The city said before they sell Silverman the small strip of land, he has to build a parking garage for the Latino Cultural Center .. To which Silverman has not even STARTED .. So, the city owned land at Live Oak & Texas will likely go back on the market because Silverman didn't hold up his end of the deal, which was to simply build a garage behind the LCC.Originally Posted by xen0blue
This is nothing shy of an embarrassment .. 4 years and counting.
I'm really proud of the city counsel for holding his feet to the fire and not let him get away with this shit. He'd be making away like a bank robber with no security if it weren't for them keeping an eye out for taxpayers.
4?
I moved into Live Oak Lofts 5 and a half years ago and when we were buying they were already telling us about City Lights and how grand it was going to be.
That is the archived original version of this thread and it will not be merged. When threads get very large a new version is started and the original is archived, thus the V2.0 and V3.0 in the title of this and other various threads on this forum.Also, these two threads need to be merged
I would very much like to see what Angela Hunt thinks of this! I mean, this guy is hogging up prime real estate and isn't doing anything with it. The land this joker is sitting on can be used to kick-start the revitalization of east-of-DT / arts district.
Miss Hunt - if you are reading this, please let us know your thoughts and provide us guidance on what the city plans on doing with this.
What would you suggest she do? We can only decide if we'd subsidize certain development and on what terms. We can zone certain activities out of an area. We can't force people to develop land unless you suggest the city just takes the property via emminent domain. It won't happen in this city and I doubt in very many other places in Texas.
I agree. There's nothing illegal about sitting on land and hoping its value goes up. Is it a smart move? We'll see. Anyone who starts a big construction project in this market has to expect it'll take some time to fill up.
she could at least give us some insight
She can worry about this project when she is done worrying about our Levees and the pumps that work with them to protect Dallas from flooding and how a tollway will affect that. Then she can worry about a piece of empty property in east Dallas.
Miss hunt represents District 14, are the levees in her district ?
It's pretty safe to say that the south part of District 14 would flood if the levees failed.
I don't think Miss Hunt's record shows she only worries about her district (for example, the Trinity Tollroad isn't in her district). She actually cares about DALLAS as a whole - as should all elected officials.
This land is shit real estate. It is minuscule, sits in the shadow of an ugly highway and has crappy access via sidewalk or car. Maybe after the Green line is running, the credit market is on the rebound, and Deep Ellum is doing better, someone will do something with this tiny little block. Until then, I would get used to watching the weeds grow.
You can speak truth to power, but you can't speak truth to stupid.
Funny .. that's what was said about the Thomas / Allen area of Uptown back in 1990.
It's a decent size parcel all cleared out and ready to go and is easily accessible by car or train. It's within walking distance to the Arts District and Deep Ellum. That it hasn't been built out yet says that either there was never any real interest in building, or that these guys have their heads up their cans.
State Thomas consists of several blocks only a few of which are crammed up against the freeway. Of the blocks that do border the freeway, none of them contain any retail.
I'm not saying that it'll never be developed. I'm just saying that it's not likely be developed into a prime destination considering how close it is to other, better locations in Deep Ellum. If I lived in Bryan Place, I'd be looking for basic retail amenities, as opposed to "city lights."
You can speak truth to power, but you can't speak truth to stupid.
Not that City Lights was going to happen anyway still. . .
http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/1675192.html
Looks as if Silverman has definitely thrown in the towel this time around .. there are several new huge signs posted on the property implying it's for sale, something like "INTERESTED PARTIES CALL 214...."
Hopefully a buyer will do something worth while with this land, now that Silverman couldn't pull it off.
Ohh well, time to wait another 10 years I suppose....
Those signs have been up for quite some time, referring to Gambit realty -- which is likely Silverman's.
I suspect that he is asking too much for it, and it's somewhat encumbered by the property that is city owned still. (I suspect that the "deal" isn't transferrable, but even if it is the need to build out a parking structure is more an encumbrance than a new developer might want.)
Who knows how long it will sit now, since Silverman's "grand" plans ran up the "value" of the property. I would like to see the big lot over by the new rail station developed instead. If done right it could greatly improve the rail usage into Deep Ellum.
I'm referring to these NEW signs, not the Gambit ones that have been there forever.
See enclosed.
The sign says 'for information call.'
Has anyone called?
The CITY LIGHTS signs have been taken down from the build site .. guess it's now a confirmed DOA project!!
Time to close down the thread?
Socialism - bringing a greater good to a greater many, one golden parachute at a time.
Probably just clean-up for the Super Bowl, but the chain-link fence which surrounded this property is down and man does it look better.
probably .. heard a rumor another developer was looking into the site. Time will tell I suppose.
Urban Walmart coming to this site.
If so thats gonna be fight against it, I'd imagine, but I could be wrong.
If it's one of these Marketside stores, you may not get too much of a fight.
Ah if it is a Marketside it wouldn't take such a huge plot of land like City Lights and if some developer wants to build a suburban shopping center and or just one store that will be a whole other fight.
