This is interesting.......all of sudden the area around the Hays Street Bridge has become the focal point of two competing and very different visions. On one hand we have Eugene Simor who owns Alamo Brewery Company. He has brought forth a proposal to build a brewery on city owned land adjacent to the historic Hays Street bridge. His vision is to have a brewery that is not only brewery production operation but a tourist destination as well complete with a rooftop brew haus.On the other hand we have a proposal from the good folks that were responsible for pushing the restoration of the Hays Street Bridge to use a city owned tract of land adjacent to the bridge for a park, a skate board park to be specific.
Where it gets really interesting is that the city owned land is coveted by both Mr. Simor and the good folks that want a park. The city owned land was donated to the city by the Dawson family when the bridge restoration was completed with an apparent understanding that the land would be used for a park. Well, after some digging around I found out that there is no stipulation written into the city ordinance that accepted the donation that the land would be reserved to used for a park.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The idea of a brewery has some appeal because it could be a catalyst or spark in further revitalizing the neighborhood and bring much needed economic development to our corner of the world but there are some concerns from neighbors regarding traffic, noise and crowds in the area. On the other hand, a park would be nice, after all you can never have enough green spaces in the city but most likely would not generate any real economic development. What's a little mystifying is that the folks that are pushing for the park have yet to reach out to the residents and the neighborhood association...not good form! So the question is: does the community support an enterprise that could possibly spark a substantial wave of revitalization or do we go for a park that is dedicated to skateboarders?......Hmmmm.
4 comments:
I for one, would love the brewery. The first round is on me Juan.
-tony c
Brewery. We have parks - great ones that are under utilized. We need economic development and that will not happen with another park. What will the skateboard park under the bridge be used for at night??? Where are the skateboarders going to come from? In the 3 years since I purchased my home, I have seen 4 skateboarders.
I am in favor of the bridge remaining a public space, but the land next to it could definitely help our development. We can't continue to talk about our desire for Economic Redevelopment and then not support it when it is presented! I will buy the second round...robyn
Hey Robyn
I agree w you....I'll be looking for that second round!
J
its depressing that people care about drinking more than honoring an agreement to the dawsons. i live in the area as well and i see plenty of skateboarders. It would be more positive than given people another place to drink, especially with police officers getting killed by drunk drivers.
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