On behalf of the Las Colinas Association Board of Directors and

2012 – Number 3
Happy Holidays!
On behalf of the Las Colinas Association Board of Directors and Staff,
we wish you a Season filled with beautiful moments and cherished memories.
What’s happening with the Urban Center?
by Paul E. Frederiksen, AICP, CPM
LCA Vice President
FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE HAVE WONDERED
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE URBAN CENTER WITHOUT KNOWING
WHAT THE URBAN CENTER OF LAS COLINAS TRULY IS.
Paul Frederiksen
THE PARTNERS
The City of Irving and the Las Colinas Association have
partnered in the re-instituted Urban Center Task Force (UCTF).
The purpose of the task force is to provide a vision for the Urban
Center and to find ways for implementing that vision. There
is particular emphasis on identifying strategic investment and
development opportunities for the Urban Center.
In spring 2012, the UCTF engaged with SASAKI Associates,
Inc. of Boston, for assistance in preparing an Urban Center
Master Plan. SASAKI Associates, Inc. is a world-renowned
firm founded 60 years ago on the basis of interdisciplinary
planning and design. Representing a multitude of disciplines
from architecture, planning and urban design, they use an
integrated approach helping them yield rich ideas and surprising
insights. Among the many projects and communities in which
they have worked are Waterway Square in The Woodlands (north
of Houston); the East Baltimore Mixed Use District; and Addison
Circle Park in Addison, Texas. Visit their website for additional
projects at http://www.sasaki.com/projects/.
THE URBAN CENTER
Its overall physical configuration is already fixed by Lake
Carolyn and framed by developed and undeveloped parcels,
the Trinity River watershed, and a transportation system which
includes sidewalks, streets, promenade, APT and light rail
system. Within this existing context, a Master Plan for the Urban
Center seeks to help define new site planning and urban design
principles to govern the remaining undeveloped parcels and
encourage new infrastructure development.
(continued - page 3)
The Urban Center is defined as the area in the map above.
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Urban Center (continued)
The Urban Center in Las Colinas has
extraordinary assets: an exceptional location in the
metropolitan area, large critical mass of existing
development, superior highway access, new transit,
a beautiful lake, adjacency to the Trinity River
watershed and Campion trail, and an established
reputation in the marketplace.
Irving-Las Colinas, and specifically the Urban
Center, is strategically located between the cities
of Dallas and Fort Worth. Adjacent to D/FW
International Airport, the world’s second busiest
airport, Las Colinas provides easy global access for
growing international business relationships.
Of the 218,000 Irving residents, 31,000 people
live in Las Colinas. The business community
encompasses more than 2,000 companies and
a workforce of approximately 103,000. The
development comprises 22.3 million square feet
of office space and 8.5 million square feet of light
industrial and distribution space. Retail space exceeds 1.3
million square feet.
So with all of this you might say, “But the shops on the
canal are sparse; there is still plenty of vacant land; the road
system needs repair; and there needs to be more activity.” The
answer is, you are right; we hope to fix that!
GOALS FOR THE MASTER PLAN
The City of Irving and the Las Colinas Association’s goals
for the Urban Center are to create a vibrant, mixed use, live/
work district and to have the Urban Center regain its place as
the premier corporate office location in the Dallas metropolitan
area.
•
The Urban Center Master Plan will be defined first by the
“program” of real estate development that is projected to
take place and a program of traditional community facilities
that are needed to support the goal of a live/work district for
the Center.
•
Second, it will be defined by the urban design and site
planning principles needed in reconfiguring the public
framework and the private development parcels.
•
Third, it will be defined by a plan for implementation that
addresses capital funding for infrastructure improvements
and community facilities and changes to zoning and deed
restrictions.
Half of the developed parcels in the Urban Center remain to
be developed. Future land use of the undeveloped parcels will
be impacted by the real estate market over the next decade(s)
and the need to introduce traditional community facilities to
support the growing residential community. In the next 10 years,
the Urban Center is expected to hold 22,500 office workers
and 14,000 residents. At full build out the Urban Center has
an estimated capacity to support 26,000 office workers and
18,000 residents. The real estate “program” is derived from the
real estate market study, and the community facilities program
is based upon the projected needs of the existing and projected
residents and office workers.
