From a new Tomorrow’s News Today post answering the question “Where are they now?” regarding the Suburban Plaza shake up to make ready for Walmart…

Big Lots, a tenant that has been in the center for as long as I can remember, will be staying despite the Walmart entrance.  Apparently the redevelopment will not affect their space and they are happy to be staying and look forward to the increased (foot) traffic the Walmart will bring.  Suburban Lanes Bowling, one of the original tenants from 1954, is located on the lower level on the center, and is scheduled to remain in place and be part of the new Suburban Plaza.

Yesterday, the Champion Newspaper published a story about Good Growth DeKalb’s ongoing efforts to stop a Walmart from opening at Suburban Plaza.

Today, the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association has posted a letter from property owner Scott Selig, addressing a July 12th meeting between Selig and Good Growth DeKalb – which was also mentioned in the Champion article – and encouraging feedback from the community.  As is mentioned in both the letter and the Champion article, Selig says that Walmart is not up for discussion, but they are encouraging feedback through community liaisons on other potential tenents and/or the architectural design of the redeveloped property.

The gauntlet has been thrown!

In an article in The Champion newspaper this week County Commissioner Jeff Rader says that in order for Walmart to receive the parking variance it has requested to build fewer spaces than is required under the current code, they will need to “have to show how their project will adapt and change people’s travel behaviors.”

OK, so this is obviously isn’t a really much of a gauntlet.  It’s a purposely vague statement, as one should expect from a public official expected to weigh the pros and cons of any development for a community.  But it sure would be interesting to think about what it would take to change the travel behaviors of Walmart shoppers, wouldn’t it??

So if the Walmart design needs to “adapt and change people’s travel behaviors” the first, most obvious questions are “How many people?”and  “change their travel behaviors in what ways?” Read the rest of this entry »

Since my first post back in June, I’ve heard from more than one trusted anonymous source that Walmart was indeed part of the Suburban Plaza redevelopment plan.  Clairmont Heights Civic Association’s website reports that the property’s owner, Scott Selig, presented at a county community council meeting earlier this week and confirmed that Walmart is part of the plan.  According to the CHCA…

The plan has Walmart as an anchor. Other retailers were approached, but Walmart was apparently the only one with funding and interest. Walmart has offered to place underground all of their parking spaces and to add extensive landscaping. The county has expressed interest in making the N Decatur/Scott/Medlock intersection more pedestrian friendly.

All of this is in-line with what Tomorrow’s News Today originally reported back in June and what I’ve continued to hear from reliable sources who wouldn’t go on the record.

Photo courtesy of Google Streetview