Long-time Lubbock Developer Delbert McDougal agrees with the saying "Rome was not built in a day". He said time is a key component of redevelopment.
"They just don't happen any quicker than that," he said. However, you will see lots of progress starting now."
McDougal is optimistic about Lubbock's downtown revitalization effort. It's a monster project he heads up.
However, it's a different story with the City of Irving. McDougal and that city are working to resolve and dissolve their business relationship. Neither side would say why.
"We are in conversation with them, and still under contract. I would rather not," he said.
A statement from the City of Irving said it's now opening the project to other developers. McDougal said he'll have more time to work on Lubbock's project.
Mayor Tom Martin said McDougal's effort here is quite different from the Irving project.
"I don't think the situation in Irving has anything to do with Lubbock's revitalization efforts," he said. "We have hired a master developer to do the master planning, the design standards, and now he is in the process of recruiting private business to come in and invest," Martin said. "Unlike Irving where they were spending city money to buy property and re-invest."
McDougal said there will be more movement downtown.
"We already have the infrastructure already in place," he said. "We just need to bring more people, new businesses into the downtown area."
The first phase of construction is underway, moving utilities lines up top to under the ground.
"The underground utilities, but that is a major factor in really getting the downtown project kicked off," McDougal said.
He said the completion of downtown Lubbock will take 15-years. He said the second major change will be an announcement at the downtown historic Pioneer building in March.
