Rackspace's progress on Windsor Park Mall (Schertz, Center: homes, neighborhoods, to buy)

[smuboy86]

I think this sums up why Walzem, Windcrest and the surrounding area are going to be one of the hottest places to live in the next five years. I do disagree with some of the bad mouthing of the area, though.
Rackspace Tears into New Headquarters | FastCompany.TV This video is about 38 minutes long, but you do get to see some awesome shots of the renovation. They added a huge skylight to the Mervyn's building, and of course stripped out the interior. They also had some great social commentary. Like how being proactive can make an area that was in decline do a reversal.

[Primo]

Rackspace is going to do for the Windsor Park mall area what the AT&T center has done for its surrounding areas.....NOTHING.

I think the reclaimation of the mall is a great idea and probably a great deal for Rackspace, but that is it. The fast food places in the area will be busy during lunch and the closest bar will be busier for happy hour...and that is all the economic generation it will produce.

[pr57001]

While none of us can know exactly what Rackspace will do to the area, I would argue that the impact from an Arena used MAYBE a few nights a week and a workplace for 1,000s, with some 24/7 staffing, are not comparable.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by Primo

Rackspace is going to do for the Windsor Park mall area what the AT&T center has done for its surrounding areas.....NOTHING.

I'm usually one of the first to bring up the lousy location of the AT&T Center as an example of bad planning, but I disagree that the Windsor Park conversion will have the same lack of impact.

The AT&T Center is occupied for about 100 events per year, with each event lasting about 3 hours. Since nearly all events take place outside normal work hours and often end late in the evening, the most frequent destination after events there is home.

Rackspace will be occupying the Windsor Park building with most of its full time workers for about 260 days a year. (Their 24x7 customer service and web-hosting will also require some employees to work, evenings, overnight and weekends.) Most of those employees will work full time, so they'll be spending 8-9 hours a work day in that part of town. Chances are they'll eat a meal during that 8-9 hours and many of them will go to nearby restaurants. A good portion of those workers will stop at nearby businesses once or twice a week before or after work to buy things like gas and grocery items.

I could be wrong, but that's how I see it.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by Primo

Rackspace is going to do for the Windsor Park mall area what the AT&T center has done for its surrounding areas.....NOTHING.

I think the reclaimation of the mall is a great idea and probably a great deal for Rackspace, but that is it. The fast food places in the area will be busy during lunch and the closest bar will be busier for happy hour...and that is all the economic generation it will produce.

If you watch the Video you would notice the statement that the rackspace employees are already planning to move into the area. Nobody except maybe the Spurs commutes to the AT&T center, but when rackspace is finished 5,000 will be commuting there. That is the equivalent to the entire city of Windcrest. Don't you think that some are going to want to live in the area?

[tgannaway89]

The difference between the AT&T Center and Rackspace is that the AT&T pulls in several thousand during games. Rackspace will bring in thousands of employees every weekday. They will need places to live near work, restaurants and stores nearby, etc.

[SpoiledWife]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

If you watch the Video you would notice the statement that the rackspace employees are already planning to move into the area. Nobody except maybe the Spurs commutes to the AT&T center, but when rackspace is finished 5,000 will be commuting there. That is the equivalent to the entire city of Windcrest. Don't you think that some are going to want to live in the area?

Much better, growing and financially stable communities of Schertz and Cibolo are just minutes up North I35 and the area in and around 1604/O'Connor Road is filled with nice communities.

Some may choose to live right near their work but others, I feel, will look further north and take that 15 min drive each day and decide it is a better fit for themselves and their families.

That is my opinion.

[smuboy86]

Rackspace is thinking of giving incentives to employees who live with in two miles of the HQs. BTW Windcrest, is financially stable, and growing look at Winnbrook Estates that Legacy has been building. It's a builder that is also in stone oak, and the homes in Windcrest have been selling very well at over 200K.

[SpoiledWife]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Rackspace is thinking of giving incentives to employees who live with in two miles of the HQs. BTW Windcrest, is financially stable, and growing look at Winnbrook Estates that Legacy has been building. It's a builder that is also in stone oak, and the homes in Windcrest have been selling very well at over 200K.

Yes but just less than 2 miles down Crestway there is 'not so good' neighborhoods such as the Glen and other places off New World drive.

People like a buffer zone of more than just a few miles.

[sapphire]

Of course Windcrest is financially stable. They will ticket you for thinking about speeding. I will not drive there EVER again. Say what you will--yes, I should obey the traffic laws--but they are excessive and ridiculous in their enforcement.