Posted Nov 6, 2014, 5:04 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 808
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NIMBYs! Since it's behind the paywall, I've snipped and quoted some of the interesting parts.
Austin American-Statesman
St. Elmo’s project pits Austin’s housing goals against industrial needs
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...-agains/nh2JS/
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A Dallas-based firm wants the city to rezone 9½ acres of an industrial area just off South Congress Avenue to make way for a $100 million mixed-use project. But the project has ignited a firestorm of opposition from some nearby businesses and residents
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The Austin City Council has already given tentative approval to the project, with a second vote set for Thursday.
But the project has ignited a firestorm of opposition from some nearby businesses and residents. In an unusual twist on the not-in-my-backyard phenomenon, these neighbors want the noisy trucks and manufacturing businesses to stay.
Opponents worry that the proposed St. Elmo’s Market and Lofts — which calls for a 75-room boutique hotel, up to 200 condominiums, office space and a food hall — will drive up property taxes, add to traffic congestion and be out of place in the heavily industrial area.
“The development itself is fine, it’s a good concept, it’s just in the wrong place,” said Michael Fossum, a 60-year-old resident of the 200-home Battle Bend Springs neighborhood, which is a half-mile south of the industrial area.
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Brandon Bolin, founder and CEO of GroundFloor Development, contends that the project will enhance the area and is the epitome of what Austin is trying to achieve with its long-range growth plan calling for building denser housing along busy roads.
Bolin said most of the condos would be priced at less than $300,000, and 40 percent would be priced at less than $200,000. He said he is considering having 10 percent of the units at below-market rates.
The “heart and soul” of the project would be a food hall with 20 to 40 vendors in a 1955 warehouse that currently is being used to sell furniture in bulk. The restored warehouse would be modeled after other food markets found worldwide, including the Market of San Miguel in Madrid, Chelsea Market in New York City, Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco and Pike Place Market in Seattle.
Live music would be another focal point. Joe Ables, owner of the Saxon Pub on South Lamar Boulevard, told the City Council that he wants to move his music venue to the proposed St. Elmo’s project.
Bolin hopes to break ground on the food market in early 2016 and open it a year later. The office space and condos could also break ground in 2016. GroundFloor wouldn’t purchase the land until late 2015, and it intends to bring on partners to develop the various components.
Bolin said his project will add more than 2,000 jobs to the area.
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