Why do we need another Walmart

No you are the one talking about competion.  You, in the first post here, talked about how it would close businesses, and my only question is which business is it that you are worried about? I don't own any stock in Walmart that I know of, and have no direct financial interest in the project.  I did live in Heathrow, and currently have friends who live there, and from what I hear they are excited about the project.

If you know about the Walmart in Daphne, you know that the original design was to keep it from being seen from the road. It was not directly connected to US 98, that came later.  I know, I lived there when it was built.  It did not directly access the subdivision but was less than half mile from the then only entrance on that side of the subdivision, much like the proposed one here.

I think you protest too much, and are using the potential traffic problems to disguise your true fear. I would find it much more likely to support your efforts if you told us truly what business you feel will be threatened by this endeavor.  As I see it, the potential for growth there and some future jobs is likely a good thing, but then again I love to see the town growing.

As someone who grew up in a small town, that had been handicapped by many of the locals who wanted to keep any new businesses from coming in, I saw it become a ghost town within just a few decades.  Towns and the areas surrounding them ebb and flow like the tide.  That area of Florence is a hotbed of activity currently and it was only natural for something like Walmart to look to go in there.

Before you go and say that I am being an azz, I am not trying to be mean.  My feelings are that if you really have a problem with Walmart there, give me the real facts.  I don't see a Walmart there, putting any businesses out of work, especially when there is already one in town.  if anything it will increase the traffic to that area and may even bring in some more business.  Ace Hardware has nothing to worry about, they don't sell cheap Chinese tools and mowers. The car parts stores over there have nothing to worry about, and neither does the Dollar General store.

Traffic is going to increase, but if it does the city should be able to help with that, even if it means adding more lanes, etc.

One other point about how land/real estate price will plummet.  I dare say if you were to try and buy the land/homes directly across from where this new WalMart is to go and has now been announced that the price  you will be quoted would be several times higher than it would have been before the announcement.  I also have no doubt that many of the homes that set alongside Cloverdale road have now increased in value just due to the announcement.  I'm not real estate expert but I'd be willing to make a guarantee on that one.  

 

As for who a potential WalMart would hurt the natural guesses would be FoodWorld, Big Star and Freds.  Others would say that the threat of competition from WalMart will only make them upgrade their service and offerings in order to compete.  I've been in Fred's quite often, it's a nice store, and from what I remember many of their products aren't even carried by WalMart.  Sure they are the same products but not the same brand names.  As for groceries such as Milk I've been in WalMart and Fred's, FoodWorld and Big Star all have WalMart beat on their Milk prices so there are areas in which other stores can compete.  As for the other small stores along the road as traffic increases their exposure to customers will increase so they also have the potential to get more customers in. 

 

I can't say that the construction of a new WalMart will benefit everyone as surely there will be some people that lose out on it but overall I believe it will benefit most of the Florence residents and people that live around the area.  I live in the general area that the Store will be built and although I don't like traffic congestion I believe that is an issue that the State will and should address as it happens.  If I had to chose between dealing with more traffic congestion due to more people shopping verses a stagnate economy and loss of jobs in the area I'll take the extra traffic any day.  I also guarantee you that many (not all) of those most opposed to the construction of WalMart here will be right there shopping at the store when it opens.  As for "Made in China" items i too wish we had more Made in USA choices and believe some of our economic woes are due to our dependence on foreign goods.  It started with Japan then Mexico, and now China.  Much of the blame for that lies though with the individual consumers demanding the cheapest items and also with the federal Government but that's not going to be solved overnight.  WalMart isn't to blame for that and that is a separate issue all together.  As for the person who said they were paid to remove Made in China stickers and put Made in America stickers, if true then you should not post it here you should be reporting it to someone else for if not illegal to do so it should be.

The citizens of his city are spoiled relative to traffic.  Florence folks seem to believe that traffic should always move briskly along on all major arteries every hour of the day.  Occasionally having to wait for two light changes before proceeding is deemed an intolerable burden, a near catastrophe.  This is typical small town provincialism.  The so-called "rush hour" here is a brief and trivial irritation by comparison with real rush hour traffic in large cities.  The increase in traffic associated with the new Walmart will not be a disaster; it will be tolerable for those who have a modicum of patience.  What happens to that laid-back southern way of life when Bubba gets behind the wheel?

