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About This Project
Imagine a continuous greenbelt trail stretching from Town Lake through
Zilker Park, past the Barton Springs pool, southwest all the way to the
LBJ Wildflower Center and beyond, into the Texas Hill Country. Such a
scenario might actually be possible if a new community planning effort
takes off.
Existing parks and greenbelts on Barton Creek, Williamson Creek, and Slaughter Creek can be connected to one another through just four properties. By chance, each of these four tracts are associated with proposed 'big box' retail developments atop the aquifer which feeds Barton Springs.
These properties are: 51 acres on Davis Lane at MoPac formerly sought by Wal Mart for a controversial superstore; 56-acres slated for a Lowe's/ fast food/ carwash complex between Brodie Lane and MoPac; 118 acres for a proposed Costco, offices, and other retail; and finally, 8.8 acres directly adjacent to the Barton Creek greenbelt owned by Sam's Real Estate Trust, whose parent company is Wal-Mart.
The SR Ridge (former Wal-Mart), Garza (Lowe's), and Forum (Costco) properties are currently embroiled in lawsuits, zoning cases, and other controversies over big box development. Last year, a large community coalition of neighborhoods, environmental groups and local small businesses fought the location of proposed superstores over the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer. At that time, a desire was voiced within this coalition that the community not only try to prevent destructive development plans but also to constructively plan our future.
Many community groups are joining in a common effort to create a new vision for the southwest area. We proposed convening a design workshop (also called a "charette" by architects and urban planners) with a professional facilitator. The idea was for involved stakeholders to dialogue and begin to create a comprehensive neighborhood plan. Neighborhood residents, environmentalists, Barton Springs swimmers, parks/open space advocates, bike/pedestrian trail advocates and designers, existing commercial businesses, and area landowners were all asked to participate.
The outcome of this design charette might become the area's official adopted neighborhood plan, guiding city zoning decisions. The design documents could become the template for laying out open park-like spaces for pedestrian and bicycle use for developers to use in their site plans. Otherwise, with each tract planned separately -- not considering its relation to other nearby properties, parks, and neighborhoods -- a unique opportunity to create a beautiful new public facility will be irretrievably lost.
Existing parks and greenbelts on Barton Creek, Williamson Creek, and Slaughter Creek can be connected to one another through just four properties. By chance, each of these four tracts are associated with proposed 'big box' retail developments atop the aquifer which feeds Barton Springs.
These properties are: 51 acres on Davis Lane at MoPac formerly sought by Wal Mart for a controversial superstore; 56-acres slated for a Lowe's/ fast food/ carwash complex between Brodie Lane and MoPac; 118 acres for a proposed Costco, offices, and other retail; and finally, 8.8 acres directly adjacent to the Barton Creek greenbelt owned by Sam's Real Estate Trust, whose parent company is Wal-Mart.
The SR Ridge (former Wal-Mart), Garza (Lowe's), and Forum (Costco) properties are currently embroiled in lawsuits, zoning cases, and other controversies over big box development. Last year, a large community coalition of neighborhoods, environmental groups and local small businesses fought the location of proposed superstores over the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer. At that time, a desire was voiced within this coalition that the community not only try to prevent destructive development plans but also to constructively plan our future.
Many community groups are joining in a common effort to create a new vision for the southwest area. We proposed convening a design workshop (also called a "charette" by architects and urban planners) with a professional facilitator. The idea was for involved stakeholders to dialogue and begin to create a comprehensive neighborhood plan. Neighborhood residents, environmentalists, Barton Springs swimmers, parks/open space advocates, bike/pedestrian trail advocates and designers, existing commercial businesses, and area landowners were all asked to participate.
The outcome of this design charette might become the area's official adopted neighborhood plan, guiding city zoning decisions. The design documents could become the template for laying out open park-like spaces for pedestrian and bicycle use for developers to use in their site plans. Otherwise, with each tract planned separately -- not considering its relation to other nearby properties, parks, and neighborhoods -- a unique opportunity to create a beautiful new public facility will be irretrievably lost.