Steve Albee wants a Wal-Mart
The direct descendent of Venice's first and biggest ever real estate flipper pulls a Jim Clinch -- Albee can't understand why anyone would be so stupid as to oppose a Wal-Mart in North Venice, suggests the city put a truck stop there instead as revenge for those who disagree with him
-- Steve Albee, posted 11/02/07
-- special to Venice Florida! dot com

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NOTE: The following is the full text of a letter written by Albee, addressed to the current city council, dated 11/01/07. It is being reproduced as a public record. We have not corrected any spelling or punctuation. The section headers were not part of Albee's original text.

I'm back and I'm ready to kick some retiree ass
I was born and raised in this town and graduated from Venice High School. Like most who grew up here, unless you planned to be a doctor or a lawyer and planned to return, you had to leave to find suitable employment. I admire all those who have stayed and helped to make it what it is today. I returned two years ago after being gone for 25 years. Over the years, as I returned several times each year to visit my family, I have watched Venice emerge as one of the n icest cities in Florida. The fact it has been recognized as one of the leading places to retire by a national publication speaks volumes of what a great job has been done over the years by those who have led the City of Venice and continue to lead it  I attribute that to good management, planning for balanced growth, and great visionary leadership over the years. Anyone who has ever read or been part of the history of this town would tell you the same.

However, now I am dismayed with so much opposition to any development which might create employment, new tax revenues, or which adds to the conveniences of lifestyle. It is perplexing and highly disturbing that there is so much opposition based on the fact those opposing development feel it is inconvenient to their personal preferences, even though it may have a huge economic benefit to the entire community and create all sorts of new jobs and sound economic growth.

As a new resident of North Venice, I decided to go to the Planning Commission meeting to hear the presentation on the proposed Renaissance project on Laurel Rd at Knight’s Trail. The meeting lasted over six hours as the developer presented his plans. I have never seen such shallow reasons to oppose the development as presented by the hand full of Venetian Golf & River Club residents who spoke against the project.

Venetian Golf And River Club is a beautiful place filled with rich, stupid people

I think WCI created a magnificent addition to Venice with Venetian Golf & River Club. It currently has 723 homes, but with less than 50 percent living full time there.  Unfortunately, it also has close to 100 homes for sale and asking prices continue to drop, partly because it is so far from anything. I listened to testimony which indicated the opposition to the annexation of North Venice and Venetian Golf & River Club was from many of the same people who now oppose the Renaissance project. Most of those people who l ive in Venetian are affluent and have made their fortunes in business and the stock market. They like to shop at Sak’s Five Avenue [sic] and eat at Ruth Chris. God forbid they would have to give directions to their house to pass a Wal-Mart! This is the issue….Give them a Publix, a Bed Bath & Beyond, a Bonefish, a Williams Sonoma or Crate & Barrel. But a Wal-Mart? Please……..

As a former director of economic development for the State of Florida and the person who formed Sarasota’s first Committee of 100, the project presented by Waterford Companies is one of the best I have seen in the entire state. Most who drive by would not even recognize it as a Wal-Mart. In fact, it would mostly likely become the cornerstone of design for future Wal-Marts everywhere. Not only is it beautiful, but it will have the effect on making the entire area more attractive to other business and investment, just as the Opsrey Wal-Mart has done for that area. It is now booming with new economic growth.

I would like to point out that the Osprey Wal-Mart is eight tenths of a mile from the most prestigious community in Sarasota County – The Oaks. It has not had even one bit of impact on traffic or diminishing quality of life. Venetian is 1.4 miles from the proposed location. It will have ‘zero’ impact, except to improve the quality of life, because it will make the entire area more attractive to future home buyers by elevating the availability of all sorts of services. The argument of one road in or out does not wash….how many roads feed Osprey or the entire area? One…US 41 which is 10 times busier than Laurel Road will ever be.

Hey, they bought next to industrial, what the hell were they thinking?
I cannot understand how anyone would argue having a state-of-the-art discount super market, a bakery, a pharmacy, a hardware store, an electronics store, a toy store, a garden mart, an eyewear store, a home goods store, a sporting goods store and apparel store all within just over a mile is a bad thing. It would take years to attract that many different retail establishments, if ever. Wal-Mart is willing to step up and make a multi-million dollar investment in North Venice knowing that it could be years before the investment made sense.

Rejection of this project would be tragic and irresponsible. It would also be a slap-in-face to the working class families who struggle to make ends meet everyday. I would encourage the developer then return to the plan to do a Flying J Truck Stop, which has already been approved as an appropriate use. Does anyone think that either the Triple Diamond Industrial Park…which is 1.6 miles away or the county land fill which is 2.8 miles away would have ever been approved if Venetian was there first? With the same rationale used to oppose Renaissance….No way! The truth is most people who bought in Venetian, bought there knowing that area was zoned PID for industrial development.

Based on the plans presented, the proposed Renaissance project would bring increased shopping convenience to not just Venetian, but to Willow Chase and every community on Laurel Road and even along Pinebrook Road, which will lead to a better quality of life, plus improved home sales and property appreciation. I strongly support the project and will look forward one day to passing Venetian residents shopping there and asking them what they thought about having such a shopping convenience so close. It’s the same as asking those who opposed the annexation back in 2001…I guess it didn’t ruin Venice after all.

Actually, it will most likely set a new standard for what makes a successful retail center. No Wal-Mart means no restaurants, no theatre, no hotel, no banks, no medical care…no anything for years. It will only cause the value of homes in Venetian and the surrounding area to decline even further.

Steve Albee

North Venice