Residents of Thibodaux came out in full force to the “Walk for Our Neighborhoods” march on Percy Brown Road Nov. 1 in opposition of a rumored Wal-Mart box store to be built in the area.

The Concerned Citizens of Lafourche and other Thibodaux residents put out yard signs and flyers in the days leading up to the march. About 200 citizens were in attendance to peacefully protest the box store being built in their neighborhood.

A petition has also been signed with over 1,500 signatures addressed to the Wal-Mart Corporation and Ronald Adams, the owner of the property. The number of signatures is still rising.

The CCL was formed after residents of the Country Club neighborhood heard rumors of a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market being set to build on the corner of Percy Brown Road and Louisiana Highway 1. The residents decided to fight against it.

The city of Thibodaux can take no action in the matter because the Country Club is on the outskirts of the city limits and as such is out of Thibodaux’s jurisdiction, so the CCL is taking matters into their own hands.

“So many people wanted to get involved and wanted to be active in this cause. We decided it was best to start the CCL and make it grow bigger because we can’t fight this alone,” Leslie Tenney, a resident of Thibodaux, said.

The residents of the surrounding area of the property are concerned because studies have shown that a Wal-Mart box store will increase crime rates, lower property value and cause traffic congestion and pollution.

Justin and Leslie Tenney have been active members in the CCL because this issue hits very close to home for them.
The plot of land owned by Adams, the believed location of a future Wal-Mart box store, sits adjacent to the property line of the Tenneys’ home.

“It’s frightening to think about what a Wal-Mart box store could do to this neighborhood,” Leslie Tenney said. “At this moment I am free to let my kids ride their bikes or play in the back yard. If this store is built, I don’t think I will be able to allow it anymore.”

According to Leslie Tenney, Adams told her and her family as well as other neighbors multiple times that his property will be used to build his residence. Adams then decided to explore other options without notifying the Tenneys.

“We are just trying to keep a man to his word, and stop this from happening to our neighborhood,” Leslie Tenney said.

Sydni Faucheaux, a math sophomore from Thibodaux, currently resides in the Country Club neighborhood and is very upset about the Wal-Mart possibly being built just a few streets away from her home.

“I can’t even imagine the traffic congestion that it would cause when I am trying to get to school at Nicholls,” Faucheaux said. “It would seriously take forever to get out of the subdivision.”

The CCL believes that there are other prime locations for the Wal-Mart box store to be built other than on the corner of LA 1 and Percy Brown Road.

“The Wal-Mart Supercenter in town is only 3.2 miles away. I think there are other locations that would be better suited for Wal-Mart to build,” Leslie Tenney said.

Gwen Cheramie, resident of the neighborhood and secretary of the CCL, moved to the area to retire and live a quieter lifestyle away from the commercial businesses.

“Residents, such as myself, are unhappy because this is an intrusion on our lives,” Cheramie said.

Cheramie said the CCL is not against Wal-Mart, competition or commerce, but residents of the area were not taken into consideration.

According to Leslie Tenney, this is just the beginning for the CCL fighting against the building of a Wal-Mart.

“We will not rest until this is resolved and Wal-Mart decides to look for another location to put their box store. It is more than unwanted here,” Leslie Tenney said.