Wal-Mart, Taxes, BBQ and SUVs

Another Wal-Mart Supercenter has opened on the intersection of West Little York & Fry Road. This will be followed by yet another opening set to take place later this year near the intersection of Grand Parkway and the Westpark Tollway. This will make Katy home to 4 different Wal-Mart supercenters. Recently, Helen Eriksen over at Chron.com asked the question:

But could this good news spell doom for the numerous “mom and pop” stores in the Katy area?

The responses spun off a heated conversation where many Katy residents gave their two cents on not only Wal-Mart, but Katy ISD, local Katy resident attitudes, debts, soccer moms, BBQ and SUV’s. Here are just a few opinions gathered from this lively conversation:

On Wal-Mart:

Would it kill these developers to build something with more class other than strip malls, Wal-Marts and apartments? What ever happened to the proposed luxury shopping mall? JC Penney is hardly upscale, neither is Kohl’s. Still have to go into Memorial City, West Oaks or The Galleria for quality shopping. Katy is quickly becoming “discount central” and all these discount stores and budget supermarkets are cheapening the area. La Centerra is a step in the right direction, but hardly large enough to accommodate those who prefer better stores.

On Katy ISD Taxes

Our Cinco house cost $220K, although we are taxed a ridiculous amount thanks to KISD empire building….We have relatives moving from the KISD taxing zone south of 1093, and trust me, they are not poor. I do not think less of them for building there – I am somewhat jealous they are reducing their taxes so much.

On Moving to Katy

… it saddens me that so many people have felt unwelcome in Texas. No doubt every community (in every state) has a number of unpleasant people, but I have to tell you… as a non-Texan who recently built a home in Katy, I have felt nothing but a very warm welcome from this community. In fact, I am amazed every day by how unbelievably friendly and helpful Texans are.

On Life…

My family’s been here a while, I shop at stores both north and south of the interstate, if I think they will have what I’m looking for. I’ve also been known to drive south of 1093 to shop or go to activities. I wasn’t aware that class lines were formed by highways. I was just looking for merchandise that I thought I could find at Garden Ridge, Walmart, Linens n Things, Hobby Lobby, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Kohl’s, JC Penneys and other stores would have that I needed.

Seriously, people! We’re all God’s children. We all came into this world with nothing, just as we’ll leave it. You are not more special than me & I’m not more special than you. Please show some human kindness to your neighbors.

So a simple opinion on Wal-Mart isn’t so simple after all. Check out the entire comment thread to see it all. Thank you Helen for your great blog and lively readers.