Walmart Supercenter At 111 Yale St.

[fwki]

Level playing field is all that is needed. You cannot have a level playing field when one developer gets to start off with a $6 mil slush fund just because they are doing something big and all the little guys in the Heights get no assistance for drainage, sidewalks, driveways, ROW acquisition, etc.

As for permitting, the City has always been biased to new stripmalls and big boxes while coming down hard on people who try to redevelop old smaller spaces. The city knows that they can push around the little guys but do not dare touch the politically connected big guys. Thus, things like the traffic impact analysis become so flexible that the engineers just go through the motions, but any such flexibility for small businesses is no existent. The City either needs to enforce the rules against the big projects as stringently as against the small guys or give the small guys the same flexibility the big guys get. It is not as much a question of too much or too little regulation. The issue is whether everyone gets the same treatment.

Nice try with the historic districts. Complete red herring. Everyone in the HDs is subject to the same rules and is treated the same. The vast majority of the applications sail through HAHC with unanimous approval. The scant few that do not are usually due to minor issues on whether existing windows/siding can be saved or whether ornaments/columns are consistent. These issues are usually self-inflicted and nothing compared to what is happening with small businesses. Not apples and oranges. Apples and orangatans.

Of course, you have said nothing to dispute my point. You have only tried to change the subject, which is a weak dodge.

I can only wish I had your connections and bravado to get my plans "rubber stamped" and then threaten my enemies with regulatory hell. But I guess such privileges only come with the omniscience you demonstrate in your posts with your typical "the City has always been biased", "The city knows...but dare not touch", and your divining the personal problems of "the scant few" whose "issues are usually self-inflicted". And now you are a regular Alan Greenspan knowing all about big city development and small business success. I am just humbled that I posted a question you couldn't answer, although Red has been doing it for quite some time. You should write a book, fiction of course.

[RedScare]

Level playing field is all that is needed. You cannot have a level playing field when one developer gets to start off with a $6 mil slush fund just because they are doing something big and all the little guys in the Heights get no assistance for drainage, sidewalks, driveways, ROW acquisition, etc.

Why should some pissant selling used books get $6 million in infrastructure improvements when all he adds to the City's coffers is a few thousand in sales taxes? The City gave Ainbinder a 380 agreement because his investment will generate millions in property and sales tax revenue for City services. For all of your supposed enlightened prose, your approach to running a government would bankrupt the city. And, besides, the City HAS invested millions in Heights infrastructure, even though the piddly businesses have contributed little. The hated developers have built new large expensive homes that not only dramatically increased property values on the lots that were built upon, but the surrounding homes as well. This increased value encouraged the City to rehabilitate streets, sidewalks, water and drainage in an effort to further increase values...and taxes. Frankly, that is why the historic d-bags forced the historic ordinance through...in an effort to limit increases in property taxes. But, you wouldn't know that, since you only moved here a few years ago, long after the historic pukes went silent on the limiting property values angle. It didn't play well. So, they...and you...just flipped the argument, thinking no one would notice. We did.

You don't want a level playing field. You want everything tilted in your favor. It worked on the historic districts (for now). It failed miserably on the Ainbinder/Walmart development. You lost on Walmart buying the land. You lost in trying to prevent Walmart building a store. You lost on the Ainbinder 380, and you got pummeled on the lawsuit.

FWIW, when I opened my restaurant, I flew through permitting. The inspectors even gave me hints on what did and did not need to be permitted. My favorite comment was when one suggested that if a new deck appeared over the weekend no one would notice. If the little guys know how to play the game they do just fine. It is no surprise that you don't.

[TGM]

Of course, you have said nothing to dispute my point.

I think your point would be more convincing if you had a cartoon mascot of sorts. Branding, it's all about branding. You want kids to be traumatized when mommy wants to go to Walmart for $1 Lunchables.

[Ross]

Level playing field is all that is needed. You cannot have a level playing field when one developer gets to start off with a $6 mil slush fund just because they are doing something big and all the little guys in the Heights get no assistance for drainage, sidewalks, driveways, ROW acquisition, etc.

I hate to break it to you, but there is no $6m slush fund. The developer gets to spend the money and then hope that sales are good enough to recover the costs incurred. It's the City that gets a good deal out of the 380 by not having to lay out a bunch of cash to pay for the infrastructure upgrades.

