LookyHere

I also ride my bike to pick up assorted needs around the neighborhood. I ride to Kroger, Fiesta, CVS

That's right. We don't. But it could. It might not increase crime, but chances are greater that it will. There is a slim possibility it will not increase flooding or cause more polluted run offs in to our water, but statistically chances are significantly greater that it will. It may allow some small businesses to survive, but there will be more loss than gain in the independent, local business. Local businesses help our economy more than national retailers, especially big boxes. No one truly knows what WILL happen, but based on what has happened in other cities and towns, the stats lean toward the negative impacts being much more likely and that is what people are trying to do- prevent the negative or at least mitigate it as much as possible (knowing that any development will bring increases in the negative but if done wisely can be much less than Walmart).

If this is true, what explains the growing values of homes in the Norhill that were posted about earlier? Historic, deed restricted and continues to grow in value. My friends who live in a nicely renovated 2/2 on 14th, which is a less desirable street due to the traffic, have seen their home increase in value to the tune of $50k in the 4 years since they bought it.

I think she would be boycotting the developer.

Yes and the widening of Koehler will push the street right up to his fence. Wouldn't you be against that if it was your townhome? Or are people who support the Walmart too good to live in townhomes? To the previous quote, I rode my bike down Heights, across 12th and back across 8th and all the Walmart signs I saw were older homes except one new construction. I don't think you can pigeonhole the opposition based on residence, as all kinds of people are against it. Just as all kinds of people are for it. The constant stereotyping, whether it's of Walmart shoppers or Walmart protesters, really adds less than nothing to the conversation.

Another "yes please" from another parent. Honestly, after what happened on Washington, I would not be surprised if Spec's is seriously looking at this development. They want a store in the area and this just might be the best possible location!

I have nothing against Walmart shoppers. To be fair, here is a group of people that probably reject the notion of Walmart as much as I do and are sometimes even more unsightly than the peopleofwalmart, and definitely more obnoxious http://www.latfh.com/

I know J008 pretty much covered it but the recent lawsuit filed against Walmart discusses how it has actually been their corporate policy to not have security in their parking lots. Another cost saving measure to keep their low-but-steadily-increasing-at-more-than-50%-on-some-items prices down. There was an architect present at one of the public Stop Walmart meetings who discussed several reasons why Walmarts have so many crimes. The large, large parking lot with no security is one, having no windows is another, being open 24 hours was yet another factor. I would venture to say that crimes are perpetrated against Walmart shoppers, rather than committed by them. They are easy targets for the reasons listed.

Again, I think you are misunderstanding who and what these people are fighting for. The "real" opposition to the Walmart is not about saving the Heights' character. You see that from people who just hear about the issue and want to add their 2 cents but the real people who write the blogs and talk to the press are not arguing "character." I have never heard or read that. They are worried about traffic and quality of life, but not character. Now, quality of life is just as subjective as character, I agree. Still, you need to start paying attention to the real people who have lives that will really be affected by this if you want to argue the merits of the opposition. Have you driven down Koehler? If they widen that street, it will be right up against some people's front doors. Literally. And the fact that they are not arguing for character makes the "just ask for something that matches the neighborhood better" argument moot. Size, yes. Aesthetics, no.

Clearly opposition to the project doesn't see it this way. Walmart is hosting a community meeting and hiring PR gurus, so certainly they see some kind of threat. They have been kept out of other communities in Houston and all over the country. The fight for a lot of these people is real. Yes, there are issues with that area but what I think people hope (and I can only say "think" because I don't live over there and don't know anyone on a personal level who does) that development occurs in an intelligent way, not just a free for all. I do know that the Superneighborhood council has been working with developers and their position currently seems to be one like you suggest. However, it seems residents of that area and the surrounding communities are not willing to settle.

I agree with the 1st statement, especially that it's a deep feeling about Walmart, itself, which is to say not about poor people in general. However in the first several pages posters weren't veiling their dislike of Walmart. Several people openly said they did not like Walmart as a company and then were subjected to long-winded lectures on how ridiculous they were for feeling that way or even attacked on a personal level. They were told that they needed a real reason to dislike Walmart, not their silly political or ethical ones, so they stopped making that argument. More practical, less emotional reasons surfaced: traffic, crime, property values. This still wasn't good enough and posters were repeatedly told that their concerns about these issues aren't valid. It has been stated before in this thread, but you should never start from a middle ground if middle ground is what you are trying to achieve. If you start in the middle, a corporation like Walmart will negotiate you right back to where they wanted to start from in the 1st place. Intelligent opposition starts at the exact other end of the spectrum and lets Walmart negotiate them to the middle. This is how a lot of people I have spoken with feel.

Really? I believe based on the OP's own opinions on the subject matter that she would welcome the poll. Weren't you the individual who complained about too many threads and requested a merge? I think many people wanted the poll and were interested in the results so unless a 3rd thread is posted, this post is as good for a poll as anywhere else.

First, I want to say in general for this thread, many people have said they don't like Walmart, don't want Walmart but never said that they would openly be protesting it. It looks to me like this thread started before the Facebook group and anti-Walmart organizations were even put together. I have to wonder if the attack mode that was so strong in the beginning of the discussion didn't galvanize some people to take action when previously they were just disappointed? Just because people don't like Walmart and don't want it on this land does not mean they plan on standing on Yale with picket signs. Some of the time, it's just griping, commiserating, or wishfully thinking out loud. So, yes, not hating the Yale Walmart is not the same as being all out pro-Walmart JUST AS disliking Walmart and hoping this project fails isn't the same as chaining yourself to a tree on Ainbinder's property and sending flaming bags of dog poop to their HQs. The individuals who organized the Facebook group and are most active in this fight are, as I understand it without being heavily involved, residents of streets like Koehler. They see this development as a serious threat to their home value, safety, comfort, way of life. Sure, corporations and property owners can enter in to agreements, but City officials should also be accountable to the people who voted for them. The Mayor has said explicitly that she cannot and will not deny Walmart the right to build there just cuz, but I think if the anti-Walmart people do find cause for permits to be denied, like traffic issues and crime concerns backed with good numbers, that the City can, and should be able to, support the residents/tax payers over an out-of-state corporation. This is MY OPINION. I am not trying to convince anyone that they are wrong in how they feel. This is just my side of the story and it's not being expressed to tell you or anyone that they are wrong in their OPINION. Please do not waste breath or key strokes trying to convince me otherwise as if I haven't even considered both sides of the issue. I am smarter than that and so are most of you. Plus, the reasons why Walmart should be able to build here have been repeated ad nauseum on this page and they still haven't changed my mind. The fact remains, it's all very subjective and no one knows what the outcome will be if Walmart builds so everyone has the right to try and get the outcome they find most desirable. It's all so very American!

While I agree that might be true, that was not the argument being made earlier in this thread.

I hear you there but I thought a big part of the pro-Walmart argument on this forum was that people will be coming from all over to shop here and that this is not about the demographics of this neighborhood, but neighborhoods with in a large radius, many of whom would actually be closer to Crosstimbers?