old Mrs. Bairds plant

[Hoop Fan]

did SMU buy the Mrs. Bairds property? Anyone know what is planned to be built there?

[Dooby]

Yes, SMU owns it. They buy everything around SMU when t comes up. A few years ago they bought the old UA Cine. The Mrs. baird's plant is the most likely sight for the GWB Presidential Library if SMU gets it. Anybody that hasn't figured that out is pretty slow.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Here's the scoop.

1) SMU bought Ms Bairds, prob in a sweetheart deal.

The library could go there. The extension of the Katy Trail stops almost at Ms Bairds.

Alternatively:

2) SMU owns all that property around and behind the CINE (you know, south of Yale), behind PREMIER club.

It is directly on a DART stop "area". Perfect?

3) SMU has bough almost all of UNIVERSITY GARDENS, the condo's just east of Moody/Haagar tennis center. They own all of the land then from Moody EAST to Central...it could go there.

In any of the above situations, the DART stop really helps SMU acquire the library.

Plus, Laura said she was going to get a house in Dallas (2nd home).

[Hoop Fan]

i hope SMU gets the library, but I wonder what Plan B is for the Bairds site. GRGB makes a good point about the Cinema site being on the Dart line. That would probably make that the better site for a prez library. But even so, Baylor and Tech want that library too. Apartments would go great at Bairds but I cant think of alot university related that would fit.

[KnuckleStang]

I know it will never happen, but the acquisition of the Mrs. Baird's site would be a great opportunity to create some parking for Ford Stadium.

[DallasDiehard]

I agree. As the Ponies get better, seats fill. Blow up what's left of Mrs. Baird's joint and throw up a big garage.

And I've always wondered: if SMU has the cash to buy all this stuff: Mrs' Baird's, the University Gardens places, UA Ciné -- not to mention all those little houses between the campus and Central Expressway that have signs saying they're for rent from "SMU Realty" -- couldn't the school re-appropriate some of those funds toward upgrade/renovation of athletic facilities (Moody, soccer field, natatorium) to allow our teams to compete at the highest levels? Is it that hard to see that winning athletic teams make a school more attractive to a lot of potential students?

[SWC2010]

We need some quality on campus apt. housing- hell, most of the athletes move away after their freshman yr. It would be terrific to keep them nearby in some decent housing.

In addition, along with upgrading Moody (and the above), it's time to make some add'l moves:

[1] upgrade and/or renovate Perkins Natatorium;
[2] upgrade and/or renovate Westcott for soccer;
[3] expand fields & facilities for intramurals (beyond the present plans);
[4] remodel the dressing areas in Ford stadium (visitor locker rooms are almost same size as our own);
[5] Get more parking;
[6] Long term, we need an indoor workout facility (go see TCU).

Many of today's HS players have equal or nicer facilities than what is offered on the Hilltop in '05. If you're to ask these coaches to recruit against A$M or UT, give them some adequate facilities to show.

[SCAMP6381]

We need some quality on campus apt. housing- hell, most of the athletes move away after their freshman yr. It would be terrific to keep them nearby in some decent housing.We have pretty descent facilities but i've seen dorms in my days not fit for convicts. we have a nice campus but any upgrade is a bonus

In addition, along with upgrading Moody (and the above), it's time to make some add'l moves:

[1] upgrade and/or renovate Perkins Natatorium;
[2] upgrade and/or renovate Westcott for soccer;
[3] expand fields & facilities for intramurals (beyond the present plans);
[4] remodel the dressing areas in Ford stadium (visitor locker rooms are almost same size as our own);
[5] Get more parking;
[6] Long term, we need an indoor workout facility (go see TCU).

Many of today's HS players have equal or nicer facilities than what is offered on the Hilltop in '05. If you're to ask these coaches to recruit against A$M or UT, give them some adequate facilities to show.

[Cheesesteak]

If SMU is awarded a presidential library it likely would be located where SMU Boulevard meets North Central Expressway – at the southwest corner – currently the site of SMU’s throwing complex and two story brick apartments.

[EastStang]

George Washington University (aka GWU-REIT) owns a huge chunk of downtown DC real estate. They just tore down buildings long term leased the land to developers who built office buildings for entities like the World Bank. They use these monies to improve campus facilities for students, and for their endowment. Then when they need the space, the buildings after 20 years are used by the University for offices, dorms, or classrooms, or mixed rental and university usage. I'm a little surprised that SMU didn't get the Dr. Pepper plant.

[Hoop Fan]

missed out on the Hilltop Inn too. Cant say SMU hasnt had a fairly aggressive real estate strategy though.

[NavyCrimson]

with what's planned now for the hilltop inn, it should help the whole area with values, shopping & residences with that san francisco real estate co buying it.

[DiamondM75]

And don't forget, someday we will need a location for a baseball stadium and field.

wish, wish

[Stallion]

Isn't the Mrs. Baird's site with frontage on Central too valuable for a parking garage. Better to sell it and use the proceeds elsewhere than to use it as a Parking garage..

[d_pony]

one of the thoughts is that it will be eventually used for student housing -