The backstory
Operating in New Braunfels since 1886, the ADM Milling Co., located at 398 E. San Antonio St., New Braunfels, and formerly known as the Dittlinger Mill, closed in March 2023. Parent company Archer Daniels Midland said that in recent years, ADM has shuttered mills in other states, including Illinois, Kansas and Minnesota, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
What we know
On Nov. 6, the firm Killen, Griffin & Farrimond PLLC presented plans to the city’s Planning Commission that include applying for a special-use permit to transform several parcels of the more than 9-acre riverfront area from zoning for general business, commercial-resort and light industrial districts into a high-intensity mixed-use district. That would allow for a hotel, parking garage and other uses in the area.
A number of design alternatives are part of the proposal.
Ashley Farrimond, a partner with Kilen, Griffin & Farrimond PLLC, said on Nov. 6 the firm represents potential developers who were not mentioned. The buildings and land are still currently owned by ADM Milling Co.
“The proposal is to do a mixed-use community. That's desirable for people to visit, to live, to walk, to shop and for easier access downtown, as well as the tube chute along the river,” Farrimond said. “Something else that we think is important is the preservation of the history of the mill. And so the idea with the design will be to preserve those existing features that will only make the architecture in the design of this better and more interesting.”
Some of the currently standing grain silos would be incorporated into the design, Farrimond said.
Farrimond also stated that part of the proposal includes a “land swap” or exchange of some of the riverfront property adjacent to the mill property that is currently blocked off back to the city for public access in exchange for closing a portion of Bridge Street.
What they’re saying
Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce CEO Jonathan Packer said he believes the project is an important one.
“I think we can all agree that maybe hauling grain isn't the ideal use in 2024, but I hope we can all agree that whatever they do needs to take that history and heritage, and be good stewards of it,” Packer said. “The public space is dramatically important. Think about just the value of having both sides of the river open to the public. ... This is the right land use decision. This solves many issues we have in our downtown business economy, paves the way—pardon the pun—for a parking garage."
Local resident George Rodriguez said he was excited for the hotel but was concerned about the floodplain. He said that during the flood of 1998, water came up to the railroad tracks within the properties that were used for hauling grain.
“I grew up there. And when the flood came, all that was underwater, and I was wondering if that's going to make a difference when you start building on that property,” Rodriguez said.
