what happened to downtown Lubbock?

[case44]

Originally Posted by rr2005

This is cool. Wonder who the baseball field is for?

Possibly a potential minor league team. They used to have one many years ago, but the powers that be can surely try to get one again.

[doctorjef]

I don't think the 1970 tornado was as much to blame as the development of new shopping in the suburbs. After the tornado Hemphill-Wells and Dunlaps both continued to have department stores downtown, and there was also a large Sears downtown. The old downtown Hemphill-Wells was really nice -- a very classic 1950s era American department store and quite elegant. Once you lose everything but law offices and some banks, there's little reason for people to go downtown. There also used to be a good private club atop one of the buildings that survived the tornado (hence not the Great Plains Life bldg). Anyway, downtown Lubbock did have something still to offer until the later 1970s -- a long time ago now.

[shoe01]

Here's a long-awaited update:

McDougal says downtown has momentum with utilities progress, development movement | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Looks like the big development news is the shopping area & small hotel on Broadway across from Pioneer Condos. Aside from that and the Glenna Goodacre Blvd. extension, I think the other projects have been largely covered in previous articles, if I'm not mistaken. The performing arts center & college baseball HOF should make that area look better (was just there Saturday).

[lovelubbock]

Well I have to say the downtown areas in most cities across the country are starting to take on new dynamic shapes which include work live environments. Many downtown areas are starting to incorporate mix-use conditions to gain momentum in the case of downtown Los Angeles which went from nearly a ghost town at night in early 1998 to a major entertainment point with tons of lavish restaurants, new shopping centers, night clubs and movie theaters. LA Live has become the point of energy, for Los Angeles. I am sure this platform or a smaller similar one could be possible in downtown Lubbock.

[lovelubbock]

sounds great

[case44]

It's an old article, but it's a building that is completed at this time. Worth seeing, too. Bart Reagor did really well here.

Reagor Dykes Auto Group downtown headquarters construction complete | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal