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Lubbock City Council gave the green light Tuesday to "The Hub," a new mixed-use development slated for the long-vacant Kmart site at 19th Street and University Avenue. The 6-1 vote paves the way for a project combining retail, restaurants, and hundreds of apartments, designed to draw Texas Tech students and faculty.
The 6-1 vote paves the way for a project combining retail, restaurants, and hundreds of apartments, designed to draw Texas Tech students and faculty. This decision followed months of public hearings, with proponents highlighting economic growth and new housing near campus. Many Tech Terrace residents, however, voiced concerns about potential traffic congestion, parking overflow, and increased noise within their established neighborhood boundaries.
For residents, particularly those directly south of 19th Street, this means significant changes to a familiar intersection that has been quiet for years. Businesses around the Depot District might see new competition or an influx of customers heading west, while the development offers more living choices for those wanting to walk or bike to classes. The vote delivers a clear win for developers and those seeking walkable urban spaces, but it leaves some neighbors wondering about the future character of their streets and property values.
The Kmart building has sat empty for over two decades, making this project the biggest transformation of that corner since the store first opened its doors in the 1970s.
Common questions
What is being built at the old Kmart site in Lubbock?
- The Lubbock City Council approved a new mixed-use development called The Hub at the long-vacant Kmart site located at 19th Street and University Avenue. The project will combine retail spaces, restaurants, and hundreds of apartments designed specifically to draw Texas Tech students and faculty members to the area.
How did the Lubbock City Council vote on The Hub project?
- The Lubbock City Council approved the mixed-use development with a 6-1 vote following months of public hearings. Proponents highlighted economic growth and much-needed housing near campus, while Tech Terrace residents raised concerns about potential traffic congestion, parking overflow, and increased noise in their neighborhood.
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