Wal-Mart Supercenter has foes

magoo (anonymous) says...

Good luck Amy but Walmart usually gets their way.

March 7, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

FreedomFighter (anonymous) says...

Amy, Good luck with your honorable complaint. I thought Wal-Mart was environment friendly to the community. Wal-Mart can relocate their store to a location without destroying thirty trees to sell products made in China to sell to Americans while standing in long lines waiting to check-out.
Residents of James Island need to join together today!

March 7, 2008 at 5:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

moonpie (anonymous) says...

Yeah good luck with that but you might as well suck it up we all get one, a super walmart that is...!

March 7, 2008 at 5:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LocalHero (anonymous) says...

James Islanders are the ones who have to put up with all the negatives that come with a "Stupid Malwart" but it's the City of Charleston granting the permits. Isn't this the main argument for the formation of the Town of James Island...poor representation by the peninsular politicians? I'll start by signing the petition...

March 7, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Paul (anonymous) says...

Another example of over-developement so King Joe can increase his coffers at James Island's expense !

March 7, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DanniD (anonymous) says...

Although everyone always talks crap about Walmart, we all know that we ALL shop at Walmart.

March 7, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

native1 (anonymous) says...

DanniD,

That is not correct.

March 7, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gabba (anonymous) says...

If we're going to get stuck with the super Wal-Mart they could at least put it in one of the left over abandoned shopping centers instead of tearing down the trees. There goes the neighborhood.

Thanks again City of Charleston. You've screwed those of us on James Island yet again.

March 7, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DanniD (anonymous) says...

Native1...I don't know about that. If you go to Walmart any given day of the week, or any given time of the day, the place is always packed. Furthermore, if people were so against Walmart like they say they are, how would they be able to open some many supercenters all over the place? I know plenty of people who say they do not agree with Walmart's way of doing things, but they continue to shop there. I also do not agree with the way they do things, but I still shop there because I can not afford to pay double the price for things I need.

March 7, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

5thGenerationLocal (anonymous) says...

I haven't shopped at a Wal Martinez in 5 years. Their business ethic is wrong, and the way they treat employees should be illegal. I will never step foot into another one of these stores again.

March 7, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Clemson1979 (anonymous) says...

30 trees? Thats your main problem? Come on?

March 7, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

newto843 (anonymous) says...

I avoid Wal-Mart if at all possible but admit I have no other choice once or twice a year when I have an immediate need for something I can not easily grab elsewhere. I have seen a Wal-Mart Super Center ravage a quaint little town up in Washington. This little village had unique locally owned shops everywhere and now I see empty store fronts all around when I return. On top of that they were found to be a major contributor to polluting one of the great local salmon streams up there.

March 7, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bribetaker (anonymous) says...

"Tara Stewart, Senior Manager of Public Affairs with Wal-Mart, said there will be a public meeting in the store's parking lot about the Supercenter with Wal-Mart representatives, to be arranged through the Army Corps of Engineers."

You're going to hold your public meeting in a PARKING LOT? Classy......

March 7, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

greener1 (anonymous) says...

paul, you an idiot for one, just blame joe for anything. did you know he was at the holocaust? he was also responsible for the disappearance of jimmy hoffa, idiot. for two, 30 trees guys? how many trees did it take to build your house, or is it made from MUD? hypocrites.

next question amy and you wal mart haters, where do you shop? if not, did they put those buildings on some land that was without trees?

can you honestly tell me you all don't shop at wal mart? do only the rich live in JI, hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

March 7, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

theronce (anonymous) says...

I like trees. I've observed over the years that, if you cut one down, you can plant another of its kind. It will grow just as well as the one that you cut down.

March 7, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Paul (anonymous) says...

Joe is personnaly responsible for the over-annexation of James Island. The Town wanted to slow developement until the infrastructure was in place. He has publically stated he wants the tax money gathered by developeing James Island, regardless of the burden on the Island.

March 7, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mytwocents_com (anonymous) says...

I live on JI and welcome SuperWalmart. We already have a smaller crappy Walmart. Why not get one that has decent stuff? If anything a new center will dress up my drive to and from work. Instead we should start a petition to beautify Folly Road by getting rid of the Purple Used Car lots, and rusty run down store fronts.

March 7, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Ahhhh, the anti-city trolls come out in full force again, especially the rednecks of James Island. Riddle me this geniuses, why are you complaining about a WalMart expanding ON ITS OWN LAND beside AN ALREADY EXISTING STORE?! Most of the people who are against this project are running on pure emotion...no logical, rational thought.

