A spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino said a Walmart would undercut local businesses, including the nearby Tropical Foods market, whose owners are planning to expand in the neighborhood.
City officials also said they want a mix of retail uses at the 8.5-acre site, such as restaurants, a day-care center, and smaller locally owned shops.
“Dudley Square is a unique and special place in the heart of the city, and we don’t believe Walmart is in keeping with that uniqueness,’’ said the mayor’s spokeswoman, Dot Joyce.
The developer of the Bartlett yard property, a partnership of Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation and Windale Developers Inc., said yesterday that it is no longer pursuing a Walmart after neighbors and city officials raised concerns.
Plans for the store were preliminary, but the partnership raised the prospect of opening one of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s grocery outlets in a recent meeting with city officials.
David Price, executive director of Nuestra Comunidad, said the development team will continue to entertain proposals from other grocers and retailers. It is also planning 300 residences on the property.
Wal-Mart has recently intensified its efforts to open stores in Boston, one of the few US cities where the retail giant has yet to establish a presence.
Its executives have said they want to open stores in underserved neighborhoods. The chain has also looked at locations in Dorchester and in the Downtown Crossing shopping district.
Last week, the retailer launched a website, walmartmassachusetts.com, to provide customers with information and to generate support for its plans.
“We still don’t have any projects to announce in the city of Boston, but we continue to have discussions with brokers, developers, and landlords to make access to our stores more convenient,’’ said a spokesman, Steven Restivo. “We think our stores can be part of the solution for folks who want more affordable groceries in their own neighborhoods.’’
The company has decided to employ more store sizes and formats in an attempt to cater to urban neighborhoods, which is spurring its interest in Boston.
