West 7th is quickly becoming one of the area’s most successful developments from what I’m hearing. Some have mused that what Victory did wrong, these folks are doing right. As Kirk admitted.

“We learned a lot from other developers and developments in DFW… I mean, the Fort Worth/Dallas area,” he said.

Big lesson: “Our anchor entertainment district restaurants and entertainment and local and boutique retail are all regional players on the restaurant side,  except for In-N-Out,” said Williams.

Translation: they know and understand the North Texas market, opportunities and challenges that exist here.

Like that Dallasites won’t spend $100 on a steak they can cook on their $5000 backyard Viking.

West 7th vitals:  106,000 square feet of office, almost 80% leased.

345 residential units 99% leased, more than 200 floor plans.

Now here’s the tough one, retail: 229,000 square feet that is 76% leased and the joint is so healthy cranes are actually working to add more — 25,000 more retail, and 96 more residential rental units for a total of 441 rental units late August 2011.

About the time we are supposed to be singing. (Jump for the release.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IN-N-OUT BURGER SIGNS LEASE FOR FORT WORTH, TEXAS LOCATION

The West 7^th Development Welcomes In-N-Out Burger

FORT WORTH (September 20, 2010) – The West 7^th development today announced it has signed a lease with In-N-Out Burger. Fort Worth’s In-N-Out Burger will be located at the northwest corner of West 7^th Street and Currie Street in Fort Worth, Texas and is expected to open mid 2011.

Texas will be In-N-Out Burger’s fifth state, joining California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. In-N-Out Burger is known for its never-changing simple menu – hamburger, cheeseburger, “Double-Double” (double meat/double cheese), French fries, fountain drinks, and three flavors of real ice cream shakes.

Carl Van Fleet, Vice President of Real Estate & Development stated “When searching for the ideal site for In-N-Out Burger, we do our due diligence to find primary corridors of activity and vibrancy. West 7^th fits that requirement nicely.”

The restaurant will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10:30 a.m.to 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The company will employ approximately 55-65 people at this location.

“Lease negotiations with In-N-Out Burger have been in the works for months,” said Kirk Williams, Cypress Equities’ senior vice president of development. “When first hearing about the company’s expansion plans, we immediately knew West 7^th would be the best fit. In-N-Out Burger’s quality ingredients and top-notch customer service is a great complement to the West 7^th environment.

“It has been a challenge to keep the exciting news quiet, so now we look forward to spreading the word and bringing the iconic West Coast hamburger chain to the Fort Worth community,” added Williams.

West 7th is a strategic blend of pedestrian-friendly urban elements positioned in a mixed-use community offering retail, entertainment, office and residential. The 13-acre development is located on 7th Street and University near the Fort Worth business and cultural districts. Its retail and office components are being developed by a Cypress Equities company* and the residential component by Columbus Realty Partners, LTD. To learn more about the West 7th development, please visit www.West-7th.com.

- more –

In-N-Out Burger Signs Lease for Fort Worth Location – Page 2

Cypress Equities

Founded in 1995, Cypress Equities companies* have offices in Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York and Fort Lauderdale. Today, Cypress Equities companies are developing and managing more than $1.3 billion in projects throughout the U.S. and Caribbean, consisting of community and power centers, as well as vertically integrated mixed-use villages that incorporate retail, residential, hotel and offices. Visit www.cypressequities.com for more information.

Update: Nancy is reporting this store may even open sooner than the Garland location she scooped. You don’t think, do you, that maybe In-N-Out is changing its mind about Garland…

Does anyone have contact info for Mike Judge?

Not so in Garland, Texas. Which is sad because Garland was a Money/CNN top 100 U.S. community with many beautiful pockets of luxury homes, lakes, and a relaxed country feel.

Until your pet gets lost.

