Monday, July 05, 2010
Walmart Comes to Bladensburg Road
It's definitely north of us, but it's a notable development none the less. Walmart is expected to sign a lease for an 11 acre piece of land near the intersection of New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road. DCist has the full story, and a map showing the exact location. Big upsides: right now it's basically used car lots up there, and a Walmart would likely keep money in DC that currently goes to Virginia or Maryland.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
36 comments:
But we will never be able to go to the Deli City,Baltimore or the beach ever again, because the New York ave and Bladensburg intersection will be so congested.
MD & VA can keep their MallWorts and all the cheap plastic crap that will end up breaking and littering our alleys and taking up space in our landfills.
The traffic will be a mess and my easy exit from the city no longer. That intersection can get clogged up as it is, put the devil's store there and all the 'burbanites driving in to buy low-end shit made by underpaid workers abroad, and it will be a nightmare.
There goes the neighborhood.
I think the traffic concerns are well-founded; it will be interesting to see what Walmart has to say on that issue.
djbays - To the extent that there is increased traffic, I don't think it will be from the suburbs. Folks in Virginia and Maryland already have plenty of retail options.
Also, while I realize there are valid reasons to criticize Walmart, I also think the proposed store could be very good for the District. It will keep tax revenue in the city, will create jobs, and most importantly will offer a comprehensive and affordable retail option that is currently lacking in Northeast.
This is great news. Not only will it be nice to have a Walmart so close, but the tax revenue will be nice for DC as well. Honestly though I think I am most excited because the idea of a Walmart annoys so many people who like to bitch about traffic, litter, small business etc. I just like seeing those people annoyed. I guess they would be happy if those junk yards stayed there for ever.
the advantages:
1. people could buy more stuff
2. increase in tax revenues for the city
3. jobs for people without professional or trade skills.
i'm not sure i believe the argument that it will draw many suburbanites to this location. there are 20 walmart stores in the dc metro area, and 1 of them is less than 5 miles from this site.
advantage #4: happier sadists like JRO
Mose,
Sometime visit Teeter on Pennsyvania Ave SE and count the Maryland cars in the underground garage. They really don't have that many options in PG county. And that's fine,I don't have any problem with collecting Maryland sales tax dollars. Nor do I have a problem with Walmart. It will provide modestly priced products, and much needed jobs in this area.
Hate the traffic problem. Maybe they can run a shuttle to the street car stop. The hotels out there already run a shuttle to Union station.
@JRO, thanks for that excellent summary of modern "Conservative" political philosophy:
"I'll poop my drawers if it'll make adults unhappy!"
Speaking of, I'm kinda ooking forward to seeing the H Street Pooper on http://peopleofwalmart.com
When did disliking WalMart become "conservative"? Not sure what universe y'all live in...
@djbays:
Not sure if your comment was directed at me, but JRO said he'd be happy to welcome Wal-Mart if for no other reason than that it would piss off anyone who cared about smart growth, walkability, littering, worker's rights, small businesses, trade issues, etc, etc...
Pretty much defines GOP electoral strategy since Nixon: "Gladly watch the country swirl down the toilet so long as there's a small chance it might irritate Jane Fonda."
Oboe, I guarantee, at least 95% of the people who will go to that walmart are going to be democrats.
Also, if you want to help poor people, the increased buying power that comes to them with walmart, especially when it comes to affording healthy food options, is a way that doesnt cost the tax payers a dime. Not everyone can afford $8 a pound tomatoes from the farmers market, and Walmart can be a great alternative to the neighborhood bodega, which only carries processed food.
While organized labor loves to hate walmart, people love it, and while it may unfortunately put some less efficient small businesses out of business (sorry but that is capitalism), it has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for many lower income Washingtonians.
If anyone wants a thought provoking, but balanced look at the goods and bads that come with walmart, they should read "the Walmart Effect" by Charles Fishman.
charles,
you've not shopped at a local farmers market if you think tomatoes are 8/lbs. its disingenuous to paint such an expensive picture for local small scale farmers that sell at these markets.
this past weekend the price at dc farmers market was $2.50 a pound. plus they always throw in extra.