THINK about it: you already have a 120,000 (approx.) store on the current site. There are only 30 (I mean, WTF?!?!) trees that have to be taken down to allow for the expansion, negating any major deforestation that would have to be done for another site. The parking lot already exists. The "wetlands" are basically areas of mud with algae in them. If you think about it, it makes sense for WalMart to expand here, because they're ALREADY there!!

Now, this nutroot organization stands to further complicate things, costing more money and time. Of course, the regressive CCL supports it. Pathetic.

March 7, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

algorelost (anonymous) says...

I the people of JI did not shop at the current Walmart, Walmart would realize that there is no demand for their store. However there must be a demand for Walmart or they wouldn't build a new one. If people do not like walmart, just don't shop there and they would go out of business. However the people who like walmart must greatly outweight those that don't.

March 7, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

RTC (anonymous) says...

Everybody complains about these super stores, but then most end up using them.
I support Wal-Mart over Target, because not only are their prices better, but Target is a major contributor to the Gay/Lesbian Coalition, and they provide benefits for same sex partners. I don't believe in this; therefore I won't shop at Target.

March 7, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

justafan (anonymous) says...

Good luck stoping them.

The town of Mt Pleasant just got thier second one and it is far worse than the first. The parking lot is a joke you have to drive around a bunch of little islands to get to a bad spot and walk the rest of the way. There isn't a good parking spot in the lot. Even the handicap parking is far away from the building(over 100 yards from the first product for sale).

The service is the worst I've seen in the low country and that is saying something. Try and find help in that store I dare you. If you do actually find an employee that is not on break you quickly learn that you usually know more about the store than they do.

A friend of mine went in for two new tires and after three hours and going to get the store manager he finally got the vehicle back. Only to find out the new lug nuts they put on were a different size than the the rest. Wal Marts answer...put the correct lug nuts on? Nope, give the man a lug wrench that will fit the ones they put on.

It is a shame thet people still support a store thats only redeming quality is that they offer low prices. The small store owner that services the hell out of the consumer is left to sit by and watch the masses follow the herd into Wal Mart to be abused.

March 7, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zmysticman (anonymous) says...

Just what James Island needs another big box store left empty. Another bigger box store full of Chinese CRAP for $1.00. Bigger definitely does not mean better, unless your the Charleston tax man. Save your billions of chinese dollars walmart, mabe you could build another one in Mt. Pleasant right down the street from the other one you just built. James Island and folly road does not need another walmart.

March 7, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Paul (anonymous) says...

How many of you pro-Walmarts actually live on James Island and have to put up with the traffic and over-developement. I have personnally witnessed the destruction of a once beautifull place to live ... does anyone think John's Island is safe ?

March 7, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

commonsence (anonymous) says...

I don't know about the site but I didn't read that they were only cutting 30 trees - it says they received permission to cut down 30 GRAND trees. If they were ugly scrub pines or little trees, that's one thing. But how long will it take for replacement trees to grow to that same size.

March 7, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ticket3477 (anonymous) says...

and what sucks even more...is that when we cant stop it from happening...and it goes under and we are left with a nice empty piece of crap building that no one else can lease and we cant tear down for another 10 years. Just like that waste of space Kmart building.

March 7, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

I could understand the islanders' complaints if it was a brand new store with no previous market presence. Their worries about additional traffic and overdevelopment would have more substance. However, this WalMart is basically building over the old one. Traffic changes would be minimal, if any. As a matter of fact, islanders would travel around the island less, since they wouldn't have to go to another store for groceries. Many of these worries and complaints are unfounded...pure emotional rhetoric.

March 7, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reasonable (anonymous) says...

Typical. People will buy their Chinese sweatshop goods at the new Wal-Mart laughing about all the hoopla over a few trees. And then later they'll turn around and gripe about what happened to their little town, all the traffic and noise, that there aren't any jobs, that their friend's little store went out of business due to not matching Wal-Mart prices, that customer service is a thing of the past.

You always get what you pay for, but sometimes you don't see the real cost until later.

March 7, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ticket3477 (anonymous) says...

ICBM..

superwalmarts are super disgusting. I wouldnt buy vegetables or any perishable from a superwalmart. Im not really into getting rickets or tapeworms from bad meats or buying fruit from a store that surrounded by flies. No thanks. I dont live on James Island but I do live in Byrnes Down which is close enough.

