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FALL 2008<br />

<strong>LCA</strong> Commitment<br />

As Strong as Ever<br />

by Ethan R. “Rick” Bidne, President and General Manager<br />

OCtObEr iS OnE OF thOSE mESmErizing<br />

mOnthS thAt prEpArE uS FOr ChAngE. thE<br />

SmELL OF FrEShLy Cut grASS iS in thE Air,<br />

quitE pOSSibLy FOr thE LASt timE in thE yEAr;<br />

EvErything iS StiLL grEEn; And ShOrt SLEEvE<br />

ShirtS ArE StiLL thE ApprOpriAtE drESS.<br />

Yet the news reminds us of the first<br />

snowfall in the northern states; we<br />

see pictures of the autumn leaves<br />

changing in all their beautiful gran-<br />

deur; and a glance at the Weather<br />

Channel shows that cooler (for some<br />

cold) weather is but a few weeks, if<br />

not days away.<br />

This October brought about<br />

another, unsettling change for us<br />

as a country and community. The<br />

uncertain impact of a faltering economy occupies our minds. While<br />

I am not an economist and certainly would be the last to analyze<br />

what all this means, I do know that in the past 25 years there have<br />

been a number of economic “opportunities” that have impacted <strong>Las</strong><br />

<strong>Colinas</strong>. With each downturn came a rebound from which we were<br />

able to benefit.<br />

P2<br />

Page 2<br />

Rick Bidne, <strong>LCA</strong> president<br />

The resiliency of <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> is not a myth. It is a fact. The<br />

AnnuAL mEEting<br />

highLightS<br />

ACC AWArdS<br />

P3<br />

Page 3<br />

dArt “OrAngE<br />

LINE” UPDATE<br />

ShOpping<br />

SAFEty tipS<br />

A beautiful sunset over La Villita recently photographed by Phil Risenhoover, <strong>LCA</strong> staff member<br />

P4<br />

Page 4<br />

projects that have been planned will happen - maybe not in the adver-<br />

tised time frame, and their appearance and character may be slightly<br />

different – but they will happen. In time, the vacant office space will<br />

be filled and existing homes will be resold. New home construction<br />

will continue and sales will return to levels seen in the past. The<br />

DART Light Rail will come and development around it will occur.<br />

Our commitment to you, the members, is that we will do<br />

everything we can to insure that the integrity of <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> is<br />

maintained even during what many characterize as “difficult”<br />

times. The development standards that are synonymous with <strong>Las</strong><br />

<strong>Colinas</strong> will continue and will not be compromised. <strong>Property</strong> main-<br />

tenance will continue to be stressed. The common areas and open<br />

spaces that the Association maintains will continue to reflect the<br />

same qualities that you expect.<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> is a place of beauty. A place that we value<br />

as residents, commercial property owners, employees, and<br />

visitors. A place in a prime location. A place called home.<br />

irving iSd: A<br />

pASSiOn FOr<br />

SuCCESS<br />

P5<br />

Page 5<br />

<strong>LCA</strong> dEpArtmEnt<br />

FEAturE: COmmOn<br />

prOpErty<br />

P6<br />

Page 6<br />

nEiAC WEbSitE<br />

<strong>LCA</strong> StAFF phOtO


2<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Association Annual meeting highlights<br />

Board Elections Held and Awards Presented<br />

The <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Association’s 2008 Annual Meeting was held Monday,<br />

Oct. 6, 2008. Bill Tichy, chairman of the board, called the meeting<br />

to order, welcomed attendees and recognized special guests.<br />

Elections of two board members was the primary item to be considered<br />

by the members of the 2008 Annual Meeting. The names of<br />

incumbents Carl McKee and William (Bill) Tichy were placed in nomination<br />

for the two open positions on the board. Upon conclusion of<br />

the voting process, Dr. Steve Katzman, board secretary, announced<br />

that both candidates had been re-elected to serve three-year terms.<br />

Resolutions were presented to Hal Alter and Michael York for<br />

volunteer service to the Association. Alter served as chairman of the<br />

Architectural Control Committee’s Commercial Review Subcommittee<br />

for seven years, and has recently relocated to California with Verizon.<br />

A park bench will be placed in his honor on <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Blvd.<br />

overlooking the lakes in front of ExxonMobil’s corporate offices.<br />

Michael York has served for over two years on the Architectural<br />

Control Committee’s Residential Review Subcommittee. A bench in<br />

his honor will be located in the pocket park on La Villita Blvd., north<br />

of Camino Lago. The Association is fortunate to work with such dedicated<br />

volunteers.<br />

John Wehmeyer, current chairman of the ACC Commercial<br />

Review Subcommittee, presented the 2008 Award of Excellence in<br />

Project Design to Harry Chapman, on behalf of N3 Development,<br />

Ltd. for <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Crossing. This award is presented to a project<br />

which promotes the values in design, construction and architectural<br />

enhancement in <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong>. (See photos at bottom.)<br />

