RPH-2015-09

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8 24 10 years years In Central Texas, Community Impact Newspaper celebrates a decade of keeping readers informed Since 2005 Compiled by Emilie Shaughnessy and Scott Thomas In September 2005, the first edition of Community Impact Newspaper shipped to mailboxes in the cities of Round Rock and Pflugerville. At the time, publisher John Garrett wrote: “Our mission is clear: to provide Round Rock and Pflugerville residents and business owners with a free monthly publication. One that is full of news and information that impacts their lives, business and community.” At the time, Community Impact Newspaper covered Round Rock and Pflugerville. Ten years later it reaches nearly 1.5 million mailboxes in 31 cities throughout the Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston metro areas. To celebrate the decade milestone, Community Impact Newspaper is looking at a few of the stories the newspaper wrote about in the first year and the ways the cities have changed. MONTHLY SEPTEMBER 2005 Tollways changing the way Central Texans drive by Jill Mayfield Driving anywhere in north Austin, Round Rock or Pflugerville, Central Texans can’t miss road construction in every direction. It stalls the traffic, it narrows the roadways, it staggers the imagination. Gazing up at the concrete dinosaurs created by the incomplete overpasses, thoughts come to mind of ‘where are they going, will they be worth the toll to drive on them, and are they really needed.’ The Central Texas Turnpike Project when completed in 2007 will forever change how people who live and work in this area travel from one place to another. The CTTP consists of three roadways: State Highway 45 North, Loop 1 North, and State Highway 130, all of which will be tollways. Loop 1 and SH 45N will primarily serve the commuter. SH 130 will serve the people traveling through central Texas, thus reducing traffic on IH-35. “There has been phenomenal growth in northern Travis County and southern Williamson County in the past ten years,“ Tim Weight, P.E., Director of Turnpike Construction for the Texas Department of Transportation, said. Chandler Road retail and medical construction begins 2005 In September 2005, most readers did not have access to the information of where area toll roads were being built and how much they would cost, said John Garrett, founder and publisher of Community Impact Newspaper. by Cathy Kincaid Browse the internet for Round Rock or Williamson county Web sites, and the biggest news is the recent announcements of the commercial and medical construction on Chandler Road. The positive consequences for Round Rock and Pflugerville are both immediate and far reaching. More than 2,000 jobs will be created and the property tax and sales tax base will be increased. With the fall opening of the Round Rock Higher Education Center, students, visitors and patients will pour into the area to add to local business growth. “We are preparing for that area to have 4 - 7 million visitors per year,” Jim Nuse, Round Rock city manager said. “More importantly, many local businesses along these roads weren’t even sure where the entrance and exit ramps were going to be, which is a very important concern for local business access,” Garrett said. Garrett said he went to the toll road office off Wells Branch Parkway and drew every entrance and exit ramp by hand based off of a huge wall map in the engineering department. “This was before we could easily pull up satellite images on our phone, so we had to buy the rights to a large satellite image and then on our old Mac Mini we had to hand-place every arrow over the map,” he said. “It took all night for our original graphic designer, Patty Smith, and I to place all of these arrows.” Garrett said the readers loved it and expressed through emails, phone calls and in person how much they appreciated this information. “This map put Community Impact Newspaper on the map for local news for our readers,” he said. Medical Mile Scott & White Hospital What it is: Three entities; hospital, clinic, and diagnostic imaging center Projected opening: Phase 1, Fall, 2006 Projected Jobs: 480 initially; eventually $22 million total in salaries from jobs created Seton Williamson Medical Center What it is: 180-bed hospital, medical center Projected opening: Summer-Fall, 2007 Projected Jobs: 700 jobs in the first year CONTINUED | 12 PULL-OUT AERIAL