Walmart Supercenter At 111 Yale St.

[VicMan]

I have no idea why Houston Press is listening to the "anti-Wal-Mart" folk, but here goes:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/03/heights_walmart_yale_bridge.php

"​Jeff Jackson, director of Responsible Urban Development for Houston, thinks that something apocalyptic could happen to the Yale Street Bridge, especially when construction of the controversial new Heights-area Walmart is completed.

In November, the Texas Department of Transportation performed a study of the circa 1931 bridge, which crosses over White Oak Bayou. (According to the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department, area bridges are inspected biannually via the TxDOT Bridge Inventory, Inspection and Appraisal Program.)"

And quite a few individuals on the discussion thread don't seem to like the idea that the anti-Wal-Mart organizations are full of it.

[JJxvi]

I'm going to write a short story where a lonely, golden-hearted Wal*Mart trucker with a conscience who is just trying to make a living, accidentally turns onto Yale and goes over the bridge leading to catastrophic structural failure. As the truck plunges into the abyss below, cargo is hurled around in the trailer leading to damage to the top secret Wal*Mart R&D equipment contained therein. The soul essences of Wal*Mart employees mix with the shattered dreams of small town moms and pops, and is subsequently ignited by the spark of imagination from countless chinese underage workers leading to a massive energy release from the resulting matter/anti-matter annihilation. The resulting explosion destroys everything within a quarter mile radius of the bridge and induces some sort of radioactive fallout upon the bedraggled citizens living in the Heights' historic districts. A secondary plot line revolves around the family interactions of one Heights resident who tried to warn everyone about the dangers, and her tragic inability to reach the very people who were in the most danger because she was unable to come across as anything but a self-absorbed know-it-all.

Edited March 23, 2012 by JJxvi

[VicMan]

Carrefour, Auchan, etc. are big box stores in Europe

You know, this is a good point, problem is, you aren't talking about 'big box stores' in the USA traditional fashion. ie. walmart, home depot, costco. you're talking about the equivalent of a macys, or department store, they have something called 'store fronts' and use 'window dressing' in those store fronts, very similar to the USA department store.

the closest equivalent to big box they have in europe is ikea, which, we have here too (and actually is a big box store)! guess what, the stores are all built with the same premise, and that premise in europe (as it is here in the states) there are no windows. surprising.

what other big box stores exist in europe? I end up traveling over there about once a year, and in my travels, I don't recall seeing any walmarts, targets, or other big box stores....

[lockmat]

I have no idea why Houston Press is listening to the "anti-Wal-Mart" folk, but here goes:

http://blogs.houston...yale_bridge.php

"​Jeff Jackson, director of Responsible Urban Development for Houston, thinks that something apocalyptic could happen to the Yale Street Bridge, especially when construction of the controversial new Heights-area Walmart is completed.

In November, the Texas Department of Transportation performed a study of the circa 1931 bridge, which crosses over White Oak Bayou. (According to the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department, area bridges are inspected biannually via the TxDOT Bridge Inventory, Inspection and Appraisal Program.)"

And quite a few individuals on the discussion thread don't seem to like the idea that the anti-Wal-Mart organizations are full of it.

lol, Vicman, I am a little dissapointed in you. In one of your Houston Press comments, you called it Houston Area Information Forum.

[musicman]

I have no idea why Houston Press is listening to the "anti-Wal-Mart" folk

I guess you don't regularly read the Press.

[samagon]

Carrefour, Auchan, etc. are big box stores in Europe

ahh, good to know, I wonder if those have windows or not?

[RedScare]

Wonder how many of those comments about Walmart using Chinese labor were posted from iPhones made with Chinese labor?

My estimate is all of them.

[crunchtastic]

Red, c'mon. Apple creates hand-assembled artisanal communication devices.

With the tiny, palsied hands of 14 year old Chinese hillbillies.

[RedScare]

Red, c'mon. Apple creates hand-assembled artisanal communication devices.

With the tiny, palsied hands of 14 year old Chinese hillbillies.

True. I hear the ones stained with blood are collector's items.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?pagewanted=all

I invite comments from the Walmart haters. Surely, you can share your justification for idolizing one killer of Chinese laborers, while demonizing another.