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me too, i agree with con10duh double++er of God about this issue. The new Walmart will allow us to save money. It will only be 1/2 mile from me. Ican sell my cars and trucks and survive. Ican walk to Walmart. no car insurance, no tags, no gas. Actually I think they allow you to sleep overnight in the parking lot.

Bubba ain't interested in "Big City" traffic, or being tolerant with those who chose to take the responsibilities of operating a motor vehicle lightly by texting, chatting on the cellphone and other means of inattentive driving. Bubba wants you to concentrate on your driving and either lead, follow or get the H*ll out of the way.

TO ALL NEIGHBORS THAT THINK SOMETHING BE DONE TO STOP THE WAL MART PROJECT:  Forget it, as this is a done deal.  Go enjoy your day, as you're powerless dealing with the "authorities in charge."  The ones that'll be profitable are the owners of the properties surrounding Wal Mart.

TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SHOP FOR PRESCRIPTIONS AT WAL MART:  Their level of service stinks.  Walgreens customer service is also unacceptable.  Go find yourself a good independent pharmacy; your life will be much simpler. and you'll have so much more time to yourself.

TO ALL WAL MART CUSTOMERS THAT THINK PRICES ARE CHEAP:  They're straight retail for the most part.  Some grocery prices are reasonable, and some prices are outrageous.  Shop for what you can at Aldi's, and shop the sale items at the independent grocery stores, and you'll save big, big money.

TO ALL CITIZENS THAT GO TO WAL MART, BUT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CROWDS:  Go to the other stores in the area that provide a much more enjoyable shopping experience:  Target & KMart are examples.  I try to limit my Wal Mart visits to 2x per month--mostly late night/very early morning.  Remember that their prices are not worth the hassle. 

For basics, I do better price-wise  at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Aldi's, and Hometown Market than I do at WalMart.

Canade,

Your are a wise shopper. I just don't see how other people don't see it too!!!  The ONLY thing that Walmart has going for it is a "one stop shop". The stores that you named should be everyone's favorite. Plus you don't have to fight most of your shopping time, when at the ones named, you can shop with ease.

 I once saw someone get arrested at WalMart. You don't get to see that everywhere!

I went back and tried Aldi's again.  On the items that I might buy there, I would find only a one or two cent difference on canned goods, and equally marginal savings on other goods over what I would pay at Wal-Mart.  Not worth the extra hassle. 

The one time I went to Aldi's did it for me. I figure that what I would pay in gas driving around to all those other stores, it pays me to do all my shopping at one store.

I've never understood people's problem with Wal-mart but to each his own.

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I assume you're the same Coy Bramlett that was in the paper today fighting against Wal-mart?

So rush limbaugh supported nafta eh? Well who signed it in? Oh that's right, BILL CLINTON.

 

With much consideration and emotional discussion, the House of Representatives approved NAFTA on November 17, 1993, 234-200. The agreement's supporters included 132 Republicans and 102 Democrats. NAFTA passed the Senate 61-38. Senate supporters were 34 Republicans and 27 Democrats. Clinton signed it into law on December 8, 1993; it went into effect on January 1, 1994.^[1][2] Clinton while signing the NAFTA bill stated that "NAFTA means jobs. American jobs, and good-paying American jobs. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't support this agreement."^[3]

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N...Free_Trade_Agreement

I agree.  One of the things WalMart does that is customer friendly is they honor all competitor's sales/ads.  Granted there are some stipulations and they don't honor the Buy one Get one Free but other stores could do the same but don't.  Many argue that WalMart is just so huge that they use their size to overcome the competition.  WalMart wasn't always that size but through good business practice and taking care of the customer they built their stores into what they are.  As for the assertion that if WalMart builds that all kinds of bad things will happen just seems to be hype as with most other WalMarts that are built the kinds of things that people say will happen just don't.  

 

Usually what does happen is true very few people see a decrease in their property value but usually the whole area around a Super Center grows and improves and property values increase.  Some will experience more noise and yes the night will not be as dark but new WalMarts have committed to installing lighting that reduces any projection other than where they want it to illuminate.  Anyone who thinks they can purchase the property across from where the WalMart is announced or for that part any of the residential homes on Cloverdale Rd for the same price that they could before the WalMart announcement is dreaming or in some kind of stupor.  Those properties have most likely doubled in asking price and certainly increased in value.   

