Centennial 1909-2009 - City of Grand Prairie

Transcription

CENTENNIAL: Grand Prairie, Texas 1909-2009
Foreword
“Centennial” is a window
into the growth and
development of
Grand Prairie, Texas, USA
Compiled from City Documents
and Public Records, the
information presented is
representative of actions
and events in the
City of Grand Prairie
during its first 100 years.
Grand Prairie was given its name by the
Texas and Pacific Railroad based
on its location on the southern edge
of a geological region called “Grand Prairie”
that is composed of Eagleford Shale
stretching from Texas north through the Dakotas
and into Canada.
Compiled and Written as a Public Service by Katherine L. Houk
May 1, 2008
(The author receives no compensation from sales of this book)
CENTENNIAL 2009!
100 YEARS OF GROWTH—GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS
FOREWORD
CHAPTER 1
GRAND PRAIRIE TODAY
CHAPTER 2
THE CITY: 1980-2000
CHAPTER 3
THE CITY: 1960-1980
CHAPTER 4
THE CITY: 1940-1960
CHAPTER 5
THE CITY: 1920-1940
CHAPTER 6
THE CITY: 1909-1920
CHAPTER 7
PRE-1909
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
GRAND PRAIRIE TODAY
Grand Prairie, Texas, is celebrating its 100th birthday as an incorporated city in 2009. With a population approaching 170,000
people, the city is no longer a stagecoach stop between Dallas
and Fort Worth. In fact, Grand Prairie is the 7th largest city in
North Central Texas, enjoying an international economy, with a
tax base in excess of $10 Billion. In 2007, the City was the 6th
fastest growing municipality in the United States. More than
20% of single family homes have no mortgage. Fiscally conservative, the City is highly diversified, comprised of roughly 32%
white (non Hispanic) and 21.8% foreign born. Diversification is
also a key in recreation with the City boasting world class horse
racing, theatre and ball park venues seating more than 6,000 persons, and an extensive park system.
Completion of SH-161 will be the culmination of planning begun
in the 1970’s when the City Council of Grand Prairie supported
construction of the project that was originally designated “Loop
9”. The Coalition for Community Concerns, a group of homeowners opposed to the construction of the west leg of Loop 9 (the
current right-of-way for SH-161) lobbied heavily against the
project, delaying the project in litigation for more than 13 years.
During the 2000-2009 period, the City has given more responsibility to home owners by requiring Planned Improvement Districts (PIDs) for new residential subdivisions. Maintenance of
properties in the subdivisions is provided by the PID itself, with
City oversight.
An International highpoint was the 2004 Breeders Cup held at
Lone Star Park (below).
Gas drilling rig explores Barnett Shale
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
City Council Actions
March 7, 2000...Adopted Ordinance #6230, appropriating funding for development of a Main Street Master
Plan by Architexas.
August 1, 2000...Authorized the City Manager to enter
into an interlocal agreement with the North Central
Texas Council of Governments for payment of operating
cost of the Trinity Railway Express (for a 3-year period)
with payment to be based on an audit of readership by
Grand Prairie residents (Resolution #3680) Annual payment for the City of Grand Prairie was $160,000.
Buffalo Wallows in the Grand Prairie Independent Living
September 19, 2000 ...Authorized the City Manager to
Retirement Community.
negotiate and execute contracts not to exceed $1,200,000
with Lone Star Park (LSJC Development Corp) for the
development and management of a family/teen park for July 15, 2003...Approved $35,000 contract to paint muskateboard and related activities. The Grand Prairie Ex- rals on the east and west underpass walls at Beltline
Road and IH-30.
treme (GPX) Skate Park and Entertainment Center
opened on March 28, 2001.
July 15, 2003...Approved a $3.69 million project to imDecember 12, 2000...Assumed management of the Trin- prove drainage and alleviate flooding in the Keith
Heights area.
ity River Authority parks surrounding Joe Pool Lake
(Ord #6365).
April 20, 2004...Approved a property tax freeze at 2004
levels for Homestead or Qualified Over-65 and Disabled
January 10, 2001 ...Approved a development contract
and lease agreement with Texas NextStage L.P. purchas- Homeowners.
ing the 6,200 seat indoor music and entertainment venue
September 21, 2004...Adopted an ordinance consenting
for $15,000,000 upon completion.
to the creation of the Ellis County Fresh Water Supply
District No. 1, Johnson County Fresh Water Supply DisMay 8, 2001 ...Adopted criteria for redistricting of City
Council Districts based on the 2000 Census (Resolutions trict No. 2, and Johnson County Road District No. 1 by
Provident Realty Advisors, Inc. in the City’s extraterrito#3745 and #3746).
rial jurisdiction (ETJ).
