Why are institutiona of higher learning promoting the construction of Wal-Marts? I have listed in these newsflashes at least 4 universities that are moon-lighting as real estate developers for Wal-Mart — all on university land. The latest venture is brought to you by the University of Colorado, which wants to develop 124 acres of school-owned land into a Wal-Mart supercenter! Similar notions have filled the heads of administrators at Ohio University (see 4/20/99 newsflash), Texas A&M (10/31/98) and West Virginia University (March 11, 2000). These developments are often made possible with land acquired at taxpayer expense. In each case, angered local residents have charged that the schools have strayed far from their mission of educating students by promoting sprawl instead. In Aurora, CO, the Denver Post reported this week that “enraged residents” say “the school is trying to fill its coffers at the expense of its ideals.” The proposed supercenter lies in the southeast part of Aurora, next to wetlands and a cemetery. One resident told the Post: “They (the university) sit on their perch in Boulder and talk about how important quality of life is and how important the environment is. They’re very good at talking the talk, but seem to have a little deficit in walking the walk.” Apparently the Aurora Planning Commission agreed, and voted against the development, but the final say is with the City Council on May 15th. The University has euphemistically called the megaproject Pioneer Hills, but it really should be called “Taxpayer Hills”, since the land was obtaned by CU back in 1957 through a federal grant. Can you imagine the government’s response if the school had indicated “we plan on using this federal support to pave the way for a $167 billion corporation to build a supercenter that will help destroy local tax-paying businesses?” Maybe CU will apply for a federal grant to help rehabilitate the downtown business district in Aurora to bring the process full circle. What these colleges do is set up private, non-profit organizations that serve as the developers. West Virginia promoted Wal-Mart through a Foundation, and Colorado University is working through the University Improvement Corporation, which is the entity that controls the land. The “Improvement” corporation did not respond to calls from the Denver Post. The proposed plan also includes a Home Depot, addittional strip retail, and nearly 500 homes. Neighbors told the Post that they expect some sort of development on the land, but would prefer something with less impact, with smaller commercial uses.
Federal funds should not be used by educational institutions to develop big box retail stores that then go on to kill Main Street business, requiring the infusion of more tax dollars to revitalize what the original project destroyed. Taxpayer grants to schools should be used for educational purposes, not for private speculation. Local residents should ask their area officials and state lawmakers to ask their Congressmen to intercede with the universities that are providing corporate welfare (tax subsidized land) to prevent such preferential deals for big retailers. Get unversities back into the classroom, and out of the private land speculation business.
