A new parking garage, artwork and public gathering spaces could reshape the Northgate district, according to a long-range vision presented to College Station City Council June 25. While council members were largely in support of these concepts, much of the discussion centered on public safety, rideshare traffic and preserving the Northgate identity.
What you need to know
City Chief Development Officer Michael Ostrowski and Director of Planning and Development Anthony Armstrong led the presentation with proposed improvements, including in part:
Sanitation improvements, resurfacing and a new marketing strategyThe preservation of the “Core Northgate” overlay stretches from First to Lodge streets and University Drive to Church Avenue.
The city is also looking to increase parking revenue in the Northgate district with the addition of a surface parking lot. The lot, which would be a little larger than 1.5 acres, would fit more than 100 parking spaces and generate an estimated $500,000 per year.
The conditions
Among the biggest concerns before the additions and improvements take place is the public safety of students and residents. Council members and residents spoke publicly about their concerns, including representatives from Northgate bars.
“We really appreciate that you all are (the council) taking the time to listen and develop a strong plan to move forward,” said Justin Manning, a co-owner of Rough Draught Whiskey Bar. “I think there’s always going to be some bad actors. I think living in fear and trying to overregulate something like this is overaggressive.”
The increased number of students admitted to Texas A&M University and the growing population have led to higher engagement in the Northgate area, but the ever-increasing use of ridesharing could create economic and safety challenges for businesses, according to Costa Dallis, owner of the local Burger Mojo restaurant.
“With that parking lot, I can’t think of an alternative area for rideshare that approximate to Northgate,” said Dallis. “Before we even talk about what we’re going to do with the parking lot and redevelopment, what are we going to do with the rideshare? That’s a safety issue.”
The culture of Northgate and weekday traffic safety is also a concern, something Senior Pastor of A&M United Methodist Church, Lance Richards, brought forth to the council.
“We want to be a core part of what’s developing there in Northgate and to be a good partner,” he said. “We have a weekday school, and as traffic increases, there are concerns about the safety of getting people across that street. As the neighborhood continues to develop and expand, we’re looking at this holistically.”
Quotes of note
Council member Melissa McIlhaney expressed sympathy toward the concerns of residents, reiterating that safety is the council’s focus.
“Our first responsibility is to ensure our citizens’ safety, and it’s also our police force and the tourists we’re hoping to attract into the Northgate district,” she said. “The idea that things are going to stay the same is ludicrous, as much as we may want them to.”
Council member Bob Yancy agreed with McIlhaney, along with his request to preserve the area.
“I think we need to protect Northgate, secure Northgate, improve Northgate, maintain Northgate,” he said.
What’s next
Mayor John Nichols was positive about the pedestrian zones keeping residents safe and expressed optimism despite the large amount of money needed to make this possible.
“I think we’re going to need all hands on deck to pull enough money to get this going the right way,” he said.
The council did not take any action. Revisions and more presentations of the plans will be at the city council meetings in the near future.