[VicMan]

Haha, I need to get my nostalgia medication ;p

lol, Vicman, I am a little dissapointed in you. In one of your Houston Press comments, you called it Houston Area Information Forum.

I think the ones in the inner suburbs are like the Targets, etc. in Houston. The big box stores (Saturn, Monoprix, etc.) and grocery stores in inner city areas have windows.

ahh, good to know, I wonder if those have windows or not?

Edited March 24, 2012 by VicMan

[Texasota]

Is it ok if I don't like Wal-Mart OR Apple?

[VicMan]

I guess you don't regularly read the Press.

Not the articles about the Wal-Mart, anyway.

Looking through the archives, they did have a few articles about it back in 2010.

[JJxvi]

Wonder how many of those comments about Walmart using Chinese labor were posted from iPhones made with Chinese labor?

My estimate is all of them.

Assembled in China! Designed by Apple in California.

[SilverJK]

Assembled in China! Designed by Apple in California.

walmarts research, marketing, and strategy are all done in Arkansas, a lot is built in China, and assembled in stores in US. I guess it just depends on how you state it wheter it is ok or not?

[Jesse]

Can we get back to talking about how they've f'ed up Yale St so badly (between train tracks and I-10) and how it doesn't look like they'll be fixing it anytime soon? I mean really. The new strip center is done and ready to go, but you can't even get to it, let alone drive on that side of the road.

Heights is inexplicably down to 1 lane going NB from Washington, Yale is down to 1 potholed and hazardous lane, and Shepherd is a parking lot because of the I-10 ramp construction.

/vent. I don't even care about Walmart anymore. I just want to be able to get home at more than 3mph

[west20th]

I'm going to write a short story where a lonely, golden-hearted Wal*Mart trucker with a conscience who is just trying to make a living, accidentally turns onto Yale and goes over the bridge leading to catastrophic structural failure. As the truck plunges into the abyss below, cargo is hurled around in the trailer leading to damage to the top secret Wal*Mart R&D equipment contained therein. The soul essences of Wal*Mart employees mix with the shattered dreams of small town moms and pops, and is subsequently ignited by the spark of imagination from countless chinese underage workers leading to a massive energy release from the resulting matter/anti-matter annihilation. The resulting explosion destroys everything within a quarter mile radius of the bridge and induces some sort of radioactive fallout upon the bedraggled citizens living in the Heights' historic districts. A secondary plot line revolves around the family interactions of one Heights resident who tried to warn everyone about the dangers, and her tragic inability to reach the very people who were in the most danger because she was unable to come across as anything but a self-absorbed know-it-all.

Ooh ooh can we have the fallout create the zombification of everyone within a quarter mile radius?

[JJxvi]

Perhaps Washington Ave gets infected with a zombie plague, but nobody notices any difference between the before and after zombification.

[samagon]

Perhaps Washington Ave gets infected with a zombie plague, but nobody notices any difference between the before and after zombification.

Where can I go to like this more than once?

[RedScare]

Can we get back to talking about how they've f'ed up Yale St so badly (between train tracks and I-10) and how it doesn't look like they'll be fixing it anytime soon? I mean really. The new strip center is done and ready to go, but you can't even get to it, let alone drive on that side of the road.

Heights is inexplicably down to 1 lane going NB from Washington, Yale is down to 1 potholed and hazardous lane, and Shepherd is a parking lot because of the I-10 ramp construction.

/vent. I don't even care about Walmart anymore. I just want to be able to get home at more than 3mph

That's what happens when roads are rebuilt. They get demolished first, then they get repaved. But, they don't repave until they replace the underground utilities. Getting our money's worth out of that 380 agreement.

But, if you think this is bad, wait until RUDH succeeds in getting the killer Yale bridge replaced. That will be even more construction. Until it is all finished, just keep your windows up and doors locked, so the zombies can't get you.

Edited March 26, 2012 by RedScare

[Jesse]

That's what happens when roads are rebuilt. They get demolished first, then they get repaved. But, they don't repave until they replace the underground utilities. Getting our money's worth out of that 380 agreement.

