Jesse

I'm sorry but that's faulty logic. Just because 90% haven't chimed in to the Facebook page doesn't mean they don't mind it. It means they haven't chimed in. In fact, unless you regularly visit HAIF, Swamplot, or one of the news websites on the day or two that it was publicised, there's probably a good chance you don't know about it. There aren't signs, banners, billboards, etc. Until every single resident votes or somehow expresses their opinion one way or the other (or option 'C' of "I don't care either way), nobody can say "most are opposed" or "most are unopposed". Nobody knows. Toodles. Amen.

Good points. Forgot about that. Neeeeeeevermind then!

In the spirit of stirring the pot, I'd like to make a few broad generalizations, and see how the argument plays out: Earlier someone said that the median income of a 'typical' Walmart shopper was in the $35,000 range. Let's say that's accurate (even if it's $50,000, I don't think it will change my point). Based on home values in and around The Heights area, Washington, etc., I think it's a fair assumption that most folks in the $35,000/year income range do not own homes in the Heights, Washington area. I think a broader generalization would be that many of these folks probably rent their homes. Since they don't own homes in the area, they don't pay property taxes in the area. The folks who do own homes in the area, do pay property taxes. By that logic, the folks paying for the roadway improvements, utility upgrades, etc to the Walmart property aren't the ones who will *primarily* be shopping at Walmart. Broad generalization? Yes. Possibly accurate? Maybe. Discuss....

I'm pretty sure their stores in MA only sell wine and beer. I thought I heard somewhere that they focus more on their distribution lines, and how quickly/cheaply they can get their wares into stores from their supply centers. Granted, we have a pretty large port down here that they could utilize. But they must just not have warehouses nearby or something.

Aren't the train tracks going to bisect the lot? Oooh, maybe they'll build a tunnel!

FYI I've flagged your post to the moderators. There's really no need to make such an ignorant, generalized, obtuse statement like that. Hope you edit and remove it before they do.

Greatest. Store. Ever. I'd let them build in my backyard if I thought they'd come to town. Literally, my backyard.

As a homeowner in the Heights, I feel ill after reading that. I don't necessarily want wider streets. From my reading, it seems that Ainbinder/Walmart doesn't care about drainage issues (no detention ponds?). I don't think traffic on Heights will be impacted too much (too many stoplights to make it a through-street, plus it doesn't connect to 610), but I believe Yale will just be awful, and Washington will be worse too. I think their concern for asthetics is just talk, and the final design will be a standard bigbox Wallyworld. *sigh*

3

Where's the Facebook Petition page to change it to 'West-Art-Car'?

Correct-a-mundo. What is the definition of that area? "North Washington"? "South Freeway"? "West Art-Car"?

I understand what you're getting at, but let's not contradict ourselves. If you're going to say "actually in" the Heights, then don't "arbitrarily" extend it ~1.5 miles to the West just to make your point. That list gets a lot shorter if you stop at Yale, which is closer to the "actual" definition: http://www.houstonheights.org/historicdistrictmaps.htm#east I do agree that there's a lot of wind-pissing going on though :-)

Since WalMart coming to Yale St is still a rumor (or at the least, not finalized), this entire thread is supposition. Since nobody here has direct evidence of WalMart's market research for the area, this entire thread is supposition. Since everybody has their own opinions about who will or will not shop at WalMart, this entire thread is supposition. Since everybody lives in different parts of town, and has different encounters with their local or distant big-box stores, this entire thread is supposition. Since everybody is at different income levels, and different shopping needs/desires, this entire thread is supposition. Can we all agree to disagree? Or shall we keep bickering and sounding more and more obnoxious, even though this entire thread is supposition? Everyone has their opinion, but if nobody respects the other opposing viewpoint (note I said respect, not necessarily agree with), this thread will go nowhere except further downhill. Y'all need to grow up a little. Or a lot. The passive agressive nature of these comments is getting old and tiresome. HAIF is a great place for discussion, and even disagreements, but it needs to be based on respect. Without that, its just another forum where people can be arseholes behind shields of internet invisibility, and will quickly fade into obscurity. And please don't start the "if you don't like it, don't come here" thing. I want to discuss WalMart coming to Yale St as much as everyone else, except in a respectful way.