MAP OF TOLLWAYS PAGES 8-9 Round Rock Premium Outlets Announced July 28 as an upscale, outdoor village-style outlet center, the Round Rock Premium Outlets expect to open by next January. As a destination retail outlet, local businesses can look forward to added retail markets while bargain hunters can anticipate nearby, easy-access shopping. “We look forward to being a part of the growth in Round Rock,” Michele Rothstein, Senior Vice President for Marketing, Chelsea Property Group Shoppers said. “Shoppers who love designer labels and name-brands and enjoy getting a great deal should love our new center.” IKEA Shopper’s Delight I-35 What it is: Swedish retailer leading in home furnishings Projected opening: Spring, 2007 Projected Jobs: 250-300 co-workers will join the IKEA family when the store opens Round Rock Premium Outlets SIMON NORTH What it is: 120 outlet stores offering everyday savings of 25-65 percent Projected opening: Summer-Fall 2007 Projected Jobs: 1000 permanent jobs Construction continues on the connector between SH 45N and IH-35. CONTINUED | 11 BARSHOP/HEB THEN TERAVISTA AROUND TAKE A TRIAL RUN RUN A RISK RUN WILD AT 2005 The second front-page story of Community Impact Newspaper’s first edition was about the retail and health care destinations that were coming to Chandler Road, what is now University Boulevard. In September 2005, Simon Property Group had announced its intention to build the Round Rock Premium Outlets just two months before. In August 2005 Swedish retailer IKEA announced its plans to build a location across the street from the outlets. Now: Tollways have increased regional transportation options, economic viability Also at the time, Scott & White Hospital-Round Rock and Seton Medical Center Williamson were more than a year away from completion. Community Impact Newspaper wrote, “The positive consequences for Round Rock and Pflugerville are both immediate and far reaching. More than 2,000 jobs will be created and the property tax and sales tax base will be increased.” 2015 The Texas Department of Transportation held ribbon cuttings for Loop 1, SH 45 N and SH 130 segments 1 and 2 in December 2006. Round Rock Mayor Alan McGraw said in 2015 they have made regional mobility much more viable in the area. “One of the biggest transportation issues we have is a regional transportation system,” McGraw said. “The tolls have done a fantastic job in making [regional transportation] in many cases easier. For example, I can get to the airport faster here [in Round Rock] than many people in West Austin.” Pflugerville Mayor Jeff Coleman said the toll roads “fundamentally” changed the city. “[SH 130 and SH 45 N] opened a retail shopping sector for us that didn’t exist prior to the tolls being built,” Coleman said. “Which is now the economic engine driving our commercial sector.” McGraw said the toll roads have helped economic development in Round Rock. “Take a company like Emerson that [has] thousands of visitors, and tell them how easy it is to get to and from the airport,” McGraw said. “That’s a big economic selling point.” WANT A GOOD RUN FOR YOUR MONEY? RUN ERRANDS RUN ALONG RUN CHANDLER ROAD Photo by Patty Smith ROUND ROCK HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER FM 1460 TO LAKELINE 620/183 EX EX EN EN EN EN EN EX TOLL PLAZA EX PR SRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROUND ROCK, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 2219 EN MOPAC/ LOOP 1 EN EX EN 620 LA FRONTERA EX EN 3406 EN WELLS BRANCH DELL EN EX PARMER LN EN KEY GATTIS SCHOOL RD EX EX EN 1825/PECAN EX - Exit ramp from tollway EN - Entrance ramp to tollway PROJECTED TOLL ROAD RATES: 12.5 cents a mile for SH 130 11.5 cents a mile for SH 45 North 15 cents a mile for Loop 1 Using these figures if one enters SH130 to lway at HWY 79, it wi l cost a little over $3 one-way to make the almost 27-mile trip to the airport. Map is for reference only. Entrance and Exit ramps are approximate. For exact to l booth and ramp information, contact the Central Texas Turnpike Project Offices at 512-225-1300. October, 2004 aerial photo by Landiscor ©2005 Community Impact Newspaper. A l rights reserved. DELL DIAMOND EN EX EN EX TOLL PLAZA EN FM 685 TO AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIIONAL AIRPORT EN EN EX EX EX EX EX EX EX EX TO IH 35/ GEORGETOWN THEN EX EN EN EN TOLL PLAZA EN EX EN EN EN EN EX EX EN EN EN EX EX SEPTEMBER 2005 9 EX EX EN Im PACTNEWSPAPER.COM