Developers unveil plans for North Decatur Walmart
- 11/10/11
- Categorized in: Business, DeKalb News
Nearly 200 residents were on hand Nov. 2 to hear plans for a proposed Walmart planned for the Surburban Plaza on North Decatur Road.
Glenn Wilkins, a senior manager of public affairs and governmental relations for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. presented conceptual plans for the proposed 150,000-square-foot store which would have groceries, a deli, pharmacy and an optical center. Parking for the store would be an underground garage.
Wilkins stressed that the plans were not finalized.
“If you don’t like it, don’t get married to it,” Wilkins said.
At the meeting sponsored by the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association, some residents voiced concerns about the impact on other nearby Walmart stores. One is located five miles away on Memorial Drive near Avondale Estates and one is seven miles away in Tucker.
Walmart recently announced plans to construct another store six miles away near the corner of Memorial Drive and Hairston Road.
“We’ll probably impact the other stores,” Wilkins said. “But we don’t think it’s going to be substantial. If we thought it were substantial, we would not be here today proposing this to you.
“I can assure you we will not be shutting down other stores,” Wilkins said. “They were too expensive to build in the first place.”
As proposed, Walmart would be the anchor store in a renovated Suburban Plaza.
Steve Selig, president of Selig Enterprises which owns Suburban Plaza, said his company has been working for seven to eight years to revitalize the shopping center.
Developed by his grandfather in 1960s, Surburban Plaza was once probably the leading shopping center in the area after Lenox Square, Selig said.
“We know that it has deteriorated and we’re not proud of that fact,” Selig said.
Selig said his company is talking to or has letters of interest from other retailers including Staples, HH Gregg, Michael’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, LA Fitness, Home Goods and buybuy Baby.
“We want make all of those, but we will make some of them and that’s the kind of quality set-up that we expect to bring into the area,” Selig said.
Selig predicted that the improved development, which will increase by 30,000 square feet, is expected to add 600-800 jobs to the community and spur redevelopment in the corridor.
“As far as I can see, this is really a win-win,” Selig said. “It’s a win for the neighborhood. It’s a win for DeKalb County. It’s going to create jobs. It’s going to create more tax revenue.”
“This is the best thing that we could do for this neighborhood,” Selig said.
Selig said his family-owned company plans to continue to own the plaza after it is developed.
“We don’t build to sell,” Selig said. “We build to hold. We’ve owned it for 50 years. We will hopefully own it for another 50 years.”
The crowd laughed when Selig said development would have a minimum effect on traffic.
To go forward the development would need a parking variance from the county. Currently, the shopping center has 3.8 spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor space. The developers want 3.91 spaces per 1,000. County regulations require 5.5 spaces per 1,000. The county commission is expected to consider granting the variance in its Dec. 14 meeting.
I read in the AJC this morning that the financing for a new Brookhaven City looks positive. The County will lose more tax money. I am sure that they are preparing by adding more CEO and BOC staff and raising their salaries.
DKC is a tragic comedy in action. It should be put out of its misery by declaring bankruptcy and getting some real managers
For ten years now the DeKalb CEO and DeKalb BOC have attempted to "balance the books" on the backs of The DeKalb Police Dept and Fire Department. Some say DeKalb is short some 600-800 Police Officers.
Just recently the DeKalb BOC and CEO spent almost 15 THOUSAND DOLLARS on a needless trip out West ? This money could have gone to the Seniors Meals On Wheels Program.
One thing about a Democracy = You deserve the Government You Have = Because You Voted Them In !
At least Walmart doesn't sell alchohol by the glass yet. We can have more pubs in the surrouning vacated store spaces for miles.
On Gresham Rd many WalMart Employees have told me that they were being let go so that they could not qualify for benefits. Some of these employees were the nicest people both black and white. These people waited on me for months and were excellent employees in my opinion.
Dollar Store and WalMarts and Gas Stations that's East and South DeKalb.
"what a slap in the face to Decatur taxpayers!" I completely understand the need to develop the complex, no other anchors interested at all? That's awfully hard to believe with such a wonderful position to major intersections and the perimeter.
Shame shame shame on our commissioners for keeping this so quiet until this stage of the game (meaning this past June when rumors surfaced...). Not in the best interests of the neighborhood - at all. I wonder how much effort was really made in searching for a good fit, perhaps it was just the "fit" of the finances.