City Wants ‘Better Class’ of Big Box Stores
July 5, 2007
The City of Cayce, South Carolina, which lies along the Congaree River, includes the site of one of the earliest European settlements in what was
Al Norman
Wal-Mart Wants Voters To Repeal Big Box Law
July 4, 2007
In 2003, Wal-Mart tried — and failed — to get the courts in Arizona to overturn a “big box” law in Tucson, Arizona. Now they
Wal-Mart’s Environmental Report Appealed by Citizens
July 3, 2007
Wal-Mart must be weary of the lukewarm reception they have received in the shadow of beautiful Mount Rainier. On December 8, 2004, Sprawl-Busters reported that
Pitched Roof Could Make Wal-Mart Too High
July 1, 2007
Unless Wal-Mart can get a special ruling to have a flat roof, its store in Duluth, Georgia may be too high to fly. In early
Wal-Mart Gets $12 M in Corporate Welfare
July 1, 2007
It’s easy being green in Greene, County, Pennsylvania. Just follow Wal-Mart’s lead. State officials across the nation are always complaining that money is tight, and
Residents File Suit To Stop Wal-Mart Supercenter
July 1, 2007
Sprawl-Busters reported on May 12, 2007 that Wal-Mart was trying to force neighbors in Austin, Texas to accept a 225,000 s.f. superstore. But even in
Second Wal-Mart Battle Now in Fifth Year
June 30, 2007
On January 10, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that the Union County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners had rejected the Conditional Use Permit for a 196,000 s.f.
City Gives Wal-Mart $7.35 Million In Welfare
June 29, 2007
On September 21, 2006, Sprawl-Busters reported that city officials in Broomfield, Colorado had offered to pay for 49% of the cost of site acquisition for
Wal-Mart Design Rejected As ‘Bowl of Oatmeal’
June 27, 2007
On September 14, 2005, Sprawl-Busters reported that officials in the city of Avondale, Arizona told residents that Wal-Mart was withdrawing its plans for a controversial
Voters Slam-Dunk Wal-Mart Decisively
June 23, 2007
On March 21, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that frustrated residents in Littleton, Colorado had decided to challenge a 4-3 vote in January of 2007 by their
No Roses For Departing Wal-Mart
June 23, 2007
On April 5, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that the Albuquerque, New Mexico City Council voted unanimously against a Wal-Mart superstore plan. The council voted to buy
Wal-Mart Finally Gives Up The Ghost
June 22, 2007
They’re celebrating tonight in Gresham, Oregon. Residents who fought a Wal-Mart superstore are gathering tonight at a place called McMenamins Edgefield. “We’ll gather under the
Wal-Mart Swallows Bitter Pill in Druggist Case
June 20, 2007
Wal-Mart claims it has been raking in the bucks on its $4 prescription drug program, but today the company got an expensive drug bill of
Wal-Mart Fined by the EPA—Again
June 19, 2007
Wal-Mart likes to talk environmental, but it has trouble walking environmental. This week, a well-known developer and contractor were fined $146,833 for violations of the
Shhhh. It’s Wal-Mart.
June 19, 2007
Wal-Mart is getting a wet reception in Portland, Oregon, where a Canadian developer has tried to sneak the giant retailer in under its raincoat. Sprawl-Busters
Court Overturns City’s Eminent Domain Against Wal-Mart
June 18, 2007
Eminent domain is a powerful tool. The municipal police power that allows a community to take property for a public purpose, has been a controversial
Wal-Mart Vs. The Air Force Base
June 15, 2007
“Suisun City was built on the beauty of its environment, and the reason many of us live here…don’t let an Arkansas company destroy it for
Farmer Jack: Another Grocery Chain Starves
June 14, 2007
Nowhere has Wal-Mart’s impact been more visible than in the food industry. When Wal-Mart began opening up superstores almost twenty years ago, the grocery industry
Wal-Mart Gets Another Class Action Case
June 14, 2007
Wal-Mart went to the head of the class again this week, when a Western District Appeals Court in Missouri affirmed a lower court ruling that
Residents Gearing Up To Battle Wal-Mart Supercenter
June 12, 2007
Wal-Mart has announced plans to build a supercenter on Route 17 in Horry County, South Carolina at the Garden City Beach Connector. The company is
Wal-Mart’s Impact on ‘A Small World’
June 11, 2007
As the Presidential candidates swarm around Iowa, will any of them find the Wal-Mart story that has been kicking around that state for more than
Lack of Quorum Derails Wal-Mart—For Now
June 10, 2007
Residents in North Cornwall, Pennsylvania say that Wal-Mart’s time has run out, and the store has been defeated after a contentious two year battle. Lawyers
State Rules Wal-Mart Land Must Remain in Farmland Protection For Three More Years.