I think two superwalmarts are enough for Charleston. If someone needs to go there bad enough they can go to mt. p or north charleston. Its really a waste of space, a waste of old "grand" trees, a waste of wetlands, and folly would become overly crowded...

Its already insane in the summer with the beach traffic...a super walmart would bring in a whole new element...

March 7, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pompusmaximus (anonymous) says...

Wal-Mart a.k.a sprawl-mart is probably one of the biggest catalyst for poorly planned uncontrolled growth in America. Wal-Mart has destroyed small town America and is eating away at the urban core of larger cities. There is no need to worry though people. Wal-Mart depends heavily on cheap gas to fuel their huge distribution system. You throw 5 or 6 dollar gas into the equation and they are toast.

March 7, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JohnS (anonymous) says...

Were any of the trees Southern live Oaks or were they other grand trees?

March 7, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

whatelseisthere (anonymous) says...

I'm not a fan of Wally World either, but their prices are better for basic foods and products. I have to save where I can. Times are tight now and this is a supply and demand market.

March 7, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wheels2u666 (anonymous) says...

the walton family has give less than 1% of their money to charity,
Bill gates has given over 58%
I wouldnt shop at wal mart if you paid me, They could all close and I wouldnt care, Im not some rich snob , im just a middle class guy, who could always save a few $$$ , but id rather pay more for polite service, clean stores , and decent products.

March 7, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

georgebushsux (anonymous) says...

26 neighborhoods threaten Wal-Mart of a lawsuit if they built their store nearby. Mind you Wal-Mart already had a store less than 3 miles away from the new location. Ten of the 26 neighborhoods have home values of $500K and up. The developer told the 26 communities that he would suit each neighborhood from blocking his right as a developer to build the store. All 26 dropped their suit! Money Talks!
I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart.

March 7, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ticket3477 (anonymous) says...

whatel...youre right...there are things you can get at walmart (detergent, TP, sometimes drinks, other necessities)much cheaper than anywhere else, target included.

Which is why that dumpy walmart is fine. It serves its purpose. But a superwalmart does no good, theres a cheapo foodline right up the road...we have no need for a superwasteofspace.

I wonder where walmart gets the idea that a SUPER one would make any huge revenue. The one there now is never busy...granted its pretty dismal in there but still. Theres a Harris Teeter and a nice pig on harboview on James Island already...who would seriously stop getting their produce there and go to a super walmart?...

March 7, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

atlplh (anonymous) says...

30 Grand trees and 3 acres of wetlands.....try to do this on your own land and see how responsive the local government is.

March 7, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cnstreet (anonymous) says...

The great irony is that not only are there a hundreds of reasons not to give your money to this unethical company, the prices are really not lower. The few hundred sales items in the store at any given time may be lower, but if you compare the bulk of the items (50,000+) they are at market rate, compared to other big box retailers & grocery stores.

March 7, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pompusmaximus (anonymous) says...

We should approach this like the people in Ashville did when wal-mart wanted to build a super center. Make Wal-Mart change their ugly boring (cost efficient) design to a more aesthetically appealling one. Also make them pay for ALL road improvements as well as create a very nice looking parking lot.

P.S. This doesn't change the fact that they will take a huge toll on exisiting grocery stores and whatever small businesses are left. Once oil prices reach extremes they will die out like the dinosaurs though so I'm not worried.

March 7, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

RTC (anonymous) says...

LowCountryMoose, I don't hate people that prefer that lifestyle, but I don't have to support them either.
As far as reading the Bible, I have read the entire Bible, and if I did what the Old Testament says I would be in jail.
I don't push my beliefs on others, and I don't want to be preached to about tolerance.
Yes, Wal-Mart employees do have terrible benefits, but at least the corporation refuses to give in to the demands of special interests groups.

March 7, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Ticket, you're right about WalMart's produce. The quality of their fruits and vegetables is mediocre at best. However, they do provide a very large variety of name-brand foods and non-perishables at cheaper prices than Publix or Harris Teeter.

This reaction to an expansion of a currently standing WalMart is just ridiculous. YOU may think that two Super WalMarts are adequate for Charleston, but the people who know the market disagree. That is why they are expanding the WalMart...for crying out loud, they're going to make an improvement from the current store, and all some people can do is b---h and moan about it! They're not deforesting another property, they're staying on their own property, where they have every right to expand and build on...ESPECIALLY if it's already built.

March 7, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

myusername (anonymous) says...

