Wal-Mart proposal reviewed tomorrow

The Development Review Committee meets tomorrow at City Hall to discuss a preliminary application by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to build a 97,779 square-foot superstore where the aging Ringling Shopping Center now sits.

The store would revitalize a commercial area that now includes a plaza that lost its anchor tenant in October 2011, when Publix Super Markets Inc. closed to make way for its new Publix at 2031 Bay St.

Currently, the plaza has a few tenants left, but has lost several stores since Publix closed, including three restaurants and a UPS Store.

If the city approves the project, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. would demolish the existing plaza structure and build the new store in its place.

The WalMart Supercenter would be small by supercenter standards, though, according to the pre-application. Typical supercenters are 150,000 square feet.

City staff will discuss the proposal at the meeting, which will be held 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall, Room 112, 1565 First St., Sarasota.

For more information, pick up a copy of Thursday’s June 21 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].

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