I live on Peninsula Park drive within walking distance of the proposed new Target.   Please do not allow a big box store at Riverwalk.   To do so would be a disservice to all who use the park.   It would destroy the park atmosphere.   The Riverwalk is not large enough for big box stores.   Please build more restaurants,and other small shops.  An outdoor cafe next to the bike trail would be a great place for bikers and joggers to take a break.   A public pool would be great since It would be safer than the river and ponds.  Please don't destroy Riverwalk.

Carl Danner

11521 Peninsula Park Drive

Bakersfield CA

"...the back of the building, which would face the park. " "....a wrought-iron fence.."  +  =a nightmare and a sight for sore eyes!
 

Target and a Park in the same area is an oxy-moron!

I have no qualms with Target or its employees.  I enjoy Target.  Build one in the southwest, I'd be there weekly!  But I can think of four other locations that would work great, some even closer to my home than the River Walk.  Just don't build a Target at the River Walk is all we want.  This is not a NIMBY proposal, but a common sense proposal to keep this beautiful land and area as it was promised.

We can use another corner lot be used for a big box retailer and its little attached shops, but not the River Walk.  This land was a promise for a nice, upscale place.  A plan like Libby Lu, Pottery Barn, Basin, Crate & Barrel, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Build-a-bear, Elephant bar, CPK, PF Changs, BJ's, and a few more.  (think Downtown Disney) If I pay a little more for my items, that's fine, because I know I could enjoy a nice bike ride, stroll the park with my young kids, get some nice shopping, then eat at a nice restaurant all in one location and without dodging a dozen red shopping carts or having to re-park my car.

This land was promised as one thing years ago and WE all loved the idea.  Just because Castle & Cooke is not seeing their dollar signs rise, should not be the reason our city council changes their minds years later.  We are all in economic slowdown.  It won't be this way forever.  I'd rather keep the dirt than put in a large Target, parking lot, and another traffic light.

To the city council members.  Please vote NO on changing the zoning for this land.  Even if C&C used Michaelangelo to paint the back of this proposed Target, its still a Target.  And is it any coincidence that the proposed site of this Target is as far away as possible from the new Castle & Cooke staff office building???  Look to other sites for this building around here, just keep it out of the River Walk plan.

Well it's a done deal and I for one am glad, Target is a great store with good employees that give great service, well I'm just saying that because I'm an employee, but if they do what they say they're going to do with the new building it will look good and hey they did say that Bakersfield can't support a Nordstroms or any other high end store so what's the next best thing in big box retailers?

Looks like the city planning gurus caved in to the checkbook of Castle and Cooke, some "planted" letters of support, and some idea that a Target would be the only way to get other shops in there.

Regarding those letters of support.  How could any letters be written in opposition if nobody knew about it??  Who wrote these letters of support?  I love the line in today's paper where the planning guru was asked if he thought the letters were written by C&C employees.

I think C&C learned their lesson last year with the federal court building and pubic opinion.  Then, the public knew what was going on and had time to plan accordingly.  This time, it seemed that nobody knew what was going on until The Californian published the story yesterday.  Unfortunately, 10 hours isn't enough time for the public opinion to be heard.

So, as you go through the park, avoiding all the shopping carts left all over, or try to find parking at one of the four fine restaurants, you know who you can thank for this VERY disappointing idea.  I was once looking forward to the Shopping at River Walk, now I'm not so sure.

I'd love to have a Target out here.  I like Target.  But I'd rather it be in a better location (of which there are plenty), better suited for it with space for parking.

alidoremi -  I'd hate to see the RiverWalk become just another shopping center.

What else will it become???  We have a "shopping center" on just about every darned corner.  They can't get businesses to fill the buildings now what the bloody hell do we need more for? There are loads of "corners" that have empty space and since they can get "better" shops in them they lease out to the cheap shops, 99 cent store, dollar store, cigarette stores, etc.  Eventually the Market Place (well on it's way) and River Walk will be the same.  We couldn't get "high end" shops if we gave away the space for free!!!!  This is BAKERSFIELD people!!!  The only way we are remotely like LA is gangs and traffic and smog!!!