I'll likely shop there until I realize that just like the DC Home Depot and the DC Target, it's staff will be unhelpful and it's restocking system will become so corrupted that it will never have any of the items I'm searching for.
Oboe-
I want to flush the country down the toilet because I think a Walmart would be good for the area? Interesting. I have lived a 1/2 block of H street for the last 7 years supporting local business's, being involved in the community, and picking up all the garbage around my house every day. Yet, at the same time, I also support the new Walmart as a place to employ people, bring in more taxes, and as an extra bonus, piss off people like yourself. Looks like I am the big winner on this one, since you already seemed annoyed.
I also don't get the traffic argument. Traffic at NY and Bladensberg is already a nightmare. According to the WP 80,000 cars pass through that intersection already and make it impossible to get our of the city in a timely manner. The addition of a Walmart if certainly not going to ruing some rural peaceful intersection. It will just add to the mess. I say it is worth it.
I guess you would prefer the current situation. I will take the words from today's Washington Post to describe the current situation:
11 acres in the triangle bounded by New York and Montana avenues and Bladensburg Road NE, property that includes a strip club and used auto parts shops
No, but a Walamart would be the great evil here.
There are a lot of pluses and minuses to this. A lot will rest on the approach management takes towards keeping the parking lot clean, and getting staff to give good service. Walmarts are usually zoos, but if staff keep on it and keep things clean it might stay under control...sort of like the broken windows theory.
I'll keep going to Target in Va or DC but I think this'll probably be a net positive. Hopefully the city will force them to pony up some $$ to do improvements to the roads and intersection.
Walmart in this blighted part of the city is welcomed. Any one who's studied development of blight areas would jump for joy. Walmart actually can serve as an anchor to draw other businesses. I would accept the anti arguments if we didn't already have several big box stores (HD, Target, Best buy...). To rally against Wally word seems fake, dishonest, small minded and frankly tacky.
For that that hate Wally, then also don't shop home depot, Best buy, target, pet-smart, Petco, Shopper, Safeway trader Joe's (Aldi's) or Giant.
Wally, has problems, but they all do. Wally has changed the face for retail around the world. They are very innovative, and as shown by their post Katrina actions, they are very nimble.
We need to stop the sanctimony and move on with making DC a more retail and business friendly jurisdiction.
If that means less small crappy businesses, then cool. I can live with less carryout, and hardware stores that don't let you walk down aisles.
-Robby
Inked, it's tonyt from the pug. Seems to be an electical fite at the auto zone. Man hole cover popped etc.
Stanton sez:
For a look at what's coming to your hood, check out the WalMart just off the Balt/Wash pkwy near New Carrollton: shelves are a mess, slowest checkout lines that side of the RI Ave Giant, all in all a horrible place.
but hey, now we won't have to drive to Md and Va for that pleasure.
that said, i doubt the traffic problems are cause to keep WalMart out. clearly people love shopping there cause it's cheap. and if it gets rid of those auto shops, welcome progress...
Some of these same arguments were used against the Target/Best Buy/Bed, Bath & Beyond shopping center in Columbia Heights. It's a great shopping center today and many other businesses were created around it. Before you criticize the Wal-Mart NE project ask yourself: How many construction jobs will this bring to the area? How long are those construction jobs projected to last? What is the projected monthly payroll for the construction workers? How many people will Wal-Mart employee? What is the projected monthly payroll for the Wal-Mart employees? What is the tax benefit from workers wages from construction and operation of the store? Is Wal-Mart going to present a plan with respect to traffic management for the area? Has an analysis been done to determine whether there are local business that would benefit from Wal-Mart coming to the area -- or a negative impact? These are questions, among many others, residents should ask. Will the local ANC host a meeting with Wal-Mart representatives where some of these questions can be answered? Let's get the facts first before we squabble about the cost of tomatoes. My family will continue to go to the farmers markets in the area, however, when we need need a durable good we would likely go the "NE Wal-Mart" to purchase. If you need a new microwave, coffee maker, etc don't you look for the best price?