[fwki]

...This increased value encouraged the City to rehabilitate streets, sidewalks, water and drainage in an effort to further increase values...and taxes. Frankly, that is why the historic d-bags forced the historic ordinance through...in an effort to limit increases in property taxes. But, you wouldn't know that, since you only moved here a few years ago, long after the historic pukes went silent on the limiting property values angle. It didn't play well. So, they...and you...just flipped the argument, thinking no one would notice. We did.

Holy crap, that's it. I really, truly couldn't understand the fervor these people have for such a baseless, inconsistent argument. People who are driven by greed for base gains will envy those whose wealth comes from personal accomplishment. Their rhetoric is telling, and unfortunately also quite boring.

[luciaphile]

Wal-Mart is where the people are. The people are weird, genuinely weird. This is different from Target shoppers, who are also weird but try to pose as not weird. Or hipsters, who were perfectly and normally weird to begin with but try to brand themselves as a different flavor of weird.

I find it kind of endearing, actually. Wal-Mart is where America lets its beer gut hang out.

Replied in my home thread.

[Angostura]

I think we can safely say that it wasn't the Walmart that royally f-ed up the traffic on Heights and Yale.

It's not even open yet and late afternoon northbound traffic on both streets at I-10 has become ridiculous due to the screwed up light-timings.

[Marksmu]

I think we can safely say that it wasn't the Walmart that royally f-ed up the traffic on Heights and Yale.

It's not even open yet and late afternoon northbound traffic on both streets at I-10 has become ridiculous due to the screwed up light-timings.

I agree its the dang feeder extension! I wish every day that Yale did not connect to I-10 going westbound... it has added 5 minutes to my commute no matter which direction I come from, and when I have to sit through that light for 2-3 cycles I am almost as angry as I am at Yale when NOBODY is able to make the left turn onto 11th...

They need to add a protected left on Yale @ 11th and they need to fix the lights on Heights/Yale at I-10...damn this progress!!! But dont worry - in a few months WalMart will open and we can blame all this new traffic on it.

[samagon]

I agree its the dang feeder extension! I wish every day that Yale did not connect to I-10 going westbound... it has added 5 minutes to my commute no matter which direction I come from, and when I have to sit through that light for 2-3 cycles I am almost as angry as I am at Yale when NOBODY is able to make the left turn onto 11th...

They need to add a protected left on Yale @ 11th and they need to fix the lights on Heights/Yale at I-10...damn this progress!!! But dont worry - in a few months WalMart will open and we can blame all this new traffic on it.

Won't that be a hoot!

[SilverJK]

Traffic is slow because people are terrified of the BRIDGE OF DEATH!

[RedScare]

Edited September 18, 2012 by RedScare

[Ross]

Traffic is slow because people are terrified of the BRIDGE OF DEATH!

I've been wondering just how many 40 ton loads of stone came across that bridge since San Jacinto Stone opened for business.

[TGM]

Traffic is slow because people are terrified of the BRIDGE OF DEATH!

According to the wife traffic is slow in the Heights because everyone is stoned or something.

[fwki]

According to the wife traffic is slow in the Heights because everyone is stoned or something.

Ergo, the long-time moniker "Heightstonians" nails it.

[TGM]

Ergo, the long-time moniker "Heightstonians" nails it.

LOL. It's just the fact that people drive well below the speed limit, it's the fact that she deals with more stale green lights in the Heights than anywhere else. "Yo Bro, the lights been green for like 10 seconds!"

[RedScare]

I think it is because top speed for Volvos and Subarus is 23 mph. I understand the old farts creeping along, since they probably cannot see past the front bumper, but when perfectly healthy middle aged people creep along I want to pull them out and strangle them. 30 mph is not speeding, people!

[SilverJK]

you have to drive slow because you are in fear of running over one of the joggers. I've seen soo many joggers nearly get obliviated on yale and the bike path as well as Heights and 11th.

Red, after seeing your images I started thinking of a song revolving around Wal-mart, but decided not to... Wal-mart is a silly place.

[samagon]

I think it is because top speed for Volvos and Subarus is 23 mph. I understand the old farts creeping along, since they probably cannot see past the front bumper, but when perfectly healthy middle aged people creep along I want to pull them out and strangle them. 30 mph is not speeding, people!

