The 1959 strip center that once hid the top-secret bar known as Carolyn’s — as well as the Fruit of the Spirit Community Church — is all gone now. Demolition crews tore down the 18,600-sq.-ft. center at 4122 Willowbend Blvd. 3 blocks west of S. Main St. last week and the week before (see in-action shots below, sent to Swamplot by an area resident). And in late May, the planning commission approved a couple of variances to allow the all-in-a-line seeding of 29 3-story townhomes on the lot, in 2 rows facing Willowbend, like so:
***
A smaller development of 12 townhomes is slated for the property facing Willowbend on the opposite side of Craighead Dr. An entity connected to InTown Homes, owned by Lovett Homes developer Frank Liu, bought both properties from Melcher Investments last September.
- Previously on Swamplot: Extremely Well Hidden Bar Off Willowbend Blvd. Now Impossible To Find
Photos: Swamplot inbox
I was hoping for some new commercial in this location but I don’t think the area is there yet in terms of density or demographic. With lots reaching capacity in Southwest locations inside the loop I think this area is likely to see additional development of this type – large tracts of undeveloped land, access to the Med Center via S Main, downtown via Loop & 288. Good to see something done finally with a location that did look like something out of the Twilight Zone….
Watch out for the feral hogs.
You mean west of S. Main.
@MH: Yep! Thanks for the correction. It’s fixed now.