LCA Featured Department: Common Property - Las Colinas ...
LCA Featured Department: Common Property - Las Colinas ...
LCA Featured Department: Common Property - Las Colinas ...
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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.