Wal-Mart Whines Out of South Side Deal

Back in May, Wal-Mart got zoning approval to build a store in the West Side nieghborhood Austin, but the retailing behemoth was also looking to build a second store in South Side Chatham. Yesterday, that the second deal began to unravel, when Wal-Mart realized that about $31.6 million in city subsidies would not be coming for the development in which the store would be located.

The shopping center at 83rd and Stewart, the former site of a Ryerson Steel mill, would include a Lowe's, a Sports Authority, and an Office Depot, besides the Wal-Mart. In return for the city subsidies, Wal-Mart would agree to pay a "living-wage" and the Lowe's and Wal-Mart would build environmentally friendly green roofs.

A final decision on whether or not the city will spring for the subsidies will be likely made in next Wednesday's City Council Zoning Committee meeting.