SMU To Demolish Shopping Center

abezontar · Post by **abezontar** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:32 pm

CalallenStang wrote:
couch 'em wrote:
smu diamond m wrote: I highly doubt this area will be used for the actual library, but probably for a welcome center type thingy, or possibly an additional garage. The parking for this monstrosity, coupled with our already hampered university parking situation, is going to be hell.

The bookstore is moving to Hillcrest where Varsity books and ZuZu's (more like shih-tzu's, food was terrible) used to be.
That would be an awesome place to a giant parking garage - a stone's throw away from Ford and not too far from Moody. Also would probably P.O. the UP locals.
If we put up a parking garage in that area, can we please have the first floor be retail/restaurants (see: Baylor's garage that has a Chili's and Starbucks)? We could put parking both above and below that.

You will have to conince HP/UP to lift the height limitations for that parcel. I would think that unless we can go significantly higher than we are already allowed to, then you wouldn't be able to create enough parking spaces to make such a project worthwhile (as a solution to the campus parking problems)....pure speculation though.

couch 'em · Post by **couch 'em** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:46 pm

abezontar wrote:
CalallenStang wrote:
couch 'em wrote: That would be an awesome place to a giant parking garage - a stone's throw away from Ford and not too far from Moody. Also would probably P.O. the UP locals.
If we put up a parking garage in that area, can we please have the first floor be retail/restaurants (see: Baylor's garage that has a Chili's and Starbucks)? We could put parking both above and below that.
You will have to conince HP/UP to lift the height limitations for that parcel. I would think that unless we can go significantly higher than we are already allowed to, then you wouldn't be able to create enough parking spaces to make such a project worthwhile (as a solution to the campus parking problems)....pure speculation though.

It will take a huge amount of parking to satisfy the Bush Library and hopefully expanded to 45k Ford. How about two levels of underground parking, then a level of retail, then parking to the max of the height restriction on that corner. Then a bridge across Mockingbird to the Baird's site (we own all of that corner right?) which is in Dallas..... where we could build a massive parking garage, topped with a massive number of loft-style dorm housing units. And then on top a giant cheesy, tacky, obnoxious rotating pony in red neon, ala the pegasus downtown to be seen all along the 75 corridor.

NavyCrimson · Post by **NavyCrimson** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:50 pm

DONE DEAL!!! GREAT IDEA!!!!

SIGN ME UP!!!

CalallenStang · Post by **CalallenStang** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:34 pm

couch 'em wrote:
abezontar wrote:
CalallenStang wrote: If we put up a parking garage in that area, can we please have the first floor be retail/restaurants (see: Baylor's garage that has a Chili's and Starbucks)? We could put parking both above and below that.
You will have to conince HP/UP to lift the height limitations for that parcel. I would think that unless we can go significantly higher than we are already allowed to, then you wouldn't be able to create enough parking spaces to make such a project worthwhile (as a solution to the campus parking problems)....pure speculation though.

It will take a huge amount of parking to satisfy the Bush Library and hopefully expanded to 45k Ford. How about two levels of underground parking, then a level of retail, then parking to the max of the height restriction on that corner. Then a bridge across Mockingbird to the Baird's site (we own all of that corner right?) which is in Dallas..... where we could build a massive parking garage, topped with a massive number of loft-style dorm housing units. And then on top a giant cheesy, tacky, obnoxious rotating pony in red neon, ala the pegasus downtown to be seen all along the 75 corridor.

I'm naming you as the project manager.

abezontar · Post by **abezontar** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:39 pm

couch 'em wrote:
abezontar wrote:
CalallenStang wrote: If we put up a parking garage in that area, can we please have the first floor be retail/restaurants (see: Baylor's garage that has a Chili's and Starbucks)? We could put parking both above and below that.
You will have to conince HP/UP to lift the height limitations for that parcel. I would think that unless we can go significantly higher than we are already allowed to, then you wouldn't be able to create enough parking spaces to make such a project worthwhile (as a solution to the campus parking problems)....pure speculation though.

