A recently-opened Costco Wholesale store in Burnsville, Minnesota (via costco.com)
Costco, the warehouse-style wholesale retailer eyeing an old shopping center on South Carrollton as its first Louisiana location, has begun reaching out to area neighborhood groups with its design plans, and so far, the residents like what they see.
“I think everyone is pro-Costco,” said John Schackai, chair of the Carrollton Design Review Committee, noting that the store is a work in progress but praising the developers’ willingness to listen to suggestions thus far.
The proposed 150,000 square-foot store will require at least three to four more months of planning, Schackai estimated, followed by eight or nine months of construction for an opening in about a year. Costco has already met with a number of neighborhood groups, Schackai told members of the Central Carrollton Association on Tuesday evening, and the mayor’s office seems to be attempting to speed the project to fruition as quickly as possible.
Ultimately, the development process for the building will be taking their basic box and adding specific amenities onto it, Schackai said, expressing annoyance that Costco’s development team has yet to include any locals. For example, a members-only gas station is planned, but Schackai said he is urging Costco to rethink its design.
“I don’t know if they’ve go the right attitude about this,” Schackai said. “They have to start from scratch. They can’t just take their formula service station and drop it at the corner of Palmetto and Carrollton.”
Schackai also expressed some concern about the proposed orientation of the store on the site, but was optimistic that it could still evolve as well.
One element of the site plan that Schackai found particularly appealing, however, was the landscaping around the sidewalks. Costco plans to plant trees between the sidewalk and the road, and again between the sidewalk and the parking lot — essentially creating a tree canopy over the walkway. The fact that the building will be obscured from view is of little concern to Costco, Schackai said, because the store is a destination unto itself, not trying to grab passers-by.
“They don’t even have to have a sign,” Schackai said. “Once you find out where they are, you’re going.”
Some neighbors in the Hollygrove area have urged Costco to pay particular attention to pedestrian access — a crucial issue with Xavier University so close, said Barbara Johnson, president of the Central Carrollton Association.
“That’s a major intersection with major issue that could be addressed,” Johnson said.
With a planned 250 local hires anticipated, the company’s stated employment practices are of particular interest, Schackai said. Of their 150,000 employees, they only have a 6-percent turnover rate, he said, and the average salary after five years is $46,000.
The Carrollton Design Review Committee consists of volunteer architects, landscape architects, attorneys and others who represent neighborhoods along Carrollton Avenue from the river to City Park, Schackai said. It was created by former Councilwoman Shelley Midura to help smooth development tensions in the area and strengthened by current Councilwoman Susan Guidry.
Schackai, the chair of the committee, is an architect who lives in the Central Carrollton neighborhood.
Contact Robert Morris at rmorris@NolaMessenger.com, or post your comment below.
Don’t Metairie My NOLA
I would much rather have a Costco than an empty parking lot. The area where the Costco will be is also home to many other chains, so I don’t think the architectural integrity of the neighborhood will be much changed. And again, right now it’s home to an empty parking lot. Another positive: people will shop at Costco in Orleans Parish rather than going to Sam’s in Jefferson Parish, so the tax dollars will stay in Orleans Parish.
Don’t stunt my NOLA – by turning away retail and tax dollars so desperately needed, in return for an ugly parking lot!
I want Costco too. I want to spend my money in my parish!
There is only so much boutique clothing, art and antiques that one person can take (and while I do love it, I HAVE to buy most of my day to day usual items in Metairie)
Another positive step forward, I hate spending my tax dollars in Jefferson parish. I live in New Orleans and want to shop in new orleans. Some neighborhood associations need to wake up and let growth happen. I would assume any company big or small coming into a neighborhood would be willing to build according to the nighrborhood. Its the associations that dont want any of this. They want to send it to another hood or as I read about another development in mid-city on bienville street they say the can shop in metairie and thats enough.
I say move to metairie then. Dont stop growth based on what you think is best for you.
We need tax dollars in NOLA! Thats a fact!
Exactly! I’m tired of giving my money to Jefferson Parish in the form of sales tax. I want to support my own city — any opportunity to shop here instead of the suburbs is most welcome to me.
“Don’t Metairie my NOLA” is such silly thinking. NOLA needs all the businesses it can get and while I am certainly a backer of historic preservation, this area needs all the investment it can get! I wish Xavier had purchased this land but since that didn’t happen, I think this is the best alternative. The neighborhood surrounding that area is pretty poor and a Costco will create new jobs and tax income for the city. I also hope that having that Costco as an anchor, it will help improve the stores that are in the area.
The Costco folks may not have the exact and perfect solution, but they do come with an open mind and do things with a sensible methodology. I think all of the immediate and effected neighborhoods will be delighted. Now if they would just……
Lets see how long it takes for Susan Guidry to ruin this.
i second that….
Trader Joes anybody?
H&M?
I’ve been waiting impatiently for years for a Costco to come to Louisiana. its my favorite all-time store. I’m delighted that they are coming, but disappointed in their location choice. Wish they would have come to the Northshore. Just the same, I will occasionally fight the masses to go there. Love, love, love Costco!
I hope they make pedestrian and bicycle access a priority.
Also, eventually, the RTA is going to have to reroute one of their buses so it goes the full length of Carrollton, seven days a week.
The traffic volume on Carrollton is intense, and I wish the city would do more to calm it down, while making safe travel by other modes a priority.
Let’s remember what was in the space before it became a terrible parking lot: a Piccadilly Cafeteria. Before that, it was Gus Meyer store (no architectural treasure) and the shopping center boasted a JC Penny’s, Rainbow and other really low-end retail.
Costco would be an improvement over anything that has stood there for at least 30 years.
Why not put the Costco in another area of the city which needs it so much more than uptown.
Carrollton and the Interstate is not “uptown”, but it is conveniently and centrally located to many, many areas. Makes perfect sense to me.
This is in Mid-City not Uptown…
Actually, it is Hollygrove.
Let me think. Putting in an major retail store that will bring shoppers of all socio-economic walks of like into a highly distressed neighborhood with some of the worst crime statistics in New Orleans. This would increase the number of people who venture to that area, forcing an increase in police pressence, thereby reducing crime. So, more shoppers, less crime means…….anyone? anyone? Bueller?
The Carrollton area needs Costco and the area residents need jobs! Let’s just hope that the city’s leadership and neighborhood watchdog groups do nothing to stifle this plan. This is a win-win situation, folks~
I’m afraid the city and these neighborhood groups will do nothing but make this process so ridiculous that Costco will go else where like Metairie or the North shore where they make it easier to do business. As usual there will be all these same old neighborhood “association” groups in New Orleans with their hands out looking for “the hook-up” and as usual ruin any real development in the city.