Why Does Walmart Hate Atlanta? (triathlon, shop, rich)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

If you have a beef with how the stores are constructed, your beef is really with local zoning boards and the rules that they have governing this sort of thing. Of course, Wal-Mart is huge and will use its muscle to try to get around any zoning to keep things cheap for them. The responsibility is still on local boards to not allow that to happen and to set strict architectural standards, and then Wal-Mart can decide if the additional expense is worth having another store.

It's definitely up to local governments to make sure zoning laws are enforced.

That's the big issue with Lindbergh, for example. The city code designates the land for high density residential development, not commercial. The code also requires any surface parking in that area to be unobtrusive, whereas the developer wants to build a multi-acre lot (bigger than say, the Dump at the old Home Depot).

However, the problem probably has as much to do with the developer as it does with Walmart per se. In other cities Walmart has actually done some fairly urban buildings that don't have mega surface lots. They typically put parking underneath and sometimes have residential above.

If they did that at Lindbergh it would come closer to putting them in compliance with the zoning law (assuming the city abandoned high density residential and changed the land use to commercial). Of course it's cheaper in the short run to just build a surface lot, so some developers will try to go that route. Most cities won't allow that, but I guess we shall see.

[Nanosolar]

Walmart decides, after years of ruining small communities and small businesses across the country, to finally attack the big cities. I'll have none of it. I hear in the past month they want to build stores in Vine City, Buckhead, Glenwood, and some other places I can't remember. This sounds like some kind of all out blitz. Screw them, they aren't a "job creators" they are a net jobs killer. And the jobs they do provide are CRAP, low paying, no benefits jobs. Moreover, Walmart lowers land values, cause blight, and they don't participate in the local community like small businesses do. There are numerous intangible benefits to having a dozen small shops that bring some sense of culture and pride to a community, rather than a one huge wally world. They are bland, cold, and not worth saving $0.15 to buy some tooth paste.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Nanosolar

Walmart decides, after years of ruining small communities and small businesses across the country, to finally attack the big cities. I'll have none of it. I hear in the past month they want to build stores in Vine City, Buckhead, Glenwood, and some other places I can't remember. This sounds like some kind of all out blitz. Screw them, they aren't a "job creators" they are a net jobs killer. And the jobs they do provide are CRAP, low paying, no benefits jobs. Moreover, Walmart lowers land values, cause blight, and they don't participate in the local community like small businesses do. There are numerous intangible benefits to having a dozen small shops that bring some sense of culture and pride to a community, rather than a one huge wally world. They are bland, cold, and not worth saving $0.15 to buy some tooth paste.

I realize there are legitimate debates about the economic impact of Walmart. Folks who dislike them should vote with their feet. You don't have to shop there, unless you live in an area where there are no other options. (Unlike Lindbergh, which already has an abundance of every kind of retail imaginable).

However, that's a totally different issue from whether humongous surface lots and big box shopping centers should be exempt from the city's land use and zoning laws.

It's also different from the question of whether big box shopping centers ought to ignore the principles of good design.

It isn't rocket science to build shopping centers that comply with both the law and good design. Folks are doing that all the time in cities in the U.S. and elsewhere.

[brownhornet]

Am I the only person here that simply does not care about stuff like this? Walmart is convenient, it's cheap, then have what I need and almost never out of stock therefore I will continue going there no matter where they build.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

Am I the only person here that simply does not care about stuff like this? Walmart is convenient, it's cheap, then have what I need and almost never out of stock therefore I will continue going there no matter where they build.

You're not alone at all, this forum just has an unnaturally high concentration of people who equate parking lots with Satan and their opinions with fact

[FlyiMetro]

Its funny...if people knew who they actually supported, by supporting walmart. I fastest & best way to get rich is to create a product the lazy will support. It take effort to avoid walmart. Most things worth doing takes a lil effort.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by erick295

You're not alone at all, this forum just has an unnaturally high concentration of people who equate parking lots with Satan and their opinions with fact

I don't think surface parking lots are satanic but they aren't particularly beneficial when a city is trying to create walkable, pedestrian and transit friendly zones. As I mentioned, the parking lot proposed for Lindbergh would be larger than the one below, which is a few hundred feet away.

I'll admit that's my opinion but it's hard for me to see very much that's transit or pedestrian friendly about that. If anyone knows of some pedestrian friendly aspects of it I'd be glad to hear them.

Here's the thing about parking lots. You can build them like the one in the picture, or you can put them in places where they are unobtrusive (like under the building or in a deck) as the law requires.

There's also this, if you're looking for facts about surface lots:

-- They are vast expanses of impervious surface which have a major impact on surface water runoff and drainage.
-- They are huge heat sinks.
-- They are an extremely inefficient use of land and energy since they are essentially just temporary auto storage.
-- They push buildings back from the street and further away from one another, making it more difficult to get from place to place without a car and requiring additional driving.
-- They are based on models that contemplate peak usage estimates (such as Christmas shopping) but are largely empty most of the time.

Parking lots are like most things. It's how you do them that makes all the difference.

[cittic10]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

Oh, you're one of those dog owners...yeah, I guess I'm an average consumer compared to someone who spends double to triple the amount that I do on dog food. I have a weimaraner that eats like a small horse, so I just can't afford to spend that kind of money on her food when I can get a good brand for much much less.

It's a very simple matter of adding and subtracting numbers.
You can even use a calculator.

Sure the dog food with actual meat in it costs more, 3 times more for the top brands. But you can literally feed 3 times less of it to your dog.
Less food consumed, less cleanup to do, less schelpping big heavy bags.

If you're feeding cheap dogfood that has ingredients such as corn or corn meal or any byproducts and fillers, you're feeding your dog more than you have to and sacrificing their health to pinch pennies when in fact there is no net savings whatsoever.

[Mal93]

I stand corrected... I rode by the Cobb pkwy WM (by Windy Hill) and they have remodeled...there is a small garden center outside along with an "outdoor living center." I guess this makes sense as the nearest home depot is down in Vinings...not even sure if there's a lowes before kennesaw. The target in the same area also installed a grocery section.

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by FlyiMetro

Its funny...if people knew who they actually supported, by supporting walmart. I fastest & best way to get rich is to create a product the lazy will support. It take effort to avoid walmart. Most things worth doing takes a lil effort.