Tulsa getting another Wal-Mart Supercenter

Tuesday, August 17th 2004, 11:15 am

By: News On 6

Plans for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in south Tulsa. Some folks who live near the busy intersection of 68th and Memorial say they are looking forward to the new store, but not the added traffic the business will bring along with it.

Tulsaâ€™s Kallay Real Estate has sold 18 acres of property to Wal-Mart to build the Supercenter.

News on 6 reporter Patrina Adger says this time next year these vacant and boarded up Service Merchandise and movie theater buildings will be torn down and construction on the Wal-Mart Supercenter will begin.

The successful chain store reportedly bought the 18 acres of property and is purchasing another 9 acres of property in this shopping center adjacent to it. Many of the businesses have already closed up and according to sources; the remaining businesses could be out by December.

Residents who live near the busy intersection of 71st and Memorial say they are looking forward to not having to drive all the way to the Supercenter at 81st and Lewis, but they're not looking forward to the added traffic the new Supercenter will bring. "Maybe they can work on a better traffic flow if they're going to bring more businesses to the area." Sandy Cowan says traffic is already a big problem with Woodland Hills Mall shoppers cutting through her neighborhood just to avoid the congestion at the intersection, so she can't imagine the Supercenter traffic would make it any worse. "I don't know how it could bring any more it's just bottleneck here."

Her daughter Danita says she talked to the realtors six months ago about using the Service Merchandise building to open her own business. That won't happen now, but she's happy these dilapidated buildings will finally be used after years of being empty. "Oh, I think its fine! I have no problem with it.!"

The businesses in the shopping center will close up and relocate, which means no one should lose their jobs. Tulsaâ€™ planning commission will hold a public meeting Wednesday at city hall to address the plans for the Supercenter.