In this Update:
1. No Meeting on August 21.
2. We met with Lincoln.

In our last Update, we announced that we would convene for an RG4N Town Hall on August 21. Let¹s hold off on that for now. This note explains why. Also please note that your feedback and questions are welcomed and encouraged at: press [at] rg4n [dot] org

Representatives from Responsible Growth for Northcross and the Allandale Neighborhood Association met recently with Bruce Scrafford, an attorney for Lincoln Property Company. The purpose of the meeting was to disclose more information about the revised plan to build a smaller Wal-Mart store at Northcross Mall. No one from Wal-Mart or the City of Austin attended.

In fact, Wal-Mart is putting together a "Fact Sheet" on the new plans and wasn't ready with the details for the meeting. When we receive that information, we will schedule a Town Hall meeting. (It should also be noted that the online information about the prior plan for the two-story Wal-Mart is gone: http://www.walmart-northcross.com )

However, it was still a productive meeting. We learned some things we didn't already know. But we still have questions.

Here's what we know now:
1. The Wal-Mart at Northcross will be 99,600 square feet
2. It will be one-story
3. No parking garage
4. No garden center
5. No gas station
6. The revised plan is expected to retain the design and materials in the earlier design, so it's not expected to be a blue and grey box
7. A new site plan has not been submitted to the City of Austin.
8. More trees and landscaping will be planted in the new plan
9. More sidewalks will be in the new plan
10. Less impervious cover will be in the new plan
11. Water control and drainage will be improved in the new plan

Here's what we don't know specifics about yet:
1. Hours of operation
2. Traffic impact and mitigation
3. Truck delivery routes
4. Access from the Northcross bus stop, particularly for people with
disabilities
5. Security operations

The RG4N Business Liaison Committee has partnered with the Austin Independent Business Alliance to create the new Northcross Independent Business Investment Zone, or IBIZ! You can read more about ABIA and IBIZ here.

Now we need YOU to shop locally and patronize the businesses in the new Northcross IBIZ. You can also use this map of the Northcross IBIZ stores.

In addition to the IBIZ stores, please continue to shop and support the many businesses who have financially supported RG4N's efforts from the beginning.

Dear RG4N Supporters,

The reduced size of the planned Northcross Wal-Mart is welcome news for us all. The RG4N Steering Committee thanks everyone for the kind words and expressions of appreciation we are hearing today from neighbors throughout the area and across the city.

We aren't the only or even the biggest factor in Wal-Mart's decision to scale back the planned store. But I know we were one important factor. Neighborhood resistance to the Northcross project and the potential for ongoing litigation created a shadow of uncertainty over the project that we believe bought us time -- time for the economy and other factors that drove the decision to come fully into play.

So many people throughout and outside the Northcross area contributed to this effort. Neighbors who put signs in their yards, everyone who showed up for Arms Around Northcross and other events, Allandale and other area neighborhood associations, all the people who donated money and time and wrote letters, the businesses that supported our efforts. All of you played vital roles.

"Wal-Mart is dramatically scaling back plans for its Supercenter at Northcross Mall after a two-year controversy and a court fight with neighbors opposed to the store."

Read the entire Statesman article about Wal-Mart's plans to reduce the size of the store planned at Northcross Mall!

RG4N "YES WE CAN" RECYCLE

It’s simple. It’s sustainable. It's fun. Start saving and collecting your cans today! This is an easy way to raise necessary funds and help us continue our fight.