Announcements
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$500-$2,000 Façade Upgrade Grants
Sunday, December 30, 2007 |
FWADG Editor
Do you own a business along the West Commerce/Fort Worth Avenue corridor? Are you a member of the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group with a Donor Level or higher membership (at least $100 a year)?
If so, you can apply for a grant of between $500 and $2,000 for the enhancement of your business’s façade, landscaping or structure. Apply online at http://www.fortworthavenue.org/grants.aspx.
Wine Tasting & Silent Auction
Sunday, July 06, 2008 |
FWADG Editor
Plans are underway for the FWADG Wine Tasting & Silent Auction to benefit the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group. The event will be held at Ft. Worth Avenue’s latest development, Jack’s Backyard. Stay tuned for date and time details. It is guaranteed to be festive!
Façade Improvement Grant
Sunday, July 06, 2008 |
FWADG Editor
Buena Vista Restaurant & Club was awarded a $2000 grant by FWADG on June 26. Humberto Elguea, owner-operator, accepted the grant on behalf of the restaurant. Stop by and see the improved patio area which will enhance outdoor dining. Buena Vista is an ardent supporter of FWADG. We’re sure you’ve tasted the delicious food at some of our events. Show your support and visit the restaurant at 1804 Fort Worth Ave.
August 6 Board Meeting
Sunday, July 06, 2008 |
FWADG Editor
The next FWADG Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 6 at 6 PM. Board meetings are open to members and you are welcome to attend. Please send your RSVP to Scott Griggs at scott@griggslaw.com.
Summit Synopsis
Sunday, July 06, 2008 |
FWADG Editor
The Fort Worth Avenue Development Group’s 2008 Summit: Public Space & Transit was held at Methodist Healthcare System’s Hitt Auditorium on Saturday, June 14 from 9AM until 12:30PM. The Summit focused on changing the character of urban thoroughfares and corridors, such as Fort Worth Avenue, Sylvan, and Beckley, to meet the needs of the neighboring communities.
Highlights of the Summit included the announcement that the planned expansion of Sylvan is being re-examined and construction of the Coombs Creek Trail from Junior to Sylvan along Kessler Parkway will begin very soon. Opportunities to connect the intersection of Sylvan and Fort Worth Avenue to the Coombs Creek Trail were also explored. Jack’s Backyard, a new restaurant opening at 510 W. Commerce, gave the audience a preview of their much anticipated opening.
The organization’s president, Scott Griggs, introduced David Griffin and Ken Martin (David Griffin & Co. Realtors) who gave a presentation on The New Urbanism. There presentation accentuated the fact that with gasoline prices at approximately $4.00 per gallon and climbing, we should expect a continuing acceleration of people moving to the center of downtown Dallas and de-acceleration of sprawl. The New Urbanism is a movement that includes Walkability, Sustainability, Mixed-Use, Community, Density, Mixed Housing, Quality Architecture & Urban Design, Smart Transportation, and Quality of Life. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, now being the 4th largest metropolitan are in the U.S., should see more and more people working and playing not more than ten minutes away from their homes. The three large Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIFs) of north Oak Cliff should be active areas of future building development.
Marcy McInelly, AIA – Urban Designer from Portland, Oregon, was the featured keynote speaker. Ms. McInelly’s presentation included (1) Designing the Public Realm – the space between buildings should be viewed as rooms; (2) Understanding the User – define how the user wants to use the buildings and the traffic-way; and, (3) Humanizing the Big Street – the developments must balance the conflicting functional desires of pedestrians and automobile usage. Elements incorporated into designs should include wide sidewalks with planting strips along the walkway; shortened pedestrian crossing distances at intersections; on-street parking; and, sidewalks with shading and landscaping. Ms. McInelly answered audience questions.
The Summit also included a panel question-and-answer session, moderated by Steve Habgood that included panel members Dan Lamers, Senior Planner for North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG); Jared White, City of Dallas Park Department; Keith Manoy, City of Dallas Transportation Department; and Steve Biba, DART. The panel fielded various pertinent questions pertaining to all four departments and affecting Dallas’ public transportation, hike-and-bike trails such as the Katy Trail and the Coombs Creek Trail, and future development emphasizing both pedestrian and automobile usages.
Karen McCrocklin gave the final presentation regarding a new restaurant, Jack’s Backyard, to be opened in the Fort Worth Avenue-West Commerce corridor in the near future.
The Summit was sponsored Methodist Healthcare Systems, David Griffin & Company Realtors, Belmont Hotel, Hewitt & Habgood Realty Group, Jack’s Backyard, La Reunion TownCenter, Northern Trust, Cox Three Sixty, Buena Vista Restaurant, and Ebby Halliday Realtors.