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Lawyer Abuse!

By
Real Estate Agent with Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive

Come on, people!  Why, oh why, must lawyers be summoned anytime something doesn't go precisely how you intended?

I don't know who the first lawyer was, but whoever he was would surely be turning in his grave at what lawyers will do nowadays.  Focus has shifted away from making things right, to making things MY WAY RIGHT NOW (said in the whining voice of an 8-year old)!

Reference an article in today's Charlotte Observer, in regard to a Lowe's that was voted down in my hometown of Harrisburg NC

Harrisburg has been struggling with growth and how to handle it.  Our town is a little bigger than 5000 residents-so we're not huge-but we sit just immediately outside of Charlotte, so we're truly a bedroom community for the big city.  And the majority of us who live here are JUST FINE with that.  So of course, seeing as we only have two Lowe's Home Improvement stores within a 5 mile radius and only three Wal-Marts with the same 5 miles, we MUST have them in our town limits.

It's been a long battle and it continues needlessly.  We fought Lowe's and did NOT approve their request for rezoning.  So what does Lowe's do? They file a lawsuit to FORCE the zoning change to build where they are NOT wanted.

Since when is this acceptable?  Harrisburg's charm stems in part from the fact that we have a lot of small, local businesses that are profitable and supported by folks in town. What happens to them when Lowe's forces their way into town?  What happens to our infrastructure? 

You know, I wasn't even truly opposed to Lowe's and I'm not opposed to Target.  I'm opposed to Wal-Mart and Home Depot, but that's another topic for another day.  The problems that I have?

A.  When Lowe's comes to town, Wal-Mart will follow shortly (our mayor and his cronies LOOOOOVE Wal-Mart and refuse to listen to the town that we do not want Wal-Mart here for many reasons).

B.  Lowe's can't accept that they can't go anywhere they want.  Their business model is set up to hear the word NO from anyone.

So there goes good money after bad-our small town is forced to fork over money for -you guessed it-lawyers to play this game. 

Ick.  I really will have to run for mayor...

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Historical quotes (as recent as 2000 AD:

1. "Even just thinking of allowing a Wal-Mart superstore to be built at the Sayles Bleachery site
[[a brownfield] is insane.Putting up an ugly monster building -- including [a] large parking [lot] -- and forever destroying a beautiful area that otherwise could be used to serve and please the people of Asheville and visitors in a better way, is the worst thing that can happen to our city. .2. "With an overflow crowd of neighborhood activists looking on, developers of the proposed Super Wal-Mart on the Swannanoa River were granted a continuance..."  3. " Make old Sayles Bleachery site a science museum, not a superstore

Anyone care to guess the outcome?

Feb 14, 2007 07:34 AM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
PS!!! YES! Run for Mayor, Leigh...Your community would be lucky to have you. I have watched your community work here and send you kudos!
Feb 14, 2007 07:35 AM
Christopher Baucom
Wilkinson & Associates - Belmont, NC

Until your Wal-Mart is built you can come on down to ours in Belmont - that we didn't want either. If you have trouble finding it, just ask someone where the new Lowe's is going up. It's right next door.

 

Feb 14, 2007 12:30 PM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate
Miss Mayor to Be?.......Your Honor?.......Your Mayorship?  Leigh - We had the same problem in our little town.  Before people were worried about the small businesses.  What will they call you?  I say - RUN!!!!
Feb 14, 2007 11:17 PM
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC

Now, you people are supposed to talk me OUT of politics. ;)  Someone has to do it.  And I'm going to emulate the guy who ran for mayor in Honolulu that Randy Prothero mentioned before, who said he would post a 'gone fishin' sign on the mayor's door, since the government needs to take a break from meddling once in a while. =)

Christopher-I hear ya.  I want to know why Wal-Mart insists on building where they are NOT wanted?  Can't they take a hint and just go elsewhere?  I mean, Cherryville was delighted to have them!

Feb 15, 2007 02:45 AM
Carolyn Nelson
Realty One Carolina, LLC - Burlington, NC
Your Triangle to Triad Real Estate Expert!

Hi Leigh,

If you want to see some really big changes, stay on  HWY 49 until you reach Carowinds Blvd. Everything south of Carowinds leading in to SC across the Buster Boyd Bridge has changed. The days of the open fields, trees and rolling hills are gone on this side of town. We have more traffic now on a four lane hwy than what we had when it was only two lanes. Rumor has it that good old Wally World and Lowes wants to move on this side since Target and Home Depot has setup shop. My taxes have double and crime has increased tremendously on this side of town.

The good old days are gone! 

Feb 15, 2007 12:12 PM
Anonymous
Rhonda Poppen

Leigh:  Silly me... guess the Lawyer abuse entry is actual one I have been reading... Still interesting...

Feb 15, 2007 12:16 PM
#7
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans
Leigh.... you have my vote for mayor. I like how you stand up for what you believe in. 
Feb 16, 2007 11:28 AM
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC

Carolyn-glad to see you-it's been a while!  I love that new Target, but it's hard to even recognize that area AT ALL.

Rhonda-glad to see you here as well, looking forward to working with you on town council!

Jeff-thanks!

Feb 16, 2007 11:33 AM