What's wrong with pier and beam?

techno-ag said:

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1939 said:

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Why is the city getting into the real estate business? This is a really bad idea for the city to be buying up land for a speculative real estate deal.

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It's called redevelopment. Unlike CS, Bryan has a long successful history at it. At the end of the day I prefer to see this rather than 80 year old pier and beam rental houses over there.

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If I don't like looking at your house, should I be able to buy it at market rate and tear it down even if you don't want to sell it? Why should cities be allowed to do this?

Bryan doesn't NEED this area. If they can get all of the properties by buying them outright from the owners at the owners' price, then the developer should be doing this on his own. Otherwise, they can build this on the old golf course on property they already own.

woodiewood1 said:

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CS78 said:

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Could be wrong but I just don't see them being able to buy every single house in less than 10 years. Lots of different reasons for people to not sell. Tax and estate planning can be a huge road block.

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It should be illegal for a governmental entity to force homeowners to sell their homes in order to sell to and for a private company to build anything on the land. I have no issue with eminent dominion purchases in the cases of roads and other public use developments

We are all asleep while we are losing more and more freedoms every year.

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Go look up Kelo v. New London, and then take it up it SCOTUS.

Personally, I agree with you, if they're using eminent domain to do it. "Redevelopment" (i.e., we think we can get more tax $$ from something new, instead of a bunch of older private homes) isn't "public use."

Now, if they're just buying it, without using eminent domain? Meh.

I really hate this for the elderly that live there. If they sell, they will need to spend retirement money on a new home plus a higher tax roll.

My father lives in Oak Terrace. I hope this doesn't ruin the value of his home. I could see a lot of the people there not wanting to live next to this. Could be ok. I'm on the fence. It looks cool but I don't want anyone to get screwed by the city because of it.

agnerd said:

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techno-ag said:

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1939 said:

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Why is the city getting into the real estate business? This is a really bad idea for the city to be buying up land for a speculative real estate deal.

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It's called redevelopment. Unlike CS, Bryan has a long successful history at it. At the end of the day I prefer to see this rather than 80 year old pier and beam rental houses over there.

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If I don't like looking at your house, should I be able to buy it at market rate and tear it down even if you don't want to sell it? Why should cities be allowed to do this?

Bryan doesn't NEED this area. If they can get all of the properties by buying them outright from the owners at the owners' price, then the developer should be doing this on his own. Otherwise, they can build this on the old golf course on property they already own.

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Yep, government should not be in the business of forcing the transfer of personal property from one private entity to another.

Taxation is theft.

Well, technically taxation without representation is theft. Taxation in a republic is levied by representatives elected by the franchise in order to provide specified services and/or goods desired by the franchise. When the purity of the ballot box is spoiled or when byzantine layers of bureaucracy render the executive ungovernable by representatives, the result is a form of tyranny that embraces theft under the color of law.

yes, this is a major problem

the money they receive for the 'market value' of their home...

is not enough to buy a new home of similar size and/or quality of neighborhood

So y'all are getting upset over something that isn't happening? The city isn't using eminent domain. These are willing sellers. If someone holds out, they will likely get an offer for far more than market value. No one is being forced to sell or move. I'm sure this is going to take a decade or more before a private developer moves any dirt.

I see that Rusty's story on the news had some lady they interviewed that moved a few years ago after her landlord sold the property. Why is there outrage that a landowner sold his property?

For the "why the outrage" types

I'll bite

These were conveniently located older affordable lower middle income homes


there isn't anything in their price range being built in similar areas. Things in this price range are usually filled with students, makes it tough on working class folks


I know because I lived there

Find out who Bryan commerce and development inc is and you'll find out who is making the money

The interesting question is why did Bryan make this announcement now. Its obviously been in the planning stage for a long time and looks to be a long time until dirt is moved.

techno-ag said:

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Hornbeck said:

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They should leave the development to real estate developers, and their deep pockets, IMHO.

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Looks like they're doing that.

Quote:

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The City of Bryan has partnered with Lero & Associates, Inc. to acquire property, utilities and entitlements, and plan the development in order to secure a master developer to assist in creating a high-density, mixed-use community.