The stores were developed as small scale grocery operations, with basic but limited assortments of meat, produce, frozen foods, grocery, health and beauty aids and consumable products such as paper towels in 15,000 square feet of space. But they also offered a large selection of convenience meals, displayed in extensive refrigerated cases, and beverages, with some special consideration for adult beverages. In other words, Marketside was developed as a grab and go store of the sort that Tesco (TSCO) operates in Britain.
Should be an allowed use in PD-298 Subarea 5.
Quote:
The stores were developed as small scale grocery operations, with basic but limited assortments of meat, produce, frozen foods, grocery, health and beauty aids and consumable products such as paper towels in 15,000 square feet of space. But they also offered a large selection of convenience meals, displayed in extensive refrigerated cases, and beverages, with some special consideration for adult beverages. In other words, Marketside was developed as a grab and go store of the sort that Tesco (TSCO) operates in Britain.
That's a glorified bodega. It may look more urban, but people without other options pay the price. If Wal-Mart wants to put a grocer there similar to the one on Hall Street, let them.
I heard from another reliable source they wanted to build a Super Center. Ubran Walmart as part of other retail would be fine - but not a big box Super Center on that site.
As much as I hate the thought of Wal-Mart taking business from other retailers in/around downtown, it seems it could maybe have a net benefit of being something that actually would draw people to the immediate downtown area where it would be the closest Wal-Mart location.
Maybe if it looks like any of thees, at least it would look okay:
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...jersey-avenue/
http://newurbandesigner.com/tag/urban-walmart/
http://www.columbusunderground.com/f...ith-new-stores
^I would agree those are better options if this rumor turns out to have any evidence. It sure would help Deep Ellum attract new residential development.
Is this build at the City Lights site real or rumor ?
Please God, no.
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is considering the former City Lights property at Live Oak Street and Good-Latimer Expressway, real estate brokers say."
http://www.dallasnews.com/business/h...own-dallas.ece
Yeah, not quite sure what to make of this.
Please tell me this is a joke.
Hopefully the guy with 4 posts to his credit is making crap up.
Wow and looking at the comments most people from the hood support it. Within a mile and a half there is a Kroger, Fiesta, Neighborhood Walmart, Albertsons, Target, Aldi and New Flower.
Not sure if you mean to offend myself or I am Jack's life, but this isn't being made up. A reporter confirmed with city officials that Wal-Mart is looking at this site, and asked a nearby neighborhood association for a comment. I don't think it is even close to a done deal, but that is what sparked the revivial of this thread...
Last edited by wilme2; 04 March 2011 at 10:28 AM.
I would not assume the hood supports this. I live very close, and can tell you residents are just being informed and are starting to discuss forming a response...
BTW, this is being discussed on the "DTD | Near East Dallas: City Lights Project | V2.0 update" thread http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=7327
I have to admit, I don't think it's a bad thing if WalMart puts a store here. I would love if they built a more urban model like the ones above. I'm not a huge fan of WalMart, but their stores do bring in other retailers. The downtown area is in need of big box retailers and Walmart could bring them to the inner core and the shoppers along with them. A WalMart here, built correctly and with a good mix of other retailers, could possibly be good for Bryan Place, Deep Ellum, Uptown and downtown.
Ah Walmart in fact does not bring other retailers. That's been proven, other retailers only show up if the market speaks for itself whether Walmart is there or not.
I don't think crime would go up .. the surrounding area is filled with apartments, high end condos/townhomes, and houses .. The section 8 housing where most of the crime comes from is a good distance away. PLUS, the new apartments on Hall will only add to the areas improvement.
If built for the urban environment that surrounds it, a Wal-Mart in that location would be excellent. They have the ability to do it.
It wouldn't make much sense for it to be a carbon copy of the one on Hall. That's less than a half mile away and would be redundant.
DAGNABBIT!
Wal-Mart looking at site near downtown Dallas
http://www.dallasnews.com/business/c...own-dallas.ece
A high-profile development site on the eastern edge of downtown Dallas has attracted the attention of the country’s largest retailer.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is considering the former City Lights property at Live Oak Street and Good-Latimer Expressway, real estate brokers say.
an urban friendly Costco would be great
It makes no sense to do it there as there is the Neighborhood one on Hall 4 blocks away (unless they close that one) plus I don't think the local powers that be that have the vision of Ross/Henderson/Lowest Greenville entertainment area want a big box retailer. Plus there is already one on I-30 just east of downtown and how many of the "traditional" Wal-Marts do you know are built right in a downtown metropolitan area ? I can't imagine that many if any.
I don't think the lot is even big enough for a traditional super walmart - that lot isn't that big. Would the current zoning even support it?
I'm living in Chicago now, but still own a unit at Live Oak Lofts. If this thing becomes a reality and any serious neighborhood opposition develops, count me in. I wanted City Lights to get done, but I certainly don't favor the idea of Walmart going in across the street.
Last edited by Rob; 06 March 2011 at 01:22 PM.
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