Earth warriors destroy Wal-Mart

Vandals cause major damage to Wal-Mart

By Lindsay Nash, staff writer
Aug. 28, 2004 11:25 p.m.

ASHEVILLE - Vandals used on-site construction equipment late Friday night to ram into the shell of the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Swannanoa River Road, causing an estimated $900,000 in damage.

The vandals entered the site and either found a key or hot- wired a dump truck and drove it into different areas of the building, said Michael Patterson, a manager for Horne Properties, which is developing the site.

"It's just an unfortunate thing," Patterson said. "I've done over 130 different developments, and not once has this ever happened before."

The developers won't know the full tally on damage until contractors and engineers assess the structural damage, Patterson said.

"We're taking the necessary precautions," said Patterson, who plans to hire five different night watchmen to start monitoring the site. He said the construction should be completed, as planned, sometime in January.

According to Asheville police Lt. David Rutledge, the damage was discovered about 6:30 a.m. Saturday when workers found a dump truck still running.

Police had no leads Saturday night on the crime, and Rutledge said he wasn't speculating on motives yet.

Asheville City Council approved the construction of the Wal-Mart in July 2002, amid concerns and criticism from many Asheville residents.

The 219,622-square-foot retail store at the old Sayles Biltmore Bleacheries site on Swannanoa River Road is part of a 78-acre mixed-use development. The store will supply about 600 new jobs, according to Patterson. Also planned there are a Kohl's department store, Petsmart pet supply store and a Port City Java coffeehouse.


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