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This reminds me a lot of Traditions. There was some griping and opposition for that one too but it has been excellent for the city.

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Traditions had plenty of sketchy situations, during development. And for decades was a negative for taxes, as all taxes garnered from the development went towards debt, while the non-Traditions CoB taxpayers were subsidizing services, That's a reality.

Sorry. I'd much rather have Traditions out there than cow pastures. I will likewise enjoy driving by this sleek new development instead of the hovels currently cluttering the landscape over there. You do you but I'm happy to see urban renewal take place in Bryan, especially that close to campus.

Such compassion.

I had friend whose family owned a small sandwich shop at the corner of Patricia and College Main. CS used eminent domain to purchase it for a "parking lot" and immediately resold it to Texadelphia. A second friend owned a rental property where the NG parking garage no sits. The city used the threat of eminent domain to purchase it and settled on a price. Before the sale happened, there was a change of city managers and the new manager dropped the price $20k.

Eminent domain is evil and immoral. Even use it as a threat should be unconscionable.

techno-ag said:

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Sorry. I'd much rather have Traditions out there than cow pastures. I will likewise enjoy driving by this sleek new development instead of the hovels currently cluttering the landscape over there. You do you but I'm happy to see urban renewal take place in Bryan, especially that close to campus.

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Outstanding deflection, from the troubled Traditions development, and the decades of ZERO property taxes going to the CoB general funds, while other CoB taxpayers subsidized the city services provided by Bryan.
And the outright lies, as to water usage and sourcing, for the Traditions golf course. Again, decades of millions of gallons of free municipal water, until recycled water became available.

Who said cow pastures were preferred? Only you...

And meanwhile, Miramont was being built, along with other subdivisions, without the huge inputs of city tax $$$ spent on Traditions. Again, reality, not an opinion.

So one can readily be for growth and expansion, while also knowing the city should not be in the real estate investment business.

And what a pompous position, to declare the occupants of those "hovels" as disposable, away with you, the elites have better usage of your domicile.

Edited to add: from 12 years ago---
[Bryan Council Discusses Accounting of Free Water
The last Bryan City Council meeting of the year included approval of annual reports for five tax increment financing zones, also known as TIRZ.
While there was unanimous approval of this year's activity involving tax breaks and other incentives, councilman Mike Southerland questioned the accounting of Bryan water customers paying for 500,000 gallons a day going to Traditions golf course.

Southerland wanted to know how the annual expense of $435,000 dollars affects water customers.

Southerland also wanted to start discussion on how millions of dollars of additional debt service from the city's TIRZ were going to be paid in the future.

The council agreed to include TIRZ as part of discussion planned next month on economic development activity in Bryan.
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When Traditions was proposed, city "grey water" was promised to be the source of water for the golf course. Didn't happen.
CoB is building a new wastewater plant west of Traditions, so maybe 10+ yrs later it will happen (or not).]

On a side note, sure am glad Southerland is not mayor. That guy was opposed to every good thing that happened in Bryan. It's almost like he wanted the city to be a backwater or something. Weird.

Yes I do think the old rundown houses are an eyesore. That area is in desperate need of renewal. This will be a good thing no matter what Southerland and other naysayers say.

My "hovel" is in the target area. I spent several years bringing my brick, ranch style home back to glory. My dream home. Clean and beautifully landscaped. Lots of time, money and sweat. I realize it's a middle-class neighborhood…but I think our private property needs to be respected as well.

Wow, make your response primarily about Southerland. But not surprising...

"He who shall not be named" is really showing what he's made of today.

techno-ag said:

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On a side note, sure am glad Southerland is not mayor. That guy was opposed to every good thing that happened in Bryan. It's almost like he wanted the city to be a backwater or something. Weird.

Yes I do think the old rundown houses are an eyesore. That area is in desperate need of renewal. This will be a good thing no matter what Southerland and other naysayers say.

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Please tell all where you call home. Im sure a better use could be found for it.

I'm just wondering if COB gives him his own cheerleader outfit.