SEPTEMBER 2005 Photos courtesy city of Round Rock 2006 2014 35 35 1 1 4 5 4 1. Round Rock Premium Outlets 2. Scott & White 3. Teravista 4. IKEA 5. H-E-B 6. Apartments WWW. IMPACTNEWSPAPER. COM THEN If disaster strikes City officials explain disaster management plans BY JULIA KENNEDY JAYES AND JULIE TERESHCHUK Hurricanes Katrina and Rita brought the issue of disaster preparedness to the forefront of our minds in an unprecedented way. “Just as the 9/11 terrorist attacks taught us to consider dangers outside the realm of natural catastrophes,” Pflugerville Police Chief, Charles Hooker said, “Hurricane Katrina showed us that we may not be as prepared to deal with nature’s wrath as we once believed”. It begs the question: What is my community doing to safeguard me and my family during a crisis? Round Rock’s Emergency Preparations “Preparation, public information, and practice are the keys to emergency management,” Round Rock City Manager Jim Nuse said. “Round Rock is prepared to be the primary e o another. The CTTP consists of three roadways: State Highway 45 North, Loop 1 North, and State Highway 130, all of which will be tollways. Chandler Road retail an by Cathy Kincaid Browse the internet for Round Rock or Round Rock Premium Outlets Williamson county Web sites, and the Announced July 28 as an u biggest news is the recent announcements outdoor village-style outlet cente of the commercial and medical Round Rock Premium Outlets exp construction on Chandler Road. open by next January. The positive consequences for Round As a destination retail outlet, Rock and Pflugerville are both businesses can look for immediate and far reaching. to added retail markets w More than 2,000 jobs will bargain hunters can antici be created and the property nearby, easy-access shoppin tax and sales tax base will be “We look forward to be increased. a part of the growth in Rou With the fall opening of the Round Rock,” Michele Rothstein, Senior V Rock Higher Education Center, students, President for Marketing, Chelsea Proper visitors and patients will pour into the area Group Shoppers said. “Shoppers who lov to add to local business growth. designer labels and name-brands and enjo “We are preparing for that area to have getting a great deal should love our new 4 - 7 million visitors per year,” Jim Nuse, center.” Round Rock city manager said. Medical Mile Scott & White Hospital What it is: Three entities; hospital, clinic, and diagnostic imaging center Projected opening: Phase 1, Fall, 2006 Projected Jobs: 480 initially; eventually $22 million total in salaries from jobs created Seton Williamson Medical Center What it is: 180-bed hospital, medical center Projected opening: Summer-Fall, 2007 Projected Jobs: 700 jobs in the first year 2 Chandler Rd. 2 University Blvd. Reservoir creates recreation area BY MANDY HOBBY A $47.5 million water supply reservoir, the largest capital improvement project undertaken by Pflugerville, will be completed in the next 3-5 months, according to HDR Engineering, Inc. Lake Pflugerville The reservoir will also serve as a recreational lake and is located at the intersection of Pfluger Lane and Weiss Lane off FM 685 two miles east of e about 36 feet deep IKEA New Pflugerville Lake 3 3 Pfennig Ln Pfluger Ln amenities that include a 3.5 mile-long granite hike and bike trail, docks, a possible beach area, swimming and fishing. Because of the relatively shallow waters, motorboats will not be allowed, but paddle boats, sailboats, kayaks, and batteryoperated trolling motors will. Texas Parks and Wildlife will stock over 19,000 channel fish, sunfish and white crappie next spring. “We already added large mouth bass in the water because of accumulated rainwater,” Steve Magnelia, TP&W district PULL-OUT AERIAL MA OF TOLLWAY PAGES 8-9 Shopper’s Delight What it is: Swedish retailer leading in home furnishings Projected opening: Spring, 2007 Projected Jobs: 250-300 co-workers will join the IKEA family when the store opens Round Rock Premium Outlets 685 Lake CONTINUED | 11 What it is: 120 outlet stores offering everyday savings of 25-65 percent Projected opening: Summer-Fall 2007 Projected Jobs: 1000 permanent jobs 6 Weiss Ln 1825/Pecan St OCTO VOL. manager, said. “Peop now with a license.” Pfriends Pfor Pfl a local non-profit as PF4, plan to i fishing piers with m community. Miche for the City of Pfluge donations from Fairways of Black Park Crest, as we Pflugerville Com Corporation.
