Controversial Development Proposal Back on the Table
By: Jordan Vandenberge
Updated: March 19, 2013
Back and forth, Harold Orman watches the time swing by from the backyard of his West Side home.
"I built my house out here in 1966," Orman said while on his backyard swing set.
Much has changed since then.
"But not around here," Orman said.
If Orman swings back far enough, he'll be on the property owned by Gene Pfeiffer. Pfieiffer's 195-acre property has again been targeted for development. The mixed-use development along University Parkway just north of USI is back up for discussion after it failed in 2009. The potential development once dubbed Majestic Place, drew public ire from many on the West Side before it was put on hold.
Now it's back and so are the concerns.
"When you pour all this concrete and asphalt for these parking lots, where's the water going to go," said Sue Poiles. "Wolf creek is already handling all the water it can handle. If I get ready to sell my house in a couple years, it's going to be a hard sell if I have a parking lot in my backyard."
In Orman's backyard there are wide open spaces and possibly enough room for common ground. People from both sides of the fence on this issue plan on meeting later this week.
Until then, Orman's content with whichever way the argument swings.
"The only thing I would say it's going to be different," Orman said. "But that might not be bad either."
There will be a meeting at 7 o'clock Thursday night at the music room at Corpus Christi School. We'll keep you updated.