In order to understand land use from a real estate market
perspective and to establish a baseline for future land use, a
real estate market study was carried out to assess the market
potential for office, residential and retail land use over the next
decade. The retail real estate program is based upon the existing
and projected office and residential population within the Urban
Center. It is understood that the retail program could be greater
with the introduction of destination retail activity that would attract
off-site residents and workers. In identifying strategic investment
and development opportunities, the Las Colinas Association and
the City of Irving were interested in determining the following:
•
An analysis of strategic properties to include proposed
uses, suggested means of developing the properties into
the recommended uses, and tools available to the UCTF to
accomplish the development process.
•
A land use analysis and municipal infrastructure analysis with
recommendation of action steps.
•
Analysis of what percent of future growth can occur in the
Urban Center
•
Identification of impediments to desired development
•
Identification of potential incentives to develop in areas within
the Urban Center
We anticipate that SASAKI Associates, Inc. will have a
completed master plan ready for presentation to both the Las
Colinas Association Board of Directors and the Irving City Council
by early 2013. It is hoped that this will help guide our decisions
and that of policymakers to ensure that the Urban Center remains
and excels as a vibrant place to live, work, and play here in Las
Colinas.
3
Congratulations to Hackberry Creek’s Kristin Anderson,
Winner of the 2012 Van Cliburn Amateur Piano Video Contest
As winner of this contest, Kristin will participate in the International
Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in May 2015
by Pat Pisarski (Reprinted by Permission)
Kristin Anderson’s piano performance of
pieces by Rachmaninoff and Bach received
the most votes by the public in the Cliburn online video contest for outstanding
amateur pianists.
Contestants from 15 different states and
seven countries competed by submitting videos that were viewed in August by
over 23,000 visitors to the Cliburn website.
Entrants in the contest must be over 35 years
old and cannot perform, teach, or compose
music as their profession. As winner of this
contest, Kristin will participate in the International Piano Competition for Outstanding
Amateurs in May 2015. Approximately 75
gifted pianists, selected from around
the world by the Van Cliburn Foundation panel, will compete in
three recital elimination rounds. The final amateur winner will be
added to the prestigious list of only six who have won this title
during the competition’s history.
COMPETITION BACKGROUND
When you hear “Van Cliburn,” you can’t help but think of majestic world-class classical music. Van Cliburn is the preeminent
American pianist of the century, known for having performed for
every President since Harry Truman and for winning the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow at the age of 23.
To understand how remarkable that achievement was, you
need to put this competition in its historical context. In 1958,
the Cold War between Russia and the U.S. had strained the
countries’ tenuous relations. The piano competition in Moscow was an event meant to show Russia’s cultural superiority
over the U.S. For Van Cliburn, an American, to be named the
winner required permission from the Soviet’s Premier Nikita
Khrushchev. Van Cliburn returned home to the U.S. to the only
ticker tape parade New York City has ever had for a classical
musician and demonstrated to the world the power of music to
transcend politics.
As a result of the efforts of dedicated admirers and local music
teachers, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was
formed, with the first competition held in Fort Worth in 1962.
Their success resulted in the competitions continuing to be held
every four years and the formation of the Van Cliburn Founda-
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Photo credit: Jeff Covington
tion. In 1999, the Foundation added the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs.
KRISTIN’S BACKGROUND
Kristin and her husband, Jim, attended one of the Amateur Competition Winners Concerts last April and, after returning home, Kristin was
determined to enter the next competition. To do so, meant long hours
of practice since the demands of Kristin’s career in Human Resources
at the Michaels’ corporate headquarters had shifted some of her
focus away from music over the years.
The goal to win the competition revitalized her early love of music
with newfound energy and enthusiasm. Kristin had begun playing
the piano at six years old and grew up in a musical household. She
says she can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a part of her
childhood. Her grandmother was a talented pianist who favored jazz
and the blues while her Aunt Betty flawlessly plays by ear almost any
popular or Broadway tune.
Recently, Betty Gilmer’s visit to Hackberry Creek gave Kristin and
her aunt the opportunity to take turns being teacher and student,
with Betty teaching improvisational tips and Kristin teaching classical
music fingering. Kristin also plays the flute, so Betty’s visit allowed
for some interesting duets. Kristin’s talent and lifelong passion for the
piano has been rewarded in the past by a full piano scholarship to the
University of Florida and by winning numerous pageants, including
being named Miss University of Florida and winning the talent portion
of the Miss Florida Pageant.
