Hugh Smith or Senior Center (2014 Bond Issue)

The time to determine the contents of the 2014 Bond Issue is at hand.  The Citizens Bond Committee has spoken and what they have determined through hours of diligent work is that the Bond Issue will be 193 million dollars.  In that 193 million, 133 will be for roads.  Of the 60 million that is left over, two large capital projects were selected to be accomplished.  1)  25 million for a recreation center in the southeast area of our city.  2)  25.3 million for a 67,000 sq/ft combination East Library and New Hugh Smith Recreation Center, in east Arlington.  This was the original plan for the Bond package until it got to Council.

When it got to Council, Jimmy Bennett proposed an additional year to the issue and the total increased to 242 million for a four year period.  The increase of 49 million will all go to roads, although this was not Jimmy’s plan.  So we still only have the original 60 million for capital projects.  One year ago I proposed a Senior Recreation Center to be constructed in the west or northwest, where majority of our seniors reside.  This center would be like the Summit over in Grand Prairie.  Right now we allow the YMCA’s to accommodate the need for our seniors at $30 per month.  I recognize this need and I’m trying to do something about it, but the Council needs your input.  So contact them.

My plan is to cancel one dead end road project at 5.4 million, cancel the energy efficient street light bulbs at 3.0 million and a parking lot renewal for River Legacy Park for 1.0 million.  If we do not move fire station one we can save another .4 million and take .3 away from the 25.3 for Hugh Smith and that would give us 10.2 million to knock down Hugh Smith and rebuild it to a size commensurate with it’s utilization.  The new library would go away until other funds could be located to add it to the construction project or we could partner with AISD as Dr. Cavazos has urged because they will be constructing a new library a couple of blocks down the road.

Then it would be my intention to take the 25 million and construct a 60,000 sq/ft Recreation Center for Adults that would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 per month for membership.  In the first year that the Summit was built, membership was 6,000.  It has been in existence for four years now and the membership has stabilized at 5,500.  It is a remarkably active and vibrant facility, and something that our seniors deserve.  In the last four years Euless, Grand Prairie and Irving have all met the need of their seniors by constructing Senior Centers. North Richland Hills has given the seniors lip service with their Multi-Generational Center.  Possible locations would be either a location central to downtown, Dottie Lynn area or Randol Mill Park.  With this location and the need of our seniors in Arlington, I would estimate memberships around the 8,000 level.  Please contact your City Council and let them know what Your desires are for this Bond Issue.    

Arlington Commons

It has been a little time since my last post for a couple of reasons.  1)  The Council is on vacation and doesn’t meet during the month of July, 2)  I have been on vacation for the last two weeks out of the country.  But as soon as I returned I had to find out what was going on with out apartment project on Lamar and report any progress.

I met with Bob Kembel this afternoon and got a one on one concerning his progress.  The asbestos abatement team showed up today and the long process of dismantling Huntington Chase has begun.  Each piece has to be removed, bagged, have Kembel’s name on it and placed in a special landfill.  This process will require that the demo of Huntington Chase take about 45 days and that is the bad news.  The good news is that the relocation of residents is ahead of schedule.  There is only one apartment that will require eviction in Huntington Chase and they will be gone on 1 August.  The Pointe and Country Wood will have their residents relocated by the end of August.  There is more asbestos in the stucco of the Pointe, so that will take even longer to get to the dozers.  All in all, construction will be moved back 90 days to the end of March.  Progress is slower than anticipated but the relocation process is running ahead of schedule.  Some additional news that I just received is that Mr. Kembel originally planned this project in the $160 to $178 million range and because of the upgrades and increased quality of the materials it is well over $200 million.   I have seen the architect's renderings and the project is extremely nice.  This will be a quality addition and redefine this neighborhood.

The Arlington Commons project is moving ahead and I’m positive that you will be pleased with the result, once Phase I is complete.

On a completely different subject:  The Mayor had a hip replacement this morning and is resting comfortably.  The operation was a remarkable success and we look forward to him getting up and around in the very near future.

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