Corpus Christi, TX. Wal-Mart Back At It

Wal-Mart has an eye on city’s southside [Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Texas)]

Wal-Mart more than likely will find a location for a new Supercenter on the city’s Southside, but exactly where has not yet been decided.

Sally Aiello, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said the company was looking at several Southside locations and cannot confirm reports that one of those locations is the corner of Airline Road and Saratoga Boulevard.

“There are various sites under consideration on the Southside, but we are not yet ready to confirm any specific plans at this time,” Aiello said.

The Airline-Saratoga location would be near Staples Street and Timbergate Drive, where the Supercenter originally was planned but met opposition from nearby neighbors to its requests for rezoning. The property was sold to H-E-B in February.

Wal-Mart’s plan was to build the Timbergate store and one in Parkdale Plaza and close the store at South Padre Island Drive and Everhart Road.

Construction for the Wal-Mart property at Parkdale Plaza continues to be on hold because of pending litigation between Sutherland’s and the Parkdale Plaza owners. Calls to attorneys representing both parties were not returned Thursday.

Sutherland’s officials say their lease prevents the landlord from allowing another prospective tenant to be “permitted to sell building materials and/or home improvement supplies and services,” which would be in direct competition.

Aiello said the company soon may make an announcement on a new Supercenter, but she did not know when that would be.

Jim Boller, of Jim Boller and Associates, the commercial real estate broker who represents the property owner at Airline and Saratoga, confirmed that negotiations are under way but he was not at liberty to identify with whom.

“When the time is right, we will announce whatever it is that will be on that property, but right now it is too soon to tell,” Boller said.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Friday, May 02, 2008

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