June 9, 2007
A deal is a deal — but Wal-Mart won’t like this one. Last May, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had won a narrow election victory in
Home Depot Ends The Chase
June 8, 2007
Some residents in one California city are doing a little celebrating this week over a big box store that won’t be coming. Home Depot has
Residents Cause City Council To Delay Home Depot Vote
June 8, 2007
Home Depot’s hot hand in Pleasanton, California is going to cool off for some months. This week, local residents poured some cold water all over
Wal-Mart’s Corporate Welfare, Part II
June 7, 2007
For nearly a decade, Sprawl-Busters has written about the use of tax dollars to subsidize Wal-Mart stores and distribution centers. The group Good Jobs First,
City ‘Shocked’ As Wal-Mart Guts Agreement
June 7, 2007
On January 8, 2004, Sprawl-Busters received a report from residents in Cedar Hills, Utah who said they had successfully lobbied their city council, and won
City Council Takes Final Vote To Cap Size of Superstores
June 5, 2007
Sprawl-Busters reported on November 30, 2006 that the San Diego, California city council had taken the first major step towards imposing a cap on the
Citizen Opposition Forces Wal-Mart To Apply Brakes On Growth
June 2, 2007
Opposition by local community groups across the country, and by Wall Street analysts, has taken a big bite out of Wal-Mart’s projected new store growth
Court Gives Wal-Mart Its 9th. Class Action ‘Off the Clock’ Case
June 1, 2007
Wal-Mart is suffering from a corporate illness that even its $4 prescriptions can’t cure: Litigation Fatigue. In its recently-released 2007 Annual Report, Wal-Mart devotes two
Wal-Mart Loses—Again
May 31, 2007
Citizens are celebrating — again — in Gresham, Oregon today. Sprawl-Busters reported on December 10, 2006 that Wal-Mart had decided to appeal the 57-page decision
More Tortoises Endangered By Mall
May 30, 2007
Call it an eleventh hour reprieve for some endangered animals. A mall developer has had to step back and count the tortoises — at least
‘Job Zone’ Just Corporate Welfare For Wal-Mart
May 30, 2007
It’s not often that merchants stand up and fight openly against Wal-Mart, but the owner of a Giant Eagle grocery store in Penns Hills, Pennsylvania
Special Permit On Big Box Stores Passes Unanimously
May 30, 2007
Large scale retail projects in the town of Blacksburg, Virginia will face a lot more scrutiny because of a new zoning law passed yesterday. On
Wal-Mart Smells New Market in Newmarket
May 29, 2007
Everywhere Wal-Mart has stepped along the seacoast of New Hampshire, controversy has followed. In towns like Stratham and Exeter, New Hampshire, Sprawl-Busters worked with local
Empty Wal-Mart Remains An Eyesore
May 27, 2007
The City of Sarnia, in the Canadian province of Ontario, is a community of 70,000 people on the shores of Lake Huron. Sarnia is one
Wal-Mart Bounced Out of Spring
May 26, 2007
On January 25, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had attempted to use the court system to intimidate public officials in Spring Township, Pennsylvania. Wal-Mart took
Residents Say No Public Subsidy for Wal-Mart
May 25, 2007
On April 28, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart’s plans to build a supercenter in Spooner, Wisconsin had hit a major speed bump. The city, the
After Losing Once, Is Wal-Mart Back Again?
May 24, 2007
On April 20, 2006, Sprawl- Busters reported that citizens in Pajaro,California were celebrating the announcement by Wal-Mart that they won’t be building a proposed superstore
Judge Gives Wal-Mart Green Light After Long Fight
May 22, 2007
Sprawl-Busters first wrote about Wal-Mart’s battle to get into American Canyon, California on July 11, 2004. Now, almost three years later, and a costly court
Target Developer Accused Of Forging Support Letters
May 20, 2007
On April 6, 2007, Sprawl-Busters introduced a project called the “East Washington Place,” a large development in Petaluma, California, situated between the Sonoma County Fair
Wal-Mart Supercenters Create More Traffic Than Projected
May 20, 2007
If there is a Bible in the world of traffic engineers, it is the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Manual, which is currently in its
Wal-Mart Pays $750,000 For Killing Shoplifter
May 20, 2007
How much is a life worth at Wal-Mart? Apparently some lives come with an everyday low price. For one man at a Wal-Mart in Texas,
Citizens Settle Lawsuit Against Home Depot
May 19, 2007
On November 19, 2004, Sprawl-Busters began the story of a citizens group’s efforts to block the construction of a Home Depot store in the Coconut
Officials Could Reject Stores That Are Too Big
May 19, 2007
Sprawl-Busters has noted for years that many citizens “hate the box” but love what’s inside. Bargain shoppers will ignore the environmental impacts of a huge
One Wal-Mart Worker’s Story of ‘Terrorism’ On The Job
May 18, 2007
This week, Sprawl-Busters received a 5,900 word statement from an Arabic-born American about his work experience in a Wal-Mart store photolab in Delaware. His report
TIAA-CREF Urged To Divest Wal-Mart Stock
May 17, 2007
TIAA-CREF (TC), the nation’s largest pension system, proclaims itself a leader in corporate/social responsibility, as well as in customer satisfaction. Although its tagline is “financial
Wal-Mart Supercenter Drops Overnight Hours
May 16, 2007
In communities all across the country, citizens groups are fighting Wal-Mart and town officials to block the opening of 24 hour supercenters. Overnight operations don’t
‘Lifestyle’ Mall Ends Its Life
May 16, 2007
One of New England’s most prolific large-scale retail developers has ended his efforts to build a massive, 2 million s.f. project in Hudson, New Hampshire.
Wal-Mart Hopes To Move In Without A Single Vote
May 15, 2007
One Wal-Mart is one more than enough for the residents of Tempe, Arizona. The announcement that Wal-Mart wants to build a second superstore in this