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Memo from the MANAGER
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Boom
Here's how the American Heritage Dictionary defines the word "boom."
"To grow, develop, or progress rapidly."
In a 2008 editorial, the Dallas Morning News cited the city of Farmers Branch as getting it right when it comes to rethinking 21st century housing for inner-ring suburbs by turning to vertical, multi-family expansion. Two years later, Farmers Branch was the fastest growing city in Dallas County, adding more to population, by percentage, than anyone else.
Today, that promise of 21st century housing options is taking root with no less than six projects either on the ground or soon to be, accounting for 2,339 new housing units and an investment in Farmers Branch to the tune of $289 million.
Boom, indeed.
Like some of our neighbors, we too have a multi-family, mixed-use, "transit oriented" development underway adjacent to our DART station on the Green Line. The Mustang Station project will bring 257 housing units on upper floors and 10,000 square feet of future retail space on the ground floor to our rail station by next year. The developer, Western Securities, is investing $20 million in the future of the station area by creating a unique space that will be designed to stand the test of time.
But, Farmers Branch isn't stopping there.
On the City's east side, Galleria Apartments are already under construction, adding 327 units and $21.7 million to the area that already features Broadstone Parkway. A bit further north, along the Dallas North Tollway, Provident Parkway with feature 600 units in a multiple-story complex, just south of the Centura Tower. That project is estimated at $70 million.
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Western Securities has begun construction on Mustang Station, adjacent to the DART Green Line.
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The west side of Stemmons Freeway continues to attract major developer interest with zoning approved for Provident Luna and Lincoln Royal. Located at the northeast corner of Knightsbridge and Luna Road, Provident Luna represents a $70 million investment in two phases that will total 513 units. Lincoln Royal will be at the far southwestern corner of the City, at Luna and Royal, and will include 582 units in two phases for an investment of $90 million.
And, in the heart of our city, K Hovnanian Homes has 60 single family homes either built or under construction in the area of Cambridge Crossing, at Midway and Alpha Roads.
When the growth trend of the past dozen years has been decidedly north, we are seeing a swing in momentum, a sea change in forthcoming population patterns. Developers plan for housing when they see growth potential and they are coming to Farmers Branch in droves. These developments alone have the potential to increase the population of Farmers Branch by 15 to 18 percent in just a few years. Think what can happen after that.
Boom.
Click Gary's picture for background and contact info
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Featured STORIES
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 FARMERS BRANCH ~ With an update to the Comprehensive Plan for the central area of the City in the works, public hearings have been scheduled before the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 13 and before the City Council on August 21. Farmers Branch Planning Director Andy Gillies explained the overall Comprehensive Plan is the long term development blueprint for how the city should grow in the future. "Typically, a Comprehensive Plan looks forward 20 years," he said. "Our Central Plan looks towards 2030." He added that citizens are invited to either or both public hearings to express their opinions on land development, traffic, housing and public facilities. An explanatory video will be made available after August 1. All meetings and agendas are subject to change. For more information, call 972.919.2546.
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Blog open for discussion of Community Reads
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As the "Farmers Branch Reads" community reading project continues through the summer, a blog has been set up for discussion of the elements of the timeless novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The Harper Lee classic, along with A Wrinkle in Time for young readers and The Snowy Day for kids, are being read as part of the Manske Library's 50th anniversary celebration. Each book was featured on the bestseller list in 1962, the year the library opened. The blog for To Kill a Mockingbird is available at fbtokillamockingbird.blogspot.com or through the Library page on the City's website at www.farmersbranch.info/library. Anyone completing one of the "Farmers Branch Reads" selections should turn in a pledge card to be eligible for prizes in September, during the culmination of the 50th anniversary celebration. Pledge cards can be picked up, and dropped off, at most City facilities. For more information, call 972.247.2511.
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Citizen Police Academy looking for a few good folks
JUSTICE CENTER ~ Designed to give citizens insight into the policies, positions and personnel of local law  enforcement, the next session of the Farmers Branch Citizen Police Academy is now accepting applications for classes, set to begin in early September. Established in 1998, the Academy has given hundreds of participants a combination of classroom instruction and "hands on" experience to demonstrate the hows and whys of law enforcement. The Academy meets for three hours on Thursday nights during the session, for 11 weeks. For more information, call 972.484.3620.
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School supply drive the focus of Library amnesty program, kicking off August 6
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ School supplies can be your ticket to good standing with the Manske Library during the Library Amnesty Program, set for August 6-20. For this two week period, fines for overdue Library items can be wiped out in exchange for a donation of new, unused school supplies to benefit Metrocrest Social Services and the local families that they serve.
A list of needed supplies can be found on the City 's website at www.farmersbranch.info. Only overdue and late fines will be cleared and not charges associated with lost, billed, damaged or otherwise missing items. Fines paid in the past are not subject to refund under the Library Amnesty Program. However, one need not have a Library fine to donate school supplies as there will be collection boxes available at all City facilities for the same period of August 6-20. Anyone wishing to take advantage of the amnesty offer must donate at the Library.
For more information, call 972.247.2511 or come by the Manske Library at 13613 Webb Chapel, at the corner of Webb Chapel and Golfing Green.
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A Wendy Day
Farmers Branch Staff Photo by Tom Bryson
Farmers Branch Business Development Specialist Allison Cook (center) pauses for a moment with Wendy Thomas (right) and her doppleganger (left) at the Wendy's restaurant in Farmers Branch this week. Ms. Thomas, the namesake of the chain, was in town to open one of only a handful of new-design Wendy's restaurants in the country. |
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Summer work continues on LBJ project
This week's report on the LBJ expansion project is provided by LBJ Express, the construction group responsible for the project and is updated as of Wednesday, July 25, 2012. I-35E: The southbound to eastbound direct connector is being partially demolished this week. Expect frequent nighttime closures of this ramp through July 28. Denton Drive: Denton is open between the LBJ frontage roads. The work area has moved south into Dallas. On August 15 Denton is scheduled to be closed between LBJ and Villa Creek for several weeks. Traffic will be detoured via Harry Hines & Ford. Josey Lane: The drainage project on Josey from Maybrook to LBJ has been restarted with one lane closed in each direction. The Josey drainage work should be completed by August 3. Treeview Road: Treeview remains closed for pavement and drainage construction until mid-August. Webb Chapel Road: No work scheduled. Joe Ratcliff Pedestrian Bridge: The bridge is expected to reopen prior to August 23. Marsh Lane: Pavement demolition of the southbound lanes was completed last week. Expect pavement and bridge work to continue on the west side of Marsh Lane south of Ridgeoak until November. Rosser Road: Rosser remains closed for Atmos relocation. The reopeneing of Rosser has been delayed from August 7 to August 23. Valley View Lane: No work scheduled. Midway Road: Both U-turn lanes are closed. Dallas Water Utilities relocations began this week on the south side of the Midway/LBJ intersection with one lane closed in each direction. The scheduled completion of utility work has been extended from mid-August to early September. Welch Road: The Welch Road bridge is partially reopened. The entire bridge, including the U-turn lanes, is expected to be reopened by the end of August. Other Locations: Various main lanes of LBJ will be closed frequently during night-time hours. There will also be intermittent nigh-time closures of various LBJ entrance and exit ramps. For updates and more information, visit www.lbjexpress.com.
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Now through July 26
Summer Reading Club @ Manske Library August 7 City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 6 p.m.
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Future Shock
One artist's vision shows what the entrance to neighborhoods could look like under the revised Central Area Plan being reviewed by City officials in August.
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CITY
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
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Branch Bulletin
is the recipient of the
2011 and 2012  TAMI Award for
Best E-Newsletter
in Texas, bestowed by the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
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About the City of Farmers Branch
Located on the northwest border of the City of Dallas, Farmers Branch is a vibrant and vital community with a residential population of 28,800 but a daytime population of 66,000. The City's 28 parks and lush greenbelts feature nationally-acclaimed, award-winning soccer fields, football facilities as well as baseball and softball complexes. The Farmers Branch Historical Park allows residents to step back in time and the John F. Burke Nature Preserve offers the opportunity to experience a real, 104-acre wilderness in the middle of one of the busiest metro areas of the world. The City's location in the geographical center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, only 15 minutes away from both DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field, make Farmers Branch an ideal location for residents and for business. For more information about Farmers Branch, visit www.farmersbranch.info or call 972.919.2515.
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