Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDA 2013-04-25 Minutes City of North Richland Hills Economic Development Advisory Committee City of North Richland Hills Council Workroom Thursday, April 25, 2013 MINUTES Board Members Present: Mr. Bob Brown, Bates Container Ms. Cindy Brewington, Edward Jones Ms. Janet Golightly, Golightly's Gallery Mr. Jim Makens, The Makens Company Mr. Mark Wood, Howe/Wood & Company Mr. Randy Moresi, North Hills Hospital Board Members Absent: Mr. Mike Rigby, Liberty Bank Mr. Thomas Hervey, Allen Samuels Dodge Hyundai Representatives for Absent Board Members: Mr. Kevin Coder for Allen Samuels Dodge Hyundai Guests: Steve Koons with the Community Improvement Task Force & Oversight Committee Staff Present: Mr. Craig Hulse, Economic Development Director, City of NRH Mr. Robert Lung, Economic Development Specialist, City of NRH Ms. Phyl Baloga, Administrative Secretary, City of NRH The Economic Development Advisory Committee was called to order at 11:50 a.m. by Jim Makens. Minutes from our October 12, 2012 meeting were approved unanimously. Jim Makens turned the meeting over to Craig Hulse at which point he welcomed everyone and proceeded to ask the Committee and Guest to introduce themselves. Ben Gayton, one of our EDAC members has moved on and we wish him well. UPDATES North Richland Hills Economy For the past two years North Richland Hills has shown a positive trend in business growth. The City continues to remain solvent, holding its own through difficult times especially with the widening of the NE Loop 820. With regard to our sales tax base, over the last three years North Richland Hills continues to see a consistent growth. Due to the major construction along NE Loop 820 the City budgeted taxable sales to be flat for the next three years, however there has been a steady 10% growth since fiscal year 2010. There has also been a shift the last two years in taxable sales. The City believes the 25% decrease in utility sales is due to competition. Not only that but there is only a 5% increase in local and that is due because of the growing number of people shopping online. Online shopping registers as a 27% increase. Convenience and the fact that 1 there is no sales tax make online shopping very attractive. The positive news would be the Marketplace Fairness Act could change what people currently save online and make the playing field between online shopping and brick and mortar on a closer level. North Richland Hills unemployment is down. The City continues to trail the Tarrant County and Texas figures. This could be attributed to people retiring or have just stopped looking for employment. In the commercial real estate and development arena, retail vacancy is down by 2% which is a good sign. It is currently 14 %. Office vacancy is also down 1.5 %. It is currently 16 %. The area where the City is seeing significant increases are new permits at a 54% increase. Construction permit values for fiscal year to date are $17.1 million. This reflects a 128% increase over FY 2012 and a 332% increase over FY 2011. Ron Huggins remodel value will consume approximately half of the $17.1 million when complete. In 2012 the City's records show 185 single family starts and in the first half of FY 2013 there is already 112. There is 15% land left in NRH with 20% underdeveloped. The average permit value on a new home is $250,000. Please note, this is not the sales price. Current available land to build is located in Graham Ranch, Thornbridge, Liberty Village, Brynwick and other (Residential Infill Planned Developments) known as RIPD zoning. Regarding Multi - Family Real Estate, 476 units were permitted in 2012. We are not known for being a multi - family city but know that we need to be flexible. There is a demand for upscale rental properties by the Millennia's however we are primarily a single family city. City Facilities The NRH Centre reached it one year anniversary on April 14th and has exceeded all expectations. They have 11,000 +members, 1,000 average daily attendances, 1,290 Silver Sneakers who attend the Seniors Center and the Grand Hall has booked over 303 events. Construction on the New City Hall will begin in January of 2014 and should end in September 2015. The groundbreaking was celebrated on April 5, 2013. The main entrance to the old mall was named Road to the Mall. Now, with a new beautiful look and purpose the entrance to City Hall has the new name of City Point Drive. Our EDAC member Janet Golightly and our guest today Steve Koon's have spent numerous hours on the Citizens Design Committee providing their input on what the New City Hall should look like. They both will be working on the interior also. Two of the buildings that will be up for sale are the old recreation /library center and the current City Hall. The recreation /library center could be vacated immediately if needed whereas City Hall can be vacated in November of 2015. The City would like to see retail or a restaurant take the spot of the current City Hall. Temporary locations that the 2 City in the interim could use are the 7001 Boulevard 26 and possibly the old Kimberly Clark building. North Tarrant Express 2013 will be the toughest year as far as ramp closures in North Richland Hills. The Holiday westbound off ramp will be closed in January and reopen in July. Iron Horse westbound off ramp will reopen in November and the Iron Horse eastbound on ramp © Iron horse will reopen in September. The good news is that the Holiday Lane underpass will be closed at the end of May and will reopen in early August before school starts. Considering the amount of work such as building walls up to 30 feet in height in certain places the work is still on schedule. Mr. Hulse had excellent photos of the construction on Loop 820 to demonstrate the massive work being done. Development Projects Huggins Honda currently has 47,562 s.f. but will be tripling that amount to 118,119 s.f. Much of their land in front of the dealership has been purchased by the state to be used for the new north access road. This was a great opportunity for redesigning his new facility for his car dealership. WinCo, a grocery store out of Idaho that is employee owned, plans on moving into the old L shaped building just north of Floor & Decor. The old L shaped building will be demolished for the new 85,000 s.f. grocery. Mr. Hulse compared it to a Costco without clothes, electric appliances and more like a very large Aldi. This will be a $15 M capital investment. The Aldi grocery store plans have been approved at a location north of North Tarrant Parkway on Davis. Signalization will be added at the entrance to the store. Another interested grocery store, possibly 123,000 s.f., is looking at the corner of North Tarrant Parkway and Precinct Line Road. There will be eight pad sites available at this site equaling a $23 million capital investment. Last but not least are the 2013 New or Improved Businesses which are; Floor & Decor, Mooyah, Jet's Pizza, Taco Cabana, SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt, Firestone, Fantastic Sams Hair Salon, Sushi Nikko, Yogurtville, Cristina's and +E -CARE Emergency Centers. Craig Hulse then opened the meeting for any questions and answers. With no further business the meeting was adjourned by Jim Makens at 12:57 p.m. 3 CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY HALL COUNCIL WORK ROOM 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS 76180 Friday, July 26, 2013 11:30 A.M. 1. Call Meeting to Order Jim Makens 2. Approval of Minutes from April 25, 2013 Jim Makens Economic Development Advisory Committee 3. Introduction of Members and Guests Craig Hulse 4. Updates Craig Hulse • North Richland Hills Economy • Development Projects • City Facilities / Land Disposition • North Tarrant Express • Local Programs: A. Wayfinding B. BIG Program C. Shop NRH 5. Adjourn Jim Makens