 

I think that the opposition to WalMart comes basically from people who are opposed to any growth of the City.  While there is a lot to be said for "small town" type areas there are also benefits and positives with a growing city and increasing growth and commercialization in an area.  Another advantage of the "one stop shop" type stores is they ultimatly only have to  drive to one location and that reduces the amount of traffic on the roads.   I have no doubt that many will oppose WalMart and that a new store will inconvenience some but on the whole I do believe that it will benefit a far greater number of people including the addition of several new jobs.

 

Just my opinion

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Sheffield was dead long before the first Walmart come to the Shoals.  Tuscumbia was not exactly thriving either. Why not consider Florence, where (1)the downtown is doing well despite the Walmarts in the Shoals and (2) the area around the Florence Walmart has boomed big time since Walmart arrived there!?

 

Get real and be honest about the local situation!

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Perhaps it means that they have a good security system for catching would-be shoplifters and thus helping to hold down losses and not to raise prices on account of theft!

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If, as it appears, Walmart is getting those tax breaks legally, then don't gripe about that; they are just following the law as our wonderful legislators wrote it! Write your legislator!!

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Yeah?  But soften the cheap stuff "works" for only a short time and needs to be replaced.  You can replace it with more cheap stuff and repeat the cycle or you can pay a little more for something that really lasts.  Your call,  El-cheapo!

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And thus speaketh the voice of PARANOIA!

To the people against having a new walmart store on Cloverdale Rd.   Since I live past the location in question, I could say that all the new houses built in heathrow subdivisions have caused a nice quiet area to be overwhelmed with noise and traffic and so on.  I am sure the people living on Davis St. just love all the added traffic because of the new houses being build in heathrow and other ajoining subdivision in that area.  And you also caused a red lite to be installed that helped no one but the subdivision. What about all the people living in forrest hills that in the past used Chisholm Rd to travel on until Cloverdale Rd was expanded then they switched and started using Cloverdale Rd. And the christian school doesn't help with the late nite ball games and the bright lites and the fans shouting and screaming.  I can hear all this up to and past cloverdale rd and rasch rd.  Where were you when all this was being built.  You were being quiet because you wanted this because it was  convenient for you.  Same way about the graves, you did not care before, but now for some reason you are all upset about the graves. You are like a spoiled kid, you will play as long as you get what you want, but then when something you don't like happens, you want to quit and take your ball home. A new walmart will add jobs and it will be helpful to people to not have to drive to the old walmart.  Some of us people need to save all the gas money we can. For everyone of you against a new walmart, there are at least 50 or more  people for a new walmart on Cloverdale Rd.  If the walmart doesn't go in, there aready is a super gas/truck station that has expressed interest in that location.

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Makes sense to me. 

I'm all for Walmart; I don't shop there, but am thankful to all the people that do; it makes where I do shop much more pleasant. I just don't like crowds or shopping in a warehouse.

Attention residents of Florence: I know you are not used to change but sometimes it happens. Businesses come and go and neighborhoods change. It is a freaking Wal-Mart. Get a grip. Some of you need to experience life outside of Flo to gain some perspective on how the real world works.

I noticed that they got a Six month extension.  I thought it was a done deal so what's the extension for?  Is it connected to the unknown status of the Cemetery?   I still have no doubt that the resolution to rezone and annex the property will happen.  You know the city isn't going to want to lose out on that newly annexed tax revenue either.

Hi, it is my first time posting to this forum. I grew up in Florence, moved away and after 16 years, moved back.  So I'm no troll or anything but I do have concerns about the new Walmart. 

I watched the Doc channel special about Walmart and where Walmart wants to be.. they usually are.  There's no stopping them.  It rarely happens.  I really admire the folks from Heathrow getting together and forming a grass roots coalition against the giant.  I doubt if it will work, Walmart most always gets their way.  But more power to you and if I lived in the city, I would probably join your cause but I live in the county and have no voting power along those lines.

