - it is some place else. If Wickenburg wants more sales revenue and taxes, its businesses and citizens need to do something to make our town a year around destination. Or, it needs to grow its population base. Or both... It would be great to hear what others are thinking about this issue. Dan,
I am not qualified to speak for Wickenburg’s business sector, but I read the article you have referenced. My inclination is to take that report’s numbers at face value. Overall, sales revenues and sales tax receipts were down in 2009, and that trend has continued (if not worsened) through 2010.

Whether you are a resident or a visitor, I think everyone would agree it is easier to get around on Tegner Street these days and – unless you enjoyed diesel fumes and the noise from tractor-trailer rigs – the downtown area is a more pleasant place to be.

To be honest, I do not know if anyone has conclusively demonstrated that bypass traffic has hurt any businesses other than the Circle K (at the corner of US-60 and US-93) and the Woody’s gas station on North Tegner. Perhaps a more objective test would be to examine sale tax receipts from businesses that are located away from the downtown area. For example, the Mobil gas station at Vulture Mine and US-93 would seemingly be unaffected by the bypass. Are their tax receipts down? If yes, then I would attribute it to the economy and not the bypass.

Another measure might be to look at businesses on West Wickenburg Way, such as Safeway, Alco and CVS. These operations certainly do not depend upon bypass traffic. If their tax receipts are down for the year, I would again be inclined to blame it on the economy.

In the final analysis, the Town of Wickenburg and our downtown merchants have known the bypass was coming for a long time. The aesthetic improvements on Tegner Street are nice but, by themselves, are they enough to make the Phoenix-Las Vegas crowd stop and get out of their cars? That is unlikely; their destination is not Wickenburg – it is some place else.

If Wickenburg wants more sales revenue and taxes, its businesses and citizens need to do something to make our town a year around destination. Or, it needs to grow its population base. Or both…

It would be great to hear what others are thinking about this issue.

]]> By: Dan Schwimmer http://www.wickenburg-az.com/2009/10/the-roundabout-getting-what-you-wished-for/#comment-1069 Dan Schwimmer Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:02:44 +0000 http://www.wickenburg-az.com/?p=1028#comment-1069 Allan, Being a year later side this article was written, what is the consensus on the bypass? I read an article in AZCentral recently where local merchants stated that they are really struggling, nt I am sure the economy is playing a role in that. Is Wickenburg a better place to live because of the bypass, or will the lack of traffic in town cause it's financial demise? Your thoughts and others who live in Wickenburg would be greatly appreciated!! Best Regards, Dan Allan,

Being a year later side this article was written, what is the consensus on the bypass? I read an article in AZCentral recently where local merchants stated that they are really struggling, nt I am sure the economy is playing a role in that. Is Wickenburg a better place to live because of the bypass, or will the lack of traffic in town cause it’s financial demise? Your thoughts and others who live in Wickenburg would be greatly appreciated!!

Best Regards,

Dan

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