New Wal-Mart in the Works in Miami, FL?

PAC May Have A New Neighbor: Wal-Mart [CBS-4 (Fla.)]
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is the touted crown jewel of downtown Miami’s redevelopment plan but now there is concern that crown jewel may be tarnished a bit by the possibility that a Wal-Mart store would be built near it and right next to the Miami Herald building.

Indiana developer Mark Siffin wants a Wal-Mart discount store to anchor his proposed 5-story retail complex called City Square. It would include more than 25 tenants, including restaurants.

The news has generated mixed feelings in the business and political community.

“The question is: Do you want to put a Wal-Mart next to a one billion dollar project, and your answer, probably not?” Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff told CBS4’S Michael Williams.

Sarnoff’s district includes the Herald site and Wal-Mart does not fit with his vision of high end shops next to a sparkling hub for the arts. Neither does the thought of limousines competing with trucks headed for the loading dock next door.

“Miami people are always willing to mix but do you really want tractor trailers, 16 of them going past the Arsht Center every day?” said Sarnoff.

Others agree. Marie Sasseville of Cutler Bay said, “I think it’s a horrible idea and I love Wal-Mart.”

Digesting the news is a matter of perspective. Glenda Nobles, the Director of Housekeeping at the Arsht Center thinks it’s a pretty good idea.

“Often we have to run to Home Depot for things we need, so it’d be kind of convenient.” said Nobles.

A top notch firm, Arquitectonica, would design the store project says the Daily Business Review, which means the Wal-Mart on the outside would not resemble a typical Wal-Mart.

“Miami has changed so much, so this would be more suburbia, bringing it back to the inner core, which I have no problem with,” said Louis Ulman of South Miami.

The deal may not be done until next year and the principals involved aren’t talking. That should give Lindsey White, who’s in marketing at the performing arts center, time to get used to the idea.

“It’s not what I would have put there but it could be worse. I guess it could be a cemetery,” said White.

Posted by Tony Calero on Thursday, July 03, 2008