N3 Development took a triangular tract of land bounded by SH<br />

114 service road to the north, MacArthur Blvd. to the west, and a private<br />

drive to the south. They divided it into five pad sites. The tract is<br />

long and narrow, and was a difficult piece to develop.<br />

N-3 Development’s Harry Chapman accepts the 2008 Award<br />

of Excellence from John Wehmeyer, ACC Commercial<br />

Review Subcommittee chairman.<br />

Artist’s rendering of the west end of the project which includes Comerica Bank<br />

N3 began by submitting a material and color pallet to be used<br />

for the entire site, giving all the pad sites continuity and harmony, and<br />

not the look of five different developments. Next they developed sign<br />

criteria for the site, once again promoting continuity from building to<br />

building.<br />

The first building constructed was a Comerica Bank, followed by<br />

a Sonic Drive-Thru. Currently under construction are a Potbelly Sandwich<br />

Shop and a Dunkin’ Donuts both with a retail component.<br />

Following the awards presentations, <strong>LCA</strong> President Rick Bidne<br />

presented the management report, citing departmental highlights and<br />

<strong>LCA</strong> accomplishments over the past year. Attendees had the opportunity<br />

to ask questions and visit with board members, committee chairs<br />

and Association staff.<br />

<strong>LCA</strong> Board Chairman Bill Tichy looks on as Michael York receives a proclamation<br />

from <strong>LCA</strong> President Rick Bidne for his volunteer service on the ACC Residential<br />

Review Subcommittee. Hal Alter was also recognized for his contributions as<br />

ACC Commercial Review Subcommittee chairman.<br />

Award of Excellence in Project Design<br />

N-3 Development:<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Crossing<br />

This is the tract of land before development began.<br />

Sonic Drive-Thru during construction


dArt rail on Schedule for <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong><br />

At the Association, we are often asked by our property owners for the latest developments<br />

on the arrival of the dallas Area rapid transit (dArt) Orange Line (northwest<br />

Corridor) in irving/<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong>.<br />

Gary Thomas, CEO of DART, recently joined Irving city officials to provide an update at<br />

a breakfast sponsored by the Transportation Committee of the Greater Irving-<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong><br />

Chamber of Commerce.<br />

Thomas explained that the 14-mile Orange Line is a key component of the rail expansion<br />

that will lead to the doubling of DART’s rail network to more than 90 miles by 2013. It will run<br />

parallel with the Green Line through Downtown Dallas to Bachman Station in Northwest Dallas.<br />

From Bachman Station, the Orange Line heads northwest to <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Urban Center<br />

and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.<br />

DART has pre-purchased the rail as well as 23 rail cars, so construction remains on<br />

schedule. Environmental clearance has been completed, and FAA clearance is in process.<br />

Completion of the Orange Line is divided into three phases as follows:<br />

phase i:<br />

Bachman Station to <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Urban Center (5.1 miles)<br />

Includes: University of Dallas Station<br />

Lake Carolyn Station<br />

North <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Station (at new Convention Center)<br />

Opens: December 2011<br />

phase ii:<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Urban Center to Belt Line Road (4.1 miles)<br />

Includes: <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Carpenter Ranch<br />

North Lake College<br />

Beltline Irving Station<br />

Opens: December 2012<br />

phase iii:<br />

Beltline Road to DFW Airport (4.8 miles)<br />

Opens: December 2013<br />

If you would like to receive automatic updates regarding the Orange Line, sign up on<br />

DART’s online subscription page: https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.<br />

html?code=TXDART. For a wealth of transportation information including maps and<br />

schedules, visit http://www.dart.org.<br />

Holiday Safety:<br />

Take it Personally<br />

With the holidays just around<br />

the corner, many of us will<br />

be out shopping or<br />

attending events.<br />

You may think that<br />

concentrating on your<br />

personal safety is<br />

being “overcautious”<br />

or even silly. However, it is<br />

one of the most important things you can do<br />

for yourself. Safety and security should start<br />

with you!<br />

Here are some valuable personal safety tips:<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

