Arlington City Council members and people interested in the International Corridor project on the east side of town say they鈥檙e beyond ready to get started with projects to acknowledge the area鈥檚 cultural diversity.
Rebecca Boxall, District 5 council member, said she will speak with UT Arlington staff about launching a design competition for a sign or marker that welcomes people to the international corridor.
Both Boxall and Nikkie Hunter, District 3 council member, said they鈥檇 like to meet more regularly with business owners and those interested in the corridor and would follow-up with attendees in the next few months. The representatives would also like as many people as possible to weigh in on next steps for the area.
鈥淲e want to move forward with the International Corridor,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淎nything we get, let鈥檚 move, let鈥檚 go, let鈥檚 get this started.鈥�
Business owners and organizers have long discussed a way to celebrate and acknowledge the racial and ethnic diversity in the area and mix of small businesses and shopping centers. The city installed banners that say 鈥渨elcome鈥� in 10 different languages .
The city also implemented a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), a special designation that sets aside tax dollars as property values increase to finance public improvements and economic development projects.
The TIRZ is projected to accrue over $5 million by Fiscal 2025 and over $99 million by Fiscal 2043, according to projections The city and business owners can request funding for projects including sidewalk and street improvement, economic development and public spaces.
However, some in attendance said they鈥檇 like to see some action and a larger investment from the city than TIRZ funding.
Dan Dipert said he doubts that projects in downtown or the entertainment district were limited to TIRZ dollars. And instead of continued meetings and polling, the city should get started on realizing some of the projects lined out in the plan council approved in 2023.
鈥淭his group can talk until hell freezes over, but we need the council women to play 鈥� This can be one of the greatest tourism destinations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but we鈥檝e got to play, we鈥檝e got to get something done,鈥� Dipert said.
Boxall said she and other council members want the same 鈥� but they need community input about where to start.
鈥淥ne way is (Hunter) and I can sit down together and say, 鈥楾his is what we think the corridor needs鈥� and we go to you guys and we say, 鈥楾his is what we think you need to do鈥� 鈥� I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 the right way to do that.鈥�
Community members suggested making better use of social media, visiting businesses, exploring artificial intelligence and surveys to better poll people in the area.
Lauren Paige said the city should concentrate on reaching out 鈥� and aim to create spaces that reflect the community surrounding the project.
鈥淎 majority of this room is white. That does not encompass what east Arlington is at all,鈥� Paige said.
Jo Anna Cardoza said the city should provide versions of future presentations in different languages.
鈥淭hat way, if people come to the meeting, they can understand what鈥檚 going on, too,鈥� she said.
Got a tip? Email Kailey Broussard at kbroussard@kera.org.
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider Thank you.
