Welcome HD, Lowe’s
There’s a new show opening this week in town and its name is the Lowe’s and HD Extravaganza. That’s right. Stop the presses. This week, the two biggest names in home improvement have opened their doors in our fair village and believe you me; it’s going to change the face of the Lakes Region.
First off, these stores will employ more than 500 employees between them. Averaging around $10 bucks an hour, that’s a lot of cash flow coming to the area. And they’re good jobs, too. Benefits, personal growth potential, bonuses. This “really big show” is spelling capitalism with a capital C.
While many are excited about what this could mean for North Windham’s commercial district, many are probably wondering about how North Windham will handle the new growth. These same people are probably looking at the Windham Mall as small bananas and the Super Wal-Mart as less-than-super. Mind you, my first view of Home Depot from Pizza Hut the other day, in all its orange glory, was a little daunting. It’s huge. Then you go across the street and see Lowe’s and it’s gray-blue exterior proudly hovering with a view of the Route 302 strip below. Doubly huge. Together, it’s something we’ve never seen before. Perhaps if they came in a few years apart, we wouldn’t be so awe-struck, but this is big stuff for little old Windham – or what used to be little, old rural Windham.
I don’t know whether to be longing for the “good old days” when Wal-Mart was the only big box or looking forward with hope for a Windham where commercial enterprise is even more alive and well. The jury is still out. Will Lowe’s and HD be good for our area? It’ll definitely add traffic and people. And while fast forwarding our society will have its downsides, it’ll have its positives as well. And we must dwell on those. Capitalism is happening in the Lakes Region. The train’s coming. It’s unbridled, mostly, and recent growth in Greater Portland demands needed enterprises like home improvement stores.
The Town Council a few years ago couldn’t stop talking about their desire to see a 70-30 residential/business tax split. (At the time it was close to 80-20, where 80 percent of the town’s revenue was made up of residential taxes versus 20 percent coming from business.) If adding these two stores doesn’t help the town get to a 70-30 split, nothing will. Watch what you ask for, as the saying goes. The new stores, and the tax revenue they will generate, could be good for local taxpayers, but that jury remains out, as well. Some say commercial growth helps to lower residential taxes. Others say residential taxpayers don’t see much benefit because commercial growth causes the need to improve infrastructure and causes more residential growth. With residential growth comes more schools, more teachers and more expenditures. But, in theory, healthy commercial activity should lower the residential tax burden. This will be just another interesting thing to watch as Lowe’s and Home Depot change our region.
But taxes aren’t everything. Windham business is growing by leaps and bounds and the new retail is great for people who need jobs, and it’s even better for those who don’t want to drive to Portland to get the essentials. And, for the many new homeowners in the area, easy access to a home improvement store will be welcomed.
Bring on the future. We might be a little nervous, but it’s a bold new world, a new big box economy shall we say, and we’re ready for it. Welcome to our area Home Depot and Lowe’s. We’re watching to see how you impact our little piece of the world.
-John Balentine, editor
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