Jjs5056 |
May 9, 2013 1:02 AM |
Yea, I don't buy that CityScape's residential tower proves anything. That entire project changed courses so many times and was scaled back so much. Didn't the project require a certain amount of hotel and residential units be completed at first to even qualify it for the financial benefits it received from the city?
One needs to look no further than the concrete pad at Colliers, multiple grassy knolls at Arizona Center, parking at OCPE, and so on.. to see that second phase rarely turn out.
In addition, articles mentioned that there weren't even plans for the grass setback on VB; rather, that the setback was left for "future, possible residential development," I believe. Some articles even made it seem like they were planning to sell that piece of land off.
Nothing indicated that these future developments were likely to happen, or likely to happen within a decent timeframe.
I would rather a less-glamorous, mixed use project take up only half the plot and actually face one of the streets- preferably VB with spots for a large-scale retail tenant and smaller spots for businesses that could complement Crescent Ballroom. Something like a Buffalo Exchange or Kohl's, with an art gallery or music store next-door would seem to fit into the area demographics, and push development forward by getting a large retail tenant on VB, in hopes of finally getting the ball rolling (since that area is zoned for large retail, as Hoover points out frequently).
The last thing that part of town needs is more parking garages fronting the streets, no matter show "temporary that is." VB and Adams are just decimated by these deadzones west of Central.
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