Around Town in July

EHCC Property Speculation

The property owners in the Eastern Hills Country Club neighborhood in South Garland are concerned about rumors of a housing development being planned for the country club acreage. The developer is Henry S. Miller, reportedly with plans to build 200+ homes, which residents of the area fear will have a negative affect on their quality of life and property values. The 50-year-old private club provided its members with an 18 hole golf course, lighted tennis courts, and swimming pool. Its clubhouse was a popular venue for weddings and banquets. The club closed in late December, 2013 and was ultimately auctioned off by the Bankruptcy Court.

Heritage Crossing

Once upon a time there was a place in downtown Garland known as Heritage Park, located behind City Hall. In that park were four structures thought to be of historic significance. They were the Tinsley/Lyles House, the Pace House, the Old Santa Fe Depot, and a dilapidated Pullman railcar, each in need of renovation or restoration due to neglect. When the owners of the 5th Street Crossing apartment complex partnered with the city to develop that piece of property, those historic structures had to be moved or destroyed. When it was announced that the houses would be demolished, a group of concerned citizens objected. They incorporated as Preservation Garland, and after long debate the Garland City Council voted in favor of saving the houses.

In May of this year, Sixth Street was opened up and now crosses the DART tracks onto Walnut. Three of the four components of what was Heritage Park have been relocated to an area bordering the DART tracks, just behind the library. The Santa Fe Depot and the Pullman railcar are now in place and the Tinsley/Lyles House will be the third structure in what is now known as Heritage Crossing. The fourth structure from Heritage Park, the Pace House, has been placed in private ownership and will be relocated to a lot on Eleventh Street.

On May 31 there was an event at Heritage Crossing to celebrate the opening of the Landmark Museum headquartered in the renovated Santa Fe Depot. It was a very festive occasion, attended by approximately 200 folks, with a barbershop quartet, ladies in period costumes giving tours of historic buildings and businesses in old downtown and, of course speeches by local politicians. There was a ribbon cutting and the door to the depot/museum was open for visits by the public. There are plans to construct a canopy to protect the old railcar from further damage by the elements.

City Hall Renovation

Construction in and around City Hall is well underway, with the multi-level parking garage nearing completion. Two city owned buildings on opposite corners of Fifth and State Streets have been demolished. When the parking facility is completed, construction of the 150+ unit apartment complex will begin on the property that once was Heritage Park.

What are your thoughts on the construction and changes coming to Garland? Leave a comment and let us know what you’d like to see in Garland’s future.

Coming Down

The demolition of the old Target store at Centerville and Hwy. 635 is in the process of being demolished. WinC oFood Store purchased the property and will be constructing a discount big box grocery store on that site.  That food store chain has stores in McKinney, Duncanville and Ft.Worth, and others outside of North Texas. WinCo describes itself as “The Supermarket Low Price Leader.” We don’t yet know when the new store plans to be opening its doors for business.

Going up

We just happened  to be driving by when we spotted this sign being installed  on the building that formerly housed a furniture store and a pizza joint, on the corner of First Ave. and Main Street in Garland. The facade of the new auto parts store improves the exterior of a building that also houses a dental office and Subway franchise.