In early January work began on a seven-story mixed-use building on the 200 block of Edward Gary Street in Downtown San Marcos. The development, called The Local, will include retail on a two-story first floor and five floors of residential above that. In addition to 304 bedrooms—including a mix of studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom units—The Local will feature 6,000 square feet of retail, internal bike storage, an elevated pool deck as well as a clubhouse, fitness center, saunas and study lounge. Project Developer John David Carson said in an email he hopes to have the project open by mid-2017. Carson said he hopes “projects like The Local will bring density to appropriate areas to mitigate sprawl, support investment in transit and reduce traffic and parking pressures by allowing people to live very near school, employment, services and recreation.” The Local continues a trend of growing residential density in and around Downtown San Marcos. Since 2012, the city has added 267 residential units downtown, an increase of almost 60 percent, according to city statistics. Another developer is planning a 95-unit project, known as The Pointe, at 417 and 425 Comanche St. A developer is also planning to build residential units at the former site of Tuttle Lumber at 228 S. Guadalupe St. Mark Shields, who in 2013 purchased a collection of buildings on the Square that were vacated when Hays County moved most of its offices to the Government Center off Stagecoach Trail, plans to add two floors of residential units to the former Hays County Annex Building at 102 N. LBJ Drive. Shields said he plans to begin meeting with the city to discuss his plans soon. His initial plan calls for a restaurant on the first floor and six 500-square-foot micro-units on the second and third floors, for a total of 12 units. Unlike many of the options near downtown, Shields’ units will not be leased on a rent-by-the-bedroom basis, a leasing practice typically indicating a development is geared to students. “I’m not saying I wouldn’t rent to a student, but it is supposed to be young professionals or whoever [would like to lease a room],” he said. “It won’t be rent-by-the-bedroom, and it won’t be five roommates in one [unit].” Shields said the city’s investment downtown, in the form of improved utilities, streets and sidewalks, helped drive his investment in the area. “Those [improvements] all happen kind of slowly, but when you look at them together it adds up to a lot,” Shields said. “The city has been very supportive. They’ve been great to work with.”