IKEA is Wrong for Dublin, Resident Says

Dear Editor:

I am a 17 year+ resident of Dublin. My children are enrolled at Dougherty Elementary. I am concerned with the potential of IKEA being placed at the site closest to I-580 (near Whole Foods). Specifically, the economic costs to roads, traffic, pollution (close proximity to Dougherty Elementary) and the gigantic size of the potential building.

I do understand that IKEA has a "niche" market base, which is basically first time homeowners, young college students, and the like. This IS NOT the image Dublin should even be considering! We are a well established city with much higher-end homes.

How does an IKEA, or any similar retail store like this makes ANY sense in Dublin? Our roads are overloaded, 580 is a parking lot & a retail store of that size & definition is perfectly placed where the are NOW... East Palo Alto & Emeryville. IKEA's demographics are young college students & first time home buyers. This, Emeryville makes sense for UC Berkeley, and Palo Alto for Stanford.

Dublin being statistically made up of middle to higher income households, with children, & not first time home buyers, would not normally (monthly or weekly) shop at IKEA. If you want something from this supplier, one can simply get in their car & drive in reverse traffic to one of those two local stores & make a purchase there! IKEA shouldn't even be a consideration for Dublin.

Furthermore, many of us, if we so desire an item from this retailer (I DO NOT), can simply order online. I beg you to rethink this retailer for our small city! We luckily had residents that were opposed to a San Jose Shark practice rink and forced their hand to venture elsewhere. If not, guess what... No aquatic center and no water park that Dublin is boasting about.

I am kindly asking the City of Dublin to appropriately evaluate the long-term benefits and risks associated with building on this site. Review it carefully! We lose companies that are vital to Dublin (I.e. SAP... Now what??) What happens if IKEA folds, what are we left with 330,000 square feet of nothing. Before you say, that can't happen, please refer to any history lesson in the fast 20 to 25 years.... It can and does happen. I for one am not going to roll the dice with a city I love, am raising my children in & call home.

I am kindly asking Dublin to stop any building on this site. Review it carefully! I am asking the City of Dublin to review the documented statistics for each of the cities that currently have an IKEA. Review stats on crime, increase traffic flow, increased pollution, costs associated with the increased demand on infrastructure & alike.

Get the proper facts before saddling Dublin with a monster building that many of us don't want. We lose companies that are vital to Dublin (i.e. SAP... Now what??) What happens if IKEA folds, what are we left with 330,000 square feet of nothing. Before you say, "that can't happen," please refer to any history lesson in the last 20 to 25 years ... It can and does happen. I for one, am not going to roll the dice with a city I love, a city I am raising my children in and a city I call home.

Arlene Elizabeth Raffo, Dublin resident

Read more about IKEA:

• IKEA Aims to Open in Dublin