After a new Value Village location was proposed in Stonebridge, the community and its leaders were concerned. Stonebridge Community Association president Blair Pisio wondered about the location and layout of the building. After collecting feedback from some residents, he spoke with Councilor Mairin Loewen about the proposed store.
At a city council meeting earlier this week, Councilor Loewen raised some questions about the aesthetics of the new building. Second-hand stores can invite mess into neighbourhoods with donation bins overflowing, she argued. But after hearing from the builders and seeing the zoning plans, both Loewen and Pisio were assured that the building would be a perfect fit in Stonebridge.
"I thought it was done and put to bed," said Pisio.
He was wrong.
Within a day, the Stonebridge Community Association web forum began collecting comments from users worried about the store - but not about the look.
Commenters wondered whether or not the store would invite the "wrong type of clientele" into their neighbourhood.
"I also think this is a terrible idea," posted user ChubbCove. "Value Village will reduce the image of the community and I'm not sure the clientele of Stonebridge are the same people that shop at Value Village type stores. Horrible idea."
Commenter Kucher posted "Do I need to fear for my children's safety and my property with the types of people this store is going to bring into our neighbourhoods?"
This comment was extreme, but the sentiment was echoed in other responses on the website. Pisio was disturbed.
"There's a need to apologize," said Pisio. "It's not a sentiment held by the whole community, it's a store we are going to welcome, and help to prosper in Stonebridge."
In a report Friday on CTV News at Six, we asked our viewers to respond, telling us how they felt about welcoming a second-hand store into their own neighbourhoods. The response we got was overwhelming.
An email from TwinsMama supported the idea of a Value Village in the neighbourhood, and said that the "cost of kid's clothes today is outrageous and I have no troubles buying gently used clothing."
A viewer who signed her email "A proud member of those types of people," wrote to say that with all the "devastation that is occurring in Japan, a second-hand store should be the least of their worries."
With more comments pouring into the SCA website, Pisio is overwhelmed by the arguments residents had not brought up before.
"They're just hiding behind this forum," said Pisio. "I invite them to come out to the meetings, they are regularly scheduled and any resident of Stonebridge can attend. It's better for people to come out and speak to me face to face."
Despite what some in the community may think, Pisio says the decision is made. The shopping centre is not owned by the community, he adds, and their fears have already been addressed.
"Once people see what is coming up, I think then the waters will clear up," said Pisio. "People will see it's a great fit in our community."
CTV Saskatoon would love to see how you feel about this issue. Have the commenters on the SCA website overreacted? Would you welcome a second-hand store in your neighbourhood? You can answer our web poll on the issue, or email us with your comments.
