Wal Mart at Northcross Mall

A 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter is planned for Northcross Mall at Anderson Lane and Burnet Road. Neighbors say the 225,000-square-foot store will snarl traffic and ruin the area’s character.

A grassroots group called Responsible Growth 4 Northcross (RG4N) has been battling Wal-Mart since the plans were announced in November. They've petitioned the development, Wal-Mart and even the city to find another location.

"Forget about Shoal Creek [Boulevard.] Shoal Creek will become basically an expressway. There's places that's appropriate for Wal-Mart. This is not it," neighbor Barbara Rush said.

Opponents of the Northcross Wal-Mart were asked to come out on Saturday morning to say “no.” Joined hand to hand, neighbors tried to make a human chain around the perimeter.

"We're going to link arms around Northcross Mall in show of support for our alternative for Northcross Mall and in a protest against this type of development. Actions speak louder than words. And sometimes people have to actually see the level of support or outrage that the citizens have through forms of protests like this," Jason Meeker of RG4N said.

Responsible Growth 4 Northcross expected about 5,000 people to come out, but it’s estimated less than half of that came out on the cold Saturday morning.

Businesses might benefit ...

Some nearby business owners think a new Wal-Mart could help their bottom line.

... but neighbors still protest

About 2,000 braved the cold weather to protest against the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

"People might not listen, but it's hard not to listen when you look around and see this many people coming out on a Saturday morning and saying no. What you're seeing here is literally thousands of people that are coming together representing the neighborhoods of the town and are saying we're just really committed to making sure these things don't happen," neighbor Brian King said.

While neighbors oppose the world’s largest retailer setting up shop in their area, surrounding businesses don’t think it’s such a bad idea. Super Star Nails and Hair Salon owner Trung Lee thinks business might improve if a Wal-Mart opens up across the street.

"More traffic, more visibility, more people. So more people see us and they will stop by, so more customers," he said.

But Lee also can see how the new Wal-Mart might hurt his business.

"It could be bad if the road is backed all day because nobody could come in," he said.

Meeker says if Wal-Mart is built, expect 30,000 cars on Anderson Lane between MoPac and Burnet Road every day. Lee hopes the city will step in and redo the roads if necessary

"If you're not going to the Wal-Mart you will have very little reason to come to this area. You would have to be out of your mind to come deal with this kind of traffic to visit the local businesses,” Meeker said.

The Capital Area Food Bank will also benefit from a new Wal-Mart. Their national organization is expected to announce in the next few weeks an agreement with Wal-Mart stores nationwide. Through the agreement, local food banks will receive what Wal-Mart is unable to sell.