Midtown residents appeal Wal-Mart permit

Residents of Miami’s Midtown, a new, master-planned community near the artsy Design District, are appealing Wal-Mart’s Class 2 permit, saying America’s largest retailer will build a store that clashes with its neighbors.

The city approved the company’s architectural design permit earlier this month following a protracted public battle with activist residents opposed to a store. Wal-Mart’s original plan for 3055 North Miami Avenue was rejected in February by the Urban Design Review Board, an advisory panel to city planning director Francisco Garcia.

“The way Wal-Mart wants to build their store will not match the north side of Midtown Miami and that kind of mistake will be embedded in stone for decades to come,” NoWalmartInMidtown.com spokesperson Grant Stern told WSVN.

Proponents say a Wal-Mart store will bring hundreds of jobs. [WSVN] — Emily Schmall