Walmart Supercenter At 111 Yale St.

[august948]

Happened to be inside the loop this afternoon and decided to stop by and do my shopping at the Heights Walmart.  I walked the edge of the development and found the much-maligned fire hydrant.  It's on Koehler between the entrance to Chase and Walmart.  I measured the distance from the hydrant to the edge and it's just over 3 feet.  Since 3 feet is the legal minimum according to ADA there isn't anything else to do.  Rest of the sidewalk is pretty nice.  6 to 7 feet wide on average with curving and landscaping.
 
Parking lot was smaller than I expected given the hyperbole thrown around.  The lot itself was between 1/2 to 2/3 full, about what I've seen at other Walmarts around this time of day.  The Walmart itself seems smaller from the outside as well, though inside it's at least average sized.  McDonalds was nicer than others I've seen in Walmarts.  Traffic around it at 6:30 was nothing compared to Westheimer at the same time.  I guess the traffic issue must be at a different time or just relative to how it used to be.

[august948]

Did you read my post?  Big box stores are not sorely missing.  There are now three Walmarts within a 3-4 mile radius of most of the Heights.

 

And so lucky you, right?  But that Walmart doesn't just serve the Heights.  Looking at a map of Walmarts inside the loop, how many do you guess I found?  That's right, one.  For residents south to at least 59, those living in midtown and downtown, and just about all of the eastern half inside the loop, this Walmart is actually the closest.  If anything there's a big gap (market opportunity?) for more Walmarts inside the loop.

 

Of course, in 20 or 30 years maybe they'll tear down this Walmart and build....another Walmart.  Because, honestly, this one could be bigger.

[Leonard]

Interesting. I haven't measured it.  PWE told me it wasn't ADA compliant. 

[RedScare]

Interesting. I haven't measured it.  

 

 

 

I fail to understand you logic.  How can you approve of something that you know nothing about? 

 

Edited June 25, 2013 by RedScare

[TGM]

In my opinion, the pro-Walmart people are acting entitled.

They don't care that sidewalks and trees were destroyed, as long as they got their Walmart.

They don't care that Parker lied on the radio about the 380 being interest-free, as long as they got their Walmart.

They don't care that the Request for Council Action was full of lies, as long as they got their Walmart.

They don't care that the City is going to reimburse Ainbinder $140K plus interest for paint and balusters on a bridge that is scheduled to be demolished, as long as they got their Walmart.

They don't care that the City either continues to lie about, or does not understand the interest rate - it's more than twice what they say it is, as long as they got their Walmart.

They don't care that Parker and Ainbinder said they would have built with or without the 380, as long as they got their Walmart.

I gots my Walmart!

Right now I'm taking my Walmart brand Cialis with my Walmart brand red cream soda, while I eat me a steak-um sandwich dusted with my Walmart-brand Cheeto-stained fingers. I better go cus my sister/wife has the NASCAR Blu-ray in the player and she is getting her dentures out of the Mr. Coffee maker. Yee-ha! Looken forward to seeing her in her Paula Deen lingerie!

Edited June 25, 2013 by TGM

[august948]

Happened to be inside the loop this afternoon and decided to stop by and do my shopping at the Heights Walmart.  I walked the edge of the development and found the much-maligned fire hydrant.  It's on Koehler between the entrance to Chase and Walmart.  I measured the distance from the hydrant to the edge and it's just over 3 feet.  Since 3 feet is the legal minimum according to ADA there isn't anything else to do.  Rest of the sidewalk is pretty nice.  6 to 7 feet wide on average with curving and landscaping.

 

Parking lot was smaller than I expected given the hyperbole thrown around.  The lot itself was between 1/2 to 2/3 full, about what I've seen at other Walmarts around this time of day.  The Walmart itself seems smaller from the outside as well, though inside it's at least average sized.  McDonalds was nicer than others I've seen in Walmarts.  Traffic around it at 6:30 was nothing compared to Westheimer at the same time.  I guess the traffic issue must be at a different time or just relative to how it used to be.

I ended up staying there for a while. First at the Taco Cabana for happy hour (nachos and a margarita for less than five bucks, can't beat that) and then next door at Corner Bakery. Wireless in both places was pretty good. Might make that a regular stop when I'm in the area. Left around 9pm, Walmart parking lot was still at least 1/2 full.

