AggiePhil said:

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You know, I'm really not sure how I want Northgate to look in 2040. I do however have a fondness for the area, and lot of thoughts. Here are a few...

Northgate as we currently know it as a bar district is a relatively new thing. Historically, it was one of the three main off-campus urban centers with retail, worship, entertainment, and offices. Heck, the first off-campus City of College Station offices (precursor to city hall) were upstairs at 115 College Main. And of course, big names in local retail like Holick's Boots, Loupot's Books, the Campus Theater, etc. Sadly, most of these are long gone and our recent memories really just include bars whose names and character (if you can call it that) change every couple of years. With the exception of Dixie Chicken/Dudley's/Dry Bean, the Texas Aggie Bookstore, and the Northgate Barber Shop, none of the current businesses have much historic significance (again, sadly).

Also, keep in mind that Northgate is not the only possibility for a premier retail/tourism/entertainment area near campus. As I mentioned, there are three other "gates" that used to be thriving. One of which, Southgate, is arguably closer to Kyle Field and student housing. And all of which should be utilized better than they currently are.

Listen, I would love for the city to have a world class entertainment district similar to Mule Alley in Fort Worth (I'm sure there are many others around the country--this just happens to be one I recently visited). That said, I don't know the best way for us to get there and can understand peoples' unwillingness to support their government spending millions to create something like this out of thin air. That said, I think this is what a lot of people would enjoy, especially if it could somehow incorporate some TAMU/College Station history into it. There would surely be many challenges though, and I'm not familiar enough with these things to offer any suggestions beyond "it sure would be nice."

Finally, I will say that it seems to me Northgate may already be too far developed to remain viable as a designated tourism center, sadly. Although this didn't start with the high-rises (I think it started with the longstanding businesses leaving to make way for bars), they may have been the final nails in the coffin. There really aren't enough core fixtures left that are worth keeping. Let's face it, most of the bars haven't been there all that long and will probably have different names within five years anyway. And what kind of enjoyable entertainment district can you really have with 25 story high-rises on every corner? Again, there are some exceptions to this (like Dixie Chicken, which I love), but overall, I'm kind of sad about what Northgate has become because I see the market inevitably taking it in a different direction.

BUT, I could be totally wrong and/or others likely have different thoughts and opinions. These are just some of mine. I'm not dead set on any one particular vision for Northgate 2040.

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That's refreshingly balanced and direct. Informative too. Thank you kindly.

Respectfully,

Bob Y

I'll be 81 by then.

Buford T. Justice said:

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I am not commercial real estate professional, but in my previously stated opinion within this thread, "Th Harvey District" is where the future will unfold. There is already an amphitheater space, it just needs to be completely overhauled. From Texas to the bypass on both sides. Central and walkable. Fun for all ages. Just need to buy out quite a few old apartment complexes.

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That whole area could be developed into a really nice entertainment and dining area if develop correctly.

Bob Yancy said:

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AggiePhil said:

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You know, I'm really not sure how I want Northgate to look in 2040. I do however have a fondness for the area, and lot of thoughts. Here are a few...

Northgate as we currently know it as a bar district is a relatively new thing. Historically, it was one of the three main off-campus urban centers with retail, worship, entertainment, and offices. Heck, the first off-campus City of College Station offices (precursor to city hall) were upstairs at 115 College Main. And of course, big names in local retail like Holick's Boots, Loupot's Books, the Campus Theater, etc. Sadly, most of these are long gone and our recent memories really just include bars whose names and character (if you can call it that) change every couple of years. With the exception of Dixie Chicken/Dudley's/Dry Bean, the Texas Aggie Bookstore, and the Northgate Barber Shop, none of the current businesses have much historic significance (again, sadly).

Also, keep in mind that Northgate is not the only possibility for a premier retail/tourism/entertainment area near campus. As I mentioned, there are three other "gates" that used to be thriving. One of which, Southgate, is arguably closer to Kyle Field and student housing. And all of which should be utilized better than they currently are.

Listen, I would love for the city to have a world class entertainment district similar to Mule Alley in Fort Worth (I'm sure there are many others around the country--this just happens to be one I recently visited). That said, I don't know the best way for us to get there and can understand peoples' unwillingness to support their government spending millions to create something like this out of thin air. That said, I think this is what a lot of people would enjoy, especially if it could somehow incorporate some TAMU/College Station history into it. There would surely be many challenges though, and I'm not familiar enough with these things to offer any suggestions beyond "it sure would be nice."

