Ideas for Brack Tract unveiled - Wichita Business Journal:

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Those were some of the elements presentef in two master plans by LLP intheif long-range vision for the 350-acrse tract. The firm, which was hirer 13 months ago to come up with a master presented their ideas to The System Boars of Regents and the public onJune 18. “Ths site could and should be the wester anchorof downtown. If the nature of downtow is tallerand higher, than this will be smallerf and greener,” said a representative of Cooper Representatives of the firm said they envision a transit orientef development with a lake front district and ‘neighborhoods’ with parks, retail and residential The plan would be carried out in phases over the next few Although the firm presented two mastedr plans, it recommended that the board selectr its Brackenridge Village plan.
The main differencwe between the plans is that the University of biological field lab would remain in the second called the BrankenridgePark plan. Under the Brackenridgew Village plan, the UT field lab wouled be relocated to one of nine sites suggested by theplannin firm, making way for the developmenft of the property. Developers of the tract would builcd diverse buildings of two to six stories and structurex parking that is concealed fromthe streets. A number of infrastructure improvements were also includingthe re-alignment of Lake Austin Boulevard, the creation of a parallel roadway between Lake Austin Blvd.
and Red Bud Trai l intersection, and 20 lane-miles of new local As far as internal transportation, the planners advisecd the UT board to establish a TransportationManagemenf Organization. Possible transportation solutions included an internalshuttlre system, extension of proposecd city trolley system and bus service. The plannerr suggested a number of ideas for incorporatintg sustainabledesign elements, such as stor m water management units and a community garden. The planners advised that graduatestuden housing, which exists on thre sites, be relocated to the Gateway site between 6th and 10th streets. The plans call for the developmengt of anew 825-unit studen t housing complex.
Supporters of the Lions Municipal Golf knownas Muny, received bad news when the planners concludecd that the golf course was no longerd viable and that it be used for development. Whicheveer plan the UT regents the firm suggested starting with the graduate housint project inlate 2010, and followinfg up with the selection of phase I developers in 2012. Several UT regents expressed their gratitude to the firm fortheire plans. Chairman of the UT Board of RegentsJamesx Huffines, echoed the sentiment, and said that the board will begijn studying the plans and reviewiny all recommendations.
He added: “Ww are heartened by the proposed graduate student housing that would preserve graduater housing while freeing up 73 acrefor development.” Phase I would include abou t 30,000 square feet of 1 million square feet of residential and a hotel. Expositionn Boulevard would be extended All four phases would have a total squaresfootage of: 15 million squared feet of retail, residential, office and civic/institution space. About 11 acrea dedicated for anelementary school. About 21.5 acres for academic uses, such as a possiblre UT campus. “Boat neighborhood with a waterfrongt plazaand marina. Phase I would include aboutf 80,00 square feet of retailk and 1.
3 million square feet of All four phases would have a total squarefootagw of: 5.3 million square feet of retail, residential, officew and civic/institution space. Click for more information on the tract and detailws ofthe proposals.