 Yes Please build a Target !  I love shopping at Target. And I would love to see it in the Southwest near panama and Gosford !

Still wondering why they have the Del taco sign up near the Walgreens on Gosford and Pacheco when they haven't built it and the sign has been up for years!!!!!!!!! Either build the darn thing or REMOVE the sign !!!!

What happened to the RiverWalk having 'high-end' shops?  We don't need another Target; not with the one in Rosedale.  I'm very disappointed about the change in plans.  This reminds me of when the Marketplace was being built.  We were promised upscale stores but it took several years to get the really nice ones here.  Supercuts, a cell phone store, Jenny Craig, and Baskin Robbins are NOT upscale.  I'd hate to see the RiverWalk become just another shopping center.

 I really hope the new footprint is approved this evening for a Target store at the" Shops at Riverwalk".  I live in the River Oaks neighborhood and I love the idea of being able to walk to Target . Their prices are fair and they sell just about everything, including cereal, milk, orange juice, coffee and all kinds of cleaning supplies. Just imagine how much money the folks in this area can save if they are able to walk,jog or bicycle over to Target and NOT have to jump in the car to drive to the store for a carton of milk or laundry detergent.  graci lee

 PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE - Just say NO to Target.  If I see one more red bullseye, my own eyes might explode!  It's time for Bakersfield to think outside the (big) box and look to specialty retailers to enter the market.

Let's look at Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Hold Everything, Crate and Barrel, Sur La Tab, Penzey's, etc.  These so called destination stores could really boom here in Bakersfield as the city itself seems to be experiencing the needed growth and certainly has the target market for them. 

Come on retailers.  They say it's a renters market.  Most retailers sign a beginners lease for 5 years.  Bakersfield could certainly handle a "B" if not "A" store turning at $1.5M yearly.  Give it a try and be surprised.  And Bakersfield, remember, if they build it, you must shop!

Chico: They probably expressed their desire for it by the numbers of people shopping at the existing Targets. I'm sure there's some sort of revenue vs city size equation these big box stores use to see if the city will support another store. And as others have said, just look at how many people go to the Rosedale Target.

 If people don't want it, it won't get built

And just how did the people express their desire for it?

Explicitly?

 If people don't want it, it won't get built. But since it is going in, the free market has spoken, and the people demand a Target! All hail the free market!

You know, the other side of this, not to defend Castle & Cooke, but maybe we have a problem attracting those high end, upscale stores. Taget, as big box retailers go, is about as upscale as that'll get, compared to say, K-Mart or Wal-Mart, and I even like Target stores (though I'd rather have a Super Target elsewhere, like closer to my house--the one at Panama and Gosford would be fine.)

Having read about Wal-Mart cancelling expansion plans--having dropped something like 60 planned stores in the past year, due to community opposition and general financial malaise--I can't help but wonder if either of the Wal-Mart supercenters will ever get finished. Frankly, I'd just as soon they not.

But, boys and girls, there's a reason we don't have any Nordstrom's, or even, say, Dillard's, and other such stores: we aren't big enough and we sure as hell ain't wealthy enough. The latter is certainly not going to change anytime soon, especially if 20 percent of Kern's population continues to live below the poverty line.

 It makes no sense to move the plan to build from the Panama area over to Riverwalk.  If the store wants to corner all the city market, the southwest is the place to do it..not just a few miles from the one on Rosedale.  Panama would be close to squaring the market from all directions.

 LOVE TARGET! I vote for a Super Target. I think Target does classy relatively well. I guess we could use some more variety, but I do appreciate Target!

 "It's sad that something as innocent as a question about a new target store can turn into something racial OLDBLUE & ET. Thanks for your intelligent input:: sarcasm::  "   well stated and correct, just wait until Chinko and Almostred get here

 It's sad that something as innocent as a question about a new target store can turn into something racial OLDBLUE & ET. Thanks for your intelligent input:: sarcasm::  

I have nothing against Target.  I shop there frequently.  I run in to people from the Stockdale/Haggin Oaks area at the Rosedale store from time to time.  Maybe that's where the idea for the River Walk store came from, bakobornnraised.  Could it be that your neighbors are tired of slummin' it in Rosedale? 