Finally, I will say that it seems to me Northgate may already be too far developed to remain viable as a designated tourism center, sadly. Although this didn't start with the high-rises (I think it started with the longstanding businesses leaving to make way for bars), they may have been the final nails in the coffin. There really aren't enough core fixtures left that are worth keeping. Let's face it, most of the bars haven't been there all that long and will probably have different names within five years anyway. And what kind of enjoyable entertainment district can you really have with 25 story high-rises on every corner? Again, there are some exceptions to this (like Dixie Chicken, which I love), but overall, I'm kind of sad about what Northgate has become because I see the market inevitably taking it in a different direction.

BUT, I could be totally wrong and/or others likely have different thoughts and opinions. These are just some of mine. I'm not dead set on any one particular vision for Northgate 2040.

---

That's refreshingly balanced and direct. Informative too. Thank you kindly.

Respectfully,

Bob Y

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In observing how the Northgate area has changed over the past sixty years, most of the highrise developments did not take away bar and entertainment opportunities. Most of those properties were old dwellings and apartment complexes that many were grandfathered in with major code issues. There was many dwelling around Cherry and nearby streets were dwellings with masonry walls with no insulation where the electrical lines were actually run in the structure in exposed metal conduit.

The bar/entertainment Northgate was never, at least in the past sixty years, more than about a block and a half deep northward and three to four blocks in length east to west.

I am all for keeping it as it is as much as possible, but I am not sure to what degree it might be developed more.

And then we have the owners of the properties along University who could very well sell to highrise developers if and when the current leases expire?

woodiewood said:

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Bob Yancy said:

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AggiePhil said:

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You know, I'm really not sure how I want Northgate to look in 2040. I do however have a fondness for the area, and lot of thoughts. Here are a few...

Northgate as we currently know it as a bar district is a relatively new thing. Historically, it was one of the three main off-campus urban centers with retail, worship, entertainment, and offices. Heck, the first off-campus City of College Station offices (precursor to city hall) were upstairs at 115 College Main. And of course, big names in local retail like Holick's Boots, Loupot's Books, the Campus Theater, etc. Sadly, most of these are long gone and our recent memories really just include bars whose names and character (if you can call it that) change every couple of years. With the exception of Dixie Chicken/Dudley's/Dry Bean, the Texas Aggie Bookstore, and the Northgate Barber Shop, none of the current businesses have much historic significance (again, sadly).

Also, keep in mind that Northgate is not the only possibility for a premier retail/tourism/entertainment area near campus. As I mentioned, there are three other "gates" that used to be thriving. One of which, Southgate, is arguably closer to Kyle Field and student housing. And all of which should be utilized better than they currently are.

Listen, I would love for the city to have a world class entertainment district similar to Mule Alley in Fort Worth (I'm sure there are many others around the country--this just happens to be one I recently visited). That said, I don't know the best way for us to get there and can understand peoples' unwillingness to support their government spending millions to create something like this out of thin air. That said, I think this is what a lot of people would enjoy, especially if it could somehow incorporate some TAMU/College Station history into it. There would surely be many challenges though, and I'm not familiar enough with these things to offer any suggestions beyond "it sure would be nice."

Finally, I will say that it seems to me Northgate may already be too far developed to remain viable as a designated tourism center, sadly. Although this didn't start with the high-rises (I think it started with the longstanding businesses leaving to make way for bars), they may have been the final nails in the coffin. There really aren't enough core fixtures left that are worth keeping. Let's face it, most of the bars haven't been there all that long and will probably have different names within five years anyway. And what kind of enjoyable entertainment district can you really have with 25 story high-rises on every corner? Again, there are some exceptions to this (like Dixie Chicken, which I love), but overall, I'm kind of sad about what Northgate has become because I see the market inevitably taking it in a different direction.

BUT, I could be totally wrong and/or others likely have different thoughts and opinions. These are just some of mine. I'm not dead set on any one particular vision for Northgate 2040.

---

That's refreshingly balanced and direct. Informative too. Thank you kindly.

Respectfully,

Bob Y

---

In observing how the Northgate area has changed over the past sixty years, most of the highrise developments did not take away bar and entertainment opportunities. Most of those properties were old dwellings and apartment complexes that many were grandfathered in with major code issues. There was many dwelling around Cherry and nearby streets were dwellings with masonry walls with no insulation where the electrical lines were actually run in the structure in exposed metal conduit.

The bar/entertainment Northgate was never, at least in the past sixty years, more than about a block and a half deep northward and three to four blocks in length east to west.

I am all for keeping it as it is as much as possible, but I am not sure to what degree it might be developed more.

And then we have the owners of the properties along University who could very well sell to highrise developers if and when the current leases expire?

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Yessir. Good feedback. Also those adjacent property owners could team up and do something more transformative with their land and the city lot rather than just the city parking lot alone.