walmart?

[butch]

is it still a GO for the proposed walmat that was to be built at transit and william streets?
anybody know the status?
thanks,
butch

[jennifer7]

Wal Mart is definitely going to be a Super Wal Mart
at William street & Transit Road in the Gateway Centre
(150,000 square feet store) (the Target going in across the street is 126,000 square feet store) their not sure if the
Super Wal Mart is going to be a 24/7 yet. that's gotta to
be work out with the Lancaster Town Board, it's been upgraded
to a larger store & a Super Wal Mart for a couple of reasons
1. to compete with the Target across the street &
2. to Punish C.A.R.S. & Tops market's which was one of the
main company's Funding the Lawsuits. orginally it was
going to be a regular Wal Mart , but now it will be a Super Wal
Mart that well sell Food & Grocerys too. Their will also be
Stripe Plaza Constructed on The Gateway Centre which
will house 5 to 7 Smaller retail shops, they should break
Ground in the Spring of 2006 and Should open before X-Mas
of 06 (Target is excepted to open in the Fall of 06 too. :)

[bigjoe]

jennifer, i do not know where you get your info but you are misstaken in almost every statement. It is, however, expecting construction to commence in the spring with a store opening in the fall of 06.
Butch, the developer has done its best to continue this project in the face of the many costly nuisance suits. Regrettably, our area economy has suffered needlessly from these delays.
It is sad that cheektowaga has been able to attract and react so quickly to the opportunity for commercial growth while Lancaster has been forced to languish for years on this project.

[butch]

well.................spring has come and gone.......................but still no Walmart...........anybody have any up to date info??

[bigjoe]

last heard; walmart has let their engineering contracts but are prevented from commencing physical construction due to the strain internally and externally on staff and supplies due to extensive reconstruction projects resulting from the many hurricane ravaged areas of the country. groundbreaking remains anticipated for this year.

[4248]

well.................spring has come and gone.......................but still no Walmart...........anybody have any up to date info??
Don't worry - as long as our Town Board remains true to form - we will get a Walmart and many many more homes and sub divisions. Where there is green - they will build - where there is "Flood Plain" they will fill.
Thats why our taxes are so low - all the building helps offset the cost of services. Just think - when all the build-able space is used - our property values will skyrocket - then they can re-assess our properties higher and we can help pay for even better services.
I am just glad we can give our Elected and appointed officials Good Lifetime health care ,dental care and pension programs. I hope in the future we can find ways to give all our "Part-time" workers such great life-time benefits.
I feel some what bad about moving out in the next few years.I will be forced to move south so as to live close to my children.They both found good jobs and i don't understand it but it seems you can get a nice home and pay allot less property taxes.Even gasoline and smokes(bad habit) are cheaper.
Maybe they haven't had all the growth we have enjoyed.Maybe soon they will learn to build bigger public service facility's and we can help more people get better benefits and taxpayer funded retirements.

Just my thoughts - i could be wrong. Thanks for your time.

[summerfield1973]

Any new information on the Walmart build???

Is it a superwalmart??

Is it still held up in court??

Anyone??

I can't wiat to shop there............I have to drive to Amherst every Sunday.


BYE, BYE TOPS.............and Good riddens

[PalmTree]

Now that Wal Mart's going to build a New super Wal Mart at
Broadway & Three rod road in Alden, does that mean that their not going to build in Lancaster. 8 years later and still nothing ! that corner is becoming
a larger garage dump everyday !

[PalmTree]

Their suppose to break ground by December, the hang up is
that their deciding weather to make it a regular Wal Mart or
Super Wal Mart , that's if you believe The Big G.

[Bud B Boomer]

The proposed Walmart in Alden is only being called that by the anti Walmart gang. If they would do some research they would see the site plan is calling for a 100 thousand square foot store, {possible 2 100 thousand square foot stores, in the future a Home Depot maybe}, and the average size of the SuperWalmart stores being built is 187,000 square feet. Don't believe everything you hear until you check the facts.

[pudge]

Hey Boomer:

Does Wal-Mart build anything but a supercenter these days?

pudge

[granpabob]

wrong point it is only asumed to be a walmart because of the size no one has said what it will realy be in alden the anti walmart union people just guess that is what is happening. at 100,000 sq. it is too small for a super walmart

[Ground-Zero]

As someone who is attending meetings and is actively opposed to what is proposed for Alden can I just clarify a few things ....

