Northcross Mall Renovation Idea Sparks Outrage Among Local Residents

The Statesman reported yesterday that a redevelopment strategy is in progress for Northcross Mall. Lincoln Property Company of Dallas, Texas recently purchased the property, and plans to add four buildings, extensive parking options, and an assortment of new retail offerings.

But since the story appeared on Tuesday's front page, outrage has begun to boil over implications that a new Wal-Mart location could take root on this newly-desirable patch of retail property just west of Burnet Road along Anderson Lane. Though no definite plans have been made with any retailers, Wal-Mart spokesperson Kimberley Row was quoted in the Statesman article as follows: "Given Austin's current and projected growth, Wal-Mart certainly considers Austin to be an attractive market."

Concerns have revolved around issues such as: the unethiciality of Wal-Mart's business practices and culture; the unavailability of health care to most employees; the inability of surrounding infrastructure to bear the load of heightened traffic flow; and, most prominently, the negative consequences to local businesses and communities that flourish in bustling Allendale. At a time when the positive economic feasibility of green building, smart growth, and organic product offerings have reached fever pitch in international business journals and economic publications, the notion that a Wal-Mart could open in one of central Austin's liveliest neighborhoods sends a dangerous message to the nation at large, say local residents and readers of the Statesman.

Since its opening in 1975 and through its glory days in the mid-1980's, Northcross Mall has been host to a lively cauldron of pop cultural activities, including an ice-skating rink, the video arcade Tilt, Lammes Candies, and Recording Studios of America, who once offered to record proto-karaoke tapes of superstar hopefuls and then broadcast them over a loudspeaker--and still do, we are told. Shoppers of a certain age will to this day entertain the memory of department stores Frost Bros and Scarboroughs, which once graced the ends of each wing of the shopping center, delivering actual customer service and reasonable prices to neighborhood shoppers. Locals now entering their thirties periodically revisit deeper memory recesses to recall dressing in drag to the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday nights in the early nineties, back when we could indulge in indoor cigarette smoking and over-the-top displays of hedonism and period costume.

As retailers such as Whole Foods and REI have driven the export of modern retailers to areas such as the intersection of 360 & 183, 6th & Lamar, and Techridge (Palmer @ I-35), business at Northcross Mall has dwindled. The antiseptic in-mall appearance of a conference center, an early voting location, and its continuing use as a elderly "Walk The Mall" zone have sent ever greater numbers of customers running to richer shopping experiences elsewhere.

Let the record show that Austinist favors colorful local shops, reasonably priced but organically-rich eateries and grocery stores, ethical business practices that encourage the interdepedence of retailers, artfully landscaped environments, natural lighting, open air, and parking options that are somewhat plentiful but understated.

* Photo by Matt Wright on flickr

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Greek in News, Other on June 21, 2006 9:52 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Diane

Northcross is an eyesore and the residents are complaining about something that isnt close to their homes unlike miles of unsightly business and stripmalls on Burnet road they have to pass to get out of their streets. Then Anderson is busineses and strip malls and they have Mopac behind their homes with trucks that drive by at ALL hours. If they wanted pristine quiet hill country they need to move there.

Walmart will revive the unsightly mall with nice landscaping and architecture and have little traffic inpact since those that will shop there already use Mopac/Anderson/Burnet.

Small business will fill the rest of the mall since Walmart draws in shoppers. This is true of other Walmart shopping centers.

Residents like the elderly will have somewhere to get low cost rx's filled and families can shop for all their needs at one place so this will REDUCE traffic.

No one is going to drive through the residential streets other than residents so I dont see the problem other than Austin Weirdos feel important lobbying against Walmart because they dont like an American business who is succesful and created jobs for people that probably wouldnt get hired at an upscale Austin business.

There are new homes (not the old dumpy Northcross area homes) that attract families in other areas of Austin, Round Rock, Hutto that go up near Walmarts and residents dont complain about bright lights, 24 hour traffic. How many people shop at Walmart at 3am? Traffic will be eased since trucks are not limited to day time hours.

I hope Walmart builds the biggest Walmart ever at this location with all the services and I WILL shop there!

robert

to Angel: personally, I want the poor and illegal immigrants to stay in East Austin where they belong and not ruin an up and coming neighborhood. Its cool if you don't want to be a yuppie, just don't do it in my 'hood, thank you.

joey big time

The reason why we should be horrified and refuse upon pain of death to allow the "Borg" (Wal-Mart) in the neighborhood, is that, once built, the area is ruined for decades to come. A big box store is like a black hole and will suck all of the surrounding stores into its gaping, Chinese-slave-labor, Communist-government subsidized maw.

