2009.02.27
So much for the Wal-Mart in Blacksburg
The Virginia Supreme Court sided with the town on whether the developer had vested rights. I haven't read the full decision yet, but it looks like the town's new big-box ordinance will apply, which means the First & Main developer must get approval for its huge store in Phase II. I can't imagine the current council would approve a Wal-Mart Supercenter or most other big-box stores.
In considering whether developers obtained a vested right to a commercial use of their property under Code § 15.2-2307 as a result of proffers they made to obtain approval of a rezoning application, the circuit court erred in affirming a board of zoning appeals' ruling that the developers had acquired such a right and were therefore not required under a subsequent zoning ordinance amendment to obtain a special use permit for a proposed structure with more than 80,000 square feet of retail floor space. The proffers also did not prohibit enforcement of the subsequent zoning ordinance amendment under Code § 15.2-2298. The judgment is reversed, the determination of the zoning administrator that a special use permit is required for the proposed structure is reinstated, and final judgment is entered.
The group Blacksburg United for Responsible Growth (BURG), which led the fight against the project, will continue to raise money. It has $8,000 worth of bills outstanding according to an announcement sent to members.
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How about a Sam's Club?
Comment by Henry — February 27, 2009 @ 10:28 am
I wonder if everyone who fought so hard to keep walmart from coming in will regret that when the rest of the shops in Blacksburg close because of our crumbling economy and those who work at VT lose their jobs because of state budget cuts and can't afford the high prices at those specialty shops anymore and suddenly wish they had a discount store nearby....
Comment by HCS — February 27, 2009 @ 10:38 am
Well, now the rugby team can use the field again. In all seriousness, the First & Main development seems to be doing fairly brisk business at this point, even without Wal-Mart, the movie theater, any of the outparcels, or about a third of the retail spaces occupied or open yet. However, like HCS said, with the economy the way it is, I would not be at all surprised if the development at that site doesn't move forward quite so swiftly or if several of the businesses now in that center fail in the first few years. In the end, it may wind up being a very attractive, yet somewhat empty retail center that winds up with the high-end shops replaced by stores like Dollar General, a Chinese buffet, Check in to Cash, and a pawn shop. I'm surprised the court ruled this way to be honest, so Blacksburg will get to remain Mart free. Maybe Wal-Mart ought to thumb their nose and develop a new store format with 4 40,000 SF "pods" to hold their respective portions. Have Pod 1 for grocery and pharmacy; Pod 2 for clothing and shoes; Pod 3 for electronics, furniture, and housewares; and Pod 4 for toys, stationary, crafts, hardware, the garden center. That would be great.
Comment by Other John — February 27, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Henry, a year and a half ago, directly from a Sam's Club 'higher-up' person, there was plans to build one in the area either behind the mall or over behind K-Mart there somewhere.
I wish I still had his number to call and find out if thats still on the slate...
Whats the problem with the WalMarts and Sams anyway? If im not mistaken, they started out as a simple family owned/operated store as well. Then learned to buy in bulk and sell cheaper than other small stores.
There's a pretty good chance that most of the small struggling stores would love to expand to other locations and grow as well.
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — February 27, 2009 @ 10:59 am
"..it may wind up being a very attractive, yet somewhat empty retail center that winds up with the high-end shops replaced by stores like Dollar General, a Chinese buffet, Check in to Cash, and a pawn shop." - OJ
You could have just simply said "it may wind up like Roanoke Street in Christiansburg" LOL.
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — February 27, 2009 @ 11:09 am
You're right Marked it was a small family owned shop...I believe it was Sam himself that started it up and dime store or something.
Anyways, I think I mentioned this on here before but it was a while back but in Roanoke the walmart that opened on 460 near the bonsack neighborhood was a big uproar because it was so close to the neighborhood and practically in the backyard of some of those homes.
Well not a peep was said once it got there and I can guarantee every person in that neighborhood shops at that walmart often (and probably secretly enjoys that it's so close!)
Comment by HCS — February 27, 2009 @ 11:16 am
Marked
This biggest problem is that there is a Walmart in Christiansburg. We cannot support both of them.
Comment by Henry — February 27, 2009 @ 11:30 am
Mark, Roanoke Street in Christiansburg isn't very attractive.
Comment by c. trejbal — February 27, 2009 @ 11:32 am
"This biggest problem is that there is a Walmart in Christiansburg. We cannot support both of them." - Henry
Isn't that WalMart's decision to decide if they think they can have two successfuly stores in close proximity? Apparently they wanted them there. And plus, anywhere else you go there are a number of walmarts nearby. I'd say that with the large student pop. in blacksburg that you could most certainly support it.
Comment by HCS — February 27, 2009 @ 11:42 am
I think 2 Wal-Marts could be supported pretty easily, but we'll never know at this point. And no, Roanoke St. is not very attractive, and Radford Road is even worse! If there was an armpit to the NRV, Radford Rd from Depot St. in Christiansburg to Rock Rd near Plum Creek would be it. Of course, the bit between the C'burg limit and the Plum Creek restaurant isn;t bad, but either end is quite dumpy. Then again, most of the town of Pulaski could qualify too.
Comment by Other John — February 27, 2009 @ 11:45 am
Henry, regarding my post, it was that there was a Sams Club going to be built, not a second Walmart.... Even so, it could support a 'regular' walmart and not the 'super' variety.