Photo credit: Jeff Covington
Through the years, Kristin’s Aunt Betty Gilmer has been both a great mentor
and a duet partner.
UPCOMING COMPETITION
Although the next competition is almost three years away, Kristin has
a staunch cheerleading team in her husband, Jim, her Aunt Betty, and,
of course, her parents, Dr. Howard and Leara Miles who also reside in
Hackberry Creek. Kristin is excited to reconnect with music and looks
forward to helping individuals learn music. Kristin states, “It will be
fulfilling to assist others in learning how to compete and be successful
in reaching their goals. Growing up playing the piano and flute not only
brought a sense of enjoyment, it helped me overcome shyness and
learn the discipline necessary to be successful in other areas of life. I
especially want to share this with young men and women who will be
our future leaders.”
Above:
Kristin, performing at the
1990 Miss Florida Pageant, where she won the
talent portion.
At Left:
In 1990, Kristin won the
Miss Central Florida
Pageant.
Orange Line Extension / New Bus Route
Connect DART Customers to the World
DART DEBUTED A NEW BUS CONNECTION TO DFW AIRPORT ON DECEMBER 3
MAKING AIRLINE TRAVEL IN NORTH TEXAS EASIER THAN EVER.
Route 500 from the Belt Line Station on the Orange Line to Terminal A at DFW is a preview of the direct light rail connection customers will enjoy in December 2014.
Route 500 serves DFW Airport, area hotels along Plaza Drive, and CentrePort Station.
It operates seven days a week between the new Belt Line Station and DFW Terminal A with
most trips also connecting to Trinity Railway
Express (TRE) service at CentrePort/DFW
Airport Station. Buses depart every 15
minutes during rush hours, 20 minutes midday, and 30 minutes late evenings and meet
every Orange Line train. Buses to CentrePort/DFW will be available Monday through
Saturday when TRE trains are in operation.
The new route offers a benefit to those
airline customers wishing to take advantage
of DART’s long-term parking feature at Belt
Route 500 Bus to Terminal A
Line Station with its 596 parking spaces.
Options for passengers under DART’s enhanced Fair Share Parking Project range from no
fee daily parking for vehicles displaying a valid resident parking pass, to long-term (more than
18 hours) parking of $7 to $9, and $60 per month for vehicles without a valid resident parking
pass. More details can be found at DART.org.
Congratulations to the City of
Irving on earning the Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award!
The Baldrige Award is the nation's
highest presidential honor for the business
community, and is highly sought after by
organizations across the country.
The City of Irving is the first municipality in the State of Texas to receive the
award and the second municipality in the
nation.
This award recognizes the City for
achieving and sustaining the highest
national levels of customer satisfaction,
product and service outcomes, process
efficiency, volunteer and workforce
satisfaction as well as financial and social
responsibility.
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Waterway Tower Focuses on Health and Wellness
for Major Indoor-Outdoor Renovations
by Johnny Winton, Vice President of CP Waterway, LLC
IN FALL 2011, CODINA PARTNERS
(HEADQUARTERED IN MIAMI) FIRST
CONSIDERED THE PURCHASE OF
WATERWAY TOWER IN THE URBAN
CENTER OF LAS COLINAS.
After reading “A History of Las Colinas”
which was commissioned by the Las Colinas
Association, they determined that Waterway
Tower would not be “just another” suburban
office building purchase.
Waterway Tower presented an opportunity to participate in the vision created by the
late Ben Carpenter, founding father of Las
Colinas. That vision incorporated many elements that are celebrated in today’s urban
planning circles. When thinking about Ben
Carpenter’s vision, it is important to note
there was an element in his master plan
that took maximum advantage of the natural
resources readily available in the area. In
today’s culture, those natural resources are
referred to as “health and wellness” elements. His peer group, on the other hand,
ignored those elements for the next 15 to 20
years.
The four most successful “Urban
Center” developments in North Texas are
Uptown, Legacy, Park Cities and the Las
Colinas Urban Center. Of the four, Las Colinas has the most unique and irreplaceable
characteristics:
•
A spectacular 125-acre urban lake
surrounded by a beautiful promenade.
•
Its eastern boundary is the Trinity River
with scores of paved and unpaved
biking and running trails which act as an
expanded backyard to many residential
developments located within a couple
hundred yards of Waterway Tower.