Wal-mart isn't horrible. For all of the sanctimony let's just relax, its a simple big box store, like HD and the rest. It's a store going into a blighted area.
I will be good to enjoy their every day low prices, and not have to add to the tax coffers of MD or VA.
-Robby
I'm a little mystified as to the opposition to this store. There really isn't a whole lot in that neighborhood currently and it really isn't accessible to Metro.
I probably won't do much shopping there but its nice to know that the option exists. I hope that they put a little more thought into the design and layout of this Wal-mart than they seemed to for the ones in Virginia. The aisles there are narrow, and the checkouts have an annoying dogleg to them because of the soda fridges. I prefer Target because the aisles are wider. That said, there is a demand for a Walmart like store in Ward 5.
I don't think that the traffic will get much worse. Does anyone foresee someone going out of their way on week night to shop there who wasn't already passing through the area? The traffic in Kingstowne on a Saturday isn't that bad and they have a Walmart and a shopping center nearby.
Anon 7:44 - WTF are you talking about?
Anon 7:44,
I think you meant to respond to a guy who doesnt shop at walmart, but thinks people should be able to shop where they want to. said...
Charles Fishman was the author of a book the poster cites.
Wylie Jon says:
Great for the area.. Vacant property with used car lots and plenty of empty space would be a blessing. How can you argue with a place that will clean up an area, employee residents, and increase tax revenue for the DC?
@jro,
We can debate the benefits and drawbacks of an urban WalMart if you like...but that's not what I was responding to.
Your original post made passing comment about tax revenue, and convenience, but then went on to say that the best thing about it would be that it would piss off folks who think that litterers are dirtbags, and other assorted villains.
I was just pointing out that it's classic "politics of ressentiment". Should we drill in ANWR? There are arguments for and against, but it's the sign of a blinkered intellect to mistake "it'll piss off environmentalists" for an argument.
Same with the WalMart question: Is access to cheap shit under one convenient roof worth the massive surface parking creating an urban dead-zone? Who knows, so long as the uppity gentrifiers don't like it.
There are plenty of reasons to dislike Walmart. Here are just a few:
http://tinyurl.com/2g9e4ql
Sounds like a positive development for that area. I don't think the traffic impact will be much worse than it already is. I just hope they design the structure to be more welcoming to pedestrians by building the entrance up to the sidewalk rather than fronting it with acres of surface parking like the home depot/giant demolition derby reenactment on brentwood.
From H ST NE: I'm not going to enjoy the increased traffic - just like I don't enjoy being stuck exiting the Colombia Heights Target for 30 minutes - but the economic benefit WILL be good for DC IF they set aside a significant portion of the construction and retail jobs for DC residents!
I just hope they design the structure to be more welcoming to pedestrians by building the entrance up to the sidewalk rather than fronting it with acres of surface parking like the home depot/giant demolition derby reenactment on brentwood.
Yep.
That's my main concern. If you look at Columbia Heights and the various "big box" retail that was constructed there, it's clear that a lot of concessions were made to the urban space in which it sits.
In other words, it doesn't look like the sprawling mega-stores of Potomac Yard in Alexandria.
Oh, and @Robby: Not sure where you're picking up "sanctimony". I think you might want to explore that one a bit more.
That is, unless voicing any concern other than "How cheap can I buy a roll of toilet paper for?" is sanctimonious.
Oboe-
I still don't get your point about you being someone who worries about "litterers are dirtbags, and other assorted villains."
The current space is occupied by major urban blight. Junk yards and a strip club. With junk yards and strip clubs usually comes, illegal dumping, stolen cars, and prostitutes. That apparently is fine for you. In your world a Walmart who will hire some of the 10.4 of local residents who are currently unemployed is the true evil.
Why is that? I have two guesses. Either you are one of these bitter union guys who hates the idea that none of Walmart's 1.4 million employees is a member of a union. Or, you have enough money that you don't care what you pay for toilet paper, and therefore say "screw you" to all the rest who are trying to save money or trying to get a job at a local Walmart.
Or maybe you are just worried about the dozen or so strippers, escorts and chop shop workers who will lose their job over this.
