Summer 2011 grassroots campaign
Pegasus News, based on a Dallas Morning News article, shared word December 29th that TJ's has selected two new locations – one in Dallas and one in Plano – to makes its North Texas debut.
Despite last summer's grassroots effort to persuade the grocer to land in Lake Highlands, a campaign that garnered 5,500 petition signatures and a pretty cool video solicitation, the push for consideration of the Lake Highlands Town Center was unsuccessful.
Lower Greenville won this time.
President of the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association, Scott Wynne, says all it is not lost, however.
"We went into this knowing this was a possible outcome, with no guarantees Trader Joe's would come to Lake Highlands as part of their first wave of store openings in North Texas."
"At the end of the day we think we put forth a strong effort that showed how great the LH community is," said Wynne.
"We know we got Trader Joe's attention and remain on their radar, and we're hopeful they will eventually see the benefit of coming to the Lake Highlands Town Center."
Speaking of the Town Center, what's next?
According to Charles Brideau, Assistant Director of the Community Services Department for the city, it's a neighborhood public hearing scheduled for next week.
Just before Christmas, the city posted notice of the January 12th meeting aimed at soliciting citizen input on the proposed application for the community development block grant that will help fund parking infrastructure at the town center site.
The loan amount in question is $13,350,000 and according to Brideau, it breaks down into job creation.
"The objective of the Section 108 loan is very specific," he said.
"In this case it's 100% commercial, and the national objective is to create jobs."
"The block grant loan will need to create one job for every $35,000 in loan funds."
"We are estimating a total of 382 jobs will be created from the 165,000 square feet of commercial retail eventually expected from phase one build out of the Lake Highlands Town Center."
As to fears that the money could somehow translate into apartment funding?
Brideau said it can't happen with this loan.
"These funds will be tailored to and used for commercial construction."
"We are loaning the funds to a for-profit developer for commercial construction purposes."
"We would not be able to provide these funds for any part of a deal where a for-profit entity would be using Section 8 funds for vertical residential construction.
"It's just not an eligible use with this particular loan."
For Prescott, last week's announcement by Trader Joe's doesn't change much for the developer.
Stephanie Colovas, Prescott's Senior Managing Director, offered official comment this morning.
"Grocery anchor tenant discussions are ongoing."
The Council 10 District Neighborhood Public Hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 12th at 6:00 p.m. at the Audelia Road Library.
Lead photo courtesy of Rebecca King.
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