•
It has a significant equestrian center
located along the shores of the Trinity
River with many miles of trails for riders
of all ages and skill sets.
The Las Colinas Urban Center has
arguably the most advanced natural health
and wellness features in North Texas –
natural elements that simply cannot be
copied.
When looking at the acquisition of
Waterway Tower, Codina focused on the
unique opportunity that Waterway Tower
provided, along with all of the challenges
associated with the purchase of a 25-yearold building. The challenge was that
Waterway Tower, like all the office buildings
around the lake, had turned its back on the
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Photos by James Bales
lake and all the other natural amenities that
were a part of Ben Carpenter’s dream. The
most obvious opportunity was to undertake a
series of renovations which would allow them
to celebrate the original vision of Carpenter,
which meant putting health and wellness at
the forefront of their redevelopment plans.
To that end, they hired a landscape
architecture firm and landscape contractor to
design and build the Lakefront Entertainment
Plaza. Interior elements were then created to
feature a new Wellness/Fitness Center on the
ground floor of the building, which overlooks
Lake Carolyn and the new Lakefront Entertainment Plaza.
The Lakefront Tenant Entertainment
Plaza is a 15,000-square-foot multipurpose
outdoor plaza. The plaza features electrical
stations and free WiFi, which allows tenants
to work outdoors rather than staying “cooped
up” inside an office on those perfect weather
days. You and your team can go to the lake
front plaza, plug in and go back to work. If
work is completed, change into your workout
clothes and run back out to the Lakefront
Plaza and exercise outdoors on one of the
many pieces of outdoor fitness equipment
woven into the fabric of the plaza.
Waterway Tower is the first Class A office
building on Lake Carolyn with both indoor and
outdoor fitness capabilities. For the serious
cycling enthusiasts, secure bike racks have
been added, allowing biking tenants to jump
on a bike and head to the terrific Campion
Trail bike routes. An open lawn section of the
Plaza is also available for freestyle exercise
workouts, yoga, or just relaxing and enjoying
the view provided by Lake Carolyn. An area
has been created for tenants to hold events,
such as an employee of the month award
luncheon, or any type of group event that will
be in the park or on the lake.
It has been exciting to be a part of this
endeavor which we feel is a tribute to Ben
Carpenter and his vision for Las Colinas!
Waterway Tower as seen from Las Colinas Blvd.
Seating area in the Waterway Tower Plaza
Outdoor fitness area in the plaza
Indoor fitness center overlooking Lake Carolyn and
the plaza
Aerial view of the plaza from a building balcony
Las Colinas Villages
Partner with Irving Cares
MORE THAN 42,000 RESIDENTS (20% OF IRVING’S
POPULATION) WERE TOUCHED BY IRVING CARES
PROGRAMS IN THE PAST YEAR.
Every day, Irving Cares serves approximately 50 families,
a huge increase from 32 families last year. Seeing this need,
Ellen Gilbert of Mandalay Place volunteered her time to
organize an LCA community food drive in October 2012.
Ellen and her homeowner association partners collected
2,807 pounds of food which will feed 33 families for one week!
A huge “thank you” goes out to the HOAs who participated
including Enclave at Windsor Ridge, Mandalay Place, La
Villita, Fox Glen, and Cottonwood Valley. We plan another
Irving Cares’ Kyle Taylor and Teddie Story greet Las Colinas Food Drive Chair Ellen
food drive here in Las Colinas in spring 2013. Please contact
Gilbert outside their food pantry.
Kathrine Pennington (kpennington@lascolinasassn.com) if
your group is interested in participating in the next drive. Ellen
has generously offered to chair the event again. Thanks, ElIrving families need your help in
len!
In the meantime, all food or monetary donations are
greatly appreciated. Go online at www.irvingcares.org for more
information.
“Catching a Wave” Arrives
LAS COLINAS PARKS
FOUNDATION’S MOST
RECENT GIFT TO THE
COMMUNITY, AN 11-FOOTTALL STAINLESS STEEL
SCULPTURE ENTITLED
“CATCHING A WAVE,“
WAS INSTALLED IN FLAG
POLE HILL IN NOVEMBER.
With its smooth graceful
edges and fluid motion, it
speaks in a way that the artist can’t.
