The New Lubbock: Continuing The Vision

[This is the second installment in a series of blogs about a West Texas city I really care about: Lubbock.]

Last time around, I discussed some of the things I would be hoping for in changing the face of Lubbock, Texas. I know that some people's jaws dropped to the floor as I think I shocked half the world and people who care about me probably wondered if I needed to be admitted to an insane asylum. Well, stick around, okay? Before I commence with the proceedings and ponderings within, let me offer a transportation scenario in case a previously-mentioned bold plan doesn't take place. You might recall a segment I wrote on initiating future interstate corridors that will include the city. That's right. Interstate-designated highways. Big stuff. And they would be huge in Lubbock. They'd be the only single city in Texas, potentially, with six interstate designated highways if said situation were to pass (the existing I-27, plus the really non-existent I-44 extension, I-18, I-34, I-427, and also a potential I-327, which would take place over the current State Spur 327). Here's another scenario: If that doesn't come to pass, there would be short freeway sections built in the sections that were mentioned (i.e. Lubbock to places like Idalou, Littlefield, Slaton, and so forth) and keeping the current designations intact. The problem is that they may have to be built as cashless toll roads to speed up the construction, because there is no funding for such projects now. But that's just a possibility, and with dreams come possibilities.

Now, on to some other ideas for the city, big and small. As I adhered to before, these are just ideas, folks. Nothing is in stone (or brick, or cement, or steel....) just yet, but all ideas start in the mind. It begins with a single thought. Off we go now.

1. Concentrated city centers. I envision four of these. The first, of course, is downtown. With the aforementioned WesTex Tower as its main anchor, it would be preceded and followed by other buildings that are 22, 25, 27, 30, and 35 stories tall. It's conceivable that Plains Capital Bank, the top banker in Lubbock, would have a visible high-rise (I can see that company in the 25-story structure, and it could have a silver-glass exterior). Downtown might also include an underground tunnel connecting all of the important buildings together plus provide access to the new Lubbock Hotel and Convention Center. In addition to downtown, there would be three other city centers: a) Las Tierras Altas (that's Spanish for The Highlands) would be a new business, mixed-use development with a canal. It would be their version of Las Colinas, but on a slightly smaller scale. To be built somewhere in Northwest Lubbock. b) Northpointe, to be built near the new rail yard in North Lubbock, can consist of mid-rises for business. c) Stonegate Commons, in Southwest Lubbock, would offer a resort setting for business, dining, golf, and lodging. This would be one of the premier spots in West Texas, and there won't be anything else like it.

2. Monument Circle. Likely to be located either in downtown, or wherever city leaders can put a possible Lubbock Botanical Garden, that would provide statuary depicting the people who helped make Lubbock the city it is today, plus the images of that region.

3. More local restaurants. Now, that's nothing against chains, as I wouldn't mind seeing Pappadeaux and Saltgrass making inroads in the city. But part of what really makes any city unique is the local flavor of the community, so why not new local restaurants? A novel idea: things done locally, and enjoyed by locals. They can be single-location joints, or sometimes you might see a local chain developing. I can see someone in West Texas coming up with a new idea for a fried chicken chain (crispy, homemade recipe fried chicken, homemade pinto beans cooked in store, rolls, maybe a barn-shaped exterior with a weathervane on top). How about ideas for steak (to compete with Cagle, perhaps), barbecue, seafood, Tex-Mex, delis, baked potatoes, coffee shops (breakfast?), home cooking, and even deep-dish pizza? Think it might not happen in Lubbock? Think again. You never know. Something uniquely Lubbock that you can't get anywhere else.

4. More local businesses. Yeah, I know. But there's also nothing wrong with luring a significant big corporation to the area. It also takes local companies to make the area work, as well. Can they grow? Without a doubt.

5. More new, master-planned neighborhoods. Every time I drive around Frisco, Texas, I keep thinking that a lot of the plans in this town could be part of the vision that can go behind any project in Lubbock. I'm not asking for a carbon copy; only the things that imagination can bring to real life. Lubbock is built on the strictest block grid system in the state of Texas, but that doesn't mean you can't plan new things. You've got to be innovative. Every part of Lubbock ought to have some sort of master planning going on. Every area. South, southwest, west, northwest, north, east, southeast, and northeast. Some places inside the loop, even. If you don't see it before you see it, you'll never see it. This city can discover the new tomorrow.

6. Revitalize the east, develop the northeast. These are areas that Lubbock can improve and thrive with. East Lubbock needs some of their side streets paved. They need new housing. They could sure use an economic magnet in their neighborhood. And right now, Northeast Lubbock consists of, well, nothing. It's the area east of the current airport and north of FM 40. There is a ton of potential, but first, we've got to find a place to begin. Mixed uses are certain to be in store for that area, but the potential in that mostly empty part of town, with some of it not yet annexed, is endless. Municipal Avenue could easily be six-lanes as a diagonal from Buddy Holly and Ash on up to.....well, the possible future East Beltway. It could go a hard northeast after the proposed six-lane Olive Avenue (which would go north-south), and be the hub of all activity in the new northeast sector of town. Olive would have continuous commerce from Municipal to the possible future Lubbock-to-Wichita Falls corridor, and on down to a proposed industrial park just east of the loop.

7. Build a bigger Texas Water Rampage. It's closed now, but they ought to bring it back. You can't have summer in West Texas without a water park, and a successful one at that. It can certainly include a tropical landscape setting and a spray plaza for the kiddos that get a little too much heat.

8. Two mid-rise (10 and 16 stories) condo towers. I don't know why, but I can see this type of thing off the Marsha Sharp Freeway around Slide Road (possibly the northeast quadrant). Some cities have something like this in odd places, and it just adds to the cityscape. That would be cool for this city.

9. A minor-league ballpark. That's right. Baseball. In Downtown Lubbock, no less. From my understanding, they didn't make any progress on a yard near Wolfforth, but they can try again, this time in downtown, with a fabulous backdrop for the "grand old game". A Double-A team could possibly work here if the right deal is made.

So, here you are. Much more forethought and a multitude of ideas for this metropolis. I'll have a few more musings next time, and I think it will be all about the landscaping in legendary Lubbock. I'll touch on that next time around. See you later for now!