@jro:
One more time. You wrote:
Honestly though I think I am most excited because the idea of a Walmart annoys so many people who like to bitch about traffic, litter, small business etc...
My point was that there are adults out there who realize that development can be a good thing--if it's done right. Wal-Mart coming to NY / Bladensburg may indeed be a good thing--if it's done right. These can also be bad things--if done wrong.
Without the folks who actually care about the *nature* of development, every corner in the city would have a Hechinger Mall -style development, and "H Street Connections" would line every boulevard.
Seriously, you guys are so desperate to stick it to some elitist "straw man" in your mind that you fall all over yourselves to give away whatever you can in an era when--for the first time in a half-century--the city actually has bargaining power.
Sad...
Oboe-
Again, I have already said that I do love that the Walmart annoys you and others. We are off that though. That is just my personal bonus to this whole thing.
I am now focused on your numerous flawed arguments. The latest is your point that:
"for the first time in a half-century--the city actually has bargaining power"
What does that even mean? What does the city have to do with this? This is a private owner of land agreeing with another private company to lease his land. What does the city have to do with any of this. If anything there only job is to sit back, shut up and enjoy the millions of dollars of new taxes that will come in. It is not their job to find out if Walmart has enough organic high prices items for you, or if they are only using union workers.
Stop standing in the way of progress.
This is a private owner of land agreeing with another private company to lease his land. What does the city have to do with any of this.
Welcome!
You must be new to this area. Or could it be that you honestly don't understand that the city could make things very easy for Walmart, or extremely difficult? It's why developing properties in DC can be frustrating for a lot of developers--but also why DC hasn't been turned into a shit-hole like Manassas.
It is not their job to find out if Walmart has enough organic high prices items for you, or if they are only using union workers.
Whiff! Whiff! Keep whacking that straw-man.
Oboe-
Sadly, I don't think you realize that you just proved my point. I agree that DC has the power to make life easy or hard on Walmart. That is the problem. Ask anyone who has tried to open a business on H street in the last 5 years. They will tell you that after dealing with people like you, and DC bureaucrats, opening a business small or big in DC is a nightmare. For some reason you and the bureaucrats would rather make life impossible for these people in order to preserve the beauty of crack houses, strip clubs and junk yards.
We should be happy a Giant is coming to H street even though I think most of us would prefer a Trader Joe's, but guess what? It is a Giant that is willing to come in. We should also be happy that a Walmart is coming in, even though most of us would prefer some great mixed use historic looking structure with a big giant park in the middle. Yet is a Walmart who is willing to come in and bring all these new jobs and clean up the shit hole that is currently sitting at that corner.
We simply have a different vision for where DC is going and what it can be. You are a "you're way or no way" type of guy who thinks the city should help you stop progress that you deem not good enough for you. That is not the way I feel.
We simply have a different vision for where DC is going and what it can be. You are a "you're way or no way" type of guy who thinks the city should help you stop progress that you deem not good enough for you. That is not the way I feel.
Actually, I agree--we do have different visions. But I'd put it this way: you're in the camp that says, "We live in an urban Hell-hole. Any scraps that someone is willing to throw to us, we'll accept gratefully. Lead smelting plant? Fine! 400-bed halfway-house for pedophiles? No problem; as long as you've got the money! Eight lane elevated superhighway over Capitol Hill? Hey! Maybe some of these commuters will stop at our 7-11 and buy a Slurpee! Jobs! Tax revenue!"
Meanwhile, (thank God) there is a growing number of folks who are not NIMBYs, but who believe that growth and renewal should be done in a way that's respectful of the urban environment, and who are willing to steer development in that direction.
The fact that the Columbia Heights/DCUSA isn't a giant box-store in a sea of surface parking is thanks entirely to the work of these folks. I'm with them. Proudly.
So yeah, we've got "a different vision" for where DC is going.
it't not like Walmart will be on H. there's nothing in that neighborhood. anything would be welcome. I seriously doubt it will replicate a Columbia heights. if it does, it's not really our neighborhood.
Post a Comment