ED | 12 Round Rock | Pflugerville | Hutto Edition • September 2015 25 d medical construction begins pscale, r, the ect to local ward hile pate g. ing nd ice ty e y P S THEN I-35 Construction continues on the connector between SH 45N and IH-35. SIMON NORTH BARSHOP/HEB Now: University Boulevard exceeds early expectations 2015 TERAVISTA CHANDLER ROAD ROUND ROCK HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER PR SRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROUND ROCK, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 2219 Photo by Patty Smith FM 1460 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Growing population ROUND ROCK PFLUGERVILLE HUTTO 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Since 2005, the Central Texas population has seen dramatic increases, and Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto have been at the forefront of that growth. This graph shows the three citie’s growth in the past 10 years. 2005 Source: U.S. Census Bureau/Community Impact Newspaper Not only have IKEA, Round Rock Premium Outlets and the two hospitals opened on the corridor, but in more recent years multiple shopping centers, an H-E-B and a Bass Pro Shops & Outdoor World have all also opened along the corridor. “All I can say is wow,” McGraw said. “We knew [University Boulevard] had possibilities. But if you look up and down University, what’s there now wasn’t there 10 years ago. It has exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations.” McGraw said the destination retail has had a “huge” economic impact on the city. “On the downside it would not be accurate to say [development] hasn’t had a transportation impact,” McGraw said. “Which is why we’re spending millions to improve [the corridor] and the state has been spending millions to improve it.” Courtesy city of Pflugerville Lake Pflugerville was built in part to help address the city’s growing water needs. 2015 It’s been 10 years since we began this journey in the game room of our home. People ask us all the time now how we started and why we started this newspaper. Truth is, there is no way we could have ever imagined back then we would be all over Texas and have 150 amazing employees making our original mission happen. We say "original" because although we didn't start with the official mission statement we have today, we still valued the same mission from day one: We believe that everyone deserves to know what is happening in their own backyards, and we believe that people love local businesses and want to know more about them. BER 2005 1, ISSUE 2 le could fish right ugerville’s Pfuture, organization known nstall six grounded oney raised from the lle Pundt, grant writer rville, received private three neighborhoods: hawk, Creekside, and ll as $20,000 from the munity Development The city has plans to widen a section of University Boulevard between Sunrise Road and I-35 in 2016. Furthermore, the Texas Department of Transportation is working on a diverging diamond interchange at the intersection of University Boulevard and I-35 set to be completed this fall. TxDOT states traffic will flow off the interchange in a more controlled manner than a typical intersection. 2005 In the second edition of Community Impact Newspaper, the front-page article reported on the incomplete Lake Pflugerville and its intended effects on the area once built. The article discussed how the city of Pflugerville intended to turn the area into a recreational jogging, fishing and boating destination. The article also examined the city’s intention to turn the lake into a reservoir to help address the city’s growing need for water. Emilie Shaughnessy/Community Impact Newspaper Pflugerville officials said the city would have felt the effects of the recent drought more without Lake Pflugerville. Now: Lake Pflugerville essential part of local water supply 2015 Coleman said the city leaders who decided to build Lake Pflugerville were “visionary.” “In our most recent drought, if we had not had Lake Pflugerville, the effect our citizens would have felt would have been much worse,” he said. Coleman said the lake has succeeded as a recreational amenity as well. “With the addition of the beach people who just want to be around a body of water can come to Lake Pflugerville,” he said. “It has been a wonderful addition to the community.” So from September 2005 until today, we have been covering city council meetings, finding new businesses to tell you about, helping businesses with advertising and doing it together as a staff filled with passion. Although we are not sure what the next 10 years will bring, our desire is to be able to continue to grow our company. This month we take a much-needed pause to say thank you. Thank you to our loyal readers, our amazing advertisers, our incredible staff (past and present), and our families who have supported us through the years. We are also thankful to God—who through the good, bad and ugly—reminds us through His faithfulness that we matter, and the people around us matter to Him. Thank you for welcoming us into your home. We hope that our work is a blessing to you and the communities we serve. JOHN & JENNIFER GARRETT CONTINUED ON | 11
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