These posts are funny. It's like you haven't been paying attention for years at how this Macy's situation has been managed and who has managed it.

Your suggestions would be relevant for a city with a different group managing things.

A local businessman with a proven track record submitted a solid proposal and the city balked on it at the last minute. And tried to get out of paying monthly or annual maintenance fees. Because "rules for thee, not for me".

You can make all the good suggestions you like, but unless you make the people pulling the strings think it's a good idea, or more importantly, give them the opportunity to present it as their own idea so they can take credit, it's not going to happen.

Lots of money would have to be invested to get it usable. I don't want the city spending any more $ on that facility.

Wanted to get some feedback on something I've been thinking about.

Macy's has obviously been a major headache to deal with. In a perfect world it would be sold and taxpayers would be made whole from the deal. I'm skeptical that will actually happen, though.

The idea I've been kicking around is having the city issue an RFP / 380 agreement for a developer to convert the Macy's building into a luxury-style office complex. With TeraFab coming in, a wave of related companies is likely to follow. We could get ahead of that demand by inviting developers in now to turn the space into high-end offices.

Alternatively, we could just sell it and probably could because of TeraFab. This is only an idea at this stage, but I'd appreciate some critical feedback.

I don't hate it but how do you talk high end businesses into setting up in an old closed off department store with minimal windows? Don't know if that can be renovated out.

Just cut bait and sell it.

MyNameIsJeff said:

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Just cut bait and sell it.

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Hard to sell something no one wants. Maybe the city can sell it to themselves again for far more than what they paid for it, just like they did the first time around when the previous owners saw them coming from a mile away and fleeced them. One would have thought that the Chimney Hill fiasco would have taught them a valuable lesson, but not a chance. I'm sure they would do this again in a heartbeat if given the chance. It's way too easy to spend other people's cash like a drunk sailor when you can do so with absolute impunity.

https://govsalaries.com/woods-bryan-c-215991784

Insane...

MyNameIsJeff said:

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https://govsalaries.com/woods-bryan-c-215991784

Insane...

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Pretty much anyone would give their right arm to make north of $350k for not being great at their job. You could outsource the city management position for 60% of that and get much better performance.

RafterAg223 said:

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MyNameIsJeff said:

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Just cut bait and sell it.

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Hard to sell something no one wants. Maybe the city can sell it to themselves again for far more than what they paid for it, just like they did the first time around when the previous owners saw them coming from a mile away and fleeced them. One would have thought that the Chimney Hill fiasco would have taught them a valuable lesson, but not a chance. I'm sure they would do this again in a heartbeat if given the chance. It's way too easy to spend other people's cash like a drunk sailor when you can do so with absolute impunity.

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The first action that needs to be taken is to have a citizen vote on a city law or whatever prohibiting the city from purchasing any real property with a structure present without a specific need for the city to use it.

Without it, every decade or two with a different group of city leaders, it will occur again,

It is not the city's role to be in the real estate speculation business. There is a sufficient number of very capable commercial real estate brokers in our community,

RafterAg223 said:

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MyNameIsJeff said:

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https://govsalaries.com/woods-bryan-c-215991784

Insane...

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Pretty much anyone would give their right arm to make north of $350k for not being great at their job. You could outsource the city management position for 60% of that and get much better performance.

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When Woods didn't disclose the interest by Jim Lewis in the Macy's building to the city council within days, he should have been terminated from his job that week.

woodiewood1 said:

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RafterAg223 said:

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MyNameIsJeff said:

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https://govsalaries.com/woods-bryan-c-215991784

Insane...

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Pretty much anyone would give their right arm to make north of $350k for not being great at their job. You could outsource the city management position for 60% of that and get much better performance.

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When Woods didn't disclose the interest in the Macy's building to the city council within days by Jim Lewis, he should have been terminated from his job that week.

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That whole situation just stunk.

At this rate, just go ahead and make it a community center with special event meeting space, a full gym/workout place.

Or completely duplicate the Legends Event Center concept and make it a central (state wide) venue for basketball and volleyball tournaments. (Raze the second floor.)

Or, find a way to partner with TAMU to make it their career fair location.

maroon barchetta said:

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woodiewood1 said:

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RafterAg223 said:

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MyNameIsJeff said:

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https://govsalaries.com/woods-bryan-c-215991784

Insane...

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Pretty much anyone would give their right arm to make north of $350k for not being great at their job. You could outsource the city management position for 60% of that and get much better performance.

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When Woods didn't disclose the interest in the Macy's building to the city council within days by Jim Lewis, he should have been terminated from his job that week.

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That whole situation just stunk.

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And this is why it still has legs and won't go away. Citizens keep bringing it up, which annoys staff, for good reason. It's criminal behavior and tortious interference on a civil level. Those who took part in it should be BBQ'd repeatedly for it.

I may or may not have brought it up at a town hall recently.

Woods blamed the council. Wasn't his fault.

Hornbeck said:

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I may or may not have brought it up at a town hall recently.

Woods blamed the council. Wasn't his fault.

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I don't recall the emails from Jim Lewis blaming city council.

I wonder what happened to all that constant interest the property was getting? Or perhaps Mr. Wright was not being truthful

Still don't know how Woods is keeping his job.

Valen said:

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Wanted to get some feedback on something I've been thinking about.

Macy's has obviously been a major headache to deal with. In a perfect world it would be sold and taxpayers would be made whole from the deal. I'm skeptical that will actually happen, though.