LOL Christian, thats true, even though Roanoke Street is plum full of those aformentioned stores and shops, I forgot that the word 'attractive' was included in the other poster's comment, and that street definitely is not.
Can you believe there used to be a Hill's and a Heck's department store out there... for many many years... and way before the newer subdivisions were built out that way next to 81. That street used to be fairly nice, and even now with the increase in residents on that end of town, i wonder why it hasnt grown back up?
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — February 27, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Shelor owns it all. They keep closing/removing businesses to expand their parking lots.
Comment by Other John — February 27, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
Such a shame the poor of this nice liberal town won't be allowed to get the most for their dollar.
It would be a fascinating study, examining liberal policies' effects on the poor. Let's see. We've got Obama's declaration of war against corporations which has affected the DOW which cuts down or corporate giving See Mill Mountain Theater) as well as Second Harvest, RAM House, and many other charities. There there is Obama's horrible and cruel removal of the charitable donation tax deduction. Hundreds of charity will get killed over that, including our local Habitat Store. Then of course there is the cycle of dependency that's been restored with the rollback of Welfare Reform.
Too numerous to mention. Any regular media outlet interested in doing a story on that? How about you, Roanoke Times?
Comment by Tom — February 27, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
Tom, it's pretty clear in the Burg. The professors and other folks in Blacksburg who bought nice houses wound up getting their trailer-dwelling neighbors removed from the town limits and are working to remove the last few trailer parks as well. As a result, the Family Dollar on N. Main closed becasue the low-income folks who lived nearby are now gone, replaced by people with money. None of the Blacksburg Police live in the town, not a single officer. They aren't paid enough to afford any of the housing in town. Not having any low-priced retail in town means any remaining lower income folks drive to Christiansburg to shop. If they drive to C'burg anyway, why not move there where it's cheaper? Well, look at the growth in C'burg and surrounding areas like Montgomery, Pulaski, and Giles counties...they are leaving as quickly as they can.
Comment by Other John — February 27, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
To celebrate this decision, I will go my local neighborhood Wal-Mart to shop for shoes and socks, since I will not be able to buy those things in Blacksburg. I'll be returning there in about a week to buy an LCD TV too.
Comment by Other John — February 28, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
Shame on Blacksburg Town Council and the BURGS. Here was an opportunity for jobs and extra revenue to come to Blacksburg and they blew it. I am making it a point now to only shop in Christiansburg or nearby Towns that have a Walmart. I find it very interesting that these people represent thousands and they are NOT from here. They moved here because they couldln't make it in their own hometowns. Everyone should remember this in the next Town elections.
Wouldn't it be nice if Christiansburg went to City status instead of Town status. That would mean all that sales tax revenue would not be shared with Blacksburg.
Time to clean house in Blacksburg!
Comment by Jean — February 28, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
"Whats the problem with the WalMarts and Sams anyway?"
They are not labor-friendly and unionized. THAT is the real problem IMHO.
Comment by Lisa — March 1, 2009 @ 9:25 am
That's true Jean but they would probably need that and more to run their own independent school system. They would also lose the lucrative real estate taxes they receive from Blacksburg's high assessments. There's a good reason why cities revert to town status. Running an independent city is expensive.
As for Town Council elections, the development of South Main was a big campaign issue. Obviously the citizens who showed up to vote on election day chose this slate of candidates. If the citizens are unhappy with the actions of the Council they have an opportunity to elect candidates with a different platform. We'll see if they do in November. We keep hearing that Council only hears the voice of the vocal minority of elites but the mysterious, so-called silent majority doesn't ever seem to show up at the polls.
Comment by observer — March 1, 2009 @ 9:37 am
All this hoopla over this stuff? Good grief, it's only 9 miles from Christiansburg to Blacksburg and vice versa. It's not like you're talking having to pack an overnight bag to go from one place to another.
Muchado about nothing here folks.
Comment by Will — March 1, 2009 @ 11:26 am
The disturbing thing about this is how a small yet vocal minority of town residents controlled this process. It was also a bit disheartening to see a town council member post on the BURG group a message stating "We Won!" Pretty much lays out just who Don represents from his seat -- and it isn't the homeowners who pay property taxes. At least the Roanoke Times finally got a clue and has been calling BURG for what it is -- a group that is anti-Wal Mart and has no real interest in "responsible growth" in Blacksburg. Now the BURG puppets on town council will be pumped to oppose any plans that the First and Main developers come up with for that parcel of land.
Comment by Joe Hokie — March 1, 2009 @ 11:40 pm
Going from Town Status to City status is a complex process. It can be done. There is certianly as much if not more lucrative real estate esp.commercial in Christiansburg.
I do agree that it is very important for citizens to vote. I have always voted, and unfortunately, the ones I voted for didn't get elected. I hope in the next election that those that wanted shopping in Blacksburg will step-up and make their voices heard. WE CAN NOT go much longer with the present Town Council that only listens to the BURGS.
I hope the developers will put in a Hooters and Harley lovers will have regular meetings there. As far as the schools being close, no one is worried about the ABC store or the beer speciality store nearby.
Comment by Jean — March 4, 2009 @ 6:41 pm