and by "cool," I don't mean the weather, although I hear it's pretty hot down there, too. Despite the fact that my best friend in the world is from Texas and I know that there are plenty of good folk that live in the lone star state, they seem to have serious problems with just about every area of what makes a place civilized -- at least to a gal with liberal leanings. I'm perfectly aware that California has its share of crazies, but that's not what this post is about -- nor is it about Texas, really. Or Wal-Mart -- except that there are an awful lot of Wal-Marts in Texas, and I do love a good Wal-Mart bashing post. Insults aside, I was just reeling you in to tell you about this article I read about a former Wal-Mart being bought by the city of McAllen in southern Texas and turned into a library! A fantastic looking library at that -- check it out here.
Oh, and I just remembered -- some very wealthy guy in San Antonio built the world's first adaptive amusement park for his disabled daughter and others like her a while back. That was something good coming out of Texas, too.
Texas Reader, tell me more good stuff.
I applauded that Wal-Mart conversion awhile ago when our new library architect shared it with the board of trustees. That's a Wal-Mart that I would step a foot into!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
I hope this catches on, it's a fantastic idea. There are so many former Wal-marts and strip malls sitting around empty and ugly and useless.
ReplyDeleteNow this is a nice complement to AS TEXAS GOES by Gail Collins, which is currently on my night table. :)
ReplyDeleteGood Stuff, Elizabeth. Your post here reminded me of another image I saw today on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=405879599449418&set=a.195743380463042.35687.195105823860131&type=1&theater
ReplyDeleteThe joy of books and libraries.
I'm impressed! What a beautiful turning of a sow's ear into a silk purse!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm from Texas. Did you know that? Well, I was born in El Paso. Didn't stay there long. But I was.
Interesting repurposing. I have never been to a WalMart, but know they tend to be in out of the way places to accommodate the large amount of real estate they tend to take up. It will be interesting to see long-term usage figures for this, compared to the old library.
ReplyDeleteInteresting repurposing. I have never been to a WalMart, but know they tend to be in out of the way places to accommodate the large amount of real estate they tend to take up. It will be interesting to see long-term usage figures for this, compared to the old library.
ReplyDeleteThat IS great. Vacant big-box stores pose a serious urban planning problem for many communities, so maybe this is an example of a possible solution. I wonder how $26 million for renovations compares to the cost of an entirely new building of that magnitude?
ReplyDelete(Also, I'm impressed that the English-only crazies haven't nixed the bilingual labeling around the building...)
A new version of the Texas miracle!
ReplyDeletehow could anyone bypass a subject line implying there was something cool in TX? i agree with the poster above who remarked on the plethora of empty big box stores. i dont understand why tax incentives seem to be greater for a firm to build a new crappy looking store than make an empty crappy looking store look half-way decent and put to good use.
ReplyDeletethis is a brilliant transformation,
ReplyDeleteno ficcion!
Brene Brown is from Texas and she is pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know there are others who see WalMart bashing as good sport. ;-)
Oh, McAllen. I just spent 3 days this week rolling around in the muck that is the tort industry in McAllen. They seem to be earnestly trying to turn into Louisiana. This post shall remind me that little bits of goodness can exist ANYWHERE. Turd-blossom, indeed.
ReplyDelete