Zad Rumayo, creator of Buzz condo project on South Akard, has just filed a zoning change for a planned development at 7530 Grand Avenue— this is the shopping strip at Gaston Avenue near Garland Road directly across the street from Far West night club. According to a zoning-change application filed yesterday, Rumayo is requesting a mix of multi-family residential and non residential uses, with a maximum height of 85 feet and 400 units (if a residential component is developed).
Rumayo has a good reputation as being a smart and creative designer and planner—Back Talk's own Jeff Siegel is meeting with him this afternoon and will undoubtedly return with an insightful update later today or tomorrow.
This development could be a great step in the right direction for an intersection that desperately needs change.
Posted by: Kim | Sep 11, 2008 at 02:49 PM
A "good" planner wouldn't recommend an 85-foot structure at that location, only a "good" developer.
Posted by: Robert | Sep 11, 2008 at 03:21 PM
a good planner would realize that you want height at the intersection of two thoroughfares and that with the other controls and the fact that the site slopes 20+ feet and ... this is a great location for mixed use and will be the beginning of changing this intersection. can you say goodbye far west, the market will force them out.
Posted by: cityplanner | Sep 11, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Nobody has known what to do with that intersection for 80 years or more. I welcome the creative talent of Mr. Rumayo.
Posted by: JKR | Sep 11, 2008 at 05:31 PM
If the zoning request is approved it will open the door for this type of rezoning from Garland road to West Shore an other areas near by. The issue of the dirt skirt developers bending the actual codes beyond recognition we could be looking at an Uptown type of development.
If you think traffic is bad at night with those 4000 people for the Far West, just imagine that day and night with all the new residents and tenants.
Those of us in the neighborhood don't have a problem with development, but we will have problem with development that changes existing zoning and character of the overall neighborhood not just the corner.
Whole foods was requested to reduce its size to reduce it's impact on the neighborhood in central Lakewood we think the same care in planning should happen here.
Far West go away, give us something we can use not something that will strangle us.
Posted by: Greg | Sep 11, 2008 at 06:02 PM
I am happy to see a developer look at this corner. Presently it is a mostly vacant structure that attracts homeless. As long as the developer is open to working with the neighborhood I think the height is OK. As a resident of this neighborhood I am thrilled there might be some useful ammenities no matter the height.
Posted by: Gastonwood Resident | Sep 11, 2008 at 11:40 PM
The intersection of Gaston and East Grand/Garland Road doesn't warrant an 85-foot tower. Add to that the 20-foot elevation change and you now have a stucture that tops out at over 100 feet. That kind of development wouldn't be supported by the community or approved by city hall.
A good planner wouldn't support an 85 foot buildng at that location.
Posted by: Robert | Sep 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Why don't we just leave this intersection alone?! Leave it at 3 stories and continue to cross our fingers that something nice will eventually happen?! Finally, we have someone with an idea that can actually work and people are afraid it will be too different. 85 feet on Gaston makes perfect sense. It won't be 85 feet behind someone's house. Apparently, Zad has already spoken with the neighborhoods and they like the idea. If they have to live with it and they like it, why wouldn't the city approve it? I guess they should just be happy with their pool halls, dance clubs, and vacant retail.
Posted by: david | Sep 12, 2008 at 10:16 AM
no one said a tower did they. 85 feet on Gaston is not the same as 85 feet on the top of the property. we want development but we want people to keep the zoning the same, wait doesn't that mean we want far west and a vacant shopping center, yes we will get the same failed ideas. come into the real world, the area is changing, the city is changing, the suburbs are coming home to the city and there needs to be a place to live, work and shop. the traffic issue today is traffic passing thru, residents here would be out of the system before or after the pass thru traffic. planning is mostly logic not emotion, new residents will have the buying power to help whole foods (which could and should be better but some people can't handle change). if we want more quality small business and places we need buying power, sorry i got carried away, this is good we need to quit scaring away the good developers.
Posted by: cityplanner | Sep 12, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Zad spoke to the neighborhood association behind closed doors, those of us in the immediate area found out by happen stance. I have spoken to a number of the people in the area and we are not opposed to closing Far West or even improving the retail across the street. The two concerns we have is the desire to change the zoning which will set president for future project to change zoning in the area and the secrecy that had been going on until this project was uncovered. The light of day can clear up a lot of concerns.
Posted by: Greg | Sep 12, 2008 at 11:51 AM