1. The developer said himself what he proposed was a Wal-Mart supercenter at a Town Board meeting. Some members of the local government (not all) and economic development community have been routinely mis-informing the public to (I can only assume) slip this through under the radar.

2. All the "union anti walmart" talk is complete nonsense (in our case at least)and is only used to scapegoat groups who oppose them. Of course many people opposed to Wal-Mart are in a union, but to paint the entire movement as such is as silly as to paint all pro Wal-Mart people as "whatever". Some people simply appreciate where they live and find the prospect of a gigantic supercenter in their small town or neighborhood as something less than desirable.

3. The size of the site for Alden is 94 acres and Wal-Mart is only the 1st project planned. The entire site is the size of the Galleria Mall and Wal-Mart will only be building on 20-some acres of that. Again, that is from the develpers own mouth at a Town Board meeting.

4. As a member of one of the groups opposing this development I can vouch for every member of our group that we are not anti growth or commerce. Every person who lives in Alden misses the Ames that we used to have. Wal-Mart is only being mentioned at all because they are the first to come into the site and will be the "anchor" for all the other big-box and chain retailers that will follow. Actually, some of the members of our group shop at Wal-Mart and don't hate them at all.

1000ft from ground zero.

[Bud B Boomer]

So Ground Zero's opposition {1000 ft from ground zero} is actually the classic NIMBY, What do they think is going to happen along Route 20...a major four lane state highway, the most traveled road in the township. If there is going to be commercial development that is where it is going to be. Another Galleria? Be real, the town doesn't not have the location, traffic access or population density to economically support such an investment.

[WNYresident]

The size of the site for Alden is 94 acres and Wal-Mart is only the 1st project planned. The entire site is the size of the Galleria Mall and Wal-Mart will only be building on 20-some acres of that. Again, that is from the develpers own mouth at a Town Board meeting.


To me this isn't smart growth.

Alden is not that far from the walmart in lancaster. Why ruin the surroundings in alden. Isn't there some empty strip plaza right on broadway as you enter alden as it is?

Who in alden can't drive to a walmart in lancaster more or less not be able to if one was in alden anyway. Go look at cheektowaga and see waht all the growth got us. Nothing in my opinion and we are still boned on property taxes....

We get clogged streets in november/december around the mall big deal. Next time you are driving down union road walden/genesse area look at how many vacant buildings there are. Far too many.

[WNYresident]

4. As a member of one of the groups opposing this development I can vouch for every member of our group that we are not anti growth or commerce. Every person who lives in Alden misses the Ames that we used to have. Wal-Mart is only being mentioned at all because they are the first to come into the site and will be the "anchor" for all the other big-box and chain retailers that will follow. Actually, some of the members of our group shop at Wal-Mart and don't hate them at all.

Why do you think ames went out of business? WHy do you think no one jumped up to the plate and opened something there when ames closed? Could it be they weren't profitable?

[Bud B Boomer]

WNY there is a major difference between Alden and Cheektowage...Alden has extremely limited retail opportunities at present. Why are retailers passing the village of Alden by...there is limited commercial property available, believe it or not the present plaza owner seems disinclined to develop or market the plaza, leases at that plaza have proved to be onerous {can you say corporate tax benifits} not to mention the size of the plaza land is not that large. Then there is the extra village taxes with no extra services (10.35 a thousand) a developer would face. I strongly doubt Alden would ever challenge Cheektowaga (Union & Walden) as the retail center of Erie County {at least not until they reroute the Thruway}. The Town and Village have been trying vigorously to redevelop the village and exisitng plaza. There hasn't been any interest until now when Walmart has begun to look at the community. Finally, the only area open area in the Town that comprises readily availabe commercial development is about a two mile strip {a lot less than Union Road} on route 20. If this land is allowed to be developed, then you can expect to see some auxilary development moving into the village.

[WNYresident]

WNY there is a major difference between Alden and Cheektowage...Alden has extremely limited retail opportunities at present.

Maybe that's the best for the area looking back on how senseless lets say cheektowaga union road grew. What advantages are there? None that I can see acutally. Large box stores selling mostly crap over all. I'd rather look at trees.

[WNYresident]

Then there is the extra village taxes with no extra services (10.35 a thousand) a developer would face.

SO disolve the thiefdom and move on.

What happens in the village that the town couldn't handle over all?

