Yesterday I blogged about what's happening at, or to, River Legacy Park, in Arlington. I biked the trail as far as I could, til the trail was blocked by the construction of a pipeline.Yesterday I told you what I'd learned about this project, from an Anonymous source.
Then, today, another Anonymous source made an information rich comment about the project at River Legacy.
It is called Veridian. Veridian, well, the Huffines, have a website. You can go there and see more artist renderings of what Veridian will look like, along with topographical maps. It is a way bigger project than I realized. It will totally alter River Legacy Park. In a good way, or bad way, I don't know. What I do know, almost for certain, is we'll be hearing a lot of construction noises for who knows how long, along the formerly quiet nature trail.
Below is an excerpt from the Veridian website describing the project. You can go to their website to read all about it.
"Viridian, a 2,000-acre+ mixed-use community located in Arlington, Texas, will offer the connection with nature that one yearns for in today's busy world, plus all the great advantages that come with small-town life. Its new urbanism design, sustainability and eco-friendly environment will make it exciting and vibrant.
Unique, unlike any ever developed, Viridian sets itself apart from others because of its prime urban location, its commitment to sustainability and its green living environment. It will be unlike any community ever built in the Southwest and is one of the largest infill developments in the U.S. It is the last large remaining urban tract in Arlington and the only remaining one - in the middle of five million people - where Huffines could create their vision of a true mixed-use, sustainable, green community, in which one could work, live and play in a urban environment. Huffines will make the development viable because of key local, public/private partnerships with the city, and when completed the community will boast a $1.5 billion dollar tax base."
Hey Durango,
ReplyDeleteWell I decided to go to the Bird's Fort marker today since it was so nice out. I wanted to get a couple of pics for you. After putting on thick jeans and knee high boots (for the snakes), I took Calloway Cemetary road there. When I turned right at the end expecting to go down a very pot-holed and washboard Euless South Main, I ran into a guard shack and gate. The sign said to speak with the guard and identify yourself. Well I was just going to turn around and 2 guards came out and we spoke for a while.
They were very nice, just doing their jobs.
They informed me that they have been there for a while now and have run off the drug dealers/users and other miscreants, as well as all the off roaders. They also said all access to the historic marker is denied from that roadway. Oh well, at least there will be no more trash dumped there.
One of the guards took off in his truck to chase off a vehicle which was in the floodplains area east of the Veridian project. I asked why would they care who was down there since it was not part of the project. Well they told me that there are big pipelines being put in down there and that land was going to be developed also. So much for the floodplain. They are going to have to bring in so much dirt to fill that area in!
The only untouched land in that area will be River Legacy which will soon be too crowded to enjoy.
So anyway I did some research last night and found out that Sam Ware of Lazarus Property Corp., a real estate developer from Dallas is the one that owned the property before Huffines. He found out about the natual gas there and sold the land-minus the mineral rights to Huffines. He is the one that has the 2 toxic dump gas wells there close to the Birds Fort marker. That would be the top part of the "boot" on the map that I told you about.
Anyway, I guess it's better that Huffines has the project than Mr Ware. After googleing his name it comes to light that he has been sued quite a few times in different states for unscrupulous land development matters.
Anyway this concludes my report on the Lakes of Bird's Fort development.