June 18, 2002...Approved contracts totaling $2,790,193
September 21, 2004...Declared the Local Option Election
for the construction of a new Animal Services Shelter.
for the Legal Sale of Beer and Wine on September 11,
September 3, 2002...Issued $20.2 million in General Ob- 2004, passed with a vote of 4,222 “FOR”; and 3,004
“AGAINST.”
ligation Bonds ($9.9M), Certificates of Obligation
($2,650,000), Sales Tax Revenue Bonds ($5M), and WaNovember 16, 2004...Approved an interlocal agreement
ter Wastewater System Revenue Bonds (2,650,000) for
with Johnson County establishing jurisdictional responsithe 2002 Capital Improvement Program.
bility for the platting of lands located in Grand Prairie’s
extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as required by Texas
January 21, 2003...Approved Site Plan for the Grand
Prairie Independent Living Retirement Community at the House Bill #1445.
southwest corner of Freetown Road and Corn Valley
Road. The Site Plan included incorporation of the City’s December 7, 2004...Approved an interlocal agreement
historical Buffalo Wallows into a pedestrian trail on the with Ellis County establishing jurisdictional responsibility for the platting of lands located in Grand Prairie’s
northern portion of the property.
extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as required by Texas
June 17, 2003...Appropriated $1 million for a City match House Bill #1445.
for a TxDOT STEP grant for Lone Star Trail, Phase I.
2
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
December 12, 2006...Approved a Memorandum of UnFebruary 15, 2005...Memorandums of Understanding
(MOUs) created with Johnson County Freshwater District derstanding (MOU) between Strata Development and the
#2 and Ellis County Freshwater District #1 to supply
wholesale treated water and wastewater services.
June 7, 2005...Contract with City of Midlothian to supply
treated water on a wholesale basis to the City of Grand
Prairie for resale in the City of Grand Prairie and its Extra
Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
August 9, 2005...Awarded a construction contract for a
two million-gallon elevated water tank on the Peninsula
for a total cost of $2,660,020.
September 6, 2005...Entered into an Interlocal Agreement
With the North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG) to pay $63,422 per fiscal year for three years
as a portion of the operating cost of the Trinity Railway
Express.
September 20, 2005...Adopted a gas drilling ordinance
regulating the drilling and production of gas wells within
the City (Chapter 13, “Health and Sanitation,” of the
City’s Code of Ordinances).
February 21, 2006...Created Fresh Water Supply District
#2 in Ellis County and Fresh Water Supply District #3 of
approximately 1,319.46 acres in Ellis County—both are
located within the City’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction
(ETJ). Also created a Municipal Utility District (MUD)
of approximately 276.8 acres on the southern City Limit.
June 20, 2006...Amended Chapter 17, “Offenses and
Misc. Provisions” of the City of Grand Prairie Code of
Ordinances, adding a new section 17-19, “Failure to Supervise a Child,” and providing a Class C Misdemeanor
for the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 who
allows their home to be used for a party where minors are
served or consume alcohol or other illegal substances.
September 19, 2006…
Adopted a resolution designating the City of Grand
Prairie as the “Purple Martin Capitol of North Texas,”
and requesting the Texas
Legislature to officially
declare Grand Prairie as the
Purple Martin Capitol of
North Texas.
City of Grand Prairie for development of 80 acres originally platted as more than 1,600 campsite lots adjacent
Mountain Creek Lake in 1931 at the southwest corner of
IH-20 and west of FM 1382.
May 12, 2007… Voters approved a 1/4 cent sales tax for
the new crime control and prevention district to pay for
construction of a new police facility, a 1/8 cent sales tax
for a senior recreation facility, and a 1/8 cent sales tax for
a minor league stadium. The City Council appropriated
$5 million for commencement of construction of the ballpark on May 22, 2007.
October 16, 2007...Adopted ordinances for the issuance
of General Obligation Refunding and Improvement
Bonds ($34,580,000), Certificates of Obligation
($17,120,000), and Water and Wastewater System Revenue Bonds ($15,845,000) for a total of $67,545,000.