[WNYresident]

Town that comprises readily availabe commercial development is about a two mile strip {a lot less than Union Road} on route 20. If this land is allowed to be developed, then you can expect to see some auxilary development moving into the village.

I know what your saying but what is the point. The only ones that will benefit are the people building the buildings.

I'm only speaking for myself but I'd rather drive 20 minutes occasionally to go get something than have that developement in my town in the first place. So what if my shopping drive time is now 10 minutes not 20. It's not worth the loss of character of the town to shave 10 minutes off my shopping trip.

I grew up literally on Union and Walden. I don't see progress when it's at the expense of other retail areas in WNY.

[pudge]

Wal-Mart: Damn NIMBY’s

You had to know that the time would come when the anti-Wal-Mart and unionist labels would change to NIMBY.

That generic term and the charge of union support is used by the Wal-Mart advocators and benefactors to divert all attention away from the negative impacts that could be involved with the building of a Wal-Mart.

Destruction of wetlands, traffic and traffic safety issues, infrastructure issues (septic systems), air and water pollution, low paying jobs with crappy benefits, all pale when considering the public can buy more crappy goods closer to home and the land owner, developer, and town can all reap the benefits.

Ah yes, the town will have more money to spend, but will resident taxes be lowered? Guess again! See what Wal-Mart did for taxpayers in other towns, especially when you consider the smaller competing businesses that were destroyed by this predator.

Any development that follows SEQR requirements and town codes will be approved regardless of opposition. Doing it right, that’s the rub! NIMBY’s should and do hold them accountable for getting it right. They are merely protecting their best interests.

Wal-Mart has no interest in the quality of life of its workers or customers. It serves its own interest. The present Hamburg store will close with the building of a new one. If the Wal-Mart gets built in Lancaster, the Wal-Mart in Cheektowaga will most likely be shut down. It is being robbed blind.

Who are the real losers? Why those damn NIMBY’s and the environment!

Hey Ground Zero: How many acres of wetlands are there on this 90 acre site? Not that it matters to the town fathers, developers and special interest groups! Still use septic systems there?

pudge

[WNYresident]

You had to know that the time would come when the anti-Wal-Mart and unionist labels would change to NIMBY.

Thats not how i'm looking at it. I'm looking at the economic impact of an out of state company has to an area.

Every profit dollar sold in a walmart goes back to walmart head quarters. I'd at least like to see a NYS based company doing retail in the area and at least leaving the money within our state and our banks.

Every time a new chain restaurant comes into the area that is money sucked right back out of state if it's not a locally owned restaurant. Stuff like that. Every dollar that goes out of state is one less dollar we keep here.

The area is not growing population so it's not like we are serving more people as time goes on.

[Ground-Zero]

Hi Pudge and WNY,
Excellent comments both of you!!

I'm not sure about how much wetlands there are, I'd guess at least 35% of the site, but there's a lot, the whole area west of the site is low and wet also. It's an old farm though so I doubt it's been delineated it. And yes, it will need septic.

As far as Bobs arguments go...
I don't really know what your point is other than you want this to go in no matter what the consequences are and will say anything to advance that argument.

On Friday you said it’s not a Wal-Mart and that people "need to do some research" Now you abandon that misdirection and say we're/I'm classic NIMBY. No kidding, I like my neighborhood and would like to protect my investment as do my neighbors. If someone proposes something that fits in our area that's fine, if not, we have a right to express our concerns about it. In this case though it is about far more than that. This project will be detrimental to our neighborhood AND to the Town and Village as a whole. People who oppose this value the character of their town more than saving a little drive time. Most people who oppose it with us don’t even live in close proximity to it. Many live on side streets that won't even be affected by the traffic and some live on the other side of the village. Have you looked at what kind of taxes people pay in all the built up areas to the west of us? Retail development in the end will not benefit the town to the extent promised by the developer and when all is said and done will probably raise our taxes. Don't forget that the retailers will rely on us for street rehab, police, fire and all the other services they will require. And in Wal-Marts case they will very likely contest their property taxes after a few years and demand a reduction as they are in Watkins Glen and elsewhere...
http://www.stargazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060912/NEWS01/609120324/1001/ARCHIVES


What do they think is going to happen along Route 20...a major four lane state highway, the most traveled road in the township. If there is going to be commercial development that is where it is going to be. Another Galleria? Be real, the town doesn't not have the location, traffic access or population density to economically support such an investment.