My only issue with it is the traffic, but that is an issue that needs to be addressed already. I would think people could find a better cause to fight for. They are planning on building the Super Wal-Mart right by the current Wal-Mart and will tear down the existing one when they are done, which is MUCH better than just moving down the road and leaving an abandoned bldg like so many other places have done (Teeter) on JI. They want to remove 30 trees, but plant many more as well as provide greenspace on the island. I'm all for it.

March 7, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pompusmaximus (anonymous) says...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGzHBt...

Put this link in your browser. It shows all of the Wal-Mart stores that have been built since the 60's. I also advise you to check out the youtube clips of the high scost of low prices documentary.

March 7, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hipchick (anonymous) says...

This is America the land of free enterprise. I'd much rather drive a couple of miles to shop at a Super Walmart with my fellow James Islanders than make a longer trip thus wasting fuel and precious time, and sending more polutants into the air. Say what you will about Walmart, but having been a single mother once, it was a Godsend.

March 7, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChrisRobin (anonymous) says...

Hey, MichaelsAdvocate- I just flagged you for removal. At least the others had an opinion- if you can't be civil, stay off of the boards. BTW, there is no such word as "noone"- it's NO ONE.

March 7, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...

Why can't the existing store just be remodeled. Then you could still have your Wal Mart without messing up the beauty of JI. How much crap do you really need WM to offer?

March 7, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

captivated (anonymous) says...

The traffic on Folly road is already horrible and that old road is getting pottier every day. Can you imagine twice that much traffic every day (and Sunday)? But we all know King Joe has never let a few trees stop him from making money off James Island. Build that sucka! They will come!

March 7, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

I'm against this for many reasons. The first is the effect it will take on the local environment. The grand oak trees which they plan on destroying take many decades to reach their full potential. Even if they are replanted most of us will not live to see their grandeur again. For us, a part of our community will be lost.

Also, there's no need for a grocery store at Wal-Mart. We have three Piggly-Wiggly's, Harris Teeter, Publix, Food Lion and Bi-Lo (soon to be a Super Bi-Lo) and if you consider South Windemere as part of JI (as many people do) you'll know that we have Earth Fare.

What I would suggest however, is that Wal-Mart relocate to the old Buffalo South shopping center which appears to be largely unused. Have them specialize in clothing, housewares, a garden center, electronics, etc. In the existing Wal-Mart location I wouldn't mind having Target. Target would bring the availability of merchandise that you can't find on JI or Folly Beach. Better yet, see if Belk would consider taking that location.

Wal-Mart is not a company that I shop at though. I don't consider them to be ethical or responsible, but I respect the right of others to make their own decisions by shopping there. But consider this: You may believe that by shopping at Wal-Mart that you are saving money, but Wal-Mart employees are so underpaid that many still qualify for government assistance. Who do you think pays the taxes for that?

The low prices are possible only because so much production has been outsourced. When the US began to lose its manufacturing base we lost a lot of jobs, most of which were replaced by the quickly expanding service sector (which usually pays less) When this happens your tax base suffers.

The situation that our economy is in today is no surprise to me. I've said for years that it would eventually lead to this. There are always hidden costs when people choose to shop at places like this, it's just sometimes they're harder for people to pick up on.

The people of James Island, including myself, are going to have to think about why we moved here and what it is that we like about JI vs Mount Pleasant or West Ashley. Do you really want us to move more in that direction and away from makes us different?

March 7, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sanddune (anonymous) says...

Let's try to forget the fact that we all have a problem w/ walmart in one form or another and try to remember the reason for this petition.
They WANT to CUT DOWN 30 TREES that have been living for longer then most of us. THREE ACRES OF WETLANDS will be DESTROYED to build this place that WE DO NOT NEED. We have enough grocery stores to go around and enough abandoned shopping centers to relocate.
We also need to put ourselves in the place of the wildlife. They have no where to go. They are being killed b/c we are building on their homes. I can tell you from experience that this is a huge problem as they have no where to live much less no where to get food. I have a small amount of woods behind my property and it is sad to know that at some point they will not even be able to exist there.
I work in WA and if I feel the urgency to go to a super walmart, I will go at lunch.

March 7, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

PrincessAsh001 (anonymous) says...

