Tue, Jul 15, 1:09 AM

102 The Original Wal-Mart Opinion Piece

Last week, I submitted a Letter to the Editor to the Commercial Appeal, and (as usual), it printed. The letter centered around my opposition to Wal-Mart's proposed location at Macon and Houston Levee roads, in Cordova. My full letter was edited for both space and content, so I reproduce the original below. I'm both surprised and disappointed that the Land Use control Board has voted to greenlight construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the intersection of Macon and Houston Levee roads. I have to assume that the sole dissenting member, Emily Trenholm, must be the only Cordova resident on the Board, if Cordova is even represented; as I can't imagine anyone who lives in this part of town voicing approval for such a development. As an area resident, I'm already dismayed at the burgeoning traffic problems surrounding this intersection. Nearly two years ago, I built a home in a quiet neighborhood full of single-family residences just off Houston Levee. In those two years, I've seen my daily commute to and from work double, from 20 to 40 minutes. Starbucks, Sonic, and McDonald's have all opened retail outlets here, bringing plenty of congestion as it is. I simply don't understand the notion that further retail development will somehow improve this area, especially expansion of the "big box" nature. Southbound morning traffic on Houston Levee routinely comes to a stop as drivers attempt to turn into the existing venues. Recently, even more delays have been introduced as several new churches have begun construction on Houston Levee. Commuters are forced to yield to dump trucks, bulldozers, and other construction implements traversing roadways that only offer one lane in each direction. This is supposed to get better once development commences on a 150,000 square foot structure? Wal-Mart's supply chain, consisting primarily of tractor trailers, will add even more inappropriate traffic into this residential area. Neither of the affected roads are physically prepared to handle semi trucks. Adding 1,000-foot turn lanes is not going to alleviate congestion problems. Neither will widening the main corridors themselves, though Wal-Mart has not even offered to pay for that. I invite the Land Use Control Board to take a good, long look at Germantown Parkway and then tell the residents of Cordova, with a straight face, how widening roads eases congestion. Once Wal-Mart moves into an area, that's only the beginning. What will the Board approve next at this intersection? Best Buy, Home Depot, Sam's Club, Costco? We already have a ridiculously over-commercialized zone in Cordova, it's called Wolfchase. Let's leave it at that, please. This is a residential area which does not need to be turned into a distriplex. I live quite close to the intersection of this proposed Wal-Mart, and I can reach any of three other Wal-Mart locations with a ten minute trip. One is on Highway 64 at Wal-Mart Drive, another is on Germantown Parkway at Friars' Point, and the third is in Oakland. The first two are Supercenters, open 24/7. And let's not forget the Wal-Marts which have been built and subsequently closed down, including one at Germantown Parkway and Wolf River Boulevard, just blocks from the Supercenter they built in its place. I'm very curious, who exactly asked for this new Wal-Mart? Who pushed for it to be built at this location? Who will reap its tax benefits? Who is going to take over the 150,000 square foot building if it fails and is closed down? And who, ultimately, is being compensated financially for the approval? Certainly the residents of Cordova are none of the above.