Another Victim of Democracy

[Updates below.]

Wal-Mart abandons building plans

Wal-Mart has abandoned plans to build a store over the Edwards Aquifer in southwest Austin.

In its decision, the worldwide retail company cited environmental concerns for deciding not to build on the northeast corner of Slaughter Lane and MoPac.

Wal-Mart is downplaying widespread opposition that dogged the plans all summer.

That opposition is overviewed here:

A 197,000-square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter is proposed for Slaughter Lane and South MoPac (called Deer Park at Maple Run).

Neighbors claim to support smart growth, but insist the Wal-Mart project isn't such a good idea.

Residents of the Sendera neighborhood claim the store will increase traffic and pollute the sensitive Edwards Aquifer.

"Twenty-thousand vehicles per day will be using this neighborhood to get to and from a 24-hour a day business," said Ron Urias, President of Sendera Homeowners Association.

Sendera resident Amanda Lewis said she's worried she won't be able to cross the busy street if and when the store is completed.

"There's going to be a lot of traffic and I won't really cross the streets whenever I go bike riding," she said.

[...]

"I think that this is really dumb because I think that we already have enough Wal-Marts and enough stores that we can get stuff at," Sendera resident Amanda Wilson said.

Copyright ©2003TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin

Amy Smith has some deeper-level background on the City's response to the situation in the Austin Chronicle. Austin's capitalists undoubtedly take issue with much of the tilt in this entire discussion.

I took some issue with the citizen problems Walgreens was having through it's desire to develop a new building on South Lamar. As I said then, it is "extremely bad business to build in an area where you are not wanted."

However, make note of Ms. Wilson's comment. In her opinion, there are enough Walmarts in the city, so therefore another one shouldn't be built. That's her opinion, which she is entitled to, but she ignores an obvious point: other people may feel a Walmart in that location would be a good thing, bringing a landslide of cheaper goods and services and greater convenience. Walmart is too smart to not study the issue enough to decide if the demand of an area meets the economic standards it holds for new development.

I fear this may be a case of a sound business decision getting torn up over a vocal minority. And again, if the locals are against a business's activities, they have the right to bring that issue to the greater public's attention so everyone can be informed. That doesn't mean the business must comply with collective demands, but a successful business must take into account the wishes of it's customers and audience.

UPDATE(12/5/2003 8:17pm)
Austin has now banned big box development over the Aquifer.

UPDATE(12/12/2003 2:28pm)
City approves site for Wal-Mart, Lowe'sThe city of Austin has given two retail giants the green light.

The Austin City Council approved the site at Ben White and Interstate 35 for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The retailer promises that the new store will meet "the values and standards of the community" and follow strict environmental guidelines.

[...]

Lowe's has offered to meet some of the city's environmental building demands for a price.

Under the agreement, the city will receive $1 million in mitigation money.

Lowe's also will have to follow guidelines for its lighting and keep its arsenic-treated wood covered.

Copyright ©2003TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin
With the government whip not-so-subtlely kept in view, the two parties reach an agreement.

UPDATE(8/30/2004 9:57am)
Brewster McCracken's Jihad

Posted by Drizzten at October 03, 2003 12:38 PM