I totally agree with you SANDDUNE. We already have the new Walmart on Bees Ferry, 2 in N Chas, 1 in Moncks Corner, 1 in Goose Creek, and at least one in Mt P and Summerville each. If there is already one on James Island, why build another...why not just remodel? No one thinks about the wildlife...Most people move to James Island or Ravenel or Hollywood or Ridgeville or anywhere else out in the "sticks" to get away from the money hungry companies who just want to build build build. These companies don't think of the wildlife they are killing and pushing away from our beautiful state. What pisses me off is that these people/companies move to the small towns, get tired of driving the distance to the stores and build up the small towns making them cities...When is this vicious cycle going to stop? We don't need 10 Walmart stores within the 30 mile radius of the Charleston Area. Quit being lazy, drive the 10 miles to the nearest Walmart and quit destroying the wildlife by building to no end. Whether or not you like Walmart is not the issue...The issue is saving the wildlife and the trees that inhabit this area. Where is the petition because my fiance and I would love to sign it?

March 7, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sanddune (anonymous) says...

I would be interested to know what the "mayor" of J.I. is doing about this as well.

March 7, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

Thanks Lowcountry Moose.

I was just talking to a friend at work who doesn't understand my reasoning behind this with regards to China. Imagine for a moment if, during the Cold War, we were outsourcing our manufacturing to the USSR, running huge trade deficits with them, which then strengthened their economy and ability to build and modernize the military. How well would that have gone over with the American public? Not good I would imagine considering that Reagan referred to them as an 'evil empire' and Kennedy looked Kruschev right in the face and told him to turn his ships around.

While China has made progress on the level of economic freedom enjoyed by its people, it remains to be a Communist nation with very little political or religious freedoms. On top of that they have a terrible human rights record, and yet we are facilitating their rise as the next big superpower. It's astonishing to me that more people don't see the danger in this.

March 7, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

little_green_person (anonymous) says...

Amy, I signed your petition with pride!

For those of you, "Just 30 trees folks" if you are willing to bear with an old adage....

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of the shoe the horse was lost.
For want of the horse the message was lost.
For want of the message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the war was lost.
And all for want of a nail.

Every little part matters. The logic that "Wal-Mart is already there so what can be done?" is like saying, "The camel's already halfway in the tent, so I guess I'd better pack up and sleep in the rain." (Umm, sorry, it seems be analogy day...)

By the way, I don't shop Wal-Mart and none of my friends do, either. Yes, it cost more not to, but you can cut back on other stuff. When you think of children working in China and Mexico, all the toxic crap Wal-Mart cheerfully stocks its shelves with, the pollution, crime, and general devaluing of property values associated with Wal-Mart, (and yes, the not-so-surprising insolence and incompetence one finds in a single "shopping experience")...I don't know about everyone else, but that puts a pretty high price on shopping at Wal-Mart for me.

Keep up the fight, guys. It can be discouraging to fight without much support, but remember, you are also fighting for many who cannot speak for themselves.

March 7, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

PrincessAsh001 (anonymous) says...

I know and it saddens me. I am very young but I hear stories from my father about how just 20-25 years ago of a dirt road drive from Santee to JI to work. It actually makes me sick to think that when I have kids, there will be NO sticks anywhere left in this state for my children to enjoy the way I did because of these Walmart crazed, enviroment hating nazis.

March 7, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Many of the arguments here are ranging from idiotic to sheer lunacy. Tying WalMart's products from China doesn't change the FACT that there already is a current WalMart selling those items right now!

Iceman, several of your suggestions are not possibilities. WalMart already has a staked claim to the market with its current store, so I can guarantee you that if WalMart pulled out for Target, you can rest assured that they will find an empty lot of land with more trees and build their center there. Second, Belk's isn't going to locate their store away from malls. The only places I have seen individual Belk's stores have been in small towns...why do you think they left their South Windermere location?

Captivated, where do you get your arguments that traffic will double when this WalMart gets built?! You're talking utter nonsense (I'd say something worse, but P&C may prohibit it)...let's think COMMON SENSE here...traffic will increase, but minimally.

Little_green_moron, if all you can provide are poems, figurative analogies, and rhetoric, it is obvious you're not thinking logically, either.

I cannot believe the insanity being displayed here. However, I already sense that the environmentalist whackos have taken over this thread. All for a current store wanting to expand on land where the infrastructure already exists. The protestors are not thinking about this, they constantly use emotional blather. My hometown is literally regressing before my eyes.

March 7, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sanddune (anonymous) says...

I can tell you from experience that China Importing goods into this country is 10 times as what other countries send here and we send to the intire world. I work for an overseas shipping company. Walmart uses all of the shipping companies, not just one b/c they have so much cargo. They will very often have a "walmart" ship that all the cargo on that vessel is ONLY WALMART cargo. We all have to kiss their rear so they can get their cargo asap.
U.S. Customs does not even think about holding their cargo for inspection like the others b/c they are that special.
Basically, this is our government kissing China's rear and I would hate to think what the amount of money is that the U.S. owes them in loans at this point.
Rome fell in a day.