Colorado metal sculptor
Kevin Robb’s remarkable
story, as told by Dr. Sanjay
Gupta, was featured on
CNN’s “The Human Factor” in July 2011. After suffering a massive
stroke in 2004, the artist was on “life support” for 13 days and in rehab
hospitals for seven weeks. He had lost his memory, his speech, and
most of his ability to move, but when his wife brought him back into
his studio, “something lit up.” Speaking for her husband, Diane Robb
says that it was his “art that brought him back to this world.” His creative spark was still alive and well.
Today, with the help of welder / machinist Tom Donavan, what
Kevin Robb envisions becomes art. Robb is now able to draw on the
steel and communicate what he wants his “hands,” in the person of
Tom Donovan, to do. Catching a Wave is how a creative mind turned
a life shattering experience into a life affirming reality.
fighting hunger. See how you can
help this holiday season!
www.irvingcares.org.
LCA Members’ Private Club Promos
Happy Holidays from The Sports Club!
Treat yourself to a Four Seasons Lifestyle this year and add a
Sports Club Membership to your Holiday list!
Join by January 1, 2013 and receive:
50% of the initiation fee back in Club credit!
Offer valid for new Tennis and Social Fitness Memberships.
Contact Ryan Humphreys at 972.717.2520 or
ryan.humphreys@fourseasons.com.
As a cornerstone in the Las Colinas Community, everyone
knows a member of Hackberry Creek Country Club! This
Holiday Season, join Hackberry Creek and you will receive:
• Waived Initiation Fee
• Complimentary First Month of Dues
• Additional benefits for your Member sponsor!
Enjoy the Hackberry Creek Lifestyle! Contact Carol Summers
at 972.869.2631 ext 241 for more information!
La Cima Club wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday
Season! Start the new year with an opportunity to forge new
relationships, play golf, tennis and keep those New Year’s
resolutions to workout.
Join La Cima Club atop the Towers of Williams Square during January and receive a waived initiation fee and a $100
Club dining credit* when you enroll in our ONE membership.
Schedule your tour today! Contact Membership Director Nancy
Yingling 972.869.2266 for more information.
*A $100 application fee does apply
The Gift of Membership at Las Colinas Country Club
Enjoy the multi-million dollar renovations at Las Colinas
Country Club and give the gift of membership to a loved one or
yourself!
Join now through December 21, and your first month’s dues
will be free.
Contact Membership Director, Shara Capper, at 972.650.5052
or shara.capper@ourclub.com.
77
The Spirit of Las Colinas
is a publication of the
Las Colinas Association,
covering issues unique to the
Las Colinas master-planned development.
5
www.lascolinasassn.com
972.541.2345
1 2 2 W. C A R P E N T E R F W Y, S U I T E 5 5 0
I RV I N G , T E X A S 7 5 0 3 9 - 2 0 9 8
Las Colinas Association
Board Elections and Recognition
2013 Board of Directors
AT THE LAS COLINAS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING, MEMBERS ELECTED TWO DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD.
John M. Brubaker was re-elected for
a second three-year term as a commercial
board member. R. “Ben” Brewer was
elected to fill the Declarant position
(representing Hines) of retiring director,
Robert W. “Rob” Witte.
William F. Tichy
Chairman
Special presentations were made by
LCA Board Chairman Bill Tichy to Rob Witte
and Rick Sack.
Rob Witte has served on the Board of
Directors since 2006, both as a director and
as treasurer. A live oak tree was planted in
Founders’ Park in recognition of his service.
R. “Ben” Brewer
John M. Brubaker
Treasurer
Steven M. Katzman
Carl W. McKee
Vice Chairman
LCA Chairman Bill Tichy reads a resolution
honoring Rob Witte for his service as a Board
Retired American Airlines Capt.
member since 2006.
Rick Sack has served on the Residential
Review Committee, a subcommittee of the
Las Colinas Association Architectural Committee, since 2004, both as a member and
chairman. A park bench was placed in
Old Rochelle Park in appreciation of his
years of service.
On behalf of the Las Colinas
membership and staff, we thank
Rob Witte and Rick Sack for their
hundreds of hours of donated time to
the Association!
Bill Tichy presents Rick Sack with a resolution
and crystal gift honoring his service as LCA
President Rick Bidne looks on.
Rakesh I. Patel
Secretary
Albert C. Zapanta