MORE ON VICTORY IN AUSTIN, TX
Wal-Mart plans to cut the size of its controversial store at Northcross Mall almost in half.
The retail giant already had city approval to build a 192,000-square-foot store on the site at Burnet Road and Anderson Lane. But now Wal-Mart says it will reduce the store’s footprint to 99,000 square feet as part of a nationwide reevaluation of its new stores.
The planned store will now be just one story instead of two and will have surface parking in lieu of a garage. Groceries will remain part of the merchandise mix but a garden center and auto shop will be eliminated in the new plan, a spokesperson says. The design aesthetic of the building will remain largely intact. Construction has not yet begun on the store since developer Lincoln Property Co. has been concentrating its attention on another portion of the site.
Since the plan was unveiled in late 2006, Lincoln Property Co., the group redeveloping the aging mall, and Wal-Mart have drawn fire from area residents who said the store would create tremendous traffic problems in the area among other issues. Several lawsuits were filed but none was successful in stopping the development.
Lisa Elledge, senior manager of public affairs and government relations for Wal-Mart, says the company is currently working to complete the modifications to the store. She says once Wal-Mart and the developer “have finalized the site plan...the parties intend to provide more details to the city of Austin and the surrounding neighborhoods.”
Responsible Growth for Northcross, a group of area residents and business owners that formed to oppose the Wal-Mart plan, says the scaled back store is a better fit for the neighborhood. RG4N had been planning to appeal its lost lawsuit decision, but the group now says that won’t be necessary.
“We still think a mixed-use development is the ideal (use) for that location, but at least their new plan is something that can work without hurting the surrounding neighborhoods and small businesses,” says Hope Morrison, RG4N’s president.
Posted by Joel Nezianya on Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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