Plans for Buckhead Walmart move forward
Whenever Walmart wants to build a store, there’s almost always controversy. A proposal to bring Walmart to Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood is no different. This week, two Atlanta City Council committees approved the plan with no recommendation. A final city council vote could come on Monday.
Developer Jeff Fuqua has plans for 20 acres in Buckhead. The land is connected to Lindbergh Drive and Piedmont Road. It’s there Fuqua says he wants to build a Walmart, multi-family units and a park. For years now, Fuqua’s had his eye on the land for what he calls a between $85 and $90 million investment.
“The economy has been pretty rough and just now it’s picked up enough that we thought that we could probably pull a development off and we can,” said Fuqua.
Fuqua has some challenges. Right now, city law says that land must be used for high density residential projects. He needs city council to rezone the land for mixed use. He also needs to prove his project is transit oriented.
“It’s actually 800 feet from the MARTA station,” said Fuqua. “We hope to get a signal on Piedmont that ties us right through Lindbergh station.”
However, nearby resident Andrea Bennett told city council members location doesn’t necessarily mean the project is transit oriented. Bennett said the project’s parking lot is 7 acres in size.
“It’s a big ol’ thing,” said Bennett. “This is clearly designed for cars. That’s why we have parking lots. It is clearly not transit oriented. It’s clearly car oriented.”
Fuqua says about 80% of the parking is in an underground deck. Bennett and more than 20 unhappy residents who live near the proposed Walmart lobbied city council members Tuesday. Their presence helped sway councilman Alex Wan, who chairs the council’s zoning committee.
“I don’t believe we should change the plan to fit one particular project, applicant, [or] developer unless there is a compelling reason (like) the neighborhoods are all behind it and it is all part of a consistent vision going forward,” said Wan.
Residents’ fears include traffic and redundancy with a nearby Target and Home Depot. Resident Floyd Taylor is not a fan.
“Be careful of Walmart,” said Floyd. “Be careful of Super Walmart. Put in Google news to see how often Walmarts are in the news about crime related issues.”
Buckhead may be mixed. But, council woman Joyce Sheperd, who chairs the council’s community development committee, says her South Atlanta district has no problem with Wal-Mart’s prices and jobs.
“I will be honest with you,” said Sheperd. “In my community people ask for Walmarts every day.”
Once built, planners estimate the Buckhead Walmart will generate 600 jobs. They also estimate site construction will generate 300 jobs.
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