It seems to me that West U needs to decide if we really need any serious commercial development within the city. Rather than poring over architect’s drawings and marshalling developers, Council should perhaps first get some input from our residents. Do we really want to build our own scale version of Rice Village and draw in a lot of commercial traffic from outside the City? And right across the street from our award-winning Elementary school? Have we forgotten the armed robberies at that little bank a few years ago? Handy and low-impact businesses like West U Fitness are great – but they don’t need any mega-development.
Has Council even considered moving in the other direction? That is, trying to create more park and open space as businesses go under and empty buildings languish behind “for sale signs” (think J&B market). Rather than operating with a sense of obligation to build bigger and “better” commercial enterprises in the middle of the “City of Trees”, might we not consider the alternatives? We have everything and anything we need just outside our city limits – why not complete the conversion of West U to a quiet residential area? Let’s not put a lot of time, money and effort into a Main Street concept whose time has come and gone.
Frank Griffin
West U resident
Where were you when Council ok’d the new Potbelly that’s replacing Shipley Donuts on Kirby at Tangley? That property was zoned residential townhomes. Council changed that. And for the future that property will be commercial. Many nearby residents opposed the change. Council ignored nearby residents!
City Council governs what changes on the west side of Kirby from Bissonnet south to Holcomb. They chose revenue over residents.
Look out ahead!
Ms. Pat Malone says
I agree with Frank Griffin:
“The proposed commercial monolith struck me as being far too large and intrusive for our residential city, but it raised a much more important question: “what kind of commercial development (if any) is really needed and appropriate for our city?”
Tax & Spend! (getting repetitive isn’t it?) Commercial development, especially monoliths, do not belong in WU. Is our city moving in a direction of “building up and sqeezing in” commercial construction? If it’s big commercial development with high rise parking that’s wanted, then mosey on over to the Village. Why even think about destroying the homey character of our 1.5 mile square city?
Maybe the city government’s time can be better utilized through balancing the budget, lowering taxes, and listening to what their constituents want, and then take a vote.
I agree with you Pat. Our city council and city manager does not seem to have a clue how to balance the budget and payoff debt. I want to see our city council ask for input from the citizens. All the “stealth” activity needs to cease. What about the current plans to obtain the property next to the new “city compound”?
Michelle Babin Moore says
Mr Griffin’s editorial title says it all: How about some community input first!
WU Resident says
It’s simple … you are going to get this whether you like it or not.
Rich says
I read in the paper that part of the proposal talks about a recommendation that the city pay for new parking spaces that are required. I think it also gave a price tag of about $15,000 per spot. I assume this is based on a parking garage concept. There is no way that the city should even consider paying for a parking garage or parking spots on private property.
Fred Hayek says
Lose the “we.” Each owner of each private property on Edloe should decide what to do with the owner’s property. “We” (including the City) should have nothing to do with it. “We” don’t tell you what to wear, what to eat, what job to do, or whether to write silly editorials. In the same way,”we” should stay out of the development (or non-development) business and leave it up to the owners. If you want a particular development or park, buy the property yourself. Lose the “we” and speak and act just for yourself.
Nottinghamres says
I also agree with Frank. Residents/taxpayers have no say at City Hall.
Builders/Architects/Developers do. It’s all about the money. Duh.
Remember council’s decision on basements?