As expected, that public hearing on a proposed Sam’s Club near Cityplace set for this afternoon is now delayed until July 10.
In reading media comments, allegations and insinuations are being made that developer Trammell Crow Co. “slipped this by” the city’s plan commission.
“City staff and the developer said the rezoning tweaks were needed to accommodate a proposed “East Village,” a walkable urban neighborhood. In addition, some are alleging that the traffic study was “cooked.”
Glad it was delayed, but concerned that with all these hearings coming in summer, who will be left in town to attend?
“In filings with the city of Dallas, Crow is seeking to rebuild more than half of the north side of the tract with an urban mixed-use development.
Some of the existing office buildings on the property would continue to house a data center and other uses.
Crow officials on Monday would not comment on the pending project or provide any details of the development.
The planned retail project has the potential to become a high-profile restaurant and shopping destination serving the neighborhood.
“There is strong retail demand down there, especially if it’s part of a mixed-use development,” said Clay Smith with Jones Lang LaSalle. “A lot of the retailers want to be in the urban core.
“And with all the residential being built, demand is moving to the east side of the freeway.”
Hmm I am wondering. Seems that Trammell Crow actually never commented on what they were building, but other developers did. “The planned retail project has the potential to become a high-profile restaurant and shopping destination serving the neighborhood” — that was speculation. Too bad they didn’t listen.
Or was it? As much as I think this is a bad real estate decision, perhaps there are some who live in parts of East Dallas who might welcome a Sam’s Wholesale Club. I don’t know. Readers tell me having this club here may help a lot of small businesses in the area. Well, there are already two Sam’s Clubs not that far away. In my real estate dream world, I envision this coming forth as a new, urban-hip Sam’s Wholesale Club. Don’t have the huge, flat, heat-absorbing roof. Don’t have the huge black asphalt parking lot that heats up the area by ten degrees and burns through flip-flops. Less parking, more taxi/Uber space. Use crushed stone in the driveway, and plant circles of native grass with trees. Be a smaller store, kind of like the most perfect Central Market in the world at Preston/Royal. Maybe some office above it?
Come on, Sam’s, show us a new prototype store that appeals to the eco hipster, and then maybe we will all stop griping!
