[wwmiv]

The biggest parcels now to redevelop on the stretch between the Triangle and Crestview (that's basically the extent of that corridor):

The parking lot at 51st and Lamar. That's the St. Dept. for Aging and Services, but they could easily sell 3/4 the land and build a parking garage on the remaining portion.

The southwest corner of North Loop and Lamar, which is even worse suburban blight than the northwestern corner where Carmen is going.

The lot across from Half Price Books AND the Half Price Books lot are both prime redevelopment opportunities. Half Price Books would actually work very well in a more urban street-front setting with retail above (similar in nature to how the preexisting Alamo Drafthouse is being incorporated into the development on South Lamar). They could easily incorporate a coffee shop into their model in such an event.

And the godawful DPS parcel. They have no business ruining that stretch of land. They should move somewhere more easily accessible by commuters. I.E. to a building on freeway frontage. God, if that parcel were redeveloped into a VMU, that development would be absolutely game-changing for that part of town. The sheer number of units that could be in a 5-6 story would guarantee decent foot traffic for street level retail fronting Lamar and Koenig, with parking garages nested in the center of the parcel and more traditional retail fronting Guadalupe.

It's unfortunate that the other corners of Lamar and Airport/Justin really aren't large enough, shaped properly, or inhabited by older crappy buildings ripe for a VMU development, but even VMUs just a few blocks down will draw some users to the Crestview Station on the rail line.