Metro eyes 9 acres for intermodal station

Metro is ready to take another step toward its proposed intermodal transit station on the north end of downtown: The Chronicle reports today that the agency is working on a deal with Union Pacific to buy nine acres of the Hardy Rail Yard. The Metro board voted yesterday to negotiate the purchase for the combined light rail/bus/commuter rail station that was proposed earlier this year.

The land Metro has its eye on is adjacent to a 45-acre plot owned by Cypress Real Estate Advisors of Austin, which is planning residential and commercial development there. If everything develops as planned, this could turn into one of those high-density, transit-friendly areas other cities have, but Houston hasn't yet figured out. Any bets on whether that will happen?

Metro's "Grand Central" is still very preliminary, but we did notice the nine-acre tract is considerably smaller than the 15 acres proposed when Metro asked for a site plan earlier this year. At this rate, the finished station may be a lean-to the size of our apartment. (Seriously, if you're interested in learning more, a public meeting on the project is set for 5:30 p.m. June 8 at Ketelsen Elementary, 600 Quitman.)