Second Wal-Mart coming to Post Falls

A new Wal-Mart is coming to the Pointe at Post Falls, but other future tenants of the sprawling development remain unannounced.

The Foursquare Properties project’s success is central to funding a new freeway interchange at Beck Road, but the city will not see any tax benefit from the retail development until 2023.

With tax revenue dedicated to the Interstate 90 interchange and the area’s urban renewal district, other services required by the development – including police service – will be financed by other Post Falls taxpayers.

“The city has to come to grips with that fact,” said Post Falls City Administrator Eric Keck. “That makes it tough for us, but it’s part of the price of making sure the infrastructure, including the interchange, is completed.”

The Wal-Mart would be Post Falls’ second. The current Wal-Mart, which sees thousands of customers each day, frequently requires police response, said Post Falls Police Capt. Scot Haug.

It’s unclear what other stores might join Cabela’s and Wal-Mart to anchor the Pointe. Rumors have Lowe’s and Sam’s Club both locating there.

Foursquare Properties President Jeff Vitek did not respond to questions about the project, but plans for the development show spots for both a home improvement store and a warehouse club in addition to a hotel and numerous other retailers.

“We’ve been trying to lobby them to get a movie theater complex,” Keck said.

As for the Beck Road interchange, engineers are working on designs and access studies. Construction is scheduled to begin next year with the interchange opening to traffic in late 2010.