Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2016 Progress
2016 Progress
2016 Progress
PLACES
Pg. 4
Growth puts pressure on
school districts
Publisher
Jeff Smith
Editor
James Walker
Pg. 6
Swancy touts Weatherford
potential
Pg. 8
Walsh Ranch development
will create a new metro core
Ad Design
Pg. 10
East Parker County Growth
Erin Ferguson
Pg. 12
Housing Weatherfords future population
boom
Pg. 14
Retail success fueling citys growth
Page 3
www.weatherforddemocrat.com
Advertising Sales
Julia Thompson
817-594-7447
IS A PRODUCT OF
THE WEATHERFORD DEMOCRAT
512 PALO PINTO STREET
WEATHERFORD, TEXAS
Page 4
The
districts
facility
planning
committee recommended the need
to build a new school for students in
kindergarten through second grade
with an initial capacity of 450-500
students, along with renovations to the
the elementary school and junior high
school.
Page 5
Page 6
Swancy touts
Weatherford
potential
Page 7
plan, Swancy said the city is working on a possible
method to get the state to pay for the projects.One
of the major parts of the plan is getting truck traffic
out of downtown and making it more pedestrian
friendly.
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
East Parker
County Growth
Aledo
Annetta
Willow Park
Hudson Oaks
Page 11
said. You can scrimp on it. But its a pay-menow or pay-me-later kind of deal. And the time of
reckoning has come.
The city is also in the process of finding a site for a
new, permanent wastewater treatment plant.
By Maggie Fraser
mfraser@weatherforddemocrat.com
Page 12
Housing Weatherfords
future population boom
to 60 percent apartments.
The number of single family home permits has
increased, according to official city statistics.
From 2012 through 2016, 751 single family
dwelling permits have been issued. Regardless of
the growth, Farmer thinks that Weatherford will
still keep its sense of individuality, and doesnt
count on Weatherford becoming a suburb of the
metroplex anytime soon.
I define a suburb different than others, he said.
Weve got city problems, weve got a downtown
that needs some work, weve got neighborhoods
Page 13
Page 14
Retail
success
fueling
Citys
growth
Weatherfords retail base has boomed over the
last decade though city leaders expect the city to
continue growing in other areas, as well.
Eleven years ago, the Lowes, Target shopping
center just started construction, said Director of
Economic Development Dennis Clayton, adding
that the Weatherford Ridge shopping center
followed behind and is almost finished out.
With that and some other projects, I know for
a fact that weve added about 1.3 million square
feet of new retail, primarily out on the interstate,
Clayton said. And that has caused the city sales
tax to just about double in 10 years.
It was $4.5 or $5 million per year. It reached $11.3
million last year as a direct result of that plus all of
the smaller developments along South Main Street
and Fort Worth Highway and downtown.
There is more to come, Clayton said.A lot
has happened and will continue, Clayton said,
pointing out major projects under construction
such as the film and bowling alley and the Roger
Williams dealership and the newly opened Keg1
facility.I think the TIRZ is going to help continue
our development to the west.
Clayton said he expects to continue to see
businesses interested in open space west of South
Main Street as well as near the west loop around
Weatherford. Development of the east loop is
also expected to create additional opportunity for
growth to the east, near Hudson Oaks, according
to Clayton.
While retail has been one of the largest growing
sectors in Weatherford in recent year, Clayton
noted the multiple other sectors have also been
growing, including healthcare, such as the new
Weatherford Rehab Hospital, and warehouse and
distribution sectors.
The TIRZ focus on enhancement and marketing
of the downtown, various transportation projects,
including downtown, and housing growth will be
important for continued economic development,
Clayton said.
I think continuing what were doing and putting
some of these new programs in place and
improving access and circulation are some of the
key factors, Clayton said. And quality of life and
schools are some of the key factors, and thats in
place with all of the school districts we have.
Were sort of a model city for growth, Clayton
said, adding that the location near the Metroplex,