November 6, 2007...Authorized a professional design services contract with Komatsu Architecture, Inc. in the
amount of $523,277 for the relocation of Fire Station #7.
3
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
January 22, 2008...Contracted with Brinkley Sargent Architects in the amount of $2,406,350 for Phase I of the
Central Park Development. Authorized $4,079,759 for
Phase II construction services of the Uptown Theatre project to the Phillips/May Corporation.
February 19, 2008...Authorized the City Manager to enter
into a contract to share costs for a joint fire station with
Cedar Hill at an estimated cost of $1,675,000 for design
and construction.
Planning and Zoning Commission Actions
January 18, 2000...City Council adopted Central Business
Overlay Districts #1 and #2 (Ord #6206 and #6207) establishing recommended uses along the Main/Jefferson Street
Corridor from the western City Limit to Beltline Road.
(Districts #3 and #4 were adopted in December 1999, establishing recommended uses between Beltline Road and
the Grand Prairie’s eastern city limit.)
March 11, 2003… Adopted the Interstate Highway-20
Overlay District specifying land uses and design guidelines
for future development (Ord #6811).
April 28, 2003...Adopted the Lakeridge Parkway Overlay
District establishing development standards and design criteria along Lakeridge Parkway.
July 15, 2003... Adopted Resolution #3924, upgrading development standards for future residential development.
September 27, 2004...Amended the Unified Development
Code to include the sale of beer and wine for on-premise
consumption in restaurants and the sale of beer and wine
for off-premise consumption in non-residential zoning districts and providing for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for all
drive-through establishments in the City of Grand Prairie.
July 25, 2005…Adopted an
update of the 25-year Comprehensive Plan (Ord #7295).
August 1, 2000...Amended the Thoroughfare Plan and
Comprehensive Plan to maintain the current alignment of
February 27, 2006...Adopted
Mayfield Road as a four-lane divided roadway constructed a requirement for submittal of
within 100 feet of right-of-way. (Ord. #6288)
a Concept Plan during the
initial phases of the developNovember 21, 2000...Stimulated development in south
Grand Prairie by rezoning 390 acres of land for single fam- ment process and evaluated
ily, retail and personal service uses on the Estes Peninsula, by criteria specified in the
west of Lakeridge Parkway and north of Hangar Lowe Rd. Unified Development Code.
(Ord. #6348)
March 26, 2007...Updated
January 16, 2001 ...Adopted the S.H. 161 Overlay District Article 26, Mobile/
with recommended land uses and development policies for Manufactured/Modular Home and Recreational Vehicle
the S.H. 161 corridor between IH-20 and Rock Island Rd. Regulations of the Unified Development Code to meet
state and federal regulations.
March 11, 2002...Rezoned 618 acres from Agricultural to
Planned Development for Residential Development on the March 26, 2007...Amended the Use Charts of the Unified
Development Code to include small wind turbine generaJoe Pool Peninsula at the corner of Lakeridge Pkwy and
tors.
Seeton Rd.
April 8, 2002...Approved Specific Use Permit for a 22.75
acre, $3,400,000, City Cemetery and Gardens at the southwest corner of Warrior Trail and Belt Line Road.
October 29, 2007...Expanded architectural guidelines for
the Central Business Districts by
recodifying Ordinances #6189,
#6190, #6206, and
#6207.
4
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
Economic Development Activities
June 30, 2000 ...Approved a 50% graduated five-year partial tax abatement with Panattoni-Hillwood Development
Company for a 1,375,000 Sq. Ft. project on Great Southwest Pkwy and 114th Street.
January 29, 2001 ...Issued $17,900,000 in Certificates of
Obligation to provide financing for the Texas NextStage
(Nokia) Project. (see below)
Prime One Outlet Mall at the northeast corner of IH-20
and SH-360.
Cooper Tire (below)
June 19, 2001…. City Council contracted with Phillips
May, Inc. in the amount of $4,430,000 for construction of
the Ruthe Jackson Center at 3113 S. Carrier Parkway to
serve as a conference and meeting facility for the City.
April 15, 2003...Created a new 10 square mile Enterprise
Zone, a state/city partnership to attract jobs and investment in economically distressed areas.