March 7, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

sanddune, As of 2005 it was $820 billion according to the Federal Reserve. It's probably much higher now.

March 7, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sanddune (anonymous) says...

ICBMMAN would think different if the gov told him to leave his home so they could build an interstate through his property.
Most people do care about where they live.

March 7, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Sanddune, it's not a matter of caring about where you live. It's a matter of common sense, which seems to be lacking with these responses. Comparing this to the government removing your home for a highway is complete stupidity. This is a landowner merely expanding its business, and it went through the proper paperwork required with the city it's located in.

Having a slightly bigger WalMart is not going to affect you or the area you live in very much, especially when there's already one. I could understand if this was being proposed as a brand new addition to Folly Road, but the store already exists. How many times does this have to be repeated?!?! Keep spouting your emotional drivel...it really is telling of some of the residents of James Island.

March 7, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ticket3477 (anonymous) says...

icb...youre kidding right?

Walmart is not going to contain itself to that small block it is in now...they want to tear down trees off of the lot and build over wetlands. Can you not read?

The Walmart in James Island is rarely, if ever busy. Ive been in there to pick up detergent or lightbulbs and I have never waited in any sort of line. If James Island and Charleston needs another super waste of money they should put it where that old Kmart was or where buffalo south is (like it has been suggested before).

Youre comments are the ones that sound ignorant and unintelligent. Belk is only at malls...really...REALLY. Towncenter isnt a mall...and there is a Belk there. I wouldnt really call Mount Pleasant a small town...its not a booming city...but it isnt a small town.

A superwalmart is a step towards turning james island into trashville USA. Once you put that there...you attract and unattractive element to the area, allowing for cheaper buildings to go up to house this element further reducing the natural environment and making james island just as bad as mount pleasant.

March 7, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ticket3477 (anonymous) says...

slightly bigger?...have you ever seen a Super Walmart...because it sounds like you have no clue what one is. They are much larger than the regular ones. They shouldnt be allowed to expand just like I am not allowed to tear down trees in my backyard to expand my house in Byrnes Down. The same rules should apply to them.

March 7, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...

Wal Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices.

I have this on DVD, but it's now available for viewing on Google video. If you have about 90 minutes to spare you should take the time to watch it. You can easily put this on your iPod.

March 7, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

grillmaster (anonymous) says...

ANOTHER Super Walmart. Please. How many do we need. How many shopping centers have been abandoned by Walmart and left for decay so they can build another a few miles away. Wasteful and irresponsible.

March 7, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sanddune (anonymous) says...

icb must be either a developer or contractor, so i take it w/ a grain of salt that the care is not there. like the King Riley it's all about the $$$

March 7, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hairy1663 (anonymous) says...

icbmman, The residence of JI are fed up with growth period, this is just another straw on the camels back. Also I can tell you don't know much about JI. As it stands now there are only two grocery stores between Camp road and Folly Beach. The expansion of Wal Mart is going to move more traffic through the lights at Camp & Fort Johnson roads, which are already overburdened. You combine this with the two hundred plus homes and golf course going in at Grimbal Farms & your going to be looking at grid lock in the very near future.

I have a question for all of those folks that think the city has nothing to do with it. Why is it that all of the new development is only happening within the city limits.

March 7, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

RTC (anonymous) says...

stand, It's my right to NOT support homosexuality.
I don't care if it is 2008 or not, I have the right to stand up for good moral standards. This country is going straight to hell, because people have become so accepting of other's perversions.
Our insurance rates are high enough already without adding the burden of companies having to carry people's "life partners". Same sex marriage is not recognized in SC and many other states. It is therefore, basically illegal for companies to do this.
I bet you would boycott a store if the subject matter involved race. So what's the difference?
If you don't like a business, then don't put money in their pockets.

March 7, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sanddune (anonymous) says...

I think the subject of the matter is going way off course.
I hope that 99% of us on this page will attend this meeting tuesday night. It is very important. Also, please let's make sure that the city of chs recognizes that we will not tolerate taking the good w/ the bad concept. I love this town as most of us on here do.
I still wonder what the "mayor" of JI has to say about this.
They have a website as well: www.townofjamesislandsc.org

March 7, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

RTC (anonymous) says...