It will take a huge amount of parking to satisfy the Bush Library and hopefully expanded to 45k Ford. How about two levels of underground parking, then a level of retail, then parking to the max of the height restriction on that corner. Then a bridge across Mockingbird to the Baird's site (we own all of that corner right?) which is in Dallas..... where we could build a massive parking garage, topped with a massive number of loft-style dorm housing units. And then on top a giant cheesy, tacky, obnoxious rotating pony in red neon, ala the pegasus downtown to be seen all along the 75 corridor.

CalallenStang · Post by **CalallenStang** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:45 pm

abezonatar - the height restriction does not apply to levels built underground, does it?

abezontar · Post by **abezontar** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:01 pm

CalallenStang wrote:abezonatar - the height restriction does not apply to levels built underground, does it?

I don't believe so, but I think it is much more expensive to go down than up.

MustangStealth · Post by **MustangStealth** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:15 pm

abezontar wrote:I think it is much more expensive to go down than up.

I'll ask Spitzer.

The Spaz · Post by **The Spaz** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:20 pm

MustangStealth wrote:
abezontar wrote:I think it is much more expensive to go down than up.
I'll ask Spitzer.

smu diamond m · Post by **smu diamond m** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:39 pm

CalallenStang wrote:abezonatar - the height restriction does not apply to levels built underground, does it?

It does not. The area is zoned RC (retail center, smart eh?), and the duplexes are zoned D-2 (duplex district

). If the retail strip is rezoned for commercial parking, 35 foot max (RC is 25 foot max). However I wouldn't be surprised if it got rezoned for UC1/2/3/4, whose height range max goes from 35 to 120 foot. For every 2 feet over 40, the required building setback increases by a foot, so it is quite apparent you couldn't stuff a gigantic parking structure in there without a variance.

The library is a big deal. There are going to be variances issued for other things too, I'm almost positive; this will just be another one. Assuming they want to put a garage there.

J.T.supporta · Post by **J.T.supporta** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:42 pm

The Spaz wrote:
MustangStealth wrote:
abezontar wrote:I think it is much more expensive to go down than up.
I'll ask Spitzer.

A++

CalallenStang · Post by **CalallenStang** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:44 pm

What exactly is this UC1/2/3/4 and how could we get a parking structure to be zoned in that manner?

Also, what is the required setback for a 40 foot structure? Would it have to be setback from Mockingbird only or from Airline, Potomac, and Dublin equally as much as from Mockingbird?

smu diamond m · Post by **smu diamond m** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:02 pm

Well, after further inspection, it would probably be zoned UC2. Both Moody and Airline garages are zoned UC2, while MBG (Morrison-Bell garage) is currently in UC1 (it is surrounded by UC1 zoning). UC2 has a nonresidential height restriction of 55 feet. Minimum lot size of 5000SF, and a minimum front yard of 25 feet. The fact that the site has multiple frontages complicates things further.

Side and rear yard requirements for a building wall constructed adjacent to the boundary of Single Family or Duplex Districts shall be increased one foot (1') for each two feet (2') that a building erected on a site adjacent to the Single Family or Duplex Districts exceeds thirty-five feet (35'). This setback and height restriction shall not be applied if a public street exists between the UC-2 District property and the Single Family or Duplex District.

Tearing down those duplexes and creating a gigantic garage there seems possible. Then the back/side yard restrictions are lessened a wee bit (it seems).

You apply for a particular zone, and given that the area meets the restrictions for that zone, the city approves (hopefully) the rezoning. I'm not exactly sure how the whole presidential library thing is going to affect UP zoning. I wouldn't be surprised if it got a presidential library zone to itself (no basis whatsoever, just thinking)

It would have to fit the setback requirements for the most restrictive zone at the intersection. I looked for HP zoning, but their website is terrible and doesn't have a zoning map.

smu diamond m · Post by **smu diamond m** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:05 pm

Zoning map, if you feel so inclined

Zoning Ordinance, if you feel so inclined. Go to Article 4 Section 24 for setback distances and info, and Article 4 Section 20 for the use table.

CalallenStang · Post by **CalallenStang** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:43 pm

Thanks...the zoning info was great...of course, the only people who think that other than me are probably other real estate majors...