Lowe's, Arby's could coordinate dirt work

By Wes Franklin / Daily News Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:13 PM CDT

Two future national chain businesses in Neosho could work together to jumpstart the construction process for each.

Lowe's Home Improvement Store and Arby's Restaurant, both set to open in town by next year, might try and coordinate dirt work to match the other's needs. In a Tuesday meeting of the Neosho Economic Development Sales Tax Committee, economic development director Gib Garrow said Arby's officials wanted to use the same subcontractor as Lowe's for the initial phase of construction.

This is because Arby's needs to remove between 350-400 loads of dirt from its future location next to Sonic on the Neosho Boulevard, while Lowe's needs to add about 900 loads of clay at its own planned site east of SMB Bank on Clemon Drive.

“(An Arby's representative) said as soon as they knew where to take that dirt they would start,” Garrow said. “Šso if (Arby's and Lowe's) could coordinate, it would be a savings for both of them.”

He predicted Arby's would probably begin groundwork within a week.

Meanwhile, Lowe's was issued a city building permit on Monday to begin construction of a 93,000-square-foot home improvement store - plus 26,000-square-feet for garden space - on 17 acres across Missouri Highway 59 from the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Groundbreaking will likely begin in two weeks.

Once open, the store will provide about 120 jobs, including 80 full-time positions, according to Garrow.

In a prepared statement, Neosho Finance Director Bob Blackwood noted Lowe's should also garner about $500,000 annually in extra sales tax revenue. Of this, half will go into the general fund and half into the tax increment financing (TIF) district for infrastructure improvements within the district. Neosho City Manager Jan Blase told the economic development committee these would include traffic and road upgrades to Hwy. 59, Clemon Drive, Laramie Drive and Fort Street.

Later, in a separate statement following Lowe's permit approval, Blase called the coming of the home improvement store a result of the city's “branding campaign to bring in more retail opportunities, new jobs and new housing.”

Garrow said he and others had previously approached various theme restaurants and additional big retail outlets about opening locations in the city. Once the Lowe's project begins, those prospects will be followed up on, he told the committee.

“After (Lowe's) breaks ground, it's a sure thing they'll take a closer look at Neosho,” Garrow said.