Arlington Farmer's Market blossoms with steady growth
Call it a throwback to agrarian economics if you like, but the Downtown Arlington Farmer's Market - now in it's second season - continues to show steady growth. Originally commissioned as a Friday-morning-only, something-fun-to-do farmer's market at 215 E. Front St., the market has now grown to Friday and Saturday mornings. Read more.
Fort Worth Business Press - Monday, May 17, 2010
Support sought for improvement districtProperty owners are gathering support for a petition to create a business improvement district aimed at continuing revitalization efforts in downtown Arlington. About 25 property owners showed up Tuesday at the first of two public hearings outlining the proposed district and how much more those within its boundaries would pay on their property tax bills. The Downtown Arlington Management Corp.'s board of directors, made up of downtown leaders and property owners, is working to collect enough signatures from affected property owners by June to present to the City Council, whose approval would be required to create the district. Read more.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Time for Arlington businesses to pitch in
The Downtown Arlington Management Corp. board is proposing a business improvement district to provide financial backing for further revitalization efforts. Under the plan, property owners within the district would pay an extra property tax for up to five years, with the money to be used for further improvements and to help pay for recruiting more businesses to the area. The proposal targets about 500 properties within the boundaries of the proposed district, between Cooper and Collins streets and North and Second streets. It is similar to the downtown Fort Worth improvement district, which has been in operation since 1986. Read more.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Monday, Mar. 29, 2009
Park to bring a needed dose of green to downtown Arlington
As city officials continue to try to transform downtown Arlington, more green space has become a top priority. The creation of Center Street Park, which will be at Second and Pecan streets, is designed to address that concern. The 2.5-acre park, which will be next to the University of Texas at Arlington's $78 million Special Events Center, is intended to be a magnet for students and downtown pedestrians alike. Read more.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010
Arlington's downtown could face property tax increase
The Downtown Arlington Management Corp. board, made up of property owners and leaders, is gauging support for a possible business improvement district, which would create a tax assessment on certain owners for up to five years. Board members say the tax assessment or some other funding mechanism is necessary to continue the nonprofit group's work because its $240,000-a-year economic development contract with the city and the University of Texas at Arlington ends in 2012. Read more.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010
Ken Devero to Lead Downtown Arlington in Interim Role
The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation has hired Ken Devero as its interim president and chief executive. Devero is replacing Maggie Campbell, who left to lead St. Louis' downtown efforts. Devero headed Downtown Fort Worth Inc. for 21 years and has overseen a multimillion-dollar tax increment finance district and public improvement district, bringing together downtown private-sector interests. The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation is lead by a 23-member board of downtown business owners and stakeholders who chose Devero to serve as interim leader while they hammer out long-term goals and search for a permanent replacement.
Second Arlington Fuzzy’s location for the residents
Late last year when Eddie White and Clint Bixler were contemplating installing a new Fuzzy’s Taco Shop restaurant in downtown Arlington on East Abram Street, they figured they’ve have to hit on at least two of three “economic pillars” to make a go of it. “We calculated that to be a success we’d need to attract business from UT-Arlington students, from the Downtown business community and then from residential traffic,” White said. The new Abram Street Fuzzy’s, which opened in January, began attracting increasing numbers of customers who neither worked Downtown nor attended college.
“We were pulling in residential traffic from all over town,” White said. “In fact, by now that component of our business is bigger than either the Downtown or academic sides.”
Fort Worth Business Press - Monday, Nov. 02, 2009
Project moving forward to bring Babe's Chicken Dinner House to downtown Arlington
The long-delayed project to bring Babe’s Chicken Dinner House to downtown Arlington and expand the Arlington Music Hall is back on track.The economic slowdown had left the project in limbo, but Hurst developer Burk Collins said last week that he is moving forward after securing financing.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009
Arlington’s transformation is more than a stadium
Arlington is lucky. The city is being transformed for the better, and I’m not talking about becoming the home of a $1.15 billion venue that in 2011 will host the Super Bowl. Cowboys Stadium isn’t transforming Arlington. It’s great to have, but in the end it is superficial. The University of Texas at Arlington is transforming the city, not just what it looks like but what it feels like to be there. The pace of change is accelerating, deliberately and methodically. Meet College Town, UTA. That’s what UTA President Jim Spaniolo and city leaders call their vision for development in the area that includes Arlington’s downtown and the UTA campus. ...read more.
Star-Telegram, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009