Stay alert and pay attention to things<br />

around you. Do not “tune out” your<br />

surroundings. Be prepared!<br />

If you have a cell phone, carry it out in<br />

your hand or have it accessible. You<br />

may need it in a hurry.<br />

Never “look” like a victim. Always give<br />

the appearance that you know where<br />

you are going and that you are not<br />

afraid.<br />

Listen to your instincts. If you think there<br />

is something wrong, react accordingly.<br />

Always avoid walking in dark or deserted<br />

areas. If you park your car at the mall,<br />

park by a light and leave when there are<br />

other people around. If possible, find<br />

someone safe to walk with.<br />

If you are going out to your vehicle, have<br />

your keys ready and accessible. Many<br />

people suggest, if possible, you carry<br />

them in your hand. Most new cars have<br />

panic alarms built into the key fobs, so<br />

having it handy may be a good idea.<br />

Never “load yourself” down with packages.<br />

You lose control of your hands; you<br />

also lose some ability to see around. If<br />

you’re going to do a lot of shopping, try<br />

to go with someone, get a cart, or make<br />

smaller trips.<br />

Always lock your car, even in your driveway.<br />

Never leave things out as an invitation<br />

to thieves. If you have packages,<br />

lock them in the trunk.<br />

Once you get in your car, lock it. It may<br />

take you a few minutes to get ready to<br />

leave and you are vulnerable, as your<br />

attention may be split.<br />

If you need to get money at an ATM, try<br />

to plan your trip during the day. Another<br />

idea is to use one in a public place; the<br />

more people around, the better.<br />

These are simple things we can do while<br />

going through our daily routines to increase<br />

our safety. You should always take time to<br />

“take in” your surroundings, no matter what<br />

you’re doing. The key to personal safety is<br />

ultimately self-awareness.<br />

3


4<br />

Irving ISD: A Passion for Success<br />

THE IRvING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL<br />

DISTRICT OFFERS APPROXIMATELY<br />

33,000 STuDENTS A quALITY EDuCA-<br />

TION. WITH DEDICATED TEACHERS<br />

AND PRIDE IN THE CHARACTER Of ITS<br />

STuDENTS, IRvING ISD IS INfuSING<br />

TODAY’S LEARNERS WITH A PASSION<br />

FOR SUCCESS.<br />

A well-planned instructional program,<br />

including 2,300 teachers and a myriad<br />

of extracurricular choices, gives students<br />

from all cultural, economic and educational<br />

backgrounds opportunities to succeed.<br />

IISD students consistently excel in<br />

academics, career and technology, gifted<br />

and talented, performing arts, special education,<br />

athletics and JROTC programs.<br />

Graduating seniors in the Class of 2008<br />

from Irving, MacArthur and Nimitz High<br />

Schools and The Academy of Irving ISD<br />

earned approximately $31 million in scholarship<br />

offers.<br />

Nineteen IISD schools earned 51 Gold<br />

Performance acknowledgements from the<br />

Texas Education Agency during the 2006-<br />

2007 school year. Advanced Placement<br />

test results indicate 671 IISD juniors and<br />

seniors earned scores of 3, 4 or 5, and 93<br />

students were recognized as AP Scholars.<br />

The United States <strong>Department</strong> of<br />

Education has designated Lamar Middle<br />

School, Good Elementary School, and<br />

MacArthur High School as National Blue<br />

Ribbon Schools. MacArthur was also<br />

named one of the two best high schools<br />

in the United States at the Intel/Scholastic<br />

21st Century Schools of Distinction Awards<br />

in 2004.<br />

Microsoft Corporation selected<br />

the IISD as the first Microsoft Center<br />

A classroom, auditorium, and gym addition is under construction at The Academy of Irving ISD.<br />

of Excellence, recognizing the district as<br />

an innovator in the use of technology to<br />

enhance teaching and learning. Students<br />

have access to computer technology through<br />

numerous classroom computers, computer<br />

labs and mobile multimedia stations. All students<br />

in grades 9-12 have laptop computers<br />

for use at home and school during the school<br />

year. In November 2007, $49.8 million in<br />

bond funds were approved by IISD voters for<br />

instructional technology.<br />

In 2007, the Center for Digital Education<br />

recognized the IISD with the Best of the Web<br />

award in the K-12 District Website category.<br />

The IISD website – www.irvingisd.net – was<br />

one of four K-12 districts in the nation to<br />

receive the honor.<br />

All four high schools have student<br />

teams which compete annually in the Texas<br />

Regional Academic Decathlon. Nimitz has<br />

won the regional competition 18 of the past<br />

21 years, and finished in the top five at the<br />

state level seven of the past eight years.<br />

Recognized as Best in the Nation in<br />

1991 and 2000, the IISD library program features<br />

The Library Solution automated library<br />

system that includes more than 750,000<br />

items. School libraries also provide Internet<br />

access to a variety of research databases.<br />

The Partnerships In Education program<br />

has more than 200 active alliances with businesses<br />

and other organizations and over<br />

1,500 volunteers.<br />

Irving Schools Foundation annually<br />

awards approximately $125,000 in student<br />

scholarships and teacher grants.<br />

For additional information about IISD<br />

educational programs, call the Public<br />

Information <strong>Department</strong> at 972-215-5200,<br />

fax 972-215-5201, or send e-mail to<br />

publicinformation@irvingisd.net.<br />

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS COURTESY<br />

OF THE IISD PUBLIC INFORMATION<br />

DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE THIRD IN<br />

A SERIES OF FOUR FEATURING THE<br />

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH SERVE<br />

THE LAS COLINAS COMMUNITY.<br />

Chemistry students are involved in a hands-on laboratory experiment. Students have access to a library system with more than 750,000 items.


IT’S A BIG jOB, AND THESE fOLkS LOvE DOING IT! THE<br />

ASSOCIATION’S SIx-PERSON COMMON PROPERTY<br />

DEPARTMENT TAkES THE MISSION Of “CREATING AND<br />

SuSTAINING A COMMuNITY Of LASTING vALuE AND<br />

PRESENCE” vERY SERIOuSLY.<br />

In the course of a year, this group:<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

<strong>LCA</strong> <strong>Featured</strong> <strong>Department</strong>: <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Property</strong><br />

<strong>Common</strong> <strong>Property</strong> <strong>Department</strong> members Edgar Rodriguez, Juan Pocasangre, Tommie<br />

Houston, Darla McDaniel, Phil Risenhoover and Scott Wilson (seated).<br />

Manages over 190 acres of irrigated landscape. This<br />

encompasses city-owned medians, parks and common<br />

property owned by <strong>LCA</strong>, as well as some Texas <strong>Department</strong><br />

of Transportation (TxDOT) and Dallas County Utility &<br />

Reclamation District (DCURD) property.<br />

Plants over 150,000 units of seasonal color.<br />

Maintains over 34 pet pick-up stations throughout the <strong>Las</strong><br />

<strong>Colinas</strong> park system.<br />

<strong>Common</strong> <strong>Property</strong> includes Scott Wilson, director; Darla<br />

McDaniel, landscape coordinator; Phil Risenhoover, irrigation<br />

coordinator; and Edgar Rodriguez, Juan Pocasangre and Tommie<br />

Houston, common property maintenance/litter control staff<br />

members.<br />

Everyone looks forward to seeing the freshly planted seasonal<br />

flowers and manicured landscapes in <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong>. Darla McDaniel,<br />

landscape coordinator, points out that the design and direction<br />

of the landscaping is an ongoing process, with three rotations of<br />

color each year. Some of the most recognizable landmarks which<br />

are maintained include the Carpenter Monument, Island Greens,<br />

and the E.O. Perry Flower Clock.<br />

The 190 acres of landscape are maintained by an extensive<br />

computerized central irrigation system with over 150 controllers<br />

which was phased in from 2001-2007. According to Phil Risenhoover,<br />

irrigation coordinator, this system allows <strong>LCA</strong> to monitor<br />

and control the system from one central location, thus providing<br />

the most efficient use of water.<br />

Co mmon <strong>Property</strong> at <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Blvd. near Fluor<br />

<strong>Common</strong> <strong>Property</strong> at <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Blvd. in front of ExxonMobil<br />

Litter control involves daily routes and the pick up of more<br />

than 30,000 cubic feet of litter per year,.<br />

Director Scott Wilson explains that an important facet of the<br />

services provided is a cooperative relationship with the City of<br />

Irving (COI), DCuRD, TxDOT and Txu Energy for continued<br />

success. This includes:<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

Conducting a street light report once a month and coordination<br />

with COI and TXU to ensure the street lights<br />

are working.<br />

Supplementing TxDOT’s mowing of Highway 114 from<br />

three cycles to one time per month during the growing<br />

season.<br />

Maintaining landscape in two areas for TxDOT – one at<br />

Highway 114 and O’Connor (Island Green) and the other<br />

at MacArthur and Highway 114 (field mowing only).<br />

Maintaining several city-owned parks and all medians<br />

in <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong>.<br />

Besides the central irrigation system installation, recent<br />

major projects include Founders Park Wall and the Carpenter<br />

Monument at Riverside and Highway 114.<br />

5


The Spirit of <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong><br />

is a publication of the<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Association,<br />

covering issues unique to the<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> master-planned development.<br />

www.lascolinasassn.com<br />

972.541.2345<br />

122 W. CArpEntEr FWy, SuitE 550<br />

irving, tEXAS 75039-2098<br />

<strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Association Staff<br />

Our mission: To create and sustain a community of lasting value and presence<br />

NEIAC<br />

North East Irving Area Coalition<br />

go to: http://www.neiac.org<br />

nEiAC Website Launched<br />

the north East irving Area Coalition website (nEiAC.org) has been<br />

launched.<br />

The coalition was formed in response to interest by <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> Association<br />

members concerning mineral rights leasing associated with the Barnett<br />

Shale. NEIAC holds no official or legal position, is a volunteer organization<br />

and is not connected with any driller or other mineral leasing company.<br />

The intent of NEIAC is to provide property owners in the <strong>Las</strong> <strong>Colinas</strong> area<br />

with information and education about the mineral leasing process.

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