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LETTERS: Gateway is a path Sidney cannot reverse

We are not a city folks, we are a town. Do we need a suburban mall to serve the west side of our town?

I attended the presentation of Omicron and the very polished presentation telling us why we need a shopping mall across the highway on airport lands.

We were told that we require additional grocery shopping based on a formula crafted by some grocery chain economist and, in addition, we were told we were lacking in opportunities to purchase electronics.

All I heard was the airport is looking to increase their revenue stream and this will do that and provide additional retail opportunities for Sidney residents.

I have been a three term municipal city councillor and had a front row seat watching a downtown struggle while suburban shopping centres flourish.

I have lived in this area for 25 years and watched while Hillside, Uptown and Langford box stores flourish and Victoria downtown struggles.

We are not a city folks, we are a town. Do we need a suburban mall to serve the west side of our town?

All I see with this proposed shopping mall is pure and simple. It is a new funding source for the airport. I would suggest that our town council, rather than engaging studies that the developer is funding, they should look at many examples of new shopping malls eroding vital downtown cores.

I am certainly not against progress.

I am certainly against responding to going down a path that we cannot reverse ... all in the name of progress.

Gay Helmsing, Sidney