Wal-Mart is Coming to the Heights – Horrors !?
Okay, I can’t take it anymore. The “Stop Wal-Mart” hysteria is just stupid. I live in the Heights (Woodland Heights actually, across I-10 from Target); I love the Heights; I sell Heights homes for a living. It’s not like I’m an outsider.
However, who the hell really thinks that Yale at Koehler is the Heights? I’m sure if I tried to sell a house from this area to these mal-contents, they wouldn’t pay Heights prices!
This photo is what people want to save from development? Isn’t it lovely? Isn’t it worth saving? It just makes my heart flutter! It’s just a total wreck of a warehouse/railroad spur area!!!
What, we don’t want to ruin the view of the junk warehouses? We don’t want to despoil the beer bottle covered lot next to the tracks? Give me a break! It’s an old run-down warehouse district. Would you rather have more bars like is spreading down Washington Ave?
You don’t like Wal-Mart? Don’t go there! You talk about crime… I’d rather walk across a Wal-Mart parking lot at night, than the current desolate/junky area.
Be careful what you ask for. If Wal-Mart doesn’t build, who will? It certainly won’t be a cute little batch of picture-book bungalows popping up there.
Enough time on this stuff. I have work to do. Obviously the protestors don’t.
If you want to spend more time on this and want to see more photos of this delightful area go to Charles Kuffner’s Off The Kuff. I didn’t want to steal anymore of his photos.
Another post is from the Chronicle’s recent Home in the Heights.
Rich, you’re misunderstanding the purpose of the group. We’re not anti-development. We’re anti-big box retailer jammed into the middle of an already congested area. No one expects that area to be a residential development. We’re just working for a more appropriate retail plan that will better suit the area and the residents. If you have any questions about the motives of the Stop the Heights Walmart group before your next blog, please feel free to ask.
Oh, btw, as a realtor, what is your professional opinion of what a development of this size will do the property values of homes in the area and along Yale?
I think Realtor’s think they know what they are talking about but they really don’t. She lives in the Heights, where most of the homes are old and the only reason their house costs a lot is due to the land. Granted, there are some nice new construction but are overvalued and each time I walk into and out of a new home there, the selections are poor making an overpriced home even less attractive. I live a street away from where this supposed-to-be Wal-Mart is going to be placed and I really hope an H.E.B. grocery store gets put up instead of a Wal-Mart. Seriously, the last thing I want to see in this area is a Wal-Mart. We have a Target and the only nearby grocery store is in on 11th and Shepherd. Thus, an HEB would be a nice choice. I don’t drink, so I don’t go to any of the bars but if these new establishments (i.e., Buffalo Wild Wings, Zoe’s, small retail and new small restaurants) bring up the value and earn business than a Wal-Mart, I am all for it. By the way, this Koehler and Yale street intersection is not bad at all but adding these stores there would create way too much traffic. I would not live on Koehler since it’s a bit shady at night and has too many speed bumps, but the other streets, Spencer and Eigel, are just fine. On top of that, Wal-Mart will bring down the values of the lots. I rest my case as to why I don’t want a Wal-Mart but I wouldn’t want this Realtor selling homes in our area (Rice Miliarty / Upper West End) since she doesn’t appear to know what she is talking about. I guess she only cares about her 6% commission, so I will do it myself if I ever decide to sell this house.
You are right about several things. I do live in the Heights; I do have an old house (1909); most of the value is the land ($40/SF in Woodland Heights). Land price is what drives house prices inside the loop. Thats why 2 townhomes are being packed into what was a single lot in Rice Military, or even higher density in Cottage Grove. Every neighborhood around here has a different feel. Houston Heights, Timbergrove, Oak Forest, Lindale all have an old-neighborhood ambience. Rice Military area has more of an urban feel to it. New homes, close to activities, shopping…more action. People are more accepting of commercial activities…that is part of the appealto the area.
You were wrong about a couple of things too; I am a “he” (Rich Martin), and I do help a lot of FSBO’s sell their own homes too. So, if you do ever decide to sell your own home, check out my tips for FSBO’s. Good luck
My thoughts on property values on Yale? If you own a little bungalow on Yale, it’s not a good thing. The highest and best use for that residence would be for an office. Yale is commercial. Regardless what type of commercial endeavor goes there, it won’t help the little bungalow.
If you have a townhouse, it’s better. Townhouse buyers are not typically the “hometown neighborhood feel” type of buyer. These are higher density, and buyers like being near shopping, restaurants, etc.
Anyway you look at it; Yale is a commercial street.