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Will the big NIMBY fight happen?
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A national survey released in early January showed that residents across the country were more willing to accept new development in their community in light of the economic malaise. The Saint Index as it is known showed communities across the country more willing to accept the most hated developer of all for the NIMBY crowd - Wal-Mart.
Instead of simply remodeling its stores and pursuing stores already in the pipeline, Wal-Mart announced a change in strategy. With the economy in decline and communities across the country hungry for tax dollars, Wal-Mart wants to make a move to push into communities where it had previously heard a BIG NO. Cities like Boston, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago top the list of Wal-Mart's new battleground.
That brings us to the NiMBY news of today. Word out of Mayor Richard Daley's office is that the Mayor isnt interested in renewed fights over big boxes in the City of Chicago. When the first article about Wal-Mart's renewed interest calls apparently flooded into the planning department and the Mayor's office foretelling the fights that would occur over the proposed sites in Chicago's "food desert" and throughout the City.
So without even an application in play the NIMBY's have scored an early political victory in the fight against America's largest retailer. Chalk one up for the unions, neighbors and Wal-Mart's enemies. Be on the lookout for a renewed push though from Wal-Mart. They don't rest long when new markets are ready to be attacked.
