Wal-Mart’s plans for a monstrous 223,000 s.f. supercenter in Pullman, Washington has brought out residents determined to fight it. According to the Lewiston Morning Tribune, a new group, called Pullman Residents for Responsible Development (PARD), held a press conference this week in which they charged the supercenter will adversely impact property values, generate too much traffic, and compromise public safety. Not surprisingly, Wal-Mart labeled PARD as a “vocal minority.” But PARD has already gathered more than 5,000 signatures from residents who have vowed not to shop or work at the supercenter. PARD estimates that the proposed store would generate an additional 11,700 car trips, and require a parking lot capable of holding 1,000 cars. During their press conference, PARD used a Godzilla doll to represent the superstore proposal. “Godzilla in the end is killed by a clever community,” the group noted, “and we can do the same.”
As we have often stated, it only takes the shadow of a Wal-Mart to get local residents upset.