I can assure you, this is a singular problem for those Subaru owners in the heights!

Not that I exceed the limit, I just don't know what the 'below' part of "at or below" means.

[TGM]

you have to drive slow because you are in fear of running over one of the joggers.

There is slow as in, "I'm sticking to the speed limit because this is a neighborhood and there could be kids darting out into the road", and there is slow as in, "dude, I think I hear sirens, wait, that's just the ambulance at the assisted living center"

[Angostura]

LOL. It's just the fact that people drive well below the speed limit, it's the fact that she deals with more stale green lights in the Heights than anywhere else. "Yo Bro, the lights been green for like 10 seconds!"

Speed limit on Heights is 35 mph. Speed of the median driver is below 30.

Speed limit on Yale is 30 mph. Speed of the median driver is above 40.

(...based on my unscientific observations.)

[TGM]

Speed limit on Heights is 35 mph. Speed of the median driver is below 30.

Speed limit on Yale is 30 mph. Speed of the median driver is above 40.

(...based on my unscientific observations.)

So people driving on Yale must be methheads.

[RedScare]

So people driving on Yale must be methheads.

Hence, the Walmart on Yale.

Don't know why some people thought this would not be a successful location.

[s3mh]

So much for the GPS systems on Walmart trucks that would keep them from going on the Yale St. bridge.

[RedScare]

Excellent. Looks like it will be opening soon.

[Marksmu]

So much for the GPS systems on Walmart trucks that would keep them from going on the Yale St. bridge.

How are we supposed to know that he used the bridge? He very easily could have just taken a left and then a right onto Heights and come back around....While it looks bad, this is not proof that the truck crossed the bridge...just saying - you have been known to manipulate the truth too many times for me to believe you.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Marksmu

[J008]

Seriously. Lets assume the picture is correct.

1. The no trucks signs are posted at the threshold of this light. So by continuing they are obviously disregarding the sign.

2. Why would someone drive past heights to take a left on yale to take a left back to heights, take two more rights and then cross yale in an 18 wheeler? It is absurd.

3. He is also running a red light.

How are we supposed to know that he used the bridge? He very easily could have just taken a left and then a right onto Heights and come back around....While it looks bad, this is not proof that the truck crossed the bridge...just saying - you have been known to manipulate the truth too many times for me to believe you.

[s3mh]

How are we supposed to know that he used the bridge? He very easily could have just taken a left and then a right onto Heights and come back around....While it looks bad, this is not proof that the truck crossed the bridge...just saying - you have been known to manipulate the truth too many times for me to believe you.

The pic was posted on the stop heights walmart facebook page. The person who posted it claimed that they saw the truck take the bridge.

And no, you cannot easily take a right on Heights and come back around. The turn from Heights to Koehler is almost impossible for an 18 wheeler because Koehler immediately bends to the north at Heights, increasing the amount of turn radius for 18 wheelers.

[Marksmu]

Seriously. Lets assume the picture is correct.

1. The no trucks signs are posted at the threshold of this light. So by continuing they are obviously disregarding the sign.

2. Why would someone drive past heights to take a left on yale to take a left back to heights, take two more rights and then cross yale in an 18 wheeler? It is absurd.

3. He is also running a red light.

I actually do assume the picture is correct, but I can think of any number of reasons that a truck driver could make that mistake...perhaps nobody would let him over in time turn - its not exactly a quiet intersection any more...maybe he did not see the sign until he was already stuck in the wrong lane, also easy to fix...There are a number of scenarios that the truck would still not have used the bridge on.

However, the light is red. He is screwed there.

[RedScare]

I think y'all should organize a 'bridge of death patrol' in order to catch these felons...well, misdemeanants...and alert the authorities. You could also escort those in wheelchairs across this treacherous bridge, direct school buses to safer crossings, and perhaps plant large trees in your spare time. Certainly, this would be a more valuable use of your time than complaining on internet forums. Mayor Parker may even recognize your organization at a city council meeting. I look forward to seeing the hallway moni, err, Yale Bridge of Death Monitors soon.

No need to thank me for the idea. It is just my way of helping out.

[RedScare]

By the way, the comments on that 'Stop The Heights Walmart' facebook page are pure comedic gold. Seinfeld was never as funny as these cats!