New Developer for the East End

[tim huntzinger]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Would you prefer walmart that LOOKS like a mainstreet and has people streaming in and out and tax dollars flowing to the city, or empty parking lots?  Currently we have the empty parking lots.

Mmmmmm I am liking the mainstreet redux, actually.

[DM]

quote:Originally posted by deinstein

I'm beyond a Wal-Mart hater...I'm a box store hater. Get that **** as far away from my urban environment as possible.

I agree that it should not be any big box type store like the Home Depot DT. But if it were of an urban design I would not care if it were WM, Target, Kmart, etc. An urban type store like this would enable people to live DT and create more of a life DT. Not just for clubs either. Of course not WM itself would do this. But a grocery store is exactly what DT needs and it seems WM is willing to take the risk.

[deinstein]

Can someone show me an example of Wal-Mart's so-called urban design in a downtown area?

This is laughable, almost as laughable as the people who are saying it's a good idea.

[RecycleMichael]

Here is a link to a story about this type of Wal-Mart store.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-14-walmart-designs_x.htm

[Rico]

Gentlemen.. Gentlemen... Please.

We have been down this road before... This is the same piece of pork with an entirely different shade of lip gloss.......

You know you are itchin... for a great deal to compliment the $140 ? $180 Million Dollar Designer Arena..

Like this little casual design here...




or this over the top "China Girl" number from a few years back...



I kinda think this version captures the East End today and in the next Millenium.....

Little more of that lip gloss and a spray or two of that "Eau de Coty #5" and it's a done deal..

[TheArtist]

An urban design Wal-Mart would be fine. Especially if they do as mentioned in the article have parking underneath.  For one thing they arent going to run mom and pop stores out of downtown for there arent any that would be in direct competition to Wal-Mart.  I would definitely like to see more local specialty stores downtown and those types of stores will not be in competition with Wal-Mart either.

One of the things that many on here have mentioned as being a positive for downtown would be diversity, specifically diversity of income.  Lower income places to rent, obviously those people would work at lower income scales and need to buy inexpensive things.  Higher income people will shop at higher end stores etc.  

Big Box?  Is Kinkos a big box store?  Would you allow a Borders, Williams and Sonoma, Virgin Megastore?  Sears, Neiman Marcus?  Where do you draw the line?  Only high end Big Box and no low end? Only small sized and not large sized Big Box stores? Weren't there "Big Box" type stores on Main Street back in its heyday?

Frankly if we get a real vibrant thriving downtown perhaps with all of those stores and dozens and dozens more.  An urban style Wal-Mart would be just a tiny minor thing.  It may seem like more of an issue at this time simply because there isn't much else down there, yet.  I don't want to imagine a downtown that stays so small and lifeless that an urban Wal-Mart would be of any notice.

http://www.pps.org/info/newsletter/April_First_2004/april_first_2004_feature

http://www.vermontwalmartwatch.org/box_store_alternatives.html

[Rico]

Arteest....... your eye for art just took a nose dive...

"Wal-Mart would be just a tiny thing"

It is for certain that you know nothing of there "Internal Directive" in what they want to be earning 5 to 10 years from now...

Were you at all aware of the first assault of Wal-Mart on the East End..?


You put the "same package" in a designer suit and what do you have...?

The same "cr$pola" in a designer suit.

Best location I have heard of for Wally"...is what remains of the Neighborhood in between Promenade and Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond.........

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Arteest....... your eye for art just took a nose dive...

"Wal-Mart would be just a tiny thing"

It is for certain that you know nothing of there "Internal Directive" in what they want to be earning 5 to 10 years from now...

Were you at all aware of the first assault of Wal-Mart on the East End..?


You put the "same package" in a designer suit and what do you have...?

The same "cr$pola" in a designer suit.

Best location I have heard of for Wally"...is what remains of the Neighborhood in between Promenade and Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond.........

Great location!  I am so burnt out on trying to remodel this danged thing.  Take it from me pleeease lol.[]

[AVERAGE JOE]

Jumbo shrimp.

Working vacation.

Acting naturally.

Urban Wal-Mart.

The reason a grocery store hasn't built downtown is because of the lack of residents. The rooftops come first. So if Wal-Mart builds downtown, they'd be looking to draw from a pretty wide trade area. After the massive heavy lifting it took to get Albertson's to build a store at Pine and Peoria (about a mile and a half away from the east end), to have Wal-Mart come in would be counter-productive for that investment. Not to mention the adverse affect it would have on small downtown retailers present and future. Let's also keep in mind that the Wal-Mart demographic and the urban dweller demographic don't necessarily overlap. You probably won't find a singing fish hanging on the wall of a Philtower Loft.

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

Jumbo shrimp.

Working vacation.

Acting naturally.

Urban Wal-Mart.

Tulsa nightlife.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Arteest....... your eye for art just took a nose dive...

"Wal-Mart would be just a tiny thing"

It is for certain that you know nothing of there "Internal Directive" in what they want to be earning 5 to 10 years from now...

Were you at all aware of the first assault of Wal-Mart on the East End..?


You put the "same package" in a designer suit and what do you have...?

The same "cr$pola" in a designer suit.

Best location I have heard of for Wally"...is what remains of the Neighborhood in between Promenade and Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond.........

One location was on the south side of 11th, facing home depot.

[AMP]

Few years ago a developer attempted to build a shopping mall type project on the South side of 11th street.  We own a large building and two lots there.  

No such luck, as either Downtown Tulsa Unlimted and or the INCOG planning commission bombed his idea as we were told.

Not sure of the exact reason, but his offer was very lucrative and we and many property owners in that area were not happy when he removed his offer.

[deinstein]

The only example shown was in China, one of the most densely populated countries in the world...the other is a design.

I want solid examples Wal-Mart has done this and succeed before I ever trust them with this idea. Additionally, we should strive for local first.

But as Average Joe mentioned...you've got to get the residents first. Just ask Homeland.

[bacjz00]

I saw a Wal-Mart in downtown Long Beach, CA that was completely urbanized.  I didn't even realize I was driving by a Wal-Mart at the time.  It wasn't architecturally significant by any stretch, but it blended in nicely. I'll see if I can find a picture

[bacjz00]

Here's a link to the entire development in Long Beach.  The Wal-Mart pic on the photos page is from inside the development.  What I saw from the street was non-descript and blended in with its surroundings.

Long Beach CityPlace