Mockingbird Station

[Boredkid]

Are people going to be picking up furniture from the store? Most furniture stores you pick out what you want, then its delieved from a warehouse. Dont know if they would have enough storage there for all their stuff. Its not an ikea.

[BigD5349]

Are people going to be picking up furniture from the store? Most furniture stores you pick out what you want, then its delieved from a warehouse. Dont know if they would have enough storage there for all their stuff. Its not an ikea.

I agree. You might carry a lamp or a rug out of the store, but they won't carry other inventory there. I also agree with you guy that the parking should be removed from the center. It would be an awesome space with a fountain, maybe some grassy areas with a few trees and some benches!

[vman]

I also agree with you guy that the parking should be removed from the center

What??? Don't you know this is Dallas and we must have our valet parking. Even at a joint like Cafe Express that has counter service!!!!

[Hunter Wadle]

at crate and barel alot of our furniture is "ready to assemble" and kept on hand in our stores back room, there are more expensive pieces people can customize and order, but much furniture is on hand as well.....

[Boredkid]

odd, every time i have ever purchased furniture from c&b its always a month or so wait for it. Thats why I love rob and stucky, normaly they can deliever it in a few days.

[noelamador]

Are people going to be picking up furniture from the store? Most furniture stores you pick out what you want, then its delieved from a warehouse. Dont know if they would have enough storage there for all their stuff. Its not an ikea.

I work part time at West Elm here in LA. just about every piece of furniture is flat packed with simple assembly. that means we keep the inventory in the store so the customer can drive around to the back and load it up.

[BigD5349]

I work part time at West Elm here in LA. just about every piece of furniture is flat packed with simple assembly. that means we keep the inventory in the store so the customer can drive around to the back and load it up.

Hmmm, where are the loading docks for the Virgin space? I can't think of any entrance there except through the front door, and that would be a nuisance to customers coming and leaving the store. And having a loading zone out front would be a nuisance to everyone trying to weave their way through the parking lot.

[tamtagon]

I can understand the demographic appeal of the Mockingbird Station area for the nice furniture store, but I dont understand including a large-bulky-item retail store in a transit oriented development.

I guess, if SMU gets a new library, Mockingbird Station (area) will get another big hotel and more pedestrian friendly retail.

[LakeRidge]

There will be no furniture loading in Mockingbird Station. The storefront in Mockingbird station will simply be a showroom.

Furniture stores do not keep their stock on hand. They have a showroom that you can go into to look at the furniture. You order the furniture, then it is delivered to you from an off-site warehouse. This allows furniture stores to exist where there is not a good spot to load furniture.

Can you imagine a company paying the high rent Mockingbird Station commands to keep 3 of each piece of furniture onsite just in case a customer comes in and wants to buy it.

Finally, can you imagine the people that will purchase furniture at this store loading it into their cars themselves, transporting it, then unloading it themselves? I can't. The only thing people will walk out of this store with is a sales receipt.

[noelamador]

^hello??? did you read post 156? I work at West Elm and alot of people pick up their own furniture. and yes it's ALL kept at the store. and this is Santa Monica where the population is VERY affluent. but, yes indeed there is the option to have it delivered and assembled. I can also tell you the WE in Santa Monica will probably be smaller than WE in Dallas. so there should be plenty of space for furniture storae.

[tamtagon]

the WE in Santa Monica .

That's right on the promenade, right?

off the topic but one time, i was having martinis at the corner restaurant/bar across from the mall, went into the West Elm, accidentially knocked over some bric-a-brac, and was asked to leave. I think they didnt make me pay for the vase or whatever it was since I was with a couple really cute, flirtatious girls. We were playing AbFab at the time.

[noelamador]

^the next street over but close enoght to get the spill over

[SDORN]

On my way to My bank I got some photos of them taking down the Virgin sign.
Just seemed liked yesterday they were putting that up. Hard to believe it was up there for 5 to 6 years

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9838/prepwork2ye.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/435/almostready9dx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/7427/loosefrommooring5jc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/6475/virginisdownandout0oj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Enjoy
Scott

[BigD5349]

Demo work inside the old Virgin Records location...

Wow, I guess there was *nothing* inside there that West Elm wanted to reuse.

[FoUTASportscaster]

Good News!

