Finally some news on The Crosstown Commons project and the outlets by the fairgrounds (San Antonio: 2009)

[gabetx]

The Crosstown Commons project and the outlets by the fairgrounds. Personally, I believe the developers have backed out already but don't want to admit it yet.

I doubt either will ever get built, but I sure hope I am wrong.

Calallen can use the development out here.

Heres the story.

[CalallenMom]

Originally Posted by gabetx

The Crosstown Commons project and the outlets by the fairgrounds. Personally, I believe the developers have backed out already but don't want to admit it yet.

I doubt either will ever get built, but I sure hope I am wrong.

Calallen can use the development out here.

Heres the story.

Agreed completely.

As for Calallen development, personally I'd like the idea of an outlet mall out on 624 as opposed to Robstown.

[gabetx]

Originally Posted by CalallenMom

Agreed completely.

As for Calallen development, personally I'd like the idea of an outlet mall out on 624 as opposed to Robstown.

I agree too. But the only bad thing about something like that built on 624 would be more traffic. A lot more. 624 cant handle very much more traffic either, it is already bad enough as it is.

The good thing about outlets being built on 77 would be;

Major growth along the U.S. 77 corridor between IH 37 all the way down past Robstown.

All of the Robstown area and Calallen area would be much more desireable.

It makes perfect business sense to build an outlet mall by the fairgrounds.

Also US 77 would have to be widened to a 6 lane highway from south of Robstown all the way to the I 37 junction due to the added traffic.

[CalallenMom]

Originally Posted by gabetx

I agree too. But the only bad thing about something like that built on 624 would be more traffic. A lot more. 624 cant handle very much more traffic either, it is already bad enough as it is.

The good thing about outlets being built on 77 would be;

Major growth along the U.S. 77 corridor between IH 37 all the way down past Robstown.

All of the Robstown area and Calallen area would be much more desireable.

It makes perfect business sense to build an outlet mall by the fairgrounds.

Also US 77 would have to be widened to a 6 lane highway from south of Robstown all the way to the I 37 junction due to the added traffic.

Good point. 624 definitely can't handle much more traffic -- it's a pain just to leave the Wal-Mart parking lot. I DO like the idea of US 77 a LOT! Ah, we can dream, lol.

[gabetx]

Yep. Image 77 being another S.P.I.D., but nicer looking. 44 and 77 being a junction kind of like the I-37 and NPID junction. Which is something they need to consider soon before too much stuff is built around 77 and 44. Because once the area is developed, 44 will serve as a major route from Robstown and surrounding areas into CC.

By the way, isn't 77 turning into I-69?

[rednax]

Retail/suburban sprawl is a dead-end. The tenants will move out in a heartbeat if conditions change (Parkdale; abandoned malls and centers across America), and the "jobs" are dead-end/low-pay. Calallen needs no "help" of this sort any more than does the rest of CC.

What is needed is a regional transportation plan that places retail back at the local nexus (downtown CC) and connects local and regional rail (streetcars and interurban trains) so that locally-owned businesses that pay a living, family wage (inducing loyalty & great service) benefit by having customers from all over the region.

A connection of this system to San Antonio and the high-speed intercontinental system now proposed will ensure retail stability, and keep local dollars at home.

Car-based retail on otherwise productive farmland is a double loser. We ruin an advantage . . we haven't sprawled like other places, so let's work it to our advantage.

We need to think big, and think along smarter lines about our future. The State and the Nation are needed for this region (nothing new). Attractively, we can be a model for other areas, a huge selling point.

And, as a port city, Corpus Christi is needed by the nation at large, so local/regional and national connections are vital to the national economy in the event of unforeseen problems at other ports be they on the Mississippi, the Gulf or any other coast.

Other cities have already discovered the advantage of mixed, denser housing and retail at rail stops. For us, that can also mean connections along/near our beautiful coast; a double-whammy.

[gabetx]

Originally Posted by rednax

Retail/suburban sprawl is a dead-end. The tenants will move out in a heartbeat if conditions change (Parkdale; abandoned malls and centers across America), and the "jobs" are dead-end/low-pay. Calallen needs no "help" of this sort any more than does the rest of CC.

What is needed is a regional transportation plan that places retail back at the local nexus (downtown CC) and connects local and regional rail (streetcars and interurban trains) so that locally-owned businesses that pay a living, family wage (inducing loyalty & great service) benefit by having customers from all over the region.

A connection of this system to San Antonio and the high-speed intercontinental system now proposed will ensure retail stability, and keep local dollars at home.

Car-based retail on otherwise productive farmland is a double loser. We ruin an advantage . . we haven't sprawled like other places, so let's work it to our advantage.

We need to think big, and think along smarter lines about our future. The State and the Nation are needed for this region (nothing new). Attractively, we can be a model for other areas, a huge selling point.

And, as a port city, Corpus Christi is needed by the nation at large, so local/regional and national connections are vital to the national economy in the event of unforeseen problems at other ports be they on the Mississippi, the Gulf or any other coast.

Other cities have already discovered the advantage of mixed, denser housing and retail at rail stops. For us, that can also mean connections along/near our beautiful coast; a double-whammy.

Actually, Calallen can use an area like S.P.I.D. . It is so annoying driving 18 minutes every day to work or just to go find something to do. There are about 50,000 people in the Calallen/Robstown area, but nothing to do. Out here its not sprawly suburbs. It is an area in need of development. The low paying jobs can go to high school and college students in the area, and the management jobs can go to people with degrees. The only shopping out here is H-E-B or Wal-Mart. There are no restaurants except for a select few and the rest is just fast food.

This is one area which really can use some development.

[CalallenMom]

So true, Gabe. I'd love to see a Target along with more restaurants. We always end up eating out here because I can't stand driving into Corpus most days, but our options are very limited. I was way bummed when China King closed (by far the best Chinese food, IMO) and a ::gasp:: mexican restaurant opened in it's place. Blaaaaaaaah!