But now the realtors of Garland have had enough. Real estate agents seldom badmouth their backyard. But 32 Garland realtors say they are having difficulty selling homes, and that economic development in Garland is hurting  because of the way the Garland Animal Shelter mass-gasses animals and treats stray or even family pets. There have been documented reports of family pets being euthanized, and rescue pets killed as the rescuer was on his way. And pets who accidentally wander out of their Garland yards may just “disappear” –

“If your pet gets lost, you never know if it ends up at the Garland Animal Shelter,” says Michelle Ferrer, who describes herself as a tax-paying Garland citizen. “If its chipped or tagged they are supposed to call you, but they don’t, and they don’t  keep any records.”

The bottom line, says Ferrer and other Garland residents: people don’t trust the Garland Animal Shelter to “shelter” anything that breathes.

For some reason, the Garland shelter insists on mass euthanizing animals with gas. Carbon monoxide gas euthanasia, which animal welfare experts say is one of the most cruel forms of euthanizing. The American Veterinary Medical Association says CO euthanasia is highly toxic and difficult to detect . . . and intravenous injection of a barbituric acid derivative is the preferred method for euthanasia of dogs, cats, other small animals, and horses. It also says that, if done correctly, in a properly manufactured and equipped chamber, with view ports that allow workers to observe the animals actually dying (what a job!) , CO gas euthanasia is acceptable. The AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia states that, 20 to 25 seconds before death, dogs are observed to become agitated and vocalize. But the guidelines also say humans who have died by the same method are reportedly “not distressed”  — wonder how dead people managed to report that?  No other city in North Texas uses this form of euthanasia, and more and more states have laws requiring death by injection, or barbiturate-based euthanasia, the “putting to sleep” that many of us have had to do with ill or ailing pets. Why is Garland still in the humane dark ages? Is it more cost-effective to gather a  bunch of animals together in a room and turn on the gas?  Neighboring Rockwall has a progressive lethal injection euthanasia policy. One  Garland City Councilman, Rick Williams, seems hell-bent on gassing up critters. A year ago, he personally observed the  CO gas euthanasia of two dogs at the Garland Animal Shelter, on September 10, 2009. He was trying to squelch critics who complained that not only were some puppies being buried alive because the gas wasn’t killing them uniformly, animals were howling prior to death.  Here’s an excerpt from his report:

“After about 20 seconds, this dog sat down and leaned against the side of the cage with sort of a blank look on his face.  In about 10 more seconds, it fell to the floor, and in a few more seconds was the sound that DVM Neunzig correctly described when he said “For the untrained person, this can be very disturbing.”  There was a howling sound for about 4 to 5 seconds, and then silence.”

The shelter was criticized for mis-treating six puppies in June.    This dog, a Chihuahua,  was euthanized while rescuers were en route. And when Garland citizens and humane society volunteers have urged the Garland City Council to turn off the gas and adopt the barbiturate-based technique, they hit a brick wall. The mayor, who once said he planned to end the gassing by 2010, was not supported by one of the eight city council members. Some have said that the protesters are not offering credible information, though a letter supporting lethal injection was written by a prominent veterinarian at Texas A&M University, Sandee M. Hartsfield, DVM, MS, DACVA. You wonder if this gassing has anything to do with Garland recently being left off CNN/Money’s list of  top small cities — it was number 67 in 2008. Rowlett is number 24. But in 2009, no mention of Garland, Texas.

Here’s the letter from the 32 Garland realtors:

August 2, 2010

Ronald E. Jones

Mayor, City of Garland

Garland City Hall

200 N. Fifth St.

Garland, TX  75040

Dear Mayor Jones:

As concerned real estate professionals who sell in Garland, we are writing to seek a resolution to a very contentious issue that has exposed our city to criticism and contributed to the view that Garland is not a progressive, responsive, or animal-friendly city. That issue is the continued use of carbon monoxide gas euthanasia in our city animal shelter, which appears to be only the most prominent component of the more extensive problems in our animal shelter.

When prospective home buyers and small business owners consider locations, one of the most important considerations is the desirability of the city for families and their needs. For most families, their companion animals are family members. When people learn that Garland not only euthanizes animals with gas chambers, but also has a poor reputation regarding other matters of shelter management and treatment of animals, they are shocked, and they look elsewhere.

