Fire(s)! Wait... these were planned...oh.

From Cornelius City Manager {Dave Waffle}'s weekly 'Hot Off the Griddle' [Sunday March 29, 2009]:

"TMT Development has finally agreed to the demolition of the three decrepit, white-frame structures with numerous broken windows on their property between the Burger King restaurant and N. 26th Street on Baseline Street. All three will be burned as part of training exercises before June 30th. YEAH!"

In other news...MAX extension to Forest Grove update?

Kidd ready to pitch Forest Grove rail
Hillsboro Argus, Nick Christensen
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/123515401512430.xml&coll=6

Excerpt: "Metro is launching a study of the next 30 years of rail construction, and an extension of the Blue Line from Hillsboro to Forest Grove is one of 15 lines the regional planning agency will consider for construction before 2040. "

Commentary: All power to Mayor Kidd! Good Luck proposing this, try not to let Metro stand in your way.

Metro's "Regional High Capacity Transit System Plan"
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/files/planning/hct_fact_sheet-020609.pdf

Commentary: From what I understand, this is a long-range plan to evaluate corridors for additional transportation needs.

"...first shovel of dirt - could come by July 1"

Wal-Mart sets a summer groundbreaking
Planners receive permit applications for supercenter in Cornelius
Forest Grove NewsTimes, by Chrisitan Gaston
http://www.fgnewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=123554675337965200

Commentary: I hope to be there!

The Giant is waking up...

I just received an update that Wal-Mart is moving forward with its plans for their upcoming store in Cornelius! This was provided from none-other than Dave Waffle, City Manager, Cornelius in his weekly "Hot Off the Griddle" piece. In his e-mail distro message he wrote "Here's this week's report. I hope you enjoy some more good news. This time about the Wal-Mart store and a Fire Department grant."
Commentary: Congratulations to those at the City of Cornelius, PACLand, Wal-Mart, and all others that were involved in each stage of planning! I for one, look forward to the Development in our little City and wish us all a better tomorrow.

Added Feb 24, 2009: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1235503208196460.xml&coll=6

Congratulations to Cornelius, Thanks to Obama

Cornelius scores federal funds for road, sidewalk development, Forest Grove News Times
http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=123498699405998800


Excerpt: "The city won a community development block grant last week that will pay for the repair of sidewalks and street surfaces on 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th streets between Adair and Baseline Streets, filling out the city’s downtown redevelopment plan." 'By 2011, the town center will be rebuilt, essentially from Walgreen’s [20th Avenue/Baseline&Adair] to St. Alexander’s Church [10th Avenue/Baseline& Adair],” City Manager David Waffle said. “That’s pretty exciting.' "

Commentary: I guess this addresses Phase 5 of the plan illustrated above.

Reference: http://www.ci.cornelius.or.us/vertical/Sites/{74DDA728-822C-4D15-9791-000615642E9D}/uploads/{4DCDCE12-4478-4730-AAC0-6C31041C0620}.PDF

Hillsboro Argus Article City Manager Referred to and Some Archives

Flurry of paperwork means Wal-Mart moving closer to groundbreaking by Nick Christensen, The Hillsboro Argus
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1234554642179080.xml&coll=6

Excerpt: "City officials in Cornelius are expecting mega-retailer Wal-Mart to submit formal plans this month for its proposed supercenter on Fourth Avenue."

City of Cornelius, Cornelius Public Works Advisory Board
http://corneliusor.govoffice2.com/vertical/Sites/%7B74DDA728-822C-4D15-9791-000615642E9D%7D/uploads/%7BA74DA247-D0E3-47ED-B7CA-1E3506BD59F4%7D.PDF

Excerpt: "Mr. Keyes informed the board Wal-Mart plans to go out-to-bid in March [2009]. Jeannine Murrell asked if the intersection at 4th and Adair would be re-engineered. Wal-Mart’s plans include reconstruction of the intersection at 4th and Baseline."

Hot Off the Griddle, Cornelius City Manager's weekly report
October 2008
http://www.ci.cornelius.or.us/vertical/Sites/%7B74DDA728-822C-4D15-9791-000615642E9D%7D/uploads/%7BB2C7B50A-39F0-47B9-9EFF-D2749401E9F8%7D.PDF

Excerpt: "The prospect of Wal-Mart construction this summer [2008] appears less and less likely...Wal-Mart would need to resubmit construction plans for the smaller store promptly in order to be underway during the summer’s dry weather. Guess we should be like Chicago Cub fans and “wait ‘til next year”."


Cornelius Wal-Mart opening not expected until 2010, Oregonian
Jill Rehkopf Smith
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/cornelius_walmart_opening_not.html

Excerpt: "Meyer said he expects the plans by fall and that company officials say they want to be ready to bid out the plans next spring, in 2009. With construction generally taking 12 to 15 months, that would put a grand opening in 2010."

Oregonian writer and City Manager update

Elizabth Suh, reporter for Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Cornelius, and North Plains wrote me :

"Wal-Mart is planning to start building this year and to open next year. They're not sure when... They said there's no doubt the project will break ground this year."

Dave Waffle made references to Wal-Mart in his "Hot Off the Griddle" weekly :

"[Cornelius] completed acquistion of the last piece of street right-of-way on N. 4th Street for the Wal-Mart Supercenter this past week. A spokesperson confirmed the pending submittal of plans in last week's Hillsboro Argus. Watch for construction to begin this summer and an official announcement soon."