Good luck, sanddune, don't let them ruin beautiful J.I. like they have already done to MT.P.

March 7, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Mon_Kie (anonymous) says...

Traveling around the country, I frequently see deserted Wal-Mart buildings, looking shabby, and surrounded by smaller empty sites of former businesses, then right down the street..a new Super WalMart. When WalMart moves out of their smaller stores, blight overtakes the area.

March 7, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GBob (anonymous) says...

Arborist collectively agree that there's an old addage about Southern Live Oaks - they take 100 years to nature, 100 yesrs to live, and 100 years to die. How long is WalMart going to br around?

Think about how long it takes a Southern Live Oak to grow to 24" diameter at breat diameter. Would you guess three generations?

March 7, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Well now, it is apparent that sanddune, ticket, and probably hairy are nothing more than environmental nutjobs who are proponents of the pseudo-town of James Island. On top of that, they are truly ignorant about quite a few things. Ticket, for your information, Mt. P Town Center IS an outdoor version of a freaking mall. It is a faux town center, made to look like a downtown or market street, but it is in fact, for all intents and purposes, a mall. The old KMart center is filled up, BTW...a Fred's store and Gold's Gym are the primary tenants. Do you even live on JI?

Hairy, it is you who doesn't know much about JI, especially when you make the ridiculous assertion that most of the development happened in the city. How do you think all of the residents got their homes and shopping centers before the city started annexing the island in the late 70s? As far as traffic, you have a totally misguided premise. Traffic may increase, but that will only be additional shoppers who go the WalMart specifically for groceries. PEOPLE ALREADY SHOP THERE FOR OTHER GOODS. Are some of you people that dense, or do you understand logistics and the market?

You're tired of growth? I see...you've got your own little slice of paradise, and you don't care about anybody else coming to partake of it. Pretty selfish, if you ask me. BTW, if you want JI to continue being a nice place to live in Chas, you'd better accept growth a little bit. You're either growing or dying economically. If you're tired of growth, why don't you move to some economically depressed towns like Manning and Kingstree...you can rest assured NO NEW DEVELOPMENT will occur there for years.

BTW, sanddune, another troll named PalmettoMan made the same false claim as you have, and it's a pretty desperate attempt to quell any common sense opposition that I've raised. I'm a native--born and raised--that is tired of rednecks and environment-worshipping regressives inhibiting common sense development.

March 7, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Brenda (anonymous) says...

Hey I'm with you because Wal-mart tried to do that same thing over here in Beaufort.But our city council regected it due to a large out cry from citizens.And now they apeal!!Can you believe that.I mean No means no!!We already have one that's not even runned the right way and we dont need another.This website should help you see why http://walmartwatch.com/blog/archives....

March 7, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hairy1663 (anonymous) says...

icbmman, I've lived on Jim Island since 1963, I'm a native born & raised here also. I can remember when the only thing on Folly road was a driving range & Dochers Red & White grocery store. I'm also very familiar with James Island, it's development & traffic problem's because I've have personally dealt with them for the last 45 years.

Work on your comprehension skills icbmman, I stated that all the new development was taking place only within the city limits.

You agreed traffic may increase. I'm telling you we have an overburdened infrastructure already, it's busting at the seems & there are no attempts being made to correct it. Except of course for the small Ellis Creek bridge that has been labeled as the 4th most structurally deficient bridge in the state. Thats the one they started working on last year but haven't done any apparent work to in the last 6 months.

I don't have any major problems with development, what I have a problem with is the "putting the cart before the horse" mentality of this government,the infrastructure should come first! There is something seriously wrong when it takes you an hour to drive 5 miles to work in the city or when it takes you 20 minutes to drive to the beach when you only live 2 miles away from it. I hear plans of a new super wal mart & several new housing or condo developments but I don't hear jack about how they're going to make accommodations for them on our outdated road system. So maybe it's you who doesn't understand logistics! You can't control the flow of goods & people if the infrastructure isn't in place to support it.

And for the record I am moving off the Island because of it. I built a house on 25 acres in Walterboro & should be in it by the end of the month.

March 8, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Hairy, I agree with you that the infrastructure on JI and throughout Chas is seriously behind the times, but what do you expect with a state that prides itself on spending the least amount of money on roads NATIONWIDE? When they built the JI Connector, they designed it with only 4 lanes, not even considering that if you're building a freeway IN CITY LIMITS you need to take into account future traffic. If the connector were 8 lanes, your commute time would be better. Folly Road has stayed 4-lane for far too long, and you have many JI residents who've opposed other infrastructure improvements such as widening Harborview, Camp, and Fort Johnson roads. JI residents actually should take the blame. This mentality that if you keep roads as they are to make traffic worse for everybody in order to prevent development has got to change...it doesn't work.

