Leaving for school, senior Kayla Harmon noticed construction equipment filling the open space next to her home and mostly her neighbor’s home. This empty land is where the new Walmart will be built.

“I love the woods and wildlife across the street, and that will all be wiped out when they cut the woods down,” said Harmon.

To end 2012, Walmart announced plans to construct a new building on Elm Springs Road and North 48th Street. This new Walmart will include energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. Approximately 350 new jobs will likely be created and this new store will help to open up the northwest Springdale area. While this new store offers many advantages, Harmon fears for the wildlife in the area.

“A pair of red-tailed hawks nest in that area, and the store is being built right when they will be hatching,” said Harmon. “People have no idea what kind of damage the new store will do to the wildlife.”

Walmart hopes that this new store will provide new jobs and another convenient spot for people to shop. This is only the second Walmart Supercenter, the first located on Thompson Street, south of Robinson Avenue. Erica Jones, Senior Manager-Community Affairs anticipates a good reception for the new location.

“The new store will create a new option for residents seeking a job or wanting more affordable shopping options close to where they live or work,” said Jones.

The company expects that the new jobs this store will create will help to make up for having to purchase family-owned property adjacent to the new Supercenter. They will be hiring as the store opens, and this includes hiring high school students looking for jobs.

“With any new store, we seek to open a hiring center in the community and will make our best effort to recruit local residents,” said Jones. “The Elm Springs Road supercenter will be no different.”

Construction will begin this year, and the store is scheduled to open its doors during the fall of 2014.

“For people like me who live in Elm Springs, the new supercenter will be more convenient when it comes to buying items like electronics and school supplies, to servicing your vehicle and for buying groceries at lower prices,” said junior Justin Dhaliwal.