But, if you think this is bad, wait until RUDH succeeds in getting the killer Yale bridge replaced. That will be even more construction. Until it is all finished, just keep your windows up and doors locked, so the zombies can't get you.

I know, repaving roads can be a significant undertaking. It's just frustrating because the works seems to have stalled out over the past 2 months or so. The East side of the street is ripped up, and they haven't done anything to it. It's just a big pit.

I think I'm far enough away from Washington Ave to avoid the zombies. Some have been known to make their way all the way up to White Oak on Friday and Saturday nights though. That is worrisome. If they do demolish the bridge, can zombies swim across the bayou? Hmmm. I can't remember a zombie movie where their aversion to water was addressed.

Edited March 26, 2012 by Jesse

[J008]

I know, repaving roads can be a significant undertaking. It's just frustrating because the works seems to have stalled out over the past 2 months or so. The East side of the street is ripped up, and they haven't done anything to it. It's just a big pit.

It doesn't help, that heights and studemont under construction as well. amazingly shepherd between washington and memorial was repaved in a week.

[samagon]

I know, repaving roads can be a significant undertaking. It's just frustrating because the works seems to have stalled out over the past 2 months or so. The East side of the street is ripped up, and they haven't done anything to it. It's just a big pit.

I think I'm far enough away from Washington Ave to avoid the zombies. Some have been known to make their way all the way up to White Oak on Friday and Saturday nights though. That is worrisome. If they do demolish the bridge, can zombies swim across the bayou? Hmmm. I can't remember a zombie movie where their aversion to water was addressed.

Well, I hope the same thing hasn't happened here as happened to the people doing Kirkwood a few years ago. Work stopped for about 6 months as the company doing the street work was going through bankruptcy (or so I understood).

[west20th]

Perhaps Washington Ave gets infected with a zombie plague, but nobody notices any difference between the before and after zombification.

Just more proof that you can Google anything:

http://getupanddraw....-douchebag.html

Edited March 26, 2012 by west20th

[LTAWACS]

So when is the grand opening?

[RedScare]

Just more proof that you can Google anything:

http://getupanddraw....-douchebag.html

So true.

http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/thread/2247299/Can+Zombies+Swim%3F

[TheNiche]

amazingly shepherd between washington and memorial was repaved in a week.

Repaved or resurfaced? There is a difference.

[LarryDierker]

If they do demolish the bridge, can zombies swim across the bayou? Hmmm. I can't remember a zombie movie where their aversion to water was addressed.

Guess you never saw Lucio Fulci's Zombie

[Jesse]

Repaved or resurfaced? There is a difference.

I guess repaved. When they were doing Shepherd I remember they stripped off the top 1-2 inches, grooved it, then laid down the asphalt. Yale (or the half of yale that's now gone) is all the way down to dirt - looks like 10-14 inches below the existing "road" (I use that term lightly, you'll understand if you've driven on it).

Ironically, they're progressing with the strip center - some kind of SuperCuts or something put up their sign in the past few days. They're probably accessing the storefronts from the Heights Blvd side, since you sure can't get there from Yale.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Jesse

[Jesse]

As a sidenote, my wife made a good observation this weekend. We were coming up Heights from Washington, and I remarked that they were extending the gravel trail from the Heights Blvd median along the new Walmart/Strip center area (between I-10 and Washington). She said, "well, that's stupid, because you have to cross from the trail, across Heights to the East or West sidewalks, and then cross back over Heights to get to the median again around Koehler/2nd street". She was right - there's a bridge across the bayou on Northbound Heights and a bridge on Southbound Heights, but nothing in between except open air and a 50 foot drop. No way to extend the running trail through there, and the Heights bridges don't have sidewalks on the inside lanes.

See here: http://g.co/maps/gvrgx

It was a very astute observation

[JJxvi]

That is how you are supposed to cross every major intersection with a light along the Heights trail. If you get to 11th or 6th, you will note that there is no crosswalk in front of you that leaves your trail and goes across to the trail directly in front of you. You are supposed to cross right (or left) across Heights with the the light, then cross 6th or 11th, then cross Heights back to the median.

Edited March 27, 2012 by JJxvi