Mon, Apr 09, 2007
City Councilors Reject Wal-Mart Bid to Build, Support Site For
Recreation
In news that caused
Wal-Mart's ever-happy smiley face to frown, Albuquerque city
councilors last week rejected the world's largest retailer in
support of acquiring its 22-acre site for recreational purposes,
including use as landing space for the city's annual International
Balloon Fiesta.
Albuquerque's KOB-4 reports area residents have fought the
proposed 126,000-square-foot building for the past year, saying
that a Wal-Mart Super Center would change the feel of their
community.
"We urge your support for funding for the purchase of this site,
which can be used for a permanent home of the much needed soccer
fields for children of Albuquerque as well as a landing site for
hot air balloons," Gary Bennett, president of the Albuquerque
Balloon Fiesta, told councilors. "The need is not contrived, the
need is real."
Although the city earmarked $6.1 million to buy the land, City
Council President Debbie O'Malley acknowledged that Wal-Mart may
not view selling the site too favorably. That could lead to the
precedent-setting use of eminent domain and condemnation of the
land.
Said Silvio DeAngelo, an opponent to taking such measures, "You
need to look at the precedent this is setting, and this is a bad
precedent. This is bad public policy."
While the county appraised the land at $3.6 million, Wal-Mart
contends it is worth more than $10 million. If a settlement price
can't be reached and the city seeks condemnation of the property,
it will be up to a judge to determine the purchase price.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is world-renowned
and has been an attraction and destination for thousands for the
past 35 years.
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