My issue with the naysayers of the WalMart has to do with the fact that because there is a current store there, traffic will not change much, if at all. The store already markets to an in-place demographic. That demographic will continue to shop there, with a few additions for groceries.

The issue you and others have brought up is the main issue of growth and development associated with being in an urban area. Like it or not, Chas is in high demand for people to relocate to...until this demand diminishes, developers and city government will see a need to build more homes. What ALL residents of Chas need to do is pressure SCDOT and the state politicians to stop slacking in their responsibilities and have improvements made to the infrastructure in all sections of the city.

March 8, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bobkitty (anonymous) says...

OK. Acrimony is fun and could get the heart going a little...all good. Love to be American! But at the heart of it and beyond the practicality: some of us really want to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. What effect does my one vote have? My 3 recycling bins every other Monday? Not much. Probably nearly non-existent. But I am part of the solution. I am on the right side (as best I can tell). It's a good message to my kids. It's being a good citizen. It's a good thing for my community and potentially contagious. Call me a fool, but I'm smiling about signing that petition and sleeping well.

March 10, 2008 at 12:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Right, bob. Your actions don't matter, just your intentions...

Unbelievable.

March 10, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ticket3477 (anonymous) says...

ICBM...you are truely ignorant and a huge ass. I am not a environmental nut job. There is NO benefit in putting a super walmart in James Island. James Island doesnt need one. There is already a Harris Teeter and a food lion (for those who want to save a buck). Theres a reason why Kmart went out of business...because there was no need for it. A super walmart will go under in a couple of years and when theres a huge empty mess just sitting there, you will look like a fool. I for one can tell you with certainty that no one is going to stop shopping at harris teeter to drive out to a super walmart...get real...its POINTLESS! and to build something pointless and waste trees and land is pure BS and a bad move.

Point is...its a waste of space and a waste of the environment. NO one goes to the existing walmart so where is this reasoning behind a super walmart. That place is relatively vacant already.

You should not make blanket statements because you get smart*** remarks such as mine about the towncenter...you might want to brush up on your comebacks...or learn to recognize smart*** ones when they pop up.

haha...sad.

March 10, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

icbmman (anonymous) says...

Ticket, it is you who is truly ignorant and incredibly lacking in rational thought. What proof do you have that JI "doesn't need" a Super WalMart? Have you done the market analysis? Do you really know how much business the current WalMart accumulates such as weekly sales, weekly revenue, and net profit? Just because YOU witnessed very little business there doesn't mean the store DOESN'T have business...in other words, your reality isn't necessarily the truth. I want to let you in on a fairly well-known business practice: corporate execs aren't going to spend money on a store that will "definitely go under" in a couple of years. The business leaders for that store want to expand based on current revenue and projected revenue.

Your KMart statement shows your ignorance. If you recall, KMart declared BANKRUPTCY and had to restructure its assets, which lead to the company closing some of its stores across the nation. Was KMart doing good business? That is debatable, but the population on the island has also increased since then. If KMart hadn't declared bankruptcy, I'm sure the JI location would still be open.

You say the new one is a waste of space and a waste of the environment; both widely irrational and emotional responses. I say by using logic, the new one should get built because it MINIMIZES disruption of the environment and traffic flow since it is building on the old store site. Plus, the company will preserve 10 acres of wetlands.

Blanket statements? I think your last post is quite full of them...calling the kettle black, aren't we?

March 10, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

YankeeLady (anonymous) says...

There are only two ways in and out of the existing and proposed SuperWalmart - Folly Road, which is already at a standstill, and Riverland Drive, which gets more crowded every day. What are you all going to do when they try and widen Riverland to accomodate Walmart and all the other development jammed into the area? It won't be just 30 GRAND TREES that they try and kill, but hundreds. And folks living off of Riverland will have a freeway in their backyards.

Walmart needs to take a larger store to a more centralized, accessible location, where there is an actual need.

James Island is Joe's dumping ground. He'll eradicate any vestige of identity from James Island. Any quality of life is to be expunged and paved over. Look at McLeod Plantation; if it were downtown, they make it a tourist attraction. But they'll GIVE IT AWAY to a low volume school, and keep the tourist dollars where they want them - downtown and in Charles Duell's hands.

March 10, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )