Potential buyer interested in vacant lots west of Walgreens

An unnamed developer is interested in buying land directly west of Walgreens in Austin.

According to minutes from the August planning committee meeting, the potential buyer is interested in developing two parcels; the empty lot and former home of ComForcare Senior Services at 205 14th St. NW, and the Mayo Clinic Health System West building lot at 101 14th St. NW.

City of Austin Community Development Director Craig Hoium declined to say who was interested in the property, but did say the developer hasn’t submitted anything formal.

The developer did contact the medical center — which owns one of the lots — and the medical center is interested in selling, according to a representative from Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.

ComForcare owns the other property, and a spokesperson had no additional information.

The city, on behalf of a potential developer, is in the process of rezoning both properties from low-density residential to arterial commercial. The planning committee unanimously passed a motion at its August meeting to amend its comprehensive plan so it could rezone the properties. The next step, according to Hoium, would be to rezone the properties once someone bought the property or filed a petition to rezone it.

The next planning committee meeting is Oct. 9, however, rezoning those properties is not on the agenda, according to Hoium.