FirstWorthing is pairing with DART
A Dallas apartment developer is pushing ahead with plans to build a retail and rental housing complex at DART's Mockingbird rail station.

FirstWorthing Corp. was selected by DART to lease more than 6 acres now used for parking at the transit stop.

The developer and transportation authority still have to negotiate terms of the deal.

If everything proceeds as planned, the developer would replace DART's parking with garage space.

That would free up the land to build additional shops and apartments.

[Columbus Civil]

off the topic but one time, i was having martinis at the corner restaurant/bar across from the mall, went into the West Elm, accidentially knocked over some bric-a-brac, and was asked to leave. I think they didnt make me pay for the vase or whatever it was since I was with a couple really cute, flirtatious girls. We were playing AbFab at the time.

:) :)

[telarium]

Can anyone offer an opinion or some first-hand experience with The Lofts at Mockingbird Station? I've been kind of eyeing it lately since it's close to the DART and The Angelika, but it has some seriously bad reviews at ApartmentRatings.com. It seems that SMU students are mostly to blame, but the place is so damn appealing to an outsider. Anyone heard anything? Are prices reasonable? Downtown is started to get too expensive for my taste.

[dallastophoenix]

^ from what i know, they are crazy expensive

[SDORN]

They are expensive Met a guy who lived there. haven't heard from in him awhile.
I got to see his place not much, same price as ours it 2/3 less for the same money.

[drycreek]

My brother just moved in here and although he got a great deal, over 1000 sq ft for around $1000 a month, but he has had nothing but problems since moving in at the end of December. Whenever it rains the apartment leaks and leaks bad. We're talking pots and pans here, standing water. So he is actually breaking the lease and going to move out. Just FYI.

[Kelley USA]

I had a buddy that lived here... He ended up moving out because of the noise- the walls were paper thin. His place was nice in terms of the interior though...

[tamtagon]

Sure seems like the GW Bush Library is going to attract a whole lot of new development to the Mockingbird Station area. I easily can see big 'business class' hotel (more rooms, less fancy than Palomar), an office tower or two, and a whole lot more apartments and condos. The Yale Street approach to the SMU Grand Entrance from Greenville Ave greatly increases the likelihood of a cluster of mid/highrise SMU student-oriented apartments and/or condos immediately north of the train station.

Does SMU have a master plan intending a substantial expansion the student population? Despite how much land will be take up by the pres. library, it's seems the school has recently bought/been gifted a whole lot of land. I think it would be great, maybe even essential, for SMU to grow. And if that happens, it sure seems like most of new residential need would be fulfilled just east of Central.

[US75Guy]

One of my more important posts of the year: Has anyone else noticed that the left turn light from Mockingbird Lane, into the east DART parking lot is PERFECTLY timed to however many cars are waiting to turn? If you're the only car waiting to turn, the green arrow will go yellow as you are turning. If you are the third or fourth car in line to turn, it will wait until that last car is in their turn. It works perfect every morning....has anyone else noticed this?!?!?!

AMAZING

I have looked for the pads under the street, and havent seen them. It's magic. Some impressive traffic engineering is all I'm saying....

[palchik]

http://www.ucrrealty.com/photos/properties/flyers/200608231618460.general_MBS.pdf

[clipper]

Did Shafer do this? Not very urban. A huge waste of that piece of land which is zoned for a high-rise mixed-use building. Guess it's better than CVS.

[gshelton91]

I think the garage was even built able to hold a hirise building on top of it... what a shame

I heard something about a pedestrian bridge linking in around their crossing Central so people could ride Dart to the Bush Library... anyone else here that idea floated?

seems like a good idea to me. seems like this little addition would get in the way.

[gstar]

Perhaps they noticed that the vast majority of their store fronts on upper levels were not going as well as the lower level. Look at the site, all the lower lever stores are taken, but there are alot open on the second level.

[clipper]

Yes, the underground garage has spaces to handle a high-rise hotel (original plan there) or resdiential building. Looks like they would need a new hotel for all the neocons that will be visiting the library across the street.

[txRNGr]

Yes, the underground garage has spaces to handle a high-rise hotel (original plan there) or resdiential building. Looks like they would need a new hotel for all the neocons that will be visiting the library across the street.
Or for all the dirty hippies that will be protesting in front of the library.

