Goodwill Industries of Detroit is seeking a special land use to open a second-hand store in downtown West Dearborn.

The Dearborn City Plan Commission voted 4 to 4 Monday night on  a request for a special land use from Goodwill Industries to open a second-hand store in downtown West Dearborn.

Like the first meeting, I voted to deny the request for a special land use. Goodwill now plans to come to the Plan Commission for a third time, perhaps as early as next month to seek approval.

Let’s be clear. This isn’t about whether Goodwill is good for Dearborn. It is all about the proposed location. Goodwill could be a good addition to our city. But the building in which it is so aggressively trying to locate its second-hand store is simply not a good fit for our city. There are other locations in Dearborn that are more suitable. But more on that shortly.

The location of the proposed Goodwill store will not encourage other retail to move into the area. In fact, it likely will have the opposite impact and even negatively affect the value of nearby businesses already in this area. Worth noting is that Goodwill said at the last City Plan meeting that it does not plan to install an outside collection bin for people interested in doing after-hour drop offs of used clothing or whatever else they want to purge from their closets. So when the Goodwill store is closed, trash bags will be piled outside for all to see until the store reopens the following day.

In the same two block street that Goodwill wants to locate there are at least three discount stores, including two different types of dollar stores and a Marshall’s, which also sells name brand clothes at deep discounts. Combine that with the fact we also already have places to donate used clothing in our city with ACCESS or easy door pickup with Purple Heart (the Salvation Army is just a short drive away), there really isn’t a need for this type of store in this particular Dearborn location.

In addition, there already are a couple of fantastic second-hand stores in downtown West Dearborn. One is an antique store on Michigan Avenue called Village Antiques, just down the street from the proposed Goodwill outlet. The second is just down the road from the antique store in the Westborn Mall, a second-hand clothing and toy store for children called Sweet Peas Baby Boutique.

Forget the argument that Canton has a Goodwill store on Ford Road. It’s not applicable here. The Goodwill store on Ford Road moved into a thriving retail area. Some of Goodwill’s Canton retail neighbors include Pier 1, Michaels, a stand-alone JC Penny, IKEA and a host of restaurants too numerous to list here.

Contrast that with the Norm Newman owned building here in West Dearborn where Goodwill wants to locate. We don’t have that kind of retail. If we did this would be a different story. Dearborn needs quality first-hand stores to jumpstart our downtown and attract other businesses to come here. For all the good Goodwill does provide, this great non-profit organization isn’t going to draw new retail business to our downtown.

Just like Norm Newman (the landlord of the vacant building Goodwill wants to lease) has made decisions about what he wants in his vacant properties, the City Plan Commission and the City Council (who must also approve this request) must do the same when it comes to taking a longer-term view of what we believe will help downtown West Dearborn in the future.

Norm Newman said at an earlier meeting he “regrets” that he let the restaurant Applebee’s get away when that chain wanted to move into the very location Goodwill now desires. We regret it, too. Same with the others he has turned away, including Merchant’s Fine Wine, who wanted to move into the building and even La Pita, who simply purchased the building of their current location when they couldn’t work out an agreement many years ago.

We have received dozens of emails from readers who agree that the location Goodwill desires isn’t suitable and the second-hand store should look at an alternative location, such as the vacant Border’s book store building on Ford Road and Mercury Drive. The letters we have received are from young professionals, grandparents, nearby residents and local business owners.

Mary Ray, owner of Cambells Paint & Wallpaper, said she does not support Goodwill moving into the proposed location. “I do not support the Inca location for Goodwill,” Ray said in an email. “I am fine with Goodwill locating in Dearborn. I do not believe that this is a good location nor do I think that it is in the best interest of the City and/or the downtown district to allow Goodwill to occupy this particular space. “

Resident Dan Kosmowski, who lives on Nona Street, a couple blocks behind the proposed store location had this to say:

“I oppose the proposed discount store in the former Inca Computer storefront,” Kosmowski said. “At this moment, the area is saturated with discount retailers. I live one block from the proposed store at Nona and Haigh. I enjoy walking to the retailers, including Bellacino’s and Aco, but beyond these choices, I am forced to take my retailing dollars out of Dearborn.

“I understand the community needs affordable retailing options. I formerly worked in the automotive sector before I decided to return to school, leaving my full-time job for a part-time position and shouldering the burden both of a mortgage and tuition on my reduced salary. I must make difficult choices on what I can afford to buy. On a short budget, I know there are plenty of discount retailers nearby. The Dollar Store anchors the opposite end of the proposed discount store. Walking one block to the west, the Westborn Mall houses a Marshall’s, Bulk Food Warehouse, Dollar Tree, Sweet Peas Baby Boutique, Dots Fashions, Avenue, and Payless. Does the community really need another discount retailer?

“Further, I find it a distraction to label the discount retailer “upscale.” By adding the adjective upscale, is somehow the discount retailer converted to an upscale discount retailer really any different from adding another discount retailer to this community? In addition, I do not think that government can enforce “upscaleness” on a retailer; we must take the retailer at their word that they will maintain an “upscale” factor for years into their lease, a chance I am not willing to take.

“Like many residents, I do not want to see space unused, but at the same time, an anything goes mentality is disheartening. Rather than another discount retailer, I would like to see a restaurant (such as Frida’s) or an inexpensive market alternative to Westborn Market (like the Dearborn Farm Market). Surely saturating the area with discount retailers means people who want other goods must go elsewhere. I know that is my situation. My part-time job takes me to Ann Arbor and Troy. I spend my limited dollars in those communities, instead of literally in my own backyard which is disconcerting. Further, working in these far away places, I am exposed to the negative comments regarding Dearborn. I am told often by my peers in Oakland and Washtenaw counties that I should move, like many young professionals, and join them where there are diverse retail options.

“In conclusion, the Inca Computer storefront needs something other than a discount retailer. The area is saturated with discount retailers all within walking distance. I know because I live within a block of the location and I walk to the retail options.”

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