Miami-Dade College Homestead Campus Expansion

A potential Miami-Dade College Homestead Campus growth spurt should incorporate a commercial component.  With Big Lots' closing last winter there's only Bealls Outlet and Winn-Dixie left as anchor stores at the underutilized Homestead Plaza.  The Plaza is located on the south side of Campbell Drive between Parkway and English Avenues. There is great potential to this plaza with the right mix of businesses.  Significant reconfiguring and remodeling is necessary in a way that is pedestrian friendly and conducive to a collegial environment.  Students should be able to easily walk, mingle, intersperse themselves between the campus and the plaza.  The possibilities are worth considering to revitalize the area before blight continues to spread.
The opportunity to make this happen will be coming sooner than later as the Walmart Neighborhood  Market will open sometime in the Fall on Kings Highway and Homestead Blvd.   The opening of the Walmart store will siphon more patrons from this Winn-Dixie's already fledgling operation as it's a well known direct competitor that effectively advertises "Everyday Low Prices".  The Winn-Dixie store's dated design is hardly appealing to current patrons, though it's in keeping with the mall's throwback construction of the 1970's.  The plaza needs the Community Redevelopment Agency's (CRA) help to bring it into the 21st Century.
















Another component that should be considered is adding a  Homestead campus to Florida International University (FIU).  This campus would alleviate South Dade residents from having to trek 25+ miles north FIU's Modesto A. Maidique (University Park) Campus on Tamiami trail.  The population of Homestead  continues to grow as the Census population counts reflect and it only makes sense to provide this essential service locally.
The time to act is now so we can meet the future challenges facing our community and provide educational and economic opportunities to our residents.  This area is a gem in the rough as its situated between the Busway and Historic Downtown Homestead.  All it needs is for the City Council and CRA in collaboration with MDC, FIU, and Homestead Plaza's owner to innovate a workable solution amenable to all parties.  We can all work together  to revitalize this part of town, all it needs is a little tender, love and care.

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A Publix proposed for Venetia Groves

A new Publix has been on the drawing board for Venetia Groves for quite awhile.   Publix Supermarkets Inc. bought the land in April 2007 and in similar fashion to Walmart plans to build when market conditions make the venture worthwhile. These two indirect competitors have jockeyed for position to discourage direct competitors, such as Whole Foods and Target respectively, from setting up shop in the city. However, it will be their unique competitive advantage that will make the difference.  Publix with its superior customer service and higher-end product selection is in a singular market position allowing it to rightfully claim "where shopping is a pleasure." Conversely, Walmart with its "every day low prices" will continue to compete using that strategy though the claim is subject to debate given its recent bouts with inventory shortages and a 2011 Stanford University Research Study. According to a recent Bloomberg.com article customers are fleeing Walmart for Target and Costco in droves as shelves go empty.

The 39,000 square foot Publix store will be maller than other Publix stores in the city though it will feature a pharmacy with a drive-thru similar to the one at Oasis plaza. The site plan provided further below illustrates entrances and exit to the site from Palm Drive directly from the east bound lane, an entrance and exit from the Valencia Gardens Drive and an entrance and exit from Tennessee Rd (SW 167th Ave).  I don't see how the entrance and exit onto Palm Drive directly is going to work. The roundabout already makes that area a traffic challenge without having to add more complexity with this entrance/exit.  On the bright side, there's a traffic light on SW 167th Ave that will ease traffic congestion in and out of the Publix parking lot.

The future looks bright for these two companies as a renewed interest in residential construction in the city. This may soon prompt Publix to break ground at Venetia Groves and Walmart at the Airbase location.  We will keep you posted on any further development.

Historical Trivia: Venetia Groves used to be called Valencia Gardens during the platting process and it was renamed during the building phase, hence why the road still holds the previous namesake.

Reference Links:
http://keysgate.blogspot.com/2007/02/another-publix-on-palm-dr.html

http://egvsys.miamidade.gov:1608/wwwserv/ggvt/txcaw01.dia?folio=1079290010050

http://local.cityofhomestead.com/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=17635&dbid=0#

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Another Walmart is coming to South Dade near the Air Force Base

On April 26th 2012 the South Bay Community Council unanimously approved a zoning change on that will accommodate another Walmart superstore in South Dade. This approval made way for Walmart to build a new 152,000-square-foot store located on the southeast corner of the Southwest 288th Street and 137th Avenue intersection, near the Publix at Waterstone, Home Depot and Homestead Air Reserve Base.  The new store is currently located outside the city boundaries and Homestead Electrical Services area; however it's located within the Homestead Annexation Area Study.  

One would think that we may have enough of these stores in the immediate area but apparently the executives at Walmart think otherwise.  This appears to be a strategic move for future expansion as is the Publix at Venetia Groves.  Large companies tend to buy land years in advance to breaking ground to secure prime locations for their stores.  Homestead keeps growing and it appears to be moving at a faster clip than before.  Traveling around town one may observe that construction is on the upswing and more residents keep moving in to fill the new homes.  In no time we will be a city of over 100,000 people and then this Walmart's location will make all the sense in the world. 

Reference Link:
http://www.arki.com/articles/zoning-board-approves-new-walmart-in-south-dade-homestead-south-dade-miamiherald-com/

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Walmart Neighborhood Market in Homestead by Fall 2013

The old Chevrolet-Cadillac Dealership site on Kings Highway and NE 12th Ave was demolished to make way for the Walmart Neighborhood Market.  This Supermarket will be in direct competition with Publix, Sedanos, and Winn-Dixie.  All these locations are somewhat equidistant from the new Walmart location.  The residents of the area will benefit from having a new supermarket in close proximity providing competitive prices to establish its repeat customer base.  No longer will residents have to trek to Florida City Walmart to get their groceries as an alternative to Winn Dixie, Publix, or Sedanos.

According the Wall Street Journal , this is part of Walmart's new strategy to add Neighborhood Markets  to their portfolio with a goal of adding 95 to 115 stores in fiscal 2014 and end the fiscal year with a total of 240, up from 170 at the start of 2013.  These stores usually measure approximately 50,000 square feet in size.  By 2016 Walmart expects to have open 500 Neighborhood Markets by the end of fiscal year, generating more than $10 billion in sales. There is good reason behind the expansion according to Bill Simon, head of Walmart-US. He told the Wall Street Journal "They give us a competitive advantage".   Indeed it does, since adding the format allows the company to compete effectively against dollar chains, supermarkets and pharmacies.

In Homestead this means the competition better watch out especially those companies that don't differentiate much from Walmart's position in the market.  This spells trouble for  CVS, Sedanos, Walgreens, Winn-Dixie, and Publix to lesser degree due to their varied mid and higher end products and their  focus on customer service.  One word of caution for Walmart:  It may be its worst competition by cannibalizing its own Walmart Super Center in Florida City, especially the supermarket section by being able to provide faster checkout and a less overwhelming atmosphere at its new Neighborhood Market.

Reference Link

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443749204578048842451207454.html

http://southdadenewsleader.com/issue/south-dade-news-leader/article/wal-mart-expanding-reach-into-homestead

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