78,000 sf Walmart coming to SoWal [opening June15]

[Smiling JOe]

and the noise complaints from the loading dock at Walmart will probably be kept to a low, with many of the elderly living behind it.

 

[9t]

Topsail West PUD:
Phase one- 80,000 sq. ft. BIG BOXstore.

Phase two- directly behind the big box, 4 apartment bldgs for seniors, 190 units and a 110 unit assisted living facility.

Phase three- TWO 25,000 sq. ft. retail bldgs. with a 10' setback on W. Hewett Rd. A 5,400 sq. ft. gas station and a 6,000 sq. ft. restaurant.

Phase four- A 45,000 sq. ft. retail with an additional 12,900 sq. ft. attached. A 5,000 sq. ft. office bldg., 2 restaurants @ 6000 or so sq. ft. each and a 13,225 sq. ft. pharmacy.

Phase five- Another 3 big retail stores @ 35,000, 28,000 and 11,836 sq. ft. plus a bank and another restaurant @ 6000 sq. ft.

Phase six- 10 apartment bldgs. with 310 units.

Conceptual PUD Master Plan -- Topsail West

Someone mentioned Walmart pharmacy, but with St Joe planning for a stand alone 13,225 sq. ft. pharmacy, they probably won't allow Walmart to have a pharmacy in that store.

Is there any upside with the other stores/restaurants from the later phases?

 

[Seagrovedude]

location is on St. Joe property on the northwest corner of U.S. 98 and West Hewett Road. It was only a matter of time, and is sure to put a lot of small businesses out.

How do you feel about Walmart coming to paradise?



http://www.co.walton.fl.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1644

I see this is as a serious problem for local businesses along 30A. From flipflops to skimboards to groceries to tools to paint Walmart can undercut our local business owners. It is well documented that Walmarts in and near small towns tend to destroy all types of small businesses, and turn quaint downtowns in to empty ghost towns.

I realize the power of Wally World, but I wonder if there is anything we can do to stop the process before it gets approved. Any ideas?

 

[SHELLY]

I realize the power of Wally World, but I wonder if there is anything we can do to stop the process before it gets approved. Any ideas?

...I have a gut-feeling that JOE is the driving force behind bringing Walmart here and not the other way around (a sweetheart land deal to provide an anchor store to retail space in their future low-cost housing projects??). After all, it was JOE who "leased" Southwest jets to fly into their airport--Southwest wouldn't have come to this place at this time on their own dime.

You can go to the public forums where they'll be discussing Walmart, but unless you are the CEO of JOE, the impact of your views will be like farting in a hurricane.

 

[NotDeadYet]

Read miznotebook's post #119. It's pretty much a done deal already except for the technical details. The PUD that SJ posted apparently was previously approved some time ago. Once that happens, it's pretty much over. At this stage you might be able to have some input into lighting, landscaping, location of the loading dock, setbacks, etc. But not much else.

 

[beachmouse]

Read miznotebook's post #119. It's pretty much a done deal already except for the technical details. The PUD that SJ posted apparently was previously approved some time ago.

Is that where Albertson's was supposed to go in years back?

 

[Allifunn]

I loathe going into a Walmart. In Columbia it was pure torture! The lines were long (even tho they had 20+ registers, 15 of which were always closed)Most of their products are cheap and tacky. I do believe that 98 will be developed, no matter what the residents wish. I choose to support local businesses (and I feel that Publix is a local business despite their "big box" exterior). I work a few blocks away from the Destin walmart and have never set foot in there. For the most part, we can not stop 98 from being developed, but we can, individually, choose where to shop...that is the main thing. I, for one, will not go to Walmart unless I am in dire straits! The tourists well, it is their prerogative to go there and shop if they so desire. Some will be glad for the familiarity.

I do not know much about St Joe, but I do know that they have preserved the natural integrities of their developments on 30A (Watercolor & Watersound). Yes, I am sure they have large tracts of land all along the FL coast and beyond. Wouldn't we all if we could afford it? Unfortunately it is their right to sell it as they please.

 

[Smiling JOe]

beachmouse. You are close. The property where Albertson's was slated to go in is located immediately east of Topsail West PUD. If you look at the link I provided for the Master Plan, you will see that Walmart is on the western end of the project. I believe the stand alone pharmacy in the project will be at the eastern end, where 30A (western end) meets hwy 98, adjacent to the property formerly planned for Albertson's.

Is there any upside with the other stores/restaurants from the later phases?

Not really. The restaurants will likely be chain restaurants. Don't need more banks. The gas station isn't really needed as there is a Chevron across the street. Offices -- we have plenty of office space. Multiple big box stores??? Hmmm. I wonder will be next to the Old Navy? (we really don't need them.) We have plenty of other empty commercial buildings for businesses. Stand alone pharmacy -- do they really still exist? I don't know why. This pharmacy is surrounded by two Publix with pharmacies, each within less than 3 miles in each direction, and there is another pharmacy in Gulf Place, less than three miles down 30A.

190 Senior living apartments -- Could be nice to have some competition for the only one in our area, located on Mack Bayou Road.

110 unit assisted living facility -- As our population ages, and people move closer to the beach, this might be a good thing.

310 unit multi-family residential -- If they are apartments, they might be good to have, since there are really none in our entire area. Speaking of apartments, Alexan has built some nice apartments in Panama City Beach, and they are currently building more behind the Destin Walmart. Maybe JOE will team up with them to build/manage the apartments.

 

[doxiegirl]

Con: WalMart will take away from the beautiful Hwy 98 corridor of cobwebbed commercial real estate, the Jambone/Scavengers/Smoker Friendly shopping centers and trailer homes visible from the road.

Pro: The trailer home residents now have a place they can afford to purchase necessitiessuch as flatscreens and MP3 players.

Toss up.

Why don't you go back to the hole you moved from if mobile homes and businesses bother you. Your narrow mind attitude will be the death of this area.

It was paradise before all of the non-natives moved here!

 

[kathydwells]

Why don't you go back to the hole you moved from if mobile homes and businesses bother you. Your narrow mind attitude will be the death of this area.

It was paradise before all of the non-natives moved here!

Just an FYI, I know several non-natives that have moved there and are VERY involved in the community in many different ways. They work very hard in the community to enhance it, not hurt it. I have already stated my opinion about the previous posters post concerning the mobile home issue. About that narrow mind, perhaps you need to take a look at your post because it seems a little narrow minded to me.