By Warren McNeil

After a 12 year controversy, Wal-Mart will build a power centre near the Farmers market. This was one of the most controversial development that ever went before the council. This new development will be located at King St and Hwy 85 in Woolwich Township.

This development was met with great opposition by politicians and citizens of Woolwich township. However yesterday, it was unanimously approved in a special 15 minute meeting.

Under this deal, the city received $900,000 and the Uptown Business Improvement Association received $600,000 which was used to build up Waterloo’s downtown core. Many improvements were made to the parking lot in Waterloo Town Square.

Prakash David, director of land development for Vaughn-based SmartCentres, said it’s been a long journey but construction will begin soon.

"We should have a store open by the end of this year,” he said yesterday.

For a related article, see http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/304800 (This is time sensitive link and may eventually go dead)

Thanks for reading!