When the leaders don’t lead, the people must lead themselves. Sprawl-Busters reported on January 17, 2008, that citizens in Ventura, California had waited for months
Lady’s Island lies within the city limits of Beaufort, South Carolina. The city of Beaufort has a population of just over 12,000 people. The city
On September 6, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that after almost six years of trying to build a store near Marvin, North Carolina, in Union County, Wal-Mart
There are 18 supercenters within 20 miles of Marietta, Georgia. There are two supercenter in Marietta itself, including the store on Cobb Parkway South, and
The small community of Bellevue, Wisconsin has to make a big decision. This village of roughly 14,600 people just south of Green Bay, has had
Now you see it, now you don’t. Wal-Mart has disappeared from another small community, leaving behind nearly two years of rancor and an empty lot.
Wal-Mart has succeeding in wearing down opponents in a small Georgia community. It took them only six months, two lawsuits, and some bricks, to win.
Crowley, Texas describes itself as a “vibrant community known for its quiet neighborhoods and bustling business districts. According to Crowley Mayor Billy P. Davis, “You
When two employees at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis released a study in the January issue of the fedgazette called “The Wal-Mart Effect,” its
Wal-Mart struck out once with a supercenter project in the town of Colonie, New York (pop. 80,000). Now the company wants to shut down an
WYTV Channel 33 didn’t get to film the Wal-Mart public hearing in Canfield, Ohio. And it’s not because they had other news to cover. According
Sprawl-Busters first began writing about Spooner, Wisconsin in February of 2006, almost two years ago. As soon as residents learned that Wal-Mart wanted to build
Citizens in Ventura, California have waited for months for their elected officials to clamp down on superstore development. They received a token vote this week
This week a Wal-Mart battle in Tarpon Springs, Florida reached its three year mark — and the giant retailer has suffered yet another setback. On
18,949 voters in Toledo, OH want Home Depot to face the voters in a referendum question that pits local residents against Home Depot’s deep pockets.
On January 18, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was trying to convert its discount store into a superstore in Glen Carbon, Illinois. According to the
Wal-Mart already has a superstore in Lakeland, Florida on Highway 98, plus a smaller discount store on South Florida Avenue. There are a total of
On May 25, 2005, Sprawl-Busters reported that the city of Taunton, Massachusetts had taken its next door neighbor, the city of Raynham, to court, over
On January 8, 2005 Sprawl-Busters reported that a Superior Court Judge in Middlesex County, Massachusetts had ruled against Wal-Mart’s motion to dismiss a class action
A controversial 1,000,000 s.f. Wal-Mart distribution center placed on the border of two counties has touched off a bitter battle between the two county governments.
Tiffin, Ohio is a community of 17,347 people. The town has been losing population for at least the past twenty years. The community has a
Wal-Mart has managed to paddle itself upstream, and now can’t find a paddle to turn around. Cordova, Tennessee is a community located on the northeast
Anti-Wal-Mart residents in Michigan can’t believe their good fortune. Wal-Mart’s new store growth seems to have imploded in Michigan. Case of the week: Rutland. As
Almost a year ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a story revealing that Wal-Mart pays billions of dollars a year in rent for its stores,
What’s eating Gilbert, Arizona? It’s a swarm of Wal-Mart supercenters. But the cannibalization can only spread so far. Sprawl- Busters has run a string of
It gets cold in Pennfield, Michigan, especially in January. The temperature this morning in Pennfield was only 19 degrees. But no one expected the cold
The Wal-Mart discount store on Highland Road in White Lake, Michigan is roughly 127,000 s.f. The store, which has a pharmacy, photo center, portrait studio,
Wal-Mart is engaged in a game of retail musical chairs in Connecticut. The Hartford Courant newspaper reported yesterday that Wal-Mart plans to close a discount
On December 27, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was locked into a bitter battle with Hernando County officials over a site in Brooksville, Florida, and
As if Wal-Mart’s impact on small businesses were not devastating enough, now the giant retailer is getting an assist from the Federal government. Just before
The bullseye has become a moving Target. Minnesota-based retail chain Target announced this week that is it pulling the plug on a proposed site in
On May 12, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had run into a Wal of opposition in Brooksville, Florida. The Hernando County Commission voted unanimously on
The Mayor of Forsyth, Georgia has sold his property for a Wal-Mart supercenter — and lost his public office in the process. On July 22,
No, it’s not a geographic mistake. According to our Global Positioning System, which we purchased at a Big Box store recently — — but now
On April 14, 2006, Sprawl-Busters described the Wal-Mart battle in Greece, New York, a community which already as a Wal-Mart discount store, along with a
Just over a year ago, Sprawl-Busters reported that residents in Austin, Texas had contacted us regarding a proposed Wal-Mart superstore planned for the existing Northcross
The Meijer’s retail chain today has 180 stores and more than 60,000 employees in five states. The company has been around since 1934 — but
Many local officials believe that if a developer needs a zoning change, you have to give it to them. But not in Wichita, Kansas, and
What began in a great rush by Wal-Mart, has now turned into a costly waiting game for the retailer. Roughly three years ago, on December
There was a time when Wal-Mart could waltz into a small town, file papers for a zoning permit, and be ready for construction within three
On October 1, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter was back on the front burner in Lockport, New York. Citizen opposition has locked
On October 30, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that the City Council in Atascadero, California had voted 4-1 to require city staff to stop processing the retailer’s
Murfreesboro, Tennessee already has two Wal-Mart superstores: one on South Rutherford Boulevard, and a second on Old Fort Parkway. For a city with less than
Frostburg, Maryland describes itself as “an Historic Main Street community with many turn of the century homes.” The city is a Maryland “Main Street” designated
The city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota already has two Wal-Mart supercenters. One is on South Louise, and the other on Arrowhead Parkway. According to
The world’s largest retailer, and the world’s largest cat are on a collision path. Last month, Wal-Mart released a 59 page “Sustainability” progress report, in
Sprawl-Busters reported on February 6, 2007, that Wal-Mart had proposed a 226,000 s.f. superstore in St. Charles, Illinois that had area residents upset. The project,
On January 18, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was trying to convert its discount store into a superstore in Glen Carbon, Illinois. According to the
Scarborough, Ontario, forms the eastern part of the City of Toronto, Canada. It was a separate city for over 200 years, but has been part
On July 21, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had submitted plans to build a 220,012 s.f. supercenter in Oakley, California. The superstore would be located
The strategies written here were produced by Sprawl-Busters in 2006 at the request of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), mainly for citizen groups that were fighting Walmart. But the tips for fighting unwanted development apply to any project—whether its fighting Dollar General, an Amazon warehouse, or a Home Depot.
Big projects, or small, these BATTLEMART TIPS will help you better understand what you are up against, and how to win your battle.