Thumbs down for revised Wal-Mart design
Retailer says it is “pleased” that progress is being made.
Above: Revised design of the “brand wall” for the proposed Wal-Mart at 25th Street and Huntingdon Avenue.
While not as “bleak” as before, Wal-Mart’s proposed Superstore in Remington was criticized again by the Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel (UDARP) at a hearing yesterday.
The design panel, comprised of professional architects, said Wal-Mart’s revised plans did not reflect an urban design and were not pedestrian friendly. The retailer was told to come back with improvements.
The panel’s comments echoed the views of many residents, who panned the design as “cheap” and a step back from the original 2010 plan during a community meeting on Monday.
After yesterday’s hearing, Walmart’s senior manager of communications, Amanda Henneberg, issued a statement that the retailer was “pleased that members of UDARP believe progress continues to be made with regard to our plans.”
“We will revisit the latest round of design recommendations with an eye toward a final store plan that will enable us to hire roughly 300 associates and provide area residents with convenient access to a wide range of goods at affordable prices,” she added.
For detailed coverage of the Wal-Mart store and now-stalled 25th Street Station plan, see here, here, here and here.
Panel windows now flank the entrance, whose previous design boasted solid brick walls. (Courtesy of Wal-Mart)