[Leonard]

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/Walmart-s-Warhol-in-town-4619537.php

 

"They don't kick Brendan O'Connell out of Walmart stores anymore.

In fact, since the media began calling him "Wal-Mart's Warhol," the retailing giant has begun inviting him in.

 

He'll be at the 111 Yale location 9-11 a.m. Wednesday."

 

Maybe one of you will be immortalized in oil. 

 

 

 

[Leonard]

Red, you're right, I shouldn't believe anything the City tells me. PWE also told me that the fire hydrant will be moved.  We will see. 

[s3mh]

And so lucky you, right?  But that Walmart doesn't just serve the Heights.  Looking at a map of Walmarts inside the loop, how many do you guess I found?  That's right, one.  For residents south to at least 59, those living in midtown and downtown, and just about all of the eastern half inside the loop, this Walmart is actually the closest.  If anything there's a big gap (market opportunity?) for more Walmarts inside the loop.

 

Of course, in 20 or 30 years maybe they'll tear down this Walmart and build....another Walmart.  Because, honestly, this one could be bigger.

 

Just wait a few weeks and those folks will get their Walmart.  There is one going in on Wayside and 45.  In 20 to 30 years, Walmart will go the way of Woolworths and we will be stuck with an empty lot on prime innerloop real estate that could have been a great development for the City.  But, for you, Houston is a success because it is better than an empty lot.  Keep shooting for the stars.

[s3mh]

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/06/moody-ramlin-to-begin-work-on-new.html

 

And this is the difference between what we get and what the rest of Houston gets.  City Centre is spawning lots of redevelopment around the area as a result of maximizing the value of the real estate with a great mixed use development.  Meanwhile, I-10 and Yale St., a much better location, will just be a dumping ground for strip mall retail.

[SilverJK]

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/06/moody-ramlin-to-begin-work-on-new.html

 

And this is the difference between what we get and what the rest of Houston gets.  City Centre is spawning lots of redevelopment around the area as a result of maximizing the value of the real estate with a great mixed use development.  Meanwhile, I-10 and Yale St., a much better location, will just be a dumping ground for strip mall retail.

 

All those corporate stores and the TRAFFIC!   City Center is like a mini The Woodlands.  That's what you want?

 

 

BTW if the building from the above link got built anywhere near the Heights, I'm certain you and your pals would be complaining about it because it was going to displace some historic pigeon habitat.

[samagon]

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/06/moody-ramlin-to-begin-work-on-new.html

 

And this is the difference between what we get and what the rest of Houston gets.  City Centre is spawning lots of redevelopment around the area as a result of maximizing the value of the real estate with a great mixed use development.  Meanwhile, I-10 and Yale St., a much better location, will just be a dumping ground for strip mall retail.

 

Yeah, that office building has nothing to do with being down the street from the energy corridor, or a fairly large hospital, or thousands of square feet of other commercial space.

 

Not to mention, how do you know that city center was the catalyst for this, maybe it was the best buy and lowes across the freeway that inspired this?

 

It probably had as much for input as the restaurants, or other night life that city center gives it. 

 

I can only imagine if they had built this tall of a building anywhere near you (as you've established in other threads) that you would be very unhappy with the height.

 

Or is it okay to build tall buildings where walmart was built because the houses across the street isn't yours?

 

you continue to make no sense at all.

Edited June 25, 2013 by samagon

[s3mh]

Yeah, that office building has nothing to do with being down the street from the energy corridor, or a fairly large hospital, or thousands of square feet of other commercial space.

 

Not to mention, how do you know that city center was the catalyst for this, maybe it was the best buy and lowes across the freeway that inspired this?

 

It probably had as much for input as the restaurants, or other night life that city center gives it. 

 

I can only imagine if they had built this tall of a building anywhere near you (as you've established in other threads) that you would be very unhappy with the height.

 

Or is it okay to build tall buildings where walmart was built because the houses across the street isn't yours?

 

you continue to make no sense at all.

Best Buy and Lowes had nothing to do with this development. That is just silly. If you are going to say that I am not making sense, at least do so without jumping of a cliff like that. This development is practically an extension of City Centre. To say that the proximity has nothing to do with it is just ignoring the obvious.