Of course development will occur on Rt. 20, you're right about that. It's simply a matter of scale appropriate to our town. I never said it will BE a Galleria, I simply compared the acreage involved. As far as being fully built out almost every person I talked to at the first word of this didn't believe Wal-Mart would ever build in a town our size. We now know that not to be the case (despite your well researched first post) and as has been the case everywhere else they build eventually all the other big box and chains once they see Wal-Mart doing well. The Galleria comparison was simply meant to illustrate that the site can accommodate most of these other stores. The only ancillary development that will happen will occur in that huge plaza, it will become the new center of commerce and future development for years to come unless of course small business closures are considered development. Is that smart for Alden?


Finally, the only area open area in the Town that comprises readily available commercial development is about a two mile strip {a lot less than Union Road} on route 20. If this land is allowed to be developed, then you can expect to see some auxilary development moving into the village.

You should know that the site that is up for a rezone for this project is roughly 1750ftx2025ft not a 2 mile strip. The strip you refer to consists of 9 parcels that extend back to the tracks and another 7 that are of a far lesser depth and of these only 2 are vacant so what exactly are you talking about here? This imaginary "readily available" strip does not exist. And if, as you claim, we couldn't fill a 90 acre site how would opening up a 2 mile section get things going in the village?

Oh yeah, don't try to gauge the opposition to this project by the number of signs you see. The town is charging us $10 a month, per house, per sign that we put up in our yards. Many of those that we pay for are also being stolen by people who, oh I don't know, haven't got enough books or CD's they hate to start a bonfire yet

GZ

[4248]

Did you mean to say , the Town charges $10 a month to have a sign on your lawn? Would that be a freedom of speech issue?Would that not be a easy class action law suit for some hungry lawyer?

[Ground-Zero]

Yes, Alden has a sign ordinance that stipulates you must pay the building inspector $10 and fill out form with a sketch of the sign you want to put up along with your address and the date. It's good for 30 days then they want you to come in and do it all over again.

If it's for a political candidate you can put signs up anywhere (legal of course) in the entire Town for $10 a month. We tried arguing that we should be treated like a candidate because our sign advocated a position on a matter before the Town Board that they must vote on but got nowhere with that argument.

And I think you're correct bullit, it's as illegal as hell.
Free speech isn't free in Alden.

[4248]

:eek:
Yes, Alden has a sign ordinance that stipulates you must pay the building inspector $10 and fill out form with a sketch of the sign you want to put up along with your address and the date. It's good for 30 days then they want you to come in and do it all over again.

If it's for a political candidate you can put signs up anywhere (legal of course) in the entire Town for $10 a month. We tried arguing that we should be treated like a candidate because our sign advocated a position on a matter before the Town Board that they must vote on but got nowhere with that argument.

And I think you're correct bullit, it's as illegal as hell.
Free speech isn't free in Alden.

So if someone had a similar size sign - lets say a American flag or a Support Our Troops - type sign then they would charge you $10.00 for expressing your patriotism? I think that would be worthy of a channel 4 or even a CNN report if they were informed of this fee. Maybe some one could get those same people to have some flag signs made - put them on their lawns and refuse to pay the ten dollars.When the warning letters appear , send a copy to the news media. I am quite sure your town leaders will see the light. When was this ordinance enacted?:rolleyes:

[4248]

Don't worry - as long as our Town Board remains true to form - we will get a Walmart and many many more homes and sub divisions. Where there is green - they will build - where there is "Flood Plain" they will fill.

Thats why our taxes are so low - all the building helps offset the cost of services. Just think - when all the build-able space is used - our property values will skyrocket - then they can re-assess our properties higher and we can help pay for even better services. Just look at Amherst and Williamsville- their taxes went way down!

I am just glad we can give our Elected and appointed officials Good Lifetime health care ,dental care and pension programs. I hope in the future we can find ways to give all our "Part-time" Town workers such great life-time benefits , OH - they did!

I feel some what bad about moving out in the next few years. I will be forced to move south so as to live close to my children . They both found good jobs and i don't understand it but , it seems you can get a nice home and pay allot less property taxes . Even gasoline and smokes (bad habit) are cheaper .

Maybe they haven't had all the growth we have enjoyed . Maybe soon they will learn to build bigger public service facility's and we can help more people get better benefits and taxpayer funded retirements.

Just my thoughts - i could be wrong. Thanks for your time!


Walmart - is coming!