That being said, I really don't mind having Walmart on the west end of town.  But Cloverdale Road isn't the best choice.  I thought Cox Creek was the end all be all of Florence, the savior of retail and the killer of downtown Florence.  In that respect, along those lines, the New Walmart should be on Cox Creek.  There is nothing but Crosspoint Church of Christ and a few new building being put up at the Jackson Road crossing.  Somewhere along that stretch is where the New Walmart needs to be.  It would bring new businesses to that end of sorely neglected part of Cox Creek. 

Walmart is out to undo Publix and steal the business from Food World, Fred's, Dollar General and Big Star.  And will likely succeed in killing off at least a couple of the aforementioned businesses. Again, that is life and I understand business, survival of the fittest. 

What I do mind, very much mind, is the total of four red lights that will be on the half mile stretch from McDonald's south. 

There is already a light at Heathrow (1), a reported new light at Wright (2), an expected light at the new Walmart entrance (3) and then Cox Creek/Cloverdale (4).  I take my kids to school and make the round trip back through that area, a round trip of 20 miles twice a day. This will add time and congestion to an already long commute for me and others who go to Florence daily.

I avoid the stretch of Cox Creek from the Methodist Church up to Florence Blvd, if at all possible. I see many other people turning behind the Methodist Church to get to Seville St or enter the Target lot from BEHIND Target.  Cox Creek, in front of the mall, has become a nightmare and adds a good 15 minutes or more to travel that mile and half section of Cox Creek.  Red light after Red light.  Much easier to get to HSV or Killen by going around behind the Methodist Church.  You can come out on Middle Road and skip the whole fiasco.  But I digress and ramble. 

The point I am trying to make is that soon that portion of Cloverdale Road will be stop and go and travel time lengthened because of extra traffic lights.  Ridiculous. 

If Walmart HAS TO be there then face it toward Cox Creek Parkway and have the major entrances (all of them) come in from the Cox Creek side.  Of course, there will still be a need for one entrance on Cloverdale Road but it could eliminate the need for a light at Wright.

BTW, I personally think that the folks that are on the east side of Cloverdale Road are in a potential catbird seat.  Give it five years.  Those 6 or eight houses will be gone and new restaurants or a strip mall will be in its place.  Those folks in Sherwood Forest will be crying foul too.  But again, the city fathers won't listen and the voters will be bent over once again.  Shame on the city leaders for not listening to the public outcry.  Seems like they are taking a lesson from the powers that be in the Federal Government.  "We Know What Is Best For You" so suck it up and shut up. 

How's that for a first post?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The times daily claims some person by the name of Dianne O’Neal is doing research about the cemetery. Anyone know who she is?

If it is the same person from Australia she is no stranger to threatening Florence.

“City faces suit about industrial park plan

Russ Corey 2/4/03

FLORENCE - The city faces a federal lawsuit if it doesn’t halt plans to develop an industrial park west of town or at least modify the property to prevent possibly polluted runoff from entering the Key Cave Wildlife Refuge.

Birmingham attorney Bart Slawson, who specializes in environmental issues, said he notified the city this week of the suit, which he would file on behalf of Dianne O’Neal.”

“I think it’s amusing that someone from Australia is up here, undoubtedly not worried about jobs in the area, creating such a hurrah," Coussons said.

O’Neal listed Australia and Florence as residences in a recent letter to the TimesDaily.”

http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/City-faces-suit-about-industrial-park-plan,105227?content_source=archive&category_id=&search_filter=key+cave&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

　

　

　

“The city purchased the park in December 1999 from lawyer Henry Self for $2 million despite a prior warning from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife about the sensitivity of the Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge.”………………………..

Birmingham attorney Bart Slawson is representing Diane O'Neal and has been given the OK to file a federal lawsuit against the city once it begins development at Eddie Frost Park. O'Neal owns property adjacent to the proposed commerce park……………….

If a decision is made to sell the property, he said the city has a policy of offering it first to adjacent landowners.http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Mayor-suggests-city-abandon-park-plans,112297?content_source=archive&category_id=&search_filter=key+cave&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

Anyone want to guess who ended up with the property?……………………..

City may look to Frost park for sports site http://www.timesdaily.com/stor...stories&town_id=

By Todd Twilley

FLORENCE - The city's parks and recreation committee will send a recommendation to the council that the city further investigate putting a sports complex on a portion of the site proposed for the Eddie Frost Commerce Park…………………………….

