New Braunfels community members shared their ideas for the redevelopment of the Dittlinger Mill during Oxbow Development Group’s first public meeting for the project on Aug. 25.
Oxbow Development Group is a San Antonio-based real estate development company that worked to develop The Pearl, Hotel Emma and Pullman Market.
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During the meeting, Omar Gonzalez, director of development for Oxbow Development Group, said they will work to preserve the mill building, tanks, silos, rock warehouse and brewery remnants. Gonzalez said they also want to make private land feel public.
Gonzalez quoted Jonathan Packer, president and CEO of the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, who says, “You have to give New Braunfelers a reason to go to the river without wearing a bathing suit.”
“Right now it’s dominated by the tubers, but it doesn’t have to be,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said they’ve already heard concerns regarding traffic. He said the city is working on a light intersection at Market Avenue and East San Antonio Street that will give motorists a protected left-hand turn in both directions. The floodplain will also impact developers’ ability to build close to the Comal River.
“The whole building is built in the floodplain, and so we want to make sure that we do it the right way,” he added.
Oxbow developers will also be having additional conversations about public-private partnership opportunities for:
- Parking
- Infrastructure and utilities (including drainage, streets and sidewalks)
- Park investment and programming
- River improvements and floodplain protection
- Economic and community development
“The private sector does certain things really well, and the public sector does things really well. How do we each kind of leverage our talents, our use of funds and our abilities to help this become the best project possible?” Gonzalez said.
Public input
Some community members voiced concerns with traffic and safety. Others opposed the project outright, saying they wanted the city to stay as it is.
Comal Iron & Metals CEO Marcie Rodriguez said they wanted to see elements of New Braunfels’ Hispanic history incorporated into the project.
Michele Boggs, senior vice president of economic development for the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, said the old railroad could be a walking trail that intertwines with Landa Park.
New Braunfels resident Julie King said she was concerned about the project's impact on the historic neighborhood to the west. She said the focus group she represented at the workshop wondered what impact “shiney-new-penny restaurants and bars” would have on existing downtown businesses.
King also wondered if the developers would be looking for taxpayer support.
New Braunfels resident Kristen Carden said developers should look to conduct traffic studies in and around the area, especially between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
“First responder access is something we talked about, especially if we’re looking at higher stories. Then we’re probably gonna need to look at possibly updating our ladder trucks,” Carden said.
Looking ahead
A second public meeting will be held mid-October, although an exact time and location have not been determined as of press time.
