I'm glad that abandonded warehouse complex is getting used for something - particularly Target. Close-in shopping center planned New use for industrial site just west of downtown By NANCY SARNOFF Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Retailers have saturated many of Houston's neighborhoods with stores, but developers are still finding opportunities in underserved areas. A major shopping center is being planned for a long-overlooked industrial site just west of downtown. Property Commerce, a local retail developer, will build the pro-ject on land that was once home to a tool manufacturer. Situated at the junction of Interstate 10 and Taylor, the center will feature Target as its first big tenant. The discount shopping giant also will be the first so-called big-box retailer to move into the area in years. Industry watchers say the move indicates a significant demographic change. "We're developing a more mature inner city, and the retailers are recognizing the demographics," said Lawrence Plotsky of the Plotsky group, a retail brokerage firm. Jay Williams, president of Property Commerce, is still acquiring land, which could ultimately amount to 30 acres, for the pro-ject. He would not discuss details because the company hasn't finished mapping out plans for the site. Developers from the company recently met with area residents and District H City Councilman Adrian Garcia to notify them of the project. They were greeted with open arms. "Almost everyone sees it as an improvement," said Marcia Perry, president of the First Ward Civic Council. Indeed, the surrounding neighborhoods, including the Heights, the near north side, the Sixth Ward, downtown and the First Ward, have seen their residential population increase, while retail development has been minimal. That's primarily because of the complexity of amassing large tracts of close-in land, developers said. Most of the retail development in the area has been small strip centers. According to the developer, Target is the only retailer signed up for the new center. But that will likely change. If Property Commerce can secure all of the 30 acres, the final product could rival other Houston shopping centers like Meyerland Plaza. "This will be a godsend in terms of making it less necessary to drive out to Memorial City, the Galleria or Greens-point," Perry said. "We have good feelings about it." While the new development will help clean up a shabby part of town, it will also improve its identity. Just across Interstate 10 from the historic Heights neighborhood, the area has been largely industrial in nature. And although more than 100,000 cars drive past the intersection each day, the area's identity is vague at best. A large part of the future Target site was formerly home to Bowen Tool Co. The property changed hands more than a year ago when the Verandah Cos. purchased it to build an apartment community. The company cleared the site, but the apartments never got off the ground. Verandah is selling the land to Property Commerce, which is purchasing adjacent parcels to expand the project's size. Residents are hoping the new Target leads retailers to consider opening more stores in the underserved and long-overlooked area. Indeed, if developers and retailers continue to recognize density trends — recent statistics show that more people want to live in the inner city than ever before — Houston could see more of these kinds of redevelopment deals in semi-virgin territory like the new Target location. Also, Northwest Mall could get a huge shot in the arm if rumors prove true. Wal-Mart is said to be looking at taking over the abandoned J.C. Penney department store at the mall, at the corner of North Post Oak and Hempstead Highway.
Does anybody else think Wal-Mart is the devil besides me? It destroys the whole village concept. I'm all for free trade and capitalism but damn, these people systematically put every little business owner out of work. Its a sham dame.
I'm with you 100% on this one, and that is why I do not spend a dime in WalMart, even though there is one a half mile from my house.
One of my favorite things about living inside the loop is the fact that there are NO WAL-MARTS!!!! This blows.
How can you beat those prices though? I mean sure you can get some stuff cheaper at other stores but Wal-Mart will match those prices. Why doesn't anybody complain about Target or K-Mart?
Also, in my town (of about 60,000) there are basically three Wal-Marts inside town, 2 Wal-Marts and 1 Sam's Club and then there are 2 other within 15 minutes of here. I have yet to see any businesses suffer or hear about any suffer as well.
Well, out here in suburbia, Walgreens is taking over. Literally, there are at least 15 Walgreens within 5 miles of my house. Its getting ridiculous.
Down here in Clear Lake I live walking distance to a Walgreens, Eckards, and a CVS. They are all right next to each other. It is a joke.
Read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. He outlines a chapter on Walgreens and their strategy of doing whatever it takes to be the most convenient drug store in the country. Their strategy literally blew the roof of Eckerd's, their top competitor. Not even close. That's why you see one on every other corner...and in downtown New York there are Walgreens literally separated by just a mere couple of blocks, for the very same reason, according to Collins. Excellent plan if the goal is to be the best in that industry. I have no problem with Target. I have HUGE problems with Wal-Mart..but none with Target. Most of that relates to the shopping experience I have at both...Target is just a far more pleasant place...
Max, I read something about that. Walgreens wants to really be everyones neighborhood drug store so they focus on building stores outside of every large neighborhood. I hate CVS btw. Something about that carpet they have in there................
' no kidding...pick up "Good to Great"...it's an EXCELLENT book.. a much easier read than other business-type books. much more focuses on the personalities of the leaders of businesses that have seen tremendous growth. a great look into success of organizations and effective models for that success across different industries. looks at what were the similar key components in their growth. very well done...and a great read.
Now that's true. When in a Houston, a couple of weeks ago, I shopped at a Target and found it much more pleasant than a Wal-Mart store. Why?
Wal Marts, in my experience, generally aren't as clean. They offer less quality than Target stores offer. Target, I believe, is owned by Marshall Fields....and they literally push stuff down there. So you could go and find some home accessories that look nice at Target that you would not find at Wal Mart. There is more of a focus on design...while still carrying the expansive product offerings that Wal Mart does. Plus...Wal Mart takes a lot of bad press...and has for sometime...on a lot of different issues...the earliest I remember was the fact that products they claimed were "made in the USA" were actually made in sweatshops in some other country. They take a ton of heat for putting too much pressure on suppliers to force lower prices (yes, I recognize there are two sides to that coin).
I don't undrstand why people don't like the shopping experience at Wal-Mart. Its super retail of mass produced products. You go there to by everyday household goods, products you don't even have to think about. You go in, grab them off the shelf and go on about your day. I undrstand the stores get cluttered, and they are usually crowded, but your just shopping for Tide. Its not like you're making major purchases and you need peace to concentrate. It is was is, mass production meets the Super Store.
I will shop at the Super Target on South Main before I will shop at any Houston area WalMart. It's cleaner, the prices are the same, and the merchandise is better. Plus they have Archer Farms which sometimes has some decent deals on food. Screw WalMart.
In Wylie, there is literally a corner with a pharmacy on each side. A CVS, Walgreens and Eckards each staking out a corner with a Brookshires (which has a pharmacy inside) filling out the foursome. Personally, I like Wal-Mart. The Super Target is a nicer store, but it's not as convenient to me location-wise. The Wal-Mart Supercenter in Plano is relatively clean, though (compared to many Wal-Marts I've been in).