But city officials are now involved in delicate negotiations on a "no money" land swap between the Frost location and land on the southwest corner of Gunwaleford Road and Savannah Highway.http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Public-hearing-set-to-discuss-citys-sports-complex,91334?content_source=archive&category_id=&search_filter=key+cave&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=……………………………..............................

  Sportsplex problems prove costly

By Sarah Day Owen,

Construction on Florence's new sportsplex has run into a hard problem - one that is hard as a rock, in fact.

On Tuesday, city council members will have to decide whether to spend another estimated $1.1 million to remove the peaking rocks and boulders on the sportsplex land, which is just off Savannah Highway in west Florence.

Mayor Bobby Irons said the finance committee will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday to determine what recommendation, if any, it will make to the council about the additional cost.

"The rock is excessive - it's a high-cost item," Irons said.

Irons said he was not willing to disclose a dollar amount until after the matter was reviewed, all options discussed and the council made a decision on the exact amount that will be needed to alleviate the problem.

Councilman Scott Carrier said he has real concerns and questions about the project.

"Where's this money coming from?" Carrier said. "That's not a rosy scenario."

If $1.1 million is the amount needed, the money would come from the city's capital fund, said Dan Barger, city treasurer.

Councilman Leland Howard, head of the finance committee, said the issue hasn't been discussed yet, but the city isn't blowing money.

http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Sportsplex-problems-prove-costly,1887?content_source=archive&category_id=&search_filter=key+cave&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

　

What?????

　

If and when it (wal mart) is built, maybe I'll now get to see this historical house and cemetary.

Good post Sky, I tried going up the dirt road years ago and there are signs reading keep out, 24 hour camera, no trepassing and a steel rope across the road.  So they must not want people to have access to the cemetery, which I thought the law said access must be given to a cemetery.  Someone has not keep the cemetery grounds in clean condition except for one little spot. But now the cemetery is the center of attention. It is amazing how things don't matter until someone finds a need for them to be important.  Build the new walmart and get over it.

I have had the lucky importunity to have worked at the old house many years ago and did pay visit to the cemetary  once, though it has been 25 years.

It's not just Wall-Mart selling stuff from China,been in Home Depot, Lowes J.C.Peenys,Sears,K-Mart Even the Food World and Ace Hardware lately???

What old historical house and cemetery are you talking about?

Don't forget about imported China catfish.

Shortly after the Super Store in Russellville opened the Food World supermarket closed and Foodland is barely hanging on.  The Fred's pharmacy closed and transfered all of their prescriptions to Wal Mart.  The Russellville Plaza is a shadow of it's former self.  Russellville did gain a Wendys and Bo Jangles, more min. wage jobs. 

Exactly! The next time you are in any of these stores look for yourself and see how much of it comes from China. It's not just Wal Mart. Also look around your house one day and see how many things you own are actually made in the USA. You might be surprised. 

There is a small road, like a driveway, behind the CVS pharmacy at the corner of Cox Creek and Cloverdale rd.  Down this little drive is a white house, on the right, and a cemetery.  Supposedly the cemetery is to be accessible but that has not been the case for they've blocked the road many times and you couldn't drive down to it.  But now it's the most important cemetery, or so those who are against Walmart would have you believe, in all the State.

sorry, no historical house is left there. Just a 1900's house

Wal Mart donated 25 thousand dollars for upkeep of the Coffee Cemetery. I think they will do right by it.

Don't you just love how after all these years and decades people are all of a sudden so concerned about that cemetery?   I bet if WalMart had not been interested in coming and building that second location on the Florence side of the river those graves would have still gone neglected.  As for the $25,000 donation, for the cemetary, WalMart didn't have to commit to that.  

 

Sure everything WalMart does is for their benefit or to get some positive press but as many WalMarts as they have, many in areas of fierce opposition, they are aware of what things people are against and I believe WalMart will take extraordinary measures to be a "good neighbor" to the surrounding area.  Actually only time will tell but I do feel that many of people's stated reasons for objecting to Walmart will be proven, in time, invalid.  I also predict that once WalMart is here that growth in the surrounding area will happen, more than if WalMart had not built at this location.