We were sold the idea of the Shops at the River Walk with the promise of upscale retail stores and restaurants.  This bait and switch tactic is used all too often.  Give us what we're promised.  Is that too much to ask?

 Target not upscale enough for people in Bakersfield? Now that's something I thought I'd never hear.

 Kilts YES... Another Target especially at the River Walk...NO. This was scheduled to be an upscale shopping area with lots of upscale shops. How many Targets do we have now? It seems like everytime we have a large building open Target wants to move in. I perfer more "designer" type shops and big name stores like Norstroms not Target. I personally think putting Target in the mall will ruin the image of the mall. Malls and places like the River Walk are designed to bring people in not force them to go somewhere else to shop. The Target on Oak Street and the Target in Rosedale are close enough to these places. If you want Target them go to Rosedale.

 Well, look at it this way.  It's better than another version of Wal-Mart or the Dollar Tree!!!  It is a shame that Bakersfield can't lure retailers that could add diversified shopping...

 We want Sojo !!

For all in favor, drive to Rosedale Target and park you car in the parking lot (if you can find a spot). Take a look at the people and crowds this Target store draws in and ask yourself, "Is this what I want at the River Walk?" I SURE DON'T! Yea, jobs will open up for many people, but any store they choose to put in the River Walk will give occupational opportunities to Bakersfield residents. Two is enough people. Lets broaden our horizon here! Put something that Bakersfield doesn't already have. PLEASE!!!

 Bakersfield needs more kilts and less bra's takes your mind off the crummy food.

They should open a Sojo store, then you can get China`s products direct, without the middleman. Twice the selection-half the price....

 A Target at River Walk?  NO THANKS!  I also love shopping at the Target on Rosedale, but I had dreams of Castle and Cooke doing a Downtown Disney style shopping/walking/park/dining experience for the River Walk shops (talk about a great idea).  One area for parking, then get out and go for a walk through nice shops, safe atmosphere, and enjoy.  Now, C&C will take their influence, once again, to our planning commission and ask for (another) change to a pre-approved plan.  We already have the Marketplace, which is uninhabitable for anyone over the age of 28 on weekends, lets don't deter this same group from another locale.

Send the Target to the Gosford/Panama area as original planned or thought of, not to the River Walk.  As "nice" as they say it will be, it will still be a Target (at least that's better than a Wal-mart). 

To the planning commission, please take our ideas and wants with you tonight.  Yes, I'm sure C&C has signatures to put a Target in (always easy to send a memo around the office for signatures), but the residents who were promised "upscale" shopping and dining don't want to be lied to again.  Now that we know what C&C has planned, I'm sure we could get more signatures that ask for NO Target to be built (nor another stoplight.. ouch!)

Ah.... guess I'll have to wait for that Downtown Disney style shopping/dining a little longer.

Another Target (sigh). Of course, Target might be better than some of the other alternatives that might have been considered, but it's disappointing to have more of the same retail mix. Where's the originality? Where's the distinction? What about differentiation? Is it that hard to land a more upscale retail anchor? So many local dollars leave Kern now via out-of-town shopping and via the internet--seems like such a no-brainer to lure a more desirable retail option. And really, does Bakersfield NEED another Target? Let's just call our town Target-field from now on. Shame on the developers and all the others involved with this for letting us all down--again...

 Have anyone ever been to River Walk Park on the weekends or a holiday? If they built a Wal Mart or Mercado Latino nearby they would make a fortune.

 "Allowing a big-box retailer at the Shops at River Walk would overturn the council’s decision in response to citizens’ wishes as expressed several years ago, according to a city report. "

This would be business as usual for the City of Bakersfield. 

 what about the plan mentioned several months ago for a Target to take over Robibsons May space at Valley Plaza?

I love Target and shop there a lot, but envisioned shops aqt Riverwalk being, if anything, more upscale than Marketplace/

bluflower

 i love target. it will create at least 150 new jobs and bakersfield needs all the jobs they can get!  besides we need another nice target the one on the east sidee and the one by the mall suck! and the one in rosedale is always packed.

 What happened to the idea of Target at Gosford Plaza (or whatever it's called) at Gosford & Pacheco? 

 Bummer!