Yale and I-10 are barely 3 miles from Downtown Houston, right off a major entertainment district and between Houston's wealthiest neighborhood, fastest growing rental areas and hotest real estate markets and on the way to the suburbs for hundreds of thousands of Houston commuters. I am not saying that it would be a one to one comparison with City Centre. I am just saying that forward looking development yeilds benefits. City Centre was way ahead of the curve and pushed through the downturn, whereas Walmart is a remnant of suburban development and was a plan B development to cash out after the downturn. Walmart is yeilding minimal development returns in the immediate area while City Centre is hitting it out of the park.

[august948]

Just wait a few weeks and those folks will get their Walmart.  There is one going in on Wayside and 45.  In 20 to 30 years, Walmart will go the way of Woolworths and we will be stuck with an empty lot on prime innerloop real estate that could have been a great development for the City.  But, for you, Houston is a success because it is better than an empty lot.  Keep shooting for the stars.

Your hatred of Walmart is blinding you. First of all, that Walmart will still be there in 20 or 30 years. It's actually a pretty good location for one with all the residential areas nearby, and most of them are higher density than what surrounds suburban Walmarts. The fact that they've got another going in at Wayside and 45 just confirms that they've found a market opportunity inside the loop. Woolworth wasn't able to compete against Walmart and other retailers and so now it's gone. The only way Walmart is going away is if an even better big-box retailer eats it's lunch. Don't see that on the horizon, but if it does happen then the 111 Yale store will become the next hypermarket. Much as you might wish it, there's nothing particularly spectacular about the corner of Yale and I10 that makes in a prime spot for anything other than mundane retail. Because of the size of the lot, a Walmart or other big-box retailer IS the best use of that land. Either that or another big apartment complex. I'm betting most other Heights residents would prefer a Walmart to that.

[august948]

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/06/moody-ramlin-to-begin-work-on-new.html

 

And this is the difference between what we get and what the rest of Houston gets.  City Centre is spawning lots of redevelopment around the area as a result of maximizing the value of the real estate with a great mixed use development.  Meanwhile, I-10 and Yale St., a much better location, will just be a dumping ground for strip mall retail.

I10 and a side street is better than I10 and the Beltway? Please. Part of the success of City Centre is the nightlife. I10 and Yale is too close to Washington to make that happen in the same way. Another part of City Centre is the mid-rise office buildings. That's driven by growth in Westchase and the Energy Corridor.

[Angostura]

I am not saying that it would be a one to one comparison with City Centre. I am just saying that forward looking development yeilds benefits. 

 

...principally to the developer.  If a City Centre/Regent Square (remember Regent Square?) type development was the highest/best use for this piece of land, I'm curious why no one was able to outbid Walmart. Certainly we're not accusing Ainbinder of willingly leaving millions of dollars on the table.

 

Mixed use only got mentioned for this site AFTER Walmart was announced.  The timeline was something like this:

 

- Rumors of HEB looking at the Ainbinder site; general elation and hopeful anticipation.

 

- Walmart announced as anchor tenant; wailing and rending of garments in despair.

 

- "We must have mixed use!" 

 

 

I, along with many people, would have preferred a City Centre style development in place of Walmart, but no one was stepping up to do it, and there's certainly nothing in our city's development ordinances that can allow the City to require it (and much that actually gets in the way).

[august948]

...principally to the developer. If a City Centre/Regent Square (remember Regent Square?) type development was the highest/best use for this piece of land, I'm curious why no one was able to outbid Walmart. Certainly we're not accusing Ainbinder of willingly leaving millions of dollars on the table.

Exactly.

[Leonard]

Walmart was able to outbid HEB because of the 380. 

[RedScare]

Walmart was able to outbid HEB because of the 380. 

 

Ha Ha. Leonard to the rescue with a laughably stupid post!

[Leonard]

Red, you think HEB had a chance to make an offer knowing about the 380? 

[RedScare]

Leonard, you've gone loony with your conspiracy theories. Why do you torment yourself?

 

I'll let you guess the answer to your question. There is logic to it, but I am not telling it to you. I want to see you squirm.

