The conundrum: which development meeting to attend?

At Copperfield, the speakers were Sean Christopher, representing Prescott Realty (Town Center), Tracy Curts, Executive Director of Uptown Dallas Public Improvement District, and Mike Pappas, concerned homeowner.  The purpose of the Copperfield meeting was to host an explanatory Q & A for the condo, townhome and zero lot line owners about the PID that Prescott is proposing along the Skillman/LBJ corridor (and spearheading, having a 400 mil investment on the hoof).  I was in attendance as both an owner and a member of the Copperfield Condo Board.  I’ve had numerous emails from residents saying they couldn’t attend but would like a recap.  Here you go.

There was a healthy enough turn-out, about 30 folks from the three entities.  Mr. Christopher was introduced and I was happy to hear he’s an LHHS Grad.  He listed his credentials and began a screen presentation.  That’s kinda where he lost me.  The presentation was slick and uniformative – to me at least – lines on a screen.  (I kept wondering who the PR company was that produced it, how much they charged for it and how they managed to sell it).  When questions were posed during the presentation, it was clear – to me at least – that Mr. Christopher was a bit tired and jaded and condescending and wanted to get back to the presentation and complete it.  (If this is your job and you have to do it over and over, you probably should get a better game face).  When valid questions were posed (several by Mike Pappas), I had a hard time figuring out what the answers were.  They were vague – to me at least.  No bashing of Mr. Christopher here – he seemed a genuinely nice guy genuinely intent on ‘selling’ the PID.  Had enthusiasm, presentation tools and presentation skills been better, the meeting would’ve been shorter.

The next speaker was Tracy Curts and,,,night and day.  This guy spoke to the audience in terms that folks (like me, who are having a hard time wrapping our minds around all this development stuff) could understand – tangible answers, real life examples, and a genuine desire to answer our questions – no matter how inane or redundant they may have seemed to him. 

I was initially opposed to this PID.  A tax increase for things that didn’t seem to be relevent to me in this area?  And a sneaking suspicion the money would be funneled to niceties at Town Center?  Mr. Curts changed my mind.  Here are the points I remember, some from Mr. Curts and some from Mr. Christopher:

• One goal of the PID is to eradicate crime in the area by providing funding for supplemental Dallas Police Officers, ergo, making the area safer and more desirable for new occupancy

• The PID will be dedicated to the Skillman corridor and include Whitehurst and Fair Oaks.  It would also encourage a ‘walkable community’ down Skillman, including of course, Town Center

• The PID would be run by a board of 12.  These twelve would include representatives of Copperfield, Oak Leaf, Prescott Realty, (I’m assuming other Condo/Townhomes in the area) and neighborhood association heavy hitters.  Like any other Board, initiatives and monies would be determined and allotted by them – not Prescott, not the City.  The Board.

• It will take 60% of the total homeowners OR 60% of the total valuation OR 60% of the land (I don’t get this one) for the PID to pass

• The PID would be in effect for seven years, called the ‘Sunset Clause’.  After that it would have to be renewed by the same process occuring now.  If no group were to take the initiative, the PID would be gone

• Prescott, as the biggest investor in the area, is spearheading the PID.  According to Prescott, they’re the 7th developer to be interested in the area and ‘we’re making it work’

• The tax increase to dues paying homeowners would be .13 to .15% per $100 valuation (forgive me, I was a little confused by the two figures.  One is an initial cost, one is down the road…?)

• The speculated initial allottment for the funds garnered by our tax dollars would be:  65% – Security, 15-17% – Administrative, 11% – Promotion, remaining 2% – Improvements.  The total budget:  384K.  According to Mr. Christopher, by year two, 71% would be put toward Public Safety

Some additional notes and observations that I managed to scratch down on my pad of paper:

• Mr. Curts of Uptown earns a salary of 61K managing that PID.  His Marketing budget is 180K, his Police budget, 210K

• Mr. Pappas was concerned about why the boundaries of the area were drawn as they were – who was behind the plan.  Again, forgive me, I’m unclear if there was an answer.  But I remember the question and it struck me as valid and I thought it should’ve been an easy answer.

• At the request of a fellow neighbor and blogger, I specifically asked what ‘park space renovation’ (aside from the park space that will be IN Town Center) was being referred to in the PID petition.  Answer:  Lake Highlands Rec Center

On a separate note, I would urge anyone interested to read all the reports and commentary coming into this blog.  There are many good questions being asked, some good answers being given, some maybe not so good intentions coming to light.  If you want what’s best for your Lake Highlands community, keep reading and learning and putting in your two cents.  It could make a difference.  I personally am partial to the commentaries from ‘Living in LH’ and ‘Triple Wildcat’.  This IS Lake Highlands and there WILL be changes.  But it will STILL be Lake Highlands if we are vigilant and involved.

For more info from more informed minds then mine, contact Tracy Curts tracy@uptowndallas.net or visit the site

and Mike Pappas mpappas100@tx.rr.com

Thanks to Copperfield for hosting.