What was to be an "urban" Wal-Mart built over the remnants of Northcross Mall now looks like it will be a pretty standard Wal-Mart. The main changes from the original plan are that it has shrunk from 200,000 sqft to 100,000 sqft and the parking garage has been removed - only lots and lots of surface parking remains. Whether those changes are the result of protests by nearby residents or the economic downturn is a matter of contention. more ›

Two big wins for the patriots fighting to keep Allandale among the least dense, slowest growing neighborhoods in central Austin. First, Wal-Mart has abandoned any pretext of urbanity at their proposed Northcross location. Second, City Council acceded to Allandale's demands to opt out almost all of its eligible tracts from VMU zoning (all that they added was the Wal-Mart/Northcross location and a lot that is already VMU). more ›