New Tenants in Great Southwest Industrial District
December 13, 2005...Authorized a 50% 5-year partial tax
abatement to Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. with a value
of $237,000.
February 20, 2007...Approved tax rebates to the following
firms: CCDA Waters, LLC, 50%, 5-year partial tax abatement on business personal property and ad valorem real
estate improvements; CalWest Texas Properties, 50%, 5year abatement on ad valorem real estate improvements
and 50% sales tax rebate for materials used in construction; Turbomeca USA, 50%, 5-year partial tax abatement
on business personal property and ad valorem real estate
improvements.
Mexican Inn
5
Public Facilities
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
December 12, 2000 ...Grand Prairie assumed manageJanuary 4, 2000...City Council awarded a contract to
ment of the Trinity River Authority parks surrounding
Moore Commercial for $1,697,000 to construct Fire Sta- Joe Pool Lake (Ord. #6365).
tion #9 designed by Smith and Warder Architects. (Ord
#6200)
March 6, 2001...
Municipal Courts
Building, 200 W.
Main Street, was
named after City
Councilman Frank
W. Robertson
(Resolution #3725).
Fire Station # 9 at Polo and South Carrier Pkwy
May 2, 2000 ...City Council awarded a contract to Akins
Construction Company in the amount of $1,543,200 for
construction of the Bardin Road Branch Library.
Branch Library at Bardin and Robinson Roads
November 21, 2000 …City Council selected Connolly
Architects to design a new Animal Shelter to be located
at 2222 W. Warrior Trail (below).
Charles V. England Public Safety Training Complex, 310
W. College. (above)
March 28, 2001...Opening activities for the Grand Prairie
Extreme Skate Park. (below)
6
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
Bowles Life Center dedication (below) at 2750 Graham A Senior Center was also included in the May 12, 2007
Street. The 40,000 sq. ft. facility, the $6.2 million struc- election. Voters approved an additional 1/8 cent sales
tax to fund the facility.
ture contains more than $362,570 worth of athletic
equipment, a library and police storefront.
On May 12, 2007, Grand Prairie residents approved a
sales tax to build the $5 million professional ballpark
located adjacent Lone Star Park and Nokia Live (below).
Voters, on May 12, 2007, also approved an increase in
the local sales and use tax to fund a new Police facility,
replacing the 1970s structure on South Carrier Parkway.
7
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
The Decision Makers: 2000-2009
MAYOR
2000—present Charles England
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
2000- Ruthe Jackson
Jim Swafford
Dick Fregoe
Tony Shotwell
Ron Jensen
Lee Herring
Rick Sala
Bill Thorn
CITY MANAGER
2000- Tom Hart
Mayor Charles England
Councilman Bill Thorn
Councilman Jim Swafford
Councilman Tony Shotwell
Councilman Dick Fregoe
Councilman Lee Herring
Councilman Rick Sala
Councilman Ron Jensen
Councilwoman Ruthe Jackson
8
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
Representative Plats
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
Towns of Riverside, Ph 2 (2.7.2000)
Westchester Valley Addition (2.7.2000)
