Austin: Wal-Mart at Northcross

[M1EK]

Thought this deserved a new thread for comment. I'm agnostic; I hate Wal-Mart but love the idea of one finally being on a good bus route so the workers don't have to drive (see below).

Most recent austinist posting on it

Earlier, larger, thread on austinist

My own stuff:

It's NOT in a neighborhood...

Transit doesn't work well on frontage roads...

Why I'm Rooting For Wal-Mart

I channel Swift

[M1EK]

From my cow orker, and resident of the street closest to the proposed Wal-Mart:

Pictures

[KevinFromTexas]

That Chase Bank Building has to be atleast 75 feet tall. The area of Austin between Mopac and I-35 is prime for more density. I don't understand why people struggle with that.

[arbeiter]

I'm definitely pro-density, but it's WAL MART! The income of this neighborhood can support something nicer.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by M1EK

From my cow orker, and resident of the street closest to the proposed Wal-Mart:

Pictures

I like "COW ORKER". May I use that?

[arbeiter]

Originally Posted by M1EK

From my cow orker, and resident of the street closest to the proposed Wal-Mart:

Pictures

Whoever this person is, they're annoying. All of the sarcastic "quotation marks" in their webpage is doing nobody any favors. i find it to be a bit heavy-handed and dumb.

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by arbeiter

I'm definitely pro-density, but it's WAL MART! The income of this neighborhood can support something nicer.

No, it really can't. This isn't the rich part of town, and it's very low-density compared to the true center-city. The old mall was a going concern back when there weren't any competitors further out, so people would drive into town to go to Northcross. Now that it can only attract from nearby areas, there aren't enough dollars or bodies to make it work, obviously.

This Wal-Mart, barring a drastic increase in residential density, is probably about the best the site can hope for. I hate to say it, because I hate Wal-Mart (but I hate these neighborhoods more, of course); but facts don't care about our feelings.

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

I like "COW ORKER". May I use that?

It's old-school Dogbert; not my invention. Use away.

[arbeiter]

Originally Posted by M1EK

No, it really can't. This isn't the rich part of town, and it's very low-density compared to the true center-city. The old mall was a going concern back when there weren't any competitors further out, so people would drive into town to go to Northcross. Now that it can only attract from nearby areas, there aren't enough dollars or bodies to make it work, obviously.

This Wal-Mart, barring a drastic increase in residential density, is probably about the best the site can hope for. I hate to say it, because I hate Wal-Mart (but I hate these neighborhoods more, of course); but facts don't care about our feelings.

I grew up like 1.5-2 miles from here, I know what it can support. everything west of Burnet is generally pretty nice - if the area of Anderson Lane closer to Mopac can support several upscale furniture stores among other things, I think it can support something a little nicer than a Wal Mart.

[LoneStarMike]

Besides Bealls, I'm trying to remember what the other anchor department stores were in Northcross' heyday. Was it Frost Brothers and Scarborough's?

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by arbeiter

I grew up like 1.5-2 miles from here, I know what it can support. everything west of Burnet is generally pretty nice - if the area of Anderson Lane closer to Mopac can support several upscale furniture stores among other things, I think it can support something a little nicer than a Wal Mart.

In between when Northcross was a going concern and now, the Arboretum opened, and then Lakeline Mall opened. Both now suck away a lot of town that would have gone to Northcross back in the day; especially the richer folks in the hills.

Northcross' catchment area is now very small (like most older urban malls) but the residential density of said area is still essentially what it was in the 1960s, if not lower (fewer families now, I bet). That means Northcross doesn't have many potential shoppers to appeal to, and either needs more people, or a type of store which isn't real close by. Wal-Mart is obviously the latter - despite the BS people are sharing about how close the other ones are, it's not a quick trip from this area to either one (especially not on transit!)

[SLC Projects]

Not another wal-mart.

[texastarkus]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Besides Bealls, I'm trying to remember what the other anchor department stores were in Northcross' heyday. Was it Frost Brothers and Scarborough's?

OK....let my 47 year old mind think - In 1977 - Bealls at one end, Frost Brothers at the other and in between was: Waldenbooks, Northcross AMC Theater, J.Rich Sports, The Ice Rink, Furr's, Chelsea Street Pub, B-Dalton Bookstore-there were more...

[arbeiter]

God, my stomach still remembers Furr's.