Construction at Northcross (Austin, Allen, Howe: middle-class, city hall, crime)

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by AustinSpartan

People shopping at WalMart are not the ones that can afford any of the furniture stores on Anderson.

Here we go, the classic "Wal Mart is only for the low(er) income people". Please! Haven't folks received the memo yet that Wal Mart has shoppers of all races and classes? I wonder if some people here would be complaining about a Target. No wait, ,"Tar-jay".

I've seen the new Wal Mart tonight en route to Conans. I have to stay that it is a pretty nice looking building.

[BentBow]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

SOME people didn't want Walmart at Northcross. SOME people didn't want the originally planned super-size Walmart.

SOME people in the area were happy to see a Walmart rejuvenate a dead mall turning into an eyesore.

Eventually Walmart adjusted their design and I believe most of the area accepts it as a good thing.

Please tell me what local businesses in the Northcross area are harmed by Walmart. The Northcross area is dominated by furniture stores, some restaurants, and a host of odds and ends retail that might actually benefit from more shoppers in the area.

They are lucky they even had a say at all!

If it met zoning, I don't see where the problem was?

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

WM puts little towns out of business. They seek and obtain the kind of property tax relief that no other kind of businesses can get.

WM sells lots and lots of junk that no one needs, and it's what's gotten the US into the mess that it's in- mortgaging our future for a lot of cheap imported 'stuff'.

Including such junk as TVs, groceries, gardening supplies (which I do need), and all sorts of useful items all under one roof.

I can get you about big bad Wal Mart squeezing competition, but from a consumers perspective -- the average, everyday one like myself -- the made-in-China junk they sell is no different than made-in-China junk all the others sell. And it only makes up a portion of what Wal Mart sells. Wal Mart sells things my household needs on a daily basis, and I'm glad that it is a shopping option should I choose I use it.

[mimimomx3]

How many TVs do we need? How many rakes? I agree that Target & co are all about rampant consumerism, but I'm trying- really trying- to be less materialistic. I love to spend money on good food, organic and/or locally grown, but for the 'stuff' I'm being very, very thoughtful. If I really NEED it, I'll try Goodwill before I try WM or Target.

Agree with the upposter- if a building meets zoning, that's pretty much it, no matter how much neighbors don't want something. It's up to them to change zoning.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

WM puts little towns out of business. They seek and obtain the kind of property tax relief that no other kind of businesses can get.

WM sells lots and lots of junk that no one needs, and it's what's gotten the US into the mess that it's in- mortgaging our future for a lot of cheap imported 'stuff'.

I don't think you have ever set foot in a WalMart. They sell inexpensive to medium priced goods that people use everyday. Clothes, household items, appliances, pharma, etc. They sell many of the same things HEB, BestBuy, etc. sell for higher prices. People aren't hurting themselves with what they buy at Walmart - it's the too-big house and the too expensive car - which Walmart has nothing to do with.

I buy auto supplies there. They have the lowest prices on motor oil and other auto maintenance items.

[mayfair44]

FWIW the nearest walmart from northcross mall is less than five miles away. There are over ten locations in the metro. How many more do we need?

[austin-steve]

WM puts little towns out of business.

The US Interstate Highway system and large Corp farming interests have put small farmers and towns out of business to a degree that dwarfs any impact Walmart made. See the movie "Cars".

People, as usual, just get mad at the wrong things and attribute outcomes to whatever they want to dislike, hate or blame. Ultimately, the consumer is responsible for who stays in business in a free enterprise system. It's the American consumer who chooses whether to support the mom and pop stores or to shop at large discount retailers.

Steve

[orngkat]

Haven't we all got enough stuff already? I think it would be neat if neighborhoods had community barns where one could borrow those things we only use occasionally like ladders, lawn mowers, tools, etc. The new WM is near my house; I will go there once to check it out and maybe buy my Hanes underwear but that's about it.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I don't think you have ever set foot in a WalMart. They sell inexpensive to medium priced goods that people use everyday. Clothes, household items, appliances, pharma, etc. They sell many of the same things HEB, BestBuy, etc. sell for higher prices. People aren't hurting themselves with what they buy at Walmart - it's the too-big house and the too expensive car - which Walmart has nothing to do with.

I buy auto supplies there. They have the lowest prices on motor oil and other auto maintenance items.

Actually, I HAVE been to WM! I was shocked by the massive quantity of STUFF they had. Honestly, how many khakis does a person need? A house (and maybe a car- depends) are investments. Plastic palm tree placemats are not. That's all. I don't shop there because I actually do like to save money- by living simply and not buying a lot of STUFF.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

The US Interstate Highway system and large Corp farming interests have put small farmers and towns out of business to a degree that dwarfs any impact Walmart made. See the movie "Cars".

People, as usual, just get mad at the wrong things and attribute outcomes to whatever they want to dislike, hate or blame. Ultimately, the consumer is responsible for who stays in business in a free enterprise system. It's the American consumer who chooses whether to support the mom and pop stores or to shop at large discount retailers.

Steve

To a certain extent, I agree with you. If we actually had a free enterprise system, it would work that way. If companies could actually compete on an even playing field. However, the facts speak differently. WM obtains the sweetheart tax deals that other, smaller retailers do not.

As our economy worsens, or shall I say, stabilizes , you will see that we will return to a simpler way of life and the WM (and Target, Costco, Best Buy, etc.) monster will be tamed.

In any case, I hope that the smaller, independent Austin stores like Breeds can hold on that long.