August of last year, Council approved a major initiative called Vertical Mixed Use, which allows for development similar to the style of the Triangle, the Domain, or the new second street development – retail and so forth on the base floor and the ability to allow for residential space above. More information on the program in general can be found here.
Neighborhoods have the ability to have input into the process, and although this primarily affects the Mesa Park association, we are also potentially impacted, primarily from plans at Duval and 183.
Speaking only for myself, I think VMU's are good ideas- it will probably reduce the number of car trips residents have to complete to live their normal lives, and the property potentially benefits others who don't live in the facility with some potentially useful retail instead of blocks of apartment buildings that don't benefit anyone but the apartment dwellers. But, of course, the devil is in the details.
There are two meetings of interest if you want to chime in on this process. First, Brewster McCracken is on a Roadshow to talk about this. He'll be swinging back this way on March 29 at 6:30 in the Northwest Recreation Center, at 2913 Northland Drive.
Second, there will be a final public meeting on VMU's on April 4th at 6:30 in the one Texas Center, Room 325 on 505 Barton Springs Road.
