LETTER: Wal-Mart – The Wrong Development

As real estate professionals we are usually thought of as “pro development, at almost any cost.” This, of course, is not true and couldn’t be farther from the truth with respect to a Walmart being built abutting a residential neighborhood in Watertown.

Our town went through the thoughtful process of writing an Economic Development Plan that included the vision for the Union Market area, the same area in which a lease was signed by Walmart. The plan targets mid to larger size firms in information technology and advanced manufacturing. We feel that following this plan would be more advantageous to the town’s growth than a duplication of a big box store down the street.

We are all aware that Walmart would adversely affect small businesses throughout the town. Don’t we want to preserve and protect the independent businesses that give variety and character to our town? Walmart would ruin hundreds of now-thriving small businesses throughout the town, and this damage would cause many shops to become vacant and derelict, and inevitably seriously damage the image of the town as an established, friendly neighborhood with successful small businesses and lovely quiet residential areas.

Traffic would be unbearable around the Square. Lighting from the parking lights wouldmimic a stadium’s and the noise would be heard through the night with their deliveries.These issues all seem to be understood by most people.

A harder issue to prove is the impact a Walmart has on home real estate values.However, there are some studies that support the idea that big box stores like Walmart adversely affect real estate values (The NWIMBY Effect [No Wal-Mart In My Backyard] Big Box Stores and Residential Values By Daniel K.N. Johnson, et al), In our opinion as real estate professionals, having a Walmart or the introduction of more big box stores in our town would absolutely diminish real estate values.

We hope that the people of our town realize what a detriment a Wal-Mart would be to the quality of life here. Isn’t this something we can all agree on?

Bill Aibel

Peter Boyajian

Sonia V. Boyajian

Ari Koufos

Richard Marcus

Paul Moreton

John Petrowsky

Margaret Vogel

Susan Wayne