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destinscuba

Beach Lover
May 9, 2007
180
58
on Eastern Lake
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.

So the probability that there is going to be a Topsail East development adjacent to this project is pretty high.
 

PJJ

Beach Lover
Oct 27, 2007
128
42
Ladies,
Despite someone else pointing out where I was going with the post that has you two all worked up (one to the point of mistakenly labeling me a carpetbagger), you appear to have missed my point. Please allow me to make remove the remaining mud from the water.

1. A new WalMart would be (ceteris paribus) more visually appealing than the abandoned trailer homes that are currently within eyesight from Highway 98, so the argument that a brand new WalMart would wreck the aesthetics of the area is a fallacy.

2. The kind residents of said trailer homes could afford to purchase more of life's necessities if shopping at WalMart than they would at most of the other establishments in south Walton County.

If you need further clarification, rather than jumping to the erroneous conclusions that you did, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks,
Philip
 

kathydwells

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Dec 20, 2004
13,303
420
63
Lacey's Spring, Alabama
Ladies,
Despite someone else pointing out where I was going with the post that has you two all worked up (one to the point of mistakenly labeling me a carpetbagger), you appear to have missed my point. Please allow me to make remove the remaining mud from the water.

1. A new WalMart would be (ceteris paribus) more visually appealing than the abandoned trailer homes that are currently within eyesight from Highway 98, so the argument that a brand new WalMart would wreck the aesthetics of the area is a fallacy.

2. The kind residents of said trailer homes could afford to purchase more of life's necessities if shopping at WalMart than they would at most of the other establishments in south Walton County.

If you need further clarification, rather than jumping to the erroneous conclusions that you did, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks,
Philip

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.

Philip, If you had said that in the first post I would have understood you. However, by leaving out the word "abandoned" in your first post, it led me to make the assumption that you were talking about "all" mobile homes that are visible from Hwy 98. I am assuming there are people living in some of those mobile homes, hence my "erroneous conclusions". Have a great day! :wave: Oh, and by "life's necessities" in your second post I am assuming you mean things other than "flatscreens and MP3 Players"?
 
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Just Curious

Beach Fanatic
Apr 22, 2009
316
80
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?

If you are buying your tools from Wal-Mart, I don't think you should have them ;-). It's been mentioned before here, you can't buy lumber and most hardware from Wal-Mart. I think those stores will be alright.

I have mixed feelings about this. I am most concerned about the change in "community atmosphere" that this will cause. I have seen them in other towns where they blend in well to their surrounding architecture, but I just hope we can achieve at least that here.
 

PC

Beach Lover
Aug 15, 2005
113
10
TN
On behalf of budget-conscious families everywhere, I'll stand with you, skunky. And no doubt the throngs of tourists who descend upon sowal each season would agree.

I also agree that the zoning and character of 98 is far different from that of 30A. Big boxes have no place on 30A.

And Gidget, I agree that 2 of those examples look, well, tacky. I thought the New Urbanist plan looked pretty good. My point was that communities do seem to have some power over store design.

I will have to agree with you guys. After coming to SoWal for 8 straight yrs now, it is always such a pain to have to go into Destin for walmart to stock up for the week, I really dont care for Destin. The last two yrs we have brought our beautiful baby and it was really not a pleasant experience. I am happy now that we wont have to come in on the mid-bay bridge anymore, we can just come in on 331 bridge and have the extra time we will have saved to sit on the beach, which is why we are there. I also see the other side of the coin and understand how some of the locals will feel about this.
 
Ladies,
Despite someone else pointing out where I was going with the post that has you two all worked up (one to the point of mistakenly labeling me a carpetbagger), you appear to have missed my point. Please allow me to make remove the remaining mud from the water.

1. A new WalMart would be (ceteris paribus) more visually appealing than the abandoned trailer homes that are currently within eyesight from Highway 98, so the argument that a brand new WalMart would wreck the aesthetics of the area is a fallacy.

2. The kind residents of said trailer homes could afford to purchase more of life's necessities if shopping at WalMart than they would at most of the other establishments in south Walton County.

If you need further clarification, rather than jumping to the erroneous conclusions that you did, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks,
Philip

Your clarification (ad captandum vulgus) is appreciated but after rereading your original post, I would have to say your elitist attitude is as much to blame as your wording for all the 'jumping to the erroneous conclusions'. I don't blame anyone for taking umbrage with your remarks.:wave:
 
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Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,684
9,476
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
No need to go to Walmart/Destin at all in my opinion. Publix has everything we need for the whole week.

so so so true. absolutely no need - at least for you and me. I have family and friends who drive into SoWal, check into their condo or house (or my house) and the first vacation activity is a half day trip to Destin Walmart to buy stuff. I have never understood and I shall never understand, but some folks (and I know and love several) thrive on the mere thought of going to Wallyworld to buy stuff.

I do not buy the "people who are budget conscious" argument. People absolutely do not have to go to Walmart in order to live within a budget. In fact, not going to Walmart will probably save the average Walmart shopper thousands per year.. not going to Walmart is a good step towards becoming a more thoughtful consumer. (no doubt there are those who do shop at walmart and buy only what they need, giving consideration to their budget and what they need v. what they want, as a thoughtful consumer. I just don't know very many of them. including myself whenever I venture into wallyworld once in a blue moon).
 
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