Another good WalMart related clip from Tuesday http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/340896/july-06-2010/i-s-on-edjukashun---loyola--texas-textbooks---wal-mart (At least 2 out of the 3 topics are relevant here)

No harm done. I do what I can :-)

Maybe I'm missing the tongue-in-cheek aspect of this (and if I am, please tell me... emotion is hard to convey via text), but I don't think you need to call Heights residents "elitist". I am a Heights resident, and I don't think I'm elitest in any way. If you believe so, please tell me and we can discuss. Otherwise, let's see some of that neighborly love

This just in.... http://swamplot.com/mayor-parker-to-walmart-start-talking/2010-07-07/

You could turn that around, and say that they should dump the 45/Crosstimbers store, keep the Yale/10 store, and directly compete with Target across the road. What other WalMarts have closed? Honestly, I can't picture any locations that used to be a store but have since shut their doors.

True. I think it's a very slippery slope. At what point is a business "too big"? If a 2nd gardening shop opened up across the street from Buchanan's, would we scream and yell that it was destroying a local business? Who is to say that any business doesn't have the right to make money? That being said, I personally don't like WalMart. I have my reasons. I choose not to shop there. I would prefer that something else go on that lot, or even nothing at all (but then, who is to say that the landowner doesn't have the right to make money by selling it? Again, slippery slope). What's happening here is people have an opinion about WalMart, and let's assume that the most vocal people are the opponents. Opinions are opinions, and by definition aren't necessarily shared by everyone. On the other hand, WalMart has the legal right to investigate opening a store there. What will now happen is the people with opinions will try to stretch/bend/twist the law to back up their opinions (ie: show why WalMart does not have the legal right to build there). That's not a bad thing, that's what laws were designed to do - to be flexible with the situation. WalMart also has the legal right to stretch/bend/twist the law to defend themselves, and show that they can and will build a store there. Who has the better lawyers? History shows that WalMart probably does, as most neighborhood blockades of WalMarts seem to fail (I have no hard evidence of this, fyi). In my opinion, I hope the people who oppose Wallyworld win this one, and WalMart looks elsewhere. All: May I suggest we try and stay on topic a bit more, and leave the personal attacks at the door? They're quite boring to read.

My neighborhood hardware store where I grew up went out of business because Home Depot opened up SIX miles away. The guy had been there for 30 years, and in 6 months lost so much business he was forced to shut his doors. When you're talking a 152,000 square foot store (plus warehouse, plus parking), 2 miles isn't that far.

I wonder what this discussion would be like if Wallyworld announced it was opening a supercenter in or very close to River Oaks. Or across the street from the Galleria mall (old CompUSA building, anyone?). Or Tanglewood. Or ___{insert affluent neighborhood name here} ___?

Before anyone gets all snippy on me about - *gasp* - stating my opinion, let me preface this: 1) I live in the Heights 2) I personally don't want WalMart in the Heights or NEAR the Heights (specifically the Yale St location) 3) I understand some people do want WalMart, or simply don't care. I am not one of them. 4) Yes I understand most documentaries are inherently biased That being said, here's the very interesting documentary: "WalMart: The High Cost of Low Prices" that I saw a few years ago. I have not shopped in a WalMart since, nor will I ever, regarless of how much I want an item, at any price - except if it comes to the wellbeing and safety of my family (thankfully I cannot forsee how that would occur, but I digress). http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3836296181471292925&safe=active# I encourage you to watch it. Please, by all means, continue bickering...

Exception to the rule. It's founded on the best assumptions :-)

I believe this would explain most of the internet