Buyers have plenty of options, since our city is the only one in the DFW metroplex that uses gas chambers and has such open animosity between animal services and the public.

When a real estate professional lists a property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the property information and photos are grabbed by hundreds of websites, then other websites pick up those listings, and on it goes into infinite cyberspace. These listings must compete with those from other area municipalities, and for many potential home buyers or businesses, Garland’s animal shelter problems, and the associated discord between city leadership and the public, will be enough to eliminate our city from consideration.

Regardless of the city’s position on the merits of carbon monoxide gas euthanasia, as a practical, economic, and reputation matter, Garland must resolve this issue in favor of the animals who end up in our shelter. The solution is to end the use of gas chambers, and then to begin a cooperative process of reform in animal shelter practices and leadership.

As those who market and sell our city to residential and business clients, we are asking that our mayor, city council members, and city manager come together to get this done in a timely manner. Otherwise, Garland will continue to suffer when compared to other area cities perceived to be more family-focused and animal-friendly.

The bottom line – Right now when economic development is so extremely important to Garland’s future, the loss of even one family buying a home, or losing one new business, because of something that our city manager and city council could easily and quickly change, isn’t worth it.  Please just do the right thing and get rid of the gas chambers. You will be doing a good thing for the future of Garland.

But I was shocked to see that Forest Lane was number 69, with 939,146 annual hours of delay that cost us $20.43 million, and Lemmon Avenue number 67 on the list with 297,671 annual hours of delay that cost us $6.47 million.

So much for saving time and fuel costs by living close-in. Jump for the chart:

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Dear Candy: We are planning to buy a home in Dallas in the $400K (or lower) range. I want to buy in the best possible area for appreciation. You know a lot about real estate, where do you think that might be? I will tell you this — I want to stay as close-in to the city as possible and no downtown condos, please. Also, curious as to your thoughts — do you think we have hit the bottom of the market yet, because that is exactly when I want to buy. Thanks!

I have many European details (daddy was from the Mediterranean, but mama was French),  I am a custom-built home on large corner lot, kind of like an artificially inseminated but perfect baby. I have smooth as silk hand- finished walls, nine-inch mouldings (wowzers!) , over sized windows, vaulted ceilings. In other words, I am a big, beautiful woman. My yard is fenced, about 150 by 200 (huge clue right there) with an outdoor kitchen and waterfall pool that muffles all noise, not that you get that much in my ‘hood. Also, I am under two million dollars,  but priceless.

Where am I?

Update: My address is 7350 Mimosa, I’m listed for $399,900 over at Keller Williams Elite, and like the man says, I am already under contract.

“Huber said he didn’t sign the contract on advice of an attorney, mainly because of a stipulation that could assign liability to homeowners who had a private arborist trim the trees.”

Told you. A lawyer on every block. But the homeowners have come up with a plan totally worth stealing: they plan to protest their property values next year because Oncor has, says this Mr. Huber, butchered his trees and sawed off about ten percent of his home’s value.

I can hardly wait ’till Oncor comes to my neighborhood. I’m going to ask for 20% off.

Thank GOD I can still get TaTa tamers and peroxide at Ulta.

Ron Wills, a Canadian, says he just cannot take Texas summers. But his wife, Corrina, a Tucson native, says she is not going to live anywhere with brutal winters. My suggestion:  Make an offer with the contingency they become personal tenants of that lower-story space November through April each year.

If I lived next door to Foster and had all those mosquitoes freeloading off those weeds, I’d be one giant mosquito bite.

Foster Elementary is in northwest-ish Dallas, in Midway Hollow, just west of Bluffview, on Mixon and Clover. Mixon is a handsome rue with so many pretty trees and I did not see one unkempt lawn when I tootled down the street. You just never know when DallasDirt is going to be in your ‘hood. But honestly, if I was grading this school on appearances, hate to say it but I’d give it a big fat “F”.

And that trash isn’t attractive, either. More photos after the jump.