Wal-Mart at Northcross - a Neighborhood Debate
Friday February 23, 2007
If you've walked on any of the streets near the Anderson and Burnet Road intersection, chances are you've seen a red sign in someones yard reading "No Wal-Mart".
Signs seen around the Northcross area neighborhoods.
© L. Bear
This is because Wal-Mart is teaming up with the Lincoln Property Company to put a 24-hour Mega Wal-Mart Supercenter at the dying Northcross Mall. There's been quite an outcry from some area residents. Some are opposed primarily to the fact that the city didn't seek their opinion and they didn't even know about the deal until it was a done-deal. Others oppose having a Wal-Mart plopped down "in their backyard." But, not everyone is against the move. Learn more about the Wal-Mart/Northcross Project and Neighborhood Response.
Signs seen around the Northcross area neighborhoods.
© L. Bear
Are You For or Against a Wal-Mart at Northcross?
- I DO NOT want a Wal-Mart at Northcross
- I DO want a Wal-Mart at Northcross
- I OPPOSE the PROCESS not the specific store
- I don't care one way or the other
Northcross Photo Gallery: Starts in February 2007 and we'll be adding more pictures as the face of Northcross changes.
Austin Wal-Mart Locations This proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter is supposed to be 24-hours making it the 6th 24-hour Wal-Mart in Austin. Those hours may possibly be slightly less due to some concessions being made by Wal-Mart after discussion with neighborhood residents. These are the locations of the current Wal-Marts in Austin:
- Supercenter Store #1185 at 1030 Norwood Park Blvd 24-hours
- Supercenter Store #3569 at 12900 I-35 Service Road 24-hours
- Supercenter Store #1129 at 13201 Fm 620 Road North 24-hours
- Supercenter Store #1253 at 710 East Ben White Blvd 24-hours
- Supercenter Store #5317 at 9300 South Ih-35 24-hours
- Store #2133 at 5017 Us Hwy 290 West
- Store #5478 at 8201 North Fm 620
What's your opinion on this issue? Do you live in the vicinity of Northcross Mall? Are you for or against a Wal-Mart at Northcross - or anywhere in Austin? Vote in the poll then post your comments below.
posted by lyla
Comments
Thank you Wal-Mart for bringing civic pride and activisim back to the neighborhood. I was never anti-Wal-Mart before this, but I sure am now. I’ve also watched a city council support the developers instead of the residents who voted them in. You’d think the city was bringing enough money into the coffers with all the condo’s and malls they’re putting up. And it sure hasn’t been a pretty sight seeing the press weave their story - buying Wal-Mart’s “oh yes, we’re working with the neighborhood and will keep working with them”. One meeting with each neighborhood, and Lincoln and Wal-Mart never came to us with answers to questions. And Wal-Mart is now down from 226,000 to 219,000 sq ft. There’s even an extra traffic lane being designed near a failing traffic intersection - that’s near this emptied mall (cause the last owners wanted to turn it into an office center). Northcross doesn’t want to be supersized.
I’ve never agreed with the way Wal-Mart does business. I never shop there, even though there is one less than 5 minutes from my home. I will drive past it and go to other retailers and pay a little more in order to avoid supporting such an evil company. Wal-mart puts hard-working small business owners such as myself out of business and brings in numerous jobs at a whopping $6.00 per hour which does nothing for our community but bring it down and reduce the diversity of businesses. I thought people wanted to “Keep Austin Weird,” but the results of this online poll tell a different story. It’s sad that people would support sweatshop work with their purchases at Wal-Mart, in order to save a few pennies, over another retailer who has slightly higher prices but good business ethics and practices. People who are in favor of Wal-Mart should watch the documentary “Wal-Mart, The High Cost of Low Price.” Maybe that will change your mind.
Many neighbors concerns, mine included, are that 220,000 square feet, 24 hours (sorry, now 5am-1am) is not appropriate for a residential neighborhood.
Walmart and Linclon don’t care, because they’ll take their money and run. And ten years from now, when we’re left with lowered property values, higher crime, and horrendous traffic, they’ll abandon the shell of the Walmart, as they do, to move to a 400,000 square foot superstore somewhere else. Enjoy your 99cent tube cocks while you can!