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WalMart Goes NIMBY Against Town Center Plans

Posted by: Nate Berg

19 January 2009 - 5:00am

The town of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has grand plans for a new, pedestrian-oriented downtown, but making this idea reality involves getting rid of one large and vocal neighbor: WalMart.

"Wal-Mart has urged Eden Prairie to alter its redevelopment plans for the area north of Eden Prairie Mall to take its store out of the plan. The city's concept calls for smaller, pedestrian-oriented businesses forming a new 100-acre downtown that would completely encompass the current Wal-Mart site. An all-new "Main Street" would even cut right across Wal-Mart's existing parking lot."

"Wal-Mart likes its Eden Prairie location and plans to stay put, regional vice president Michael Gardner said in a letter to Mayor Phil Young. He asked that the city revise its plans to 'reflect accurately Wal-Mart's plans for the future of its property,' and to 'modify the plan so that it no longer shows a new road that would bi-sect the Wal-Mart site.'"

"City surveys have found that Eden Prairie residents are eager for a downtown where people can live and walk to shops, restaurants and transit, city officials say."

Full Story: Eden Prairie's 'town center' idea bumps into Wal-Mart
Source: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune, January 16, 2009
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