[Mephis Gooseberry]

Or for all the dirty hippies that will be protesting in front of the library.


Oh, gawd, think of the stench. Hopefully the Library will have a fountain they can bathe in.

[texman]

Yes, the underground garage has spaces to handle a high-rise hotel (original plan there) or resdiential building. Looks like they would need a new hotel for all the neocons that will be visiting the library across the street.
Palomar too liberal? Haha

[Lakewooder]

The Delta Gammas often bathed in the fountain in SMU's main quad.

[txRNGr]

The Delta Gammas often bathed in the fountain in SMU's main quad.
Good idea...hippie problem solved. Now if only we could get those Delta Gammas back in the fountain. ;)

[Mephis Gooseberry]

Is it possible they have a fourth phase to build over the third? as demand warrants.

[HarryMoto]

So does anyone know when construction is going to start on the new phase? And when the proposed finish date might be? Mid to late 2008?

[SDORN]

Looks like they are starting now they have begun demolishing the concrete dividers in thearae where some of the parking was.
If I think about it I will go get some pix

[tamtagon]

So does anyone know when construction is going to start on the new phase? And when the proposed finish date might be? Mid to late 2008?

DMN: Mockingbird Station getting major addition (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/041307dnbusmockingbird.dde352.html)
11:30 AM CDT on Thursday, April 12, 2007
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News sbrown@dallasnews.com

Construction has begun on a major addition to Dallas' popular Mockingbird Station complex.

The owners are adding about 23,000 square-feet of additional retail space to the 7-year-old development at Mockingbird Lane and North Central Expressway.

"We are shooting for completion in early 2008," said Sarah Jimenez, general manager.

The two-story retail building will be built on the north end of the project on what is now surface parking. A formal groundbreaking is set for April 26.

Along with the new retail and restaurant space, the construction will include a two-story parking garage behind the new shops. "We have ample parking to meet city code, but we are adding more," Ms. Jimenez said.

The expansion location was originally planned for a high-rise hotel or residential building.

A separate building site on the North Central service road has been reserved for a free-standing restaurant, she said. The expansion will house six to eight new tenants....

[freewaytincan]

A separate building site on the North Central service road has been reserved for a free-standing restaurant, she said.

seriously?

[FoUTASportscaster]

How very underwhelming.

It seems to me that we need to start from scratch somewhere else here in the city for a solid TOD.

[eirin]

I love the fact that they are already well within the city code for parking even after building over the surface lot and want to build another parking garage. :sigh:

[DFWCRE8TIVE]

The Station Welcomes New Retailers
Mockingbird Station will welcome two new retail tenants in early March 2007: Urban Taco, an urban taqueria, and Centre, a lifestyle boutique offering men’s and women’s footwear, clothing and accessories.

http://www.mockingbirdstation.com

[MarkL2023]

That seems like such a waste of space. Such a trendy area would be able to support more lofts I figure so why not have another 4 or so floors on top of the stores?

[LH_Newbie]

That seems like such a waste of space. Such a trendy area would be able to support more lofts I figure so why not have another 4 or so floors on top of the stores?

Agreed - and more local population = better for retail... seems like an oversight.

[UTdude]

I thought American Girl was going into the Galleria. Is this rendering hinting at something? (My wife and daughter are big fans.)

[Milkman Dan]

Why would they add even more lofts to an undesirable residential location? Those lofts are not very close to full.

[rantanamo]

seems like it would be a nice area to live. Execution(price, finish, housing type) is just as important as just having residential.

[edirp]

American Girl is opening at the Galleria.

http://www.galleriadallas.com/

[MarkL2023]

Why would they add even more lofts to an undesirable residential location? Those lofts are not very close to full.


If true, i'm sure its due to unrealistically high rent because the location is very desirable.

[SDORN]

They have been removing the concrete pilllars on the parking lot for two weeks now and Yesterday they put up the tarp on the fence. The only way you can see in is theough the gate entrance.

[LH_Newbie]

If true, i'm sure its due to unrealistically high rent because the location is very desirable.
I fully agree. I've heard from friends that live in apartments that the rental rates there are just too high to even consider. To say the area is undesireable has got to be false.