Currently you have a dead-mall but with quiet empty areas and a skating rink and a few businesses and entreprenuerial ventures. With a Wal-Mart, you will have semi trucks unloading at 3am under the glare of sodium vapor lights, trash, filth and crime, and gridlock from Mopac to Burnet and all points in-between. Anyone that isn't outraged over this, is just not paying attention.

ANGEL

I LIKE TO THANK THOSE PROTESTERS LAST WEEK FOR ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING. GOOD JOB! IT SEEMS TO ME THEY LIKE HIGH PRICES, NO COMPETITION, AND KEEPING LOWER INCOME FAMILIES OUT OF THE AREA. SIMPLY PUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAL-MART DEVELOPMENT MOVING AHEAD, PONY UP THE MONEY FOR AN ALTERNATE DEVELOPMENT OR GET OVER IT. GOOD DAY!

Kelly

Arguing over the internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.

and I see we have a few runners here.

James

Im sure those opposed to the Wal-Mart development of Northcross mall are the same ones who bitch and moan about the sluggish economy. In our neoghborhood, we call those people hypocrites.

Chris

The current Northcross Mall is a dead mall. Anything they do to renovate can't hurt, including a Walmart. I would prefer a Central Market or Whole Foods since that area NEEDS a grocery store.

If the local small retailers, Like Zingers, Terra Toys, etc are afraid of a Walmart, then these smaller retailers either need to provide better service, comparable prices, or items not stocked by Walmart.

As a consumer, I like having a choice... If I want the lowest price, I have the choice to purchase at Walmart, or support a store like Zingers which stocks interesting items not found in a Walmart.

Walmart will drive the prices down in the area which is a win for the consumers.

Rick Culleton

I welcome the development of the Northcross Mall. The potential of this site is obvious, both for the investors and the community. The right mix of tenants will bring this center back to life. I look forward to shopping there, once again.

There are a couple issues that need to be addressed. The Eastbound intersection of West Anderson at Burnet Road is a common cause of gridlock. Anyone driving this street daily knows something has to be done about the left turn lane from West Anderson to Burnet Road Northbound. Adding to that congestion without first fixing the current dilemma would be a mistake.

I hope the new owners will act responsibly while developing a potential tenant list. No one familiar with this street would EVER suggest a Wal-Mart move in. This area is developing wonderfully. The center, across the way, (home to Houston's, Zinger Hardware & Terra Toys) is turning into something very Austin. I would hate to see that ruined and those great tenants chased away by any big box retailer.

Kenneth

Randall's wanted to put a Central Market-type complex in what is now becoming The Triangle, but it got shot down. Seems like that would be the perfect place to try out that concept, if they're still interested.

omit

Here's the link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-14-walmart-designs_x.htm

omit

"If Wal-Mart really wants to build an urban design," Though I doubt they would pursue it here, this article shows they're open to it. I bet a lot of people would like some kind of grocery store, and Wal-Mart has been branching in that direction. That being said, I'd prefer not to see one there.

sean

They should use construction materials from local hardware stores. Like the Lowes just a block or two away. :)

M1EK

The right thing to do is to push for pedestrian-friendly design, and then get the hell out of the way and let the market figure out the rest. If Wal-Mart really wants to build an urban design, and they don't mind making parking slightly less convenient in the process, they're welcome to move in.

henry

fact check, hurrah! yes, that may be true, i dunno. but when they first took it out, i swore never to return. the rejection. the pain.

now, only my grandparents do their afternoon walking there. i wonder if the Luby's is still there or whatever. "the luann platter."

Sneed

The skating rink at North Cross returned over two years ago.

Sneed

henry

Northcross Mall is ugly. Wal-Mart is uglier. Enough with the utilitarian architecture, already. Putting small businesses out of commission is one thing, but you'd think that with all the revenue Wal-Mart rakes in, they'd at least be able to design stores that had SOME aesthetic value.

Northcross Mall should be renovated in some way, that's for sure. Ever since they took the ice skating rink out, there's been zero reason to go there. Oh, except for the midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show. Sigh.