MIDTOWN IS ON THE AGENDA MAY 8!

College Station City Council is finally discussing Midtown, and I am on a mission to PACK City Hall with Midtown residents and it's supporters!

WHEN: May 8 at 6 PM
WHERE: College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave

Midtown was supposed to be a vibrant, mixed-use area with restaurants, shops, recreation space, and more. But 14 years later, we're still waiting.

Why this matters to YOU:

• More local businesses = more places to eat, shop, and gather
• Walkable, mixed-use areas improve quality of life and ease traffic
• Commercial development will help reduce the long-term tax burden on Midtown homeowners giving residents more income to spend elsewhere in BCS!

Here's how you can help: https://linktr.ee/CSMidtown

• Sign the petition
• Share it with friends and neighbors
• Show up on May 8 and make your voice heard

We need YOUR voice to show the City that residents want real progress not more delays.

I don't have a dog in the fight, but why would and should the city be nessarily at all involved directly in the commercial development of any area of the city? It seems like the Tower Point area and down Wellborn has developed nicely with little city involvement. Would the area not develop on its own if there is need and a private driving force?

You can get some nice track housing though

woodiewood1 said:

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I don't have a dog in the fight, but why would and should the city be nessarily at all involved directly in the commercial development of any area of the city? It seems like the Tower Point area and down Wellborn has developed nicely with little city involvement. Would the area not develop on its own if there is need and a private driving force?

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As a taxpayer in College Station who cares about taxpayers in College Station. This makes me care (from the petition):

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We petition the city of College Station to improve its treatment of the Midtown area. This can be done either by providing further economic incentives, initiating constructive projects such as a recreational or convention center, or a combination of both.

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The two projects they name are ones that are projected to cost $85 million (rec center) and $200+ million (convention center). I don't know what kinds of broken promises they are talking about. But it looks like they are looking to inflict retribution on CS taxpayers. Gnarly stuff.

I think that private development is the way to go.
But, the city can provide development friendly conditions to spur on action. At this rate though, the only area to develop is that which is located just to the east of Christ Church and Costco. After having just typed that, I think that I just titled a new country song.

"Between Christ Church & Costco."

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I don't have a dog in the fight, but why would and should the city be nessarily at all involved directly in the commercial development of any area of the city? It seems like the Tower Point area and down Wellborn has developed nicely with little city involvement. Would the area not develop on its own if there is need and a private driving force?

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Normally I would agree with you, but currently there are policies in place that are not making it economically sound for a business to want to take the risk. Midtown is also unique because it's in a Municipal Management District, or a special taxing district that normally would be used by a city to create economic development. However, because the city has neglected this area's plan, the property owners in the area saw a 30% tax increase because there isn't anything else to share the MMD's tax burden. So overall, the point of this effort is to get the city to reevaluate their involvement and explore policies to make commercial development more feasible because currently it's all going to Century Square and Bryan.

Brian Alg said:

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woodiewood1 said:

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I don't have a dog in the fight, but why would and should the city be nessarily at all involved directly in the commercial development of any area of the city? It seems like the Tower Point area and down Wellborn has developed nicely with little city involvement. Would the area not develop on its own if there is need and a private driving force?

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As a taxpayer in College Station who cares about taxpayers in College Station. This makes me care (from the petition):

Quote:

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We petition the city of College Station to improve its treatment of the Midtown area. This can be done either by providing further economic incentives, initiating constructive projects such as a recreational or convention center, or a combination of both.

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The two projects they name are ones that are projected to cost $85 million (rec center) and $200+ million (convention center). I don't know what kinds of broken promises they are talking about. But it looks like they are looking to inflict retribution on CS taxpayers. Gnarly stuff.

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Both those developments were promised to Midtown in early plans. I get your concern, but if the City is going to build either of those anyway, it's my opinion that they need to be put into Midtown especially since residents in this area are in a special taxing district.

But talking as a private citizen, I don't agree that the City should run a Rec Center, the private sector should drive that. I can understand a need more for a convention center since it has potential to drive more money for the city through the tourism it could potentially bring.

At the end of the day, there is something not working policy wise in Midtown that I think needs to be reevaluated. So if it's impact fees that needs to be revisited, if it's signage or infrastructure the City should consider that.

I hope this provides more clarification!

woodiewood1 said:

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I don't have a dog in the fight, but why would and should the city be nessarily at all involved directly in the commercial development of any area of the city? It seems like the Tower Point area and down Wellborn has developed nicely with little city involvement. Would the area not develop on its own if there is need and a private driving force?

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They are involved because for any commercial developer to do ANYTHING in the city of CS they must spend an exceptional amount of time and money jumping through the hoops of city staff that change the hoops one must jump through with the wind .....and create new hoops...that in time will change again. Eventually developers give up out of frustration and loss of time and money attempting to follow a system that really isn't a system at all. It's a crapshoot.

hydes11 said:

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Both those developments were promised to Midtown in early plans.

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Who exactly promised what exactly to whom exactly? Is this something I could find in an Open Records Request?

hydes11 said:

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I get your concern, but if the City is going to build either of those anyway, it's my opinion that they need to be put into Midtown especially since residents in this area are in a special taxing district.

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Maybe it makes me a Pollyanna. But I don't like the idea of declaring that kind of wasteful spending a fait accompli.

I am not sure what is not working at Midtown other than the name. I hope somebody figures out cool businesses to start in that area. But if entrepreneurs don't think it is the right time to set up shop there, there's probably a good reason to hold off for now.

If the petitioners were asking for some sort of special economic zone (like I would hope to see in at least some portion of Northgate) where developers and entrepreneurs have free rein to do cool stuff, I'd sign it. But they are asking for "economic incentives" (taxpayer money) and these exorbitantly expensive "constructive projects" (a LOT of taxpayer money). Not good.

The petition made me laugh. Midtown prop tax is up 30%....welcome to the party all across town pal!

I also would like to see some info/concrete material on promises not kept the petition claims. I see some developer info from back in 2023 touting the city ball parks that would be near the development area and help drive traffic to the area with tournaments, etc.

Seems like the petition is long on conjecture and short on facts of substance. After the ball park, Macy's/mall and similar fiascos do you trust COCS do do what they say they will?

At this point, Midtown is an absolute failure. I believe the developer has more to do with the failure than the city.

jac4 said:

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Buford T. Justice said:

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I think that private development is the way to go.
But, the city can provide development friendly conditions to spur on action. At this rate though, the only area to develop is that which is located just to the east of Christ Church and Costco. After having just typed that, I think that I just titled a new country song.

"Between Christ Church & Costco."

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This is something I can get behind. Even if tax payer funds are used.

1) commission Texas Aggie Dylan Gossett to write and perform the song

2) song goes viral on the socials

3) profit

4) COCS gets their 200 bazillion dollars for a conference center.

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I would be against taxpayers money going to the investment and support of any private businesses' building in the area. If taxpaper money is used for streets, drainage, utilities on public ROWs, and even for flood control, I would support that.

The area should be allowed to develop in a normal timeline corresponding to the growth of the city and county.

Between A&M fueling the local economy to a great level, retirees desiring to and moving back to the area, and the commercial companies building here, I don't see the need for the city to use tax money to promote commercial development. It will take care of itself in due time. The city needs to supply essential services to the citizens and that's about all.

I don't understand why anyone would ever plan to build a convention center within a residential district.
The perfect spot for a convention center is where the mall is presently located.