Northcross Walmart Moves Forward (Austin, Round Rock: neighborhood, gated, prices)

[llkltk]

It's opening this fall. I'm sure a lot of central Austinites hate this, but it will create a ton of jobs. I wonder how many protestors will still shop there. I know people in central Austin that are glad they are opening.

Three-years later, Northcross Wal-Mart finally opening - Austin Business Journal:

[atxcio]

I think most central Austinites feel it was a victory for them, since the store is 1/2 the size of the originally proposed version. Won't be the same traffic impact. In fact, I think the size they are building now is even smaller than the Lowe's up the street on Shoal Creek.

Would have been nice to have the parking garage and urban design proposed initially, though.

[shankaupas]

Was the argument against the Wal Mart because of traffic on Anderson Ln and Burnet? On a side not, out in my neck of Round Rock we have 2 Walmart Supercenters and an HEB Plus within 3 miles of my house. So when will the HEB Plus be going into Northcross? They have to keep up with Wal Mart.

[llkltk]

They are expanding the HEB on Burnet so I don't think they will put an HEB into Northcross.

[centralaustinite]

Yes, one of the main factors that led people to oppose it was the increase in traffic it would bring. I do think that most of the opposition considers the final (much smaller) Wal-Mart to be a partial victory.

I don't have a strong opinion on it myself but certainly I would never tout the quality or number jobs it brings as a positive. A strong economy is not built through part-time retail jobs.

llkltk has it right, there will be no HEB at northcross, the one on Burnet/2222 will be expanded.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

llkltk has it right, there will be no HEB at northcross, the one on Burnet/2222 will be expanded.

It's about time. That HEB is like a timewarp into an era when that neighborhood was far different...

[tongpa-nyi]

The original WalMart concept was one I supported. I'm in Allandale, not far from Northcross. I was puzzled by the outcry against it. One of the most common complaints I heard wasn't published much because people were seemingly afraid to go public with this sentiment: They were afraid it would attract too many of "the wrong people" to the area. In other words, more of the same classist and racist attitudes that plague our stratified and segregated society.

About the new HEB, couldn't agree more with atxcio about the need for improving that location. It's a 1970s store in a part of town where most people are willing to go the extra miles to get to Central Market, Whole Foods or Sprouts unless their needs can be met by Sun Harvest.

[orngkat]

I preferred the look of the original plan but honestly, I don't think WM ever intended to build that. They knew there would be opposition and put that out as bait to deflect from the smaller store they wanted all along. All they really care about in this region is killing HEB so now they are firmly planted between the Far West and Burnet Rd location. It isn't a coincidence that they waited until HEB had finished remodeling the Far West store to "reveal" the drawings. Maybe now we'll have some real grocery war prices.

[thesonofgray]

Originally Posted by llkltk

It's opening this fall. I'm sure a lot of central Austinites hate this, but it will create a ton of jobs. I wonder how many protestors will still shop there. I know people in central Austin that are glad they are opening.

Three-years later, Northcross Wal-Mart finally opening - Austin Business Journal:

A ton of really crappy jobs.

I would rather want some sort of mixed-use development replacing the demolished mall, instead of a mini-big box store.

[capcat]

We needed it. Things have improved, but we've been in a slump as far as shopping for household goods, etc. We have very few convenient grocery stores, unlike in years past. It was a forgotten part of town, with few close-by places to go for practical things. Closest places were on 183, which is sometimes a hassle. At one time, there were quite a few options...Kroger, Gulf Mart, Gibsons, Handy Andy, A&P, Winn's, HEB on Anderson Lane... all long gone.