The idea I've been kicking around is having the city issue an RFP / 380 agreement for a developer to convert the Macy's building into a luxury-style office complex. With TeraFab coming in, a wave of related companies is likely to follow. We could get ahead of that demand by inviting developers in now to turn the space into high-end offices.

Alternatively, we could just sell it and probably could because of TeraFab. This is only an idea at this stage, but I'd appreciate some critical feedback.

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I genuinely appreciate the effort but Macy's is 45 minutes from TeraFab with daytime traffic. There will be new office space built in much better proximity to that facility. It will be years before demand for office space of any tier reaches that distance. I seriously doubt there's someone in Huntsville is thinking it's time to invest in high end office space to house businesses related to TeraFab. The distance is the same.

This was a galactically stupid decision that should have cost at least a few people their jobs. I didn't live in the city when it happened so I don't know if it did but that building has as much value as the old Sears service center around the corner on Holleman. The city really just needs to cut OUR losses and sell for dimes on the dollar to someone that can pay a pittance of taxes on the shell while they try to figure it out. This is a great place for creative thinking but not at continued taxpayer expense. Cut OUR losses and move on, preferably while firing whoever pulled the trigger on this Charlie Foxtrot.

The Macy's debacle occurred due to the absence of repercussions for elected officials or city personnel. The justification that "It is what the city council desired" is insufficient. It is the responsibility of our city administration to inform the city council about the true state of affairs.

LOYAL AG said:

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Valen said:

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Wanted to get some feedback on something I've been thinking about.

Macy's has obviously been a major headache to deal with. In a perfect world it would be sold and taxpayers would be made whole from the deal. I'm skeptical that will actually happen, though.

The idea I've been kicking around is having the city issue an RFP / 380 agreement for a developer to convert the Macy's building into a luxury-style office complex. With TeraFab coming in, a wave of related companies is likely to follow. We could get ahead of that demand by inviting developers in now to turn the space into high-end offices.

Alternatively, we could just sell it and probably could because of TeraFab. This is only an idea at this stage, but I'd appreciate some critical feedback.

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I genuinely appreciate the effort but Macy's is 45 minutes from TeraFab with daytime traffic. There will be new office space built in much better proximity to that facility. It will be years before demand for office space of any tier reaches that distance. I seriously doubt there's someone in Huntsville is thinking it's time to invest in high end office space to house businesses related to TeraFab. The distance is the same.

This was a galactically stupid decision that should have cost at least a few people their jobs. I didn't live in the city when it happened so I don't know if it did but that building has as much value as the old Sears service center around the corner on Holleman. The city really just needs to cut OUR losses and sell for dimes on the dollar to someone that can pay a pittance of taxes on the shell while they try to figure it out. This is a great place for creative thinking but not at continued taxpayer expense. Cut OUR losses and move on, preferably while firing whoever pulled the trigger on this Charlie Foxtrot.

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I hear you and agree that it is unlikely someone who is associated with Terafab wants to use the Macy's building. But Terafab is a lot closer than some people realize. It is less than 25 min away, only 14 miles as the crow flies to the mall. It is 35 min from Terafab to Huntsville.


CS will feel the most impact from Terafab when it is fully open and operational, IMO.

Aggie_Fire said:

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LOYAL AG said:

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Valen said:

---

Wanted to get some feedback on something I've been thinking about.

Macy's has obviously been a major headache to deal with. In a perfect world it would be sold and taxpayers would be made whole from the deal. I'm skeptical that will actually happen, though.

The idea I've been kicking around is having the city issue an RFP / 380 agreement for a developer to convert the Macy's building into a luxury-style office complex. With TeraFab coming in, a wave of related companies is likely to follow. We could get ahead of that demand by inviting developers in now to turn the space into high-end offices.

Alternatively, we could just sell it and probably could because of TeraFab. This is only an idea at this stage, but I'd appreciate some critical feedback.

---

I genuinely appreciate the effort but Macy's is 45 minutes from TeraFab with daytime traffic. There will be new office space built in much better proximity to that facility. It will be years before demand for office space of any tier reaches that distance. I seriously doubt there's someone in Huntsville is thinking it's time to invest in high end office space to house businesses related to TeraFab. The distance is the same.

This was a galactically stupid decision that should have cost at least a few people their jobs. I didn't live in the city when it happened so I don't know if it did but that building has as much value as the old Sears service center around the corner on Holleman. The city really just needs to cut OUR losses and sell for dimes on the dollar to someone that can pay a pittance of taxes on the shell while they try to figure it out. This is a great place for creative thinking but not at continued taxpayer expense. Cut OUR losses and move on, preferably while firing whoever pulled the trigger on this Charlie Foxtrot.

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I hear you and agree that it is unlikely someone who is associated with Terafab wants to use the Macy's building. But Terafab is a lot closer than some people realize. It is less than 25 min away, only 14 miles as the crow flies to the mall. It is 35 min from Terafab to Huntsville.


CS will feel the most impact from Terafab when it is fully open and operational, IMO.

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Yes it is 25 minutes away with current road conditions.
When and if construction of Hwy. 30 in the river bottom starts that 25 minutes becomes considerably more.

Hornbeck said:

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I may or may not have brought it up at a town hall recently.

Woods blamed the council. Wasn't his fault.

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That's real rich considering Yancy was asking for the docs concerning that purchase and it took a FOIA request by a Texag'er to get any info. A sitting councilmen was denied access, repeatedly, to the very doc's that "theoretically" would have exonerated staff, by staff, then when the docs are made public via FOIA it became as easy as tracking an elephant through mud who was to blame.