Bullock Texas State History Museum
Objections to Wal-Mart Are Not 'Whining'
RECEIVED Fri., Jan. 12, 2007
Dear Editor,
In response to Josh Krause ["Postmarks," Jan. 12] and all the other letters that don't understand the outrage over Wal-Mart moving into Northcross Mall.
I am a native of Austin, having lived in Central Austin near Northcross Mall for the last 27 years. I love Austin. The way it used to be and the way it is now. The issue of Wal-Mart in Central Austin has nothing to do with weirdness or even that it is a large retailer. In fact when I first heard about it, I wasn't very concerned because I thought it would be a small boutique Wal-Mart, like we had a few years ago behind Highland Mall. Then I hear that the proposed Wal-Mart will be larger than Cabela's, more than 200,000 square feet, and that the traffic that is already backed up on Burnet Road and Anderson Lane will not just double but will quadruple. They expect so much business and traffic that the already-normal parking lot at the mall will not be enough, so a four-story parking garage will have to be built. In addition, the money that is spent at our local HEB (which is a local business and has been in our neighborhood since the dawn of time) and our wonderful hold-out of an independent grocer, the Crestview IGA Grocery store, plus countless other small independent businesses who pour money back into the community, instead of sending it back to Arkansas, will suffer to the point they may no longer exist. So who do you think we should hold our allegiance too? To no one as you do? Should we say, “Go to hell” local business; if you can't stand the turbo-jet-fueled blast of heat, stay out of the kitchen? Go to hell livable city. Should we "just let things happen," as you requested, and allow our city to turn into a "cesspool" as you describe Houston, where you live?
We are not "whining" Mr. Krause, we are fighting to protect our neighbors and standard of living in Austin, Texas.
In response to Josh Krause ["Postmarks," Jan. 12] and all the other letters that don't understand the outrage over Wal-Mart moving into Northcross Mall.
I am a native of Austin, having lived in Central Austin near Northcross Mall for the last 27 years. I love Austin. The way it used to be and the way it is now. The issue of Wal-Mart in Central Austin has nothing to do with weirdness or even that it is a large retailer. In fact when I first heard about it, I wasn't very concerned because I thought it would be a small boutique Wal-Mart, like we had a few years ago behind Highland Mall. Then I hear that the proposed Wal-Mart will be larger than Cabela's, more than 200,000 square feet, and that the traffic that is already backed up on Burnet Road and Anderson Lane will not just double but will quadruple. They expect so much business and traffic that the already-normal parking lot at the mall will not be enough, so a four-story parking garage will have to be built. In addition, the money that is spent at our local HEB (which is a local business and has been in our neighborhood since the dawn of time) and our wonderful hold-out of an independent grocer, the Crestview IGA Grocery store, plus countless other small independent businesses who pour money back into the community, instead of sending it back to Arkansas, will suffer to the point they may no longer exist. So who do you think we should hold our allegiance too? To no one as you do? Should we say, “Go to hell” local business; if you can't stand the turbo-jet-fueled blast of heat, stay out of the kitchen? Go to hell livable city. Should we "just let things happen," as you requested, and allow our city to turn into a "cesspool" as you describe Houston, where you live?
We are not "whining" Mr. Krause, we are fighting to protect our neighbors and standard of living in Austin, Texas.
Cynthia Sanders
