Many in the neighborhood, however, oppose the NeighborhoodMarket, which is Wal-Mart's grocery-store-only concept. It tookseven years to rezone the site, Frangas says. "The neighborhoodmade it very clear during the early part of the seven-year processof redeveloping the site that the neighborhood did not want a largegrocery store at this site," he says.

During the Denver City Council rezoning hearing, Perry indicatedthe plan would feature a village center and small shops; eliminatethe need for large parking lots; and "never stated anything aboutincluding a development," Frangas wrote in a three-page letter tohis constituents obtained by GlobeSt.com.

In addition, Rose indicated the redevelopment would consist ofsmall office and retail operations with housing or office space andthe planning would match the retail nature of Tennyson Street, andnot to have any large store or "large seas" of parking lots. TheNeighborhood Market would have 40,000 sf at West 38th and WolffStreet. Architects and retail developers note that 40,000 sfactually is much smaller than most new grocery stores. "What couldbe more New Urbanism than having a grocery store you can walk to?"one retail developer posed to GlobeSt.com.