• In Virginia, the Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved Walmart’s application to build a supercenter near the Wilderness Battlefield, considered to be one of the Civil War’s most important battlefields. The proposal has been opposed by preservationists, who were concerned about the impact of traffic and commerce on what they see as the sanctity of the area.
Walmart has said that the store is projected to generate $800,000 in sales tax revenue a year, plus hundreds of jobs for the region.
Walmart has said that the store is projected to generate $800,000 in sales tax revenue a year, plus hundreds of jobs for the region.
- KC's View:
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When this story first popped up, my immediate impulse was to side with the preservationists. But after having visited Gettysburg a couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to chat with a businessman from the area last week who told me about the ongoing tension that exists between local businesses and government and the historical interests that want to preserve as much land as possible. While historical preservation is a worthy pursuit, he said, the problem is that each new acquisition of land costs the taxpayers money and takes land off the tax rolls – which, especially today, can put communities in a tough place economically.
All of which tells me that a legitimate balance has to be struck. I don't know the Wilderness Battlefield area, so I can't pass judgment on that. But it doesn’t help anyone if communities go bankrupt and if people don't have jobs.