[livincinco]

Yale and I-10 are barely 3 miles from Downtown Houston, right off a major entertainment district and between Houston's wealthiest neighborhood, fastest growing rental areas and hotest real estate markets and on the way to the suburbs for hundreds of thousands of Houston commuters. I am not saying that it would be a one to one comparison with City Centre. I am just saying that forward looking development yeilds benefits. City Centre was way ahead of the curve and pushed through the downturn, whereas Walmart is a remnant of suburban development and was a plan B development to cash out after the downturn. Walmart is yeilding minimal development returns in the immediate area while City Centre is hitting it out of the park.

 

I don't agree with you that Yale and I-10 is a better location then City Centre.  City Centre has very close proximity to very wealthy areas, is located at the intersection of two major highways and has the advantage of being a destination for the entire west side of Houston.  As was also pointed out, it has close proximity to the jobs of the Energy Corridor and Memorial City which are both growing rapidly.

 

I don't think that it is by any means a given that City Centre is an equal success if it was located at Yale and I-10.

[TGM]

I don't think that it is by any means a given that City Centre is an equal success if it was located at Yale and I-10.

The Elites would ridicule the national chains that would rent there, moaning that the average Pottery Barn shopper thinks that Yesteryear and Yore are design eras.

Blah,blah,blah, it's never ever going to be good enough for them.

[Ross]

Walmart was able to outbid HEB because of the 380. 

 

I would never believe that without written proof from HEB and WalMart. WalMart can outbid just about everybody, and they were hot to build an Inner Loop location. 380 or not, there's no chance HEB beats WalMart.

[Triton]

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/06/moody-ramlin-to-begin-work-on-new.html

 

And this is the difference between what we get and what the rest of Houston gets.  City Centre is spawning lots of redevelopment around the area as a result of maximizing the value of the real estate with a great mixed use development.  Meanwhile, I-10 and Yale St., a much better location, will just be a dumping ground for strip mall retail.

 

Wow, talk about comparing apples to oranges.... and then your statement just keeps getting worse the more you read it.

 

Uh, do you not live in the Heights? Redevelopment is happening on almost every street in the Heights. Abandoned stores are being turned into shops and bars, and abandoned houses are being renovated into livable homes. This Walmart is providing people moving into the Heights area with better selection. If I want something more valuable, I'll go somewhere else. If I want something more locally grown, I'll go to the farmers market on Airline.

 

Dumping ground for strip mall retail?? And then you talking about the City Centre area?? HAHAHA! WOW... Uh, let's compare the amount of strip malls in the City Centre area to the amount of strip malls near this Walmart:

 

 

 

The only valid argument that I would agree with against this Walmart is the amount of traffic that has made driving on Yale unbearable.

 

You'd rather have this property remain abandoned warehouses than see it turned into a Walmart huh...

[Angostura]

Walmart was able to outbid HEB because of the 380. 

 

 

I don't believe this is supported by the facts.

 

That said, the question wasn't Walmart vs. HEB, it was "strip-mall retail" vs mixed use.  An HEB development would have looked substantially similar to what we ended up with.  The Bunker Hill HEB, for example, is 128,000 s.f.; the Walmart is 152,000.  A difference of degree, not kind.

 

Surely a large mixed-use development could have gotten an even larger 380.  The plans I saw had two public ROW's cutting through, which at the $60/s.f. the Ainbinder 380 got for the ROW they gave to the city to extend Koehler, adds up to a lot of $$.

[Leonard]

Ainbinder did not give the ROW to the City, it is reimbursable plus interest under the 380. 

 

[Leonard]

Was Wal-Mart approached by the owner of the property on Yale between I-10 and Washington to buy the land? This is the same property H-E-B was looking at to build a new store along the lines of the one on Bunker Hill. Is the deal done with Wal-Mart? I've heard yes. What does this mean to the likes of our Heights Mom and Pops? What will that do to the traffic patterns on Yale and Washington? Google "Wal Mart parking lot crime" and let us know our thoughts!

 

Actually, this was the question.

[Angostura]

Ainbinder did not give the ROW to the City, it is reimbursable plus interest under the 380. 

 

This is exactly what I said.  The multi-use plans I saw had a much larger potential acquisition of ROW, and therefore a related 380 could have been higher value.

[Leonard]

Ainbinder and Parker said they would build with or without the 380. The 380 provided no value to the public.  They should have built without it.