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If You Build It....They Will Come...

By
Real Estate Agent with La Rosa Realty

Altamonte Springs Area?  Well, it's no secret, Wal-Mart wants to open a 200,000-square-foot supercenter.  They are just doing what they do best, creating more jobs for some, bringing recognition to a community, increasing property value and of course, ticking off some homeowners.  Since the construction of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter began across the street, Debbie Leahy has been bombarded with offers to buy her home.

For-sale signs dot her neighbors' lots and line the rural highway. And she can't go into town without being asked, "Have you sold yet?" or told the latest rumor about other big-box stores coming to town.

The fact that Wal-Mart is coming into an area, often trigger speculation that more growth will be added to an area - this particular area of Osteen was look at by Wal-mart three years ago.  At the time, environmentalist Michele Moen said a Wal-Mart at the corner of Howland Boulevard and State Road 415 -- on the border of the rural community of Osteen -- would be like "an urban bomb dropped on 415."

It hasn't reached that point yet. it's clear that the new Wal-Mart -- which is schedule to open early next year -- is driving growth on the east side of Deltona and in Osteen, many still believe that it is foolish to think that without the Wal-Mart there would be no growth.

From Sanford to Oviedo to Clermont, Central Florida residents have seen how the arrival of a shopping center or big-box store such as Wal-Mart can speed the transformation of a rural area.  Yes, though many might not want this type of store in their community, as we have seen it in times past, a change is gonna come and there is not many choices the ordinary man have to stop it.  Right within Poinciana and surrounding area at least 30 miles out there are over 6 Wal-Mart.

Comments (2)

Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC
We're still fighting WalMart coming into my town of Harrisburg NC.  There are 4 WalMarts within a 6 mile radius-yet they want to plant one in town.  The townspeople have created an uproar and the town council finally voted it down (since we have some guidelines in our town plan that don't allow buildings that large). But the beat goes on.  The mayor and his cronies want WalMart despite the fact that a study done  by the Urban Institute at UNC-Charlotte showed a majority against big box in town-citing that we have it close enough without adding the traffic and crime that WalMart brings. So the battle isn't over. They keep trumpeting the jobs that WM brings (at $9.41/hour) and the increase to the tax base (but what about the houses that back up to this proposed location, losing value?).  Sticky stuff no question.  I just hate that it kills the little independent shops.
Nov 26, 2006 11:38 AM
Joanne Brown
Rockland County Real Estate - Nanuet, NY
I hate to even hear their name and cannot believe people do not realize the impact of how saving a few dollars now is so expensive in the long run. My friends do not even mention any more that they've made a purchase there, unfortunately not because they gave up shopping there but they don't want to hear my opinions. 
Nov 26, 2006 07:43 PM