GSW Development, PH 1 (2.28.2000)
Brook E Bowen Addition, Lots 1-5 (4.10.2000)
Westchester Glen (4.10.2000)
Texas NextStage (4.24.2000)
Mirabella Village, Ph 2 (4.24.2000)
Stellar Way, Lt 2, Blk 2 (5.8.2000)
Curtis Wright Addition (5.8.2000)
Markwardt Addition, Lt 1, Blk A (5.22.2000)
GSW Crossing, Lts 1-3, Blk B (5.22.2000)
Stellar Way, Lts 1 & 2, Blk 5 (5.22.2000)
Edelweiss Elementary (6.12.2000)
Westchester Square (6.26.2000)
Lone Star Plaza (7.28.2000)
Brookfield Addition (7.28.2000)
Stellar Way, Lts 3 & 4, Blk 2 (2.28.2000)
Stellar way, Lt 2, Blk 4 (2.28.2000)
Steward Addition (9.11.2000)
Sealed Air Addition, Lts 1 & 2, Blk A (9.11.2000)
Royal Valley Est., Lts 1 & 2, Blk H (9.25.2000)
Ninth Grade Athletic Addn. Lts 1 & 2 (10.9.2000)
IH-20/Carrier Pkwy Addn Blk A (10.9.2000)
Cimarron, Ph 4 (10.23.2000)
Westchester Valley Addition (12.11.2000)
Kingswood Forest, Ph 2 (1.8.01)
Cool Springs Addition, Lt 1, Blk A (1.22.2001)
Polo Heights, Ph 1 (1.22.2001)
Amesbury Lake, Ph 1 (1.22.2001)
Prairie Ridge Ctr, Lt 1, Blk C (2.12.2001)
Ninth Grade Center, lt 1, Blk 1 (3.12.2001)
Bill Arnold Middle School (3.12.2001)
Jackson Middle School (3.12.2001)
Gateway Addition (3.12.2001)
Hidden Creek Addition (3.12.2001)
Curtis Wright, Ph 2 (4.23.2001)
Redding Addition, Lt 1, Blk 1 (5.7.2001)
Ruthe Jackson Cmmty Ctr Addn (1.22.2001)
The Landing at Grand Peninsula (5.29.2001)
Lakeside at Grand Peninsula (5.29.2001)
The Shores at Grand Peninsula (5.29.2001)
Meeker Addition (6.11.2001)
Cimmaron Estates, Ph 4B (6.25.2001)
Mayfield Road Apartments (7.9.2001)
Enchanted Estates (7.9.2001)
Westchester Valley Addition, Ph 3 (7.23.2001)
Cedar Prairie Plaza (7.23.2001)
Southgate Addition (8.27.2001)
Cimmaron Estates, Ph 3A (8.27.2001)
Apache Estates (9.10.2001)
The Bluffs of Westchester (9.10.2001)
Dickinson Elementary School (9.24.2001)
53. The Parkways Addition, Lts 3 & 4, Blk D (10.8.2001)
54. Broadcast Works! (10.22.2001)
55. Lynn Creek Hills, Ph 1 (2.25.2002)
56. Heydarian Subdivision Lt 1, Blk A (2.25.2002)
57. Westchester Grove (2.25.2002)
58. Cimmaron Estates, Ph 4C (4.8.2002)
59. Cimmaron Estates, Ph 3B (4.29.2002)
60. GSW Crossing, Lts 1 & 2, Blk C (8.12.2002)
61. Cedar Prairie Plaza, Lt 1, Blk 1 (8.12.2002)
62. High Hawk at Martin’s Meadow, Ph 1 & 2 (9.9.2002)
63. Aaron’s Way Addition (9.23.2002)
64. Walgreens Addition (10.7.2002)
65. The Harbour at Grand Peninsula (10.7.2002)
66. Somerton Village, Ph 1 (10.28.2002)
67. Dow Place Two, Lots 1R, 2R, & 3R (10.28.2002)
68. Lake Parks, Ph 1A, IIA (11.25.2002)
69. Cimmaron Estates, Ph 3C (11.25.2002)
70. Lakewood, Ph 1 (12.9.2002)
71. Heather Glen (1.13.2003)
72. Lake Parks West, Ph 1 (1.13.2003)
73. Polo Heights, Ph 2 (1.13.2003)
74. G.P.Independent Retirement Cmmty (2.24.2003)
75. Christian Acres II (2.10.2003)
76. Mira Lagos, #A-1, #F-1A, #B (4.28.2003)
77. Safety Net Addition (4.28.2003)
78. Hidden Creek, Ph 2 (4.28.2003)
79. Whiteco Residential, Lt 1, Blk 1 (5.12.2003)
80. Lynn Creek Hills, Ph 2 (6.23.2003)
81. Lake Park East, Ph 1 (7.7.2003)
82. The Harbour at Grand Peninsula, Ph 2 (7.28.2003)
83. Ashbury Square, Ph 2 (7.28.2003)
84. Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens (8.11.2003)
85. Brookfield North, Ph 2 (8.11.2003)
86. Plattner Addition, Ph 1 (8.11.2003)
87. Mira Lagos, #C-1, #E-3 (9.8.2003)
88. Mira Lagos, #F-1B (10.13.2003)
89. Lakewood, Ph 2 (10.13.2003)
90. Ivy Glenn Addition (10.13.2003)
91. The Coast at Grand Peninsula (10.13.2003)
92. The Cove at Grand Peninsula (10.13.2003)
93. The Bluffs at Grand Peninsula (10.13.2003)
94. Kingswood Business Park, Lt 4, Blk 1(10.27.2003)
95. CVS Lake Ridge, Lt 1, Blk 1 (10.27.2003)
96. Communities of Lakewood, Ph 3 (10.27.2003)
97. Lake Parks, Ph 4 (10.27.2003)
98. Curtiss-Wright, Lt 2, Blk 1 (11.10.2003)
99. Lakeridge Village, Lt 1, Blk 1 (11.10.2003)
100.Oak Timbers Apartments (12.8.2003)
101.Lake Ridge, Section 18-A, Ph 1 (12.8.2003)
102.Westchester Courtyard (1.12.2004)
103.Mira Lagos, F-2 (1.12.2004)
104.Aaron’s Way Addition (1.26.2004)
105.The West Shore (1.26.2004)
9
CHAPTER 1: 2000-2009
107. Lake Parks East, Amenity Center (1.26.2004)
108. Silverado Springs (2.23.2004)
109. Lake Parks, Ph 1B & 2B (2.23.2004)
110. Bardin Road School (3.8.2004)
111. Lakewood, Ph 4 & 5 (3.22.2004)
112. Woodcrest, Lts 1 &2, Blk A (3.22.2004)
113. Lakewood, Ph 6 (4.12.2004)
114. Lake Ridge 18-A, Ph 2 & 3 (5.10.2004)
115. Mira Lagos East Infrastructure (5.10.2004)
116. Parkview Ph 1A (5.10.2004)
117. Mira Lagos East, Ph 1 & 2 (6.28.2004)
118. The Haven at Westchester (6.28.2004)
119. Croft on the Creek (6.28.2004)
120. Silverado Springs, Ph 2 (7.26.2004)
121. Park View, Ph 2 (8.23.2004)
122. Southwest Village, Ph 1 (9.13.2004)
123. Lake Parks East, Ph 2 & 4B (9.13.2004)
124. Mira Lagos A-2A & A-1B (9.13.2004)
125. Somerton Village, Ph 2 (9.27.2004)
126. Lakeshore Village (11.8.2004)
127. Lakeridge Village Addition (11.22.2004)
128. Hunter’s Glen Addition (12.13.2004)
129. Walgreens at Bardin Rd (12.13.2004)
130. The Forum, Lt 1, Blk 1 (12.13.2004)
131. Southgate, Ph 2 (2.21.2005)
132. Lynn Creek hills, Ph 3 (3.7.2005)
134. Towns of Riverside, Ph 2 (4.11.2005)
135. January Lane Townhomes (4.11.2005)
136. Berkshire Park, Ph 2 (4.25.2005)
137. England Parkway (5.23.2005)
138. Estates at Mira Lagos (5.23.2005)
139. Seaton Courts, Lts 1-7, Blk A (5.23.2005)
140. Townhomes of Camp Wisdom (6.13.2005)
141. Villas at Mira Lagos, Ph 1 (6.13.2005)
142. Ridgeview Addition (6.13.2005)
143. Southwest Village, Ph 1 (7.25.2005)
144. Parkview, Ph 1B (7.25.2005)
145. Saint Louis Townhomes (8.8.2005)
146. Belle Vista at Mira Lagos (8.8.2005)
147. High Hawk at Martin’s Meadow, Ph 3 (9.26.2005)
148. Mayfield Rd Tigermart (10.24.2005)
149. Delilah Addition, Lts 1-6, Blk 1 (11.7.2005)
150. Westchester Church, Lt 1, Blk 1 (11.7.2005)
151. Bluffs at Grand Peninsula, Ph 2 (11.7.2005)
152. Cove at Grand Peninsula, Ph 2 & Ph 3 (11.7.2005)
153. Prairie Oaks Addition (1.23.2006)
154. Robinson Court, Lts 1-11, Blk 1 (1.23.2006)
155. Pioneer Pkwy/SH-161, Lts 1 & 2 (2.27.2006)
156. Lake Prairie Towne Crossing, Lts 1-4 (2.27.2006)
157. Mira Lagos E-1A (2.27.2006)
158. Grand Lakes Business Park, Ph 2 (3.13.2006)
159. Mira Lagos A-2B (3.27.2006)
160. Camp Wisdom Business Park (4.10.2006)
161. Goelzer Addition (4.24.2006)
162. Crosspoint Business Park (5.8.2006)
163. Mira Lagos G-