Welcome to our neighborhood …

Spectrum, by Howard Bess

When I heard that Fred Meyer had purchased property in the core area of Palmer, I was delighted. I have done a lot of shopping in Fred Meyer during the last 23 years. I have considered Fred Meyer to be one of the best big box retail chains. Freddie seems to treat their employees well and I have been satisfied with Freddie's merchandise.

Palmer needs what Fred Meyer has to offer. (I hope that Freddie is bringing more than groceries. We need clothes, shoes, furniture, paint, etc.) Fred Meyer also needs to know some things about our city.

Palmer is a unique, truly one-of-a-kind city. It is a "destination" city. People come to Palmer just to see us and experience us. We did not get to be the way we are by accident. We have a unique history of pioneers and homesteaders. We are a cultural and governmental center. Is Fred Meyer aware that we have a recognizable architecture? Professional architects look at Palmer and recognize it. The architecture of Palmer is "upper Midwest rural." The borough headquarters and the homes built in Palmer in the 1930s are classic examples of the architecture. It is readily recognized by roof slopes and windows with small panes of glass.

Palmer is also unique in that it was laid out to be a "walking" town. Currently the city council is vigorously pursuing a program of street paving in the core area of Palmer. In all their work they are including curb gutters and sidewalks. As I understand it, the city of Palmer is fully committed to development of the core area as a walking area.

Fred Meyer should also be aware that the Glenn Highway from the Palmer-Wasilla Highway to Arctic is planned to be a boulevard. The restraining fences will come down and automobile access on both sides of the boulevard will be created. The east side of the new Glenn Boulevard will become one of the faces of the Palmer core area.

The reality is that Fred Meyer has purchased a piece of property that is properly zoned for their commercial development. Fred Meyer does not have to get the community permission for anything they choose to do on their property. The only basis for effective community input is good will. Good will is not created by shrill voices of complaint. I choose to believe that Fred Meyer will give ear to reasonable community input.

I personally would love to have a Fred Meyer store that further enhances our walking community, a Fred Meyer building with facades that reflect the architectural heritage of our community, a Fred Meyer store that has a face on both Cobb and the Glenn Boulevard, a Fred Meyer site development that parks their delivery trucks on the south side of the property, a Fred Meyer site that is beautifully landscaped. I am sure that thoughtful community discussion can produce even more development features that will enhance our unique community. I am also sure that Fred Meyer has architects and planners that have the ability to make a big box store into a community asset and not an unsightly intrusion.

I have no doubt that someone from the Fred Meyer organization will read this column. May I suggest that officials of Fred Meyer enter into discussions with The PARCS Group, that developed the PARCS Plan for Palmer, and with the board of Palmer Economic Development Authority (PEDA). Palmer and Fred Meyer will be well served if we become friendly, sensitive neighbors. Palmer is a very special place. We want to keep it that way.

The Rev. Howard Bess is the pastor of Church of the Covenant. The church's meeting house is located in the core area of Palmer.