Rollback Austin

The "No Wal-Mart" protest of the "Responsible Growth for Northcross" movement here in Austin has been amusing. Wal-Mart wants to build a 220,000 sq.ft. ,24-hour "supercenter" on the site of the old, dilapidated Northcross Mall, which has resulted in quite a yuprising from the affluent residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. Over the last decade, these older neighborhoods have experienced a steady increase in their Volvo index, and they aren't about to let Wal-Mart throw down a roadblock. Now they are trying to turn up the heat on our city council.

The most legitimate beef of the "RG4N" group is the dramatic increase in traffic that would result at the already congested intersection of Burnet Road and Anderson Lane. However, I don't think the bitching would have reached its current fever pitch if it was Whole Foods planning to build a 220K sq.ft. supermarket at the site.

Anyway... some funny "discussions" on Austin360's "Talk of Austin" are here and here. Some of the comments are obviously sarcastic, but there are a few where it's hard to tell if the commenters are serious.

This one made me chukle, re: What would you like to see at Northcross Mall?

"I would like to see a drive-through beer store with a barbecue annex."

Many other posts are in favor of either Whole Foods, Central Market, Sun Harvest, or a mall full of local shops [no doubt, pining for the good old days when "mom and pop" shops paid a living wage and offered full health benefits].

I agree that Wal-Mart is probably not the best thing for the Northcross site. But if the local residents think it's a good place for more "upscale" businesses, I wonder why none of those types of business set up shop there?

Meanwhile in my neighborhood, an old run down building that previously housed a "beauty college" has been remodeled, revitalized, and turned into . . . a big, green pawn shop. Craptacular. I would have preferred a drive-through beer store with a BBQ annex.