LH Press Library
Neighbors Take Their Gripes to the Market
Dallas Morning News, by Kristine Hughes
September 10, 2005
Lake Highlands homeowners groups have taken the local Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market to task over more than delivery truck noise, overflowing trash and other potential code violations.
Residents say they also want to be treated better by employees and feel safer shopping at the Audelia Road store.
Sean Christopher, executive vice president of the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association, said the group's retail committee has been working with the store over such issues for two years. Things escalated, though, when the problems were discussed at a town hall meeting organized by Dallas City Council member Bill Blaydes.
Afterward the association received more than 100 e-mails on the topic, so the board decided to take action, Mr. Christopher said.
"We've come to the conclusion that if we want to get anything done, we have to do it ourselves. The city can enforce codes, but it can't say, 'You need to improve your management.' "
Wal-Mart officials say they're willing to work with residents.
"Our goal is to be a good citizen and good neighbor," said Gus Whitcomb, Wal-Mart's director of North Texas corporate affairs. "There's no way we're going to be able to make everybody happy, but you just cannot be a good business if you don't listen."
This isn't the first time the association has flexed its muscles over local business practices.
In 2003 it opposed the location of a sexually oriented business in the community and then supported a law that prevented the club from getting a liquor license.
In July, association officials began working to get items used to manufacture and take drugs pulled from local store shelves.
"Anything that impacts the quality of life in Lake Highlands is an issue that the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association can take up," Mr. Christopher said.
As to Wal-Mart, he said, "they said they would be a good neighbor, and we're holding them to it."
According to national experts, it's uncommon for homeowners groups to try to influence how businesses operate. But they say if management is smart, they'll listen.
"Their greatest leverage in trying to force compliance is to avoid shopping there for a while and let them feel it in their pockets. So if the store takes steps to correct things, it's going to create better customer traffic," said Paul Grucza of Plano, a member and past president of the national Community Associations Institute, based in Alexandria, Va.
Mr. Grucza said improving the quality of service at a neighborhood business can be difficult if the company isn't under the authority of a planned development.
Beyond expecting the store to correct any code violations, he said, there would have to be voluntary cooperation in addressing complaints. "It becomes a matter of courtesy for customers, and that's a tough issue to adjudicate."
Board members of the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association, an alliance of homeowners and crime watch groups in the Dallas neighborhood, met with Wal-Mart management on Aug. 31. Both sides say the other has responded professionally and been cooperative.
The association criticized the store's maintenance practices and appearance, employees' attitudes, lax security and poor follow-up.
A review of the store's code enforcement history since it opened in May 2002 reveals that about 20 inspections resulted in violation notices or citations. Infractions included pallets, cartons and boxes stored improperly behind the store; overflowing trash bins and a lack of screening; bird droppings; early deliveries and truck parking; and watering at prohibited times.
The records also indicate that all the violations were corrected satisfactorily.
A few shoppers there this week said they notice the store's condition but shop there anyway because the prices are lower.
They said they make a point to shop only during the day and expect less service because the store is mostly self-checkout.
"The parking lot could use some work," said Ron Beasore, a retiree who lives in the White Rock Lake area. Mr. Beasore said that he raised a few problems with the staff and that they were immediately addressed.
People seem to either love or hate Wal-Mart. While the company is No. 1 on the Fortune 500 list, it often faces local opposition to any hint that it plans to open a new store.
In fact, people are already protesting the possibility that the company will build a Wal-Mart Supercenter less than four miles from the neighborhood market.
Mr. Christopher said he's been told the parking lot would be repaired this week.
"Wal-Mart knows that to get the Supercenter, they need to fix the store they have," he said.
Reprinted with permission of The Dallas Morning News
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