Hinsdale, NH. Old Wal-Mart Must Be Torn Down
What happens to “old” Wal-Marts when the retailer casts them off? Hundreds of communities have found the answer: not much. According to Wal-Mart Realty, the company aggressively markets these “dark stores,” but Sprawl-Buster’s studies have shown that as many as one third of these vacated stores will remain empty for at least 3 years, and one-third of them are over 100,000 s.f.---making them very hard to retenant. Wal-Mart Realty, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is a real estate company offering development opportunities nationwide. “Lease space is available in vacated buildings ranging in size from less than 10,000 square feet to more than 100,000 square feet,” the company says. “ These vacated buildings, located in proven retail locations, are also available for purchase, and are often fully tenanted. We have outlots and excess property located adjacent to our Supercenters, Wal-Mart stores, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Clubs - prime retail business locations.
These available parcels are perfect for restaurant, retail, office or development uses, and are located in prime commercial locations throughout the country. This week, officials in the small town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire learned that their “old” 105,000 s.f. Wal-Mart discount store most likely will be torn down. Wal-Mart is proposing to build a 198,000 s.f. superstore roughly one mile away. The owner of the mall where the “old” discount stores now sits, told Hinsdale officials yesterday that she is close to signing a lease termination agreement with the company. She also said the building may have to be torn down and replaced with smaller buildings because no other owner could make full use of it. “The most important thing is lease termination, so I can start marketing the property and get other tenants in there,” the owner, Deborah George, told the Brattleboro Reformer. “I think, ultimately, that building is going to have to come down. I don’t think there’s anybody who could fully use the box without leaving half of it vacant.”
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Posted by Al Norman on Tuesday, July 24 | 0 comments | Permalink
NEW YORK SITE FIGHT: POTSDAM SITE DELAY
Potsdam Wal-Mart delay [News 10 Now (Syracuse, N.Y.)]
POTSDAM, N.Y.—Plans to begin construction on the new Wal-Mart in Potsdam have been delayed after the superstore requested sewer service from the Village of Potsdam.
The village normally annexes any land it provides with service, but Wal-Mart is a part of the Town of Potsdam. The superstore has offered to pay double the normal rate for service, plus a fee of $50,000 as long as the land isn’t annexed.
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Posted by Beth Gostanian on Thursday, July 19 | 0 comments | Permalink
PENNSYLVANIA SITE FIGHT: ADDRESSING THE REZONING ISSUE
Jefferson Hills Council to address rezoning issue [Pittsburgh (Pa.) Tribune-Review]
Jefferson Hills Council could decide next month whether to rezone 59 acres that could become the site of a Wal-Mart or another big-box store.
Council President Brian Militzer said members will discuss the issue at a special meeting 7 p.m. Aug. 8, before the regularly scheduled agenda meeting. The planning commission wanted more time to review documents, he said.
“This gives them more time to make a decision,” Militzer said.
Planners are expected to discuss the rezoning at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the borough building, 925 Old Clairton Road.
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Posted by Beth Gostanian on Thursday, July 19 | 0 comments | Permalink
NEW YORK SITE FIGHT: ANTI WAL-MART [FILM] TO BE SHOWN IN BATH
Anti Wal-Mart to be shown in Bath [(N.Y.) Star-Gazette News]
BATH – “Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town,” will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Dormann Library in Bath.
The film, which looks at events surrounding Wal-Mart’s attempt to locate in a small Virginia town, is sponsored by the Bath NY Coalition. It is open to the public and a discussion will follow. Refreshments will be served.
A Wal-Mart SuperCenter has been proposed for state Route 54 in Bath.
Posted by Beth Gostanian on Wednesday, July 18 | 0 comments | Permalink
MASSACHUSETTS SITE FIGHT: NEIGHBORS WANT LIMITS ON WAL-MART HOURS
Lancaster neighbors push for limits on Wal-Mart hours [(Mass.) Sentinel & Enterprise]
LANCASTER—Selectmen agreed to speak to Wal-Mart officials about limiting the hours of the planned 24-hour Supercenter after receiving a petition signed by 370 residents Monday.
“I think we have a clear understanding of what you’re asking us to do and we’ll do it for you,” Selectman Shawn Windsor said at Monday’s selectmen’s meeting.
Our Lancaster First, a group fighting the Wal-Mart development, proposed for Old Union Turnpike, delivered the petition to selectmen.
Petitioners said they want a ban on occupied or idling vehicles or trucks between 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
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Posted by Beth Gostanian on Wednesday, July 18 | 0 comments | Permalink
VERMONT SITE FIGHT: SUPERSTORE UNDER REVIEW
Wal-Mart superstore under review [Brattleboro (Vt.) Reformer]
HINSDALE, N.H.—The Planning Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to send Wal-Mart’s proposed superstore site plan to Underwood Engineers, Inc. for peer review.
The board will continue its development review hearing next month after Underwood reviews the plan and discusses any problems with Bohler Engineering, the firm hired by Wal-Mart to design the site plan.Underwood will ensure the proposed 198,000-square-foot store conforms to local and state guidelines. The firm is often called in by the town to review projects of this size.
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Posted by Beth Gostanian on Wednesday, July 18 | 0 comments | Permalink
VERMONT SITE FIGHT: WAL-MART SITE PLAN REVIEWED TONIGHT
Wal-Mart site plan reviewed tonight [Brattleboro (Vt.) Reformer]
HINSDALE, N.H.—The Planning Board will hold a public hearing tonight to consider Wal-Mart’s major site plan application for an expanded superstore.
Wal-Mart plans to replace its existing store on George’s Field with a 195,000 square foot store north of the Hinsdale Greyhound Park.
The board held an informal design review hearing last month, during which board members and the public were given an opportunity to raise questions and concerns about the project with its engineers.
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Posted by Beth Gostanian on Tuesday, July 17 | 0 comments | Permalink
NEW YORK SITE FIGHT: APPEALING FOR A STUDY
Bath Chamber appeals for Wal- Mart study [(N.Y.) Steuben Courier]
BATH - The Greater Bath Area Chamber of Commerce has jumped into the debate surrounding the construction of a 150,000- square-foot Wal-Mart superstore on state Route 54.
Chamber President Bill Caudill late last month sent a letter to the Bath town board requesting the town and village of Bath coordinate “an independent economic impact study” that would assess the long-term effect of a “big-box” store on the region’s economy.
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Posted by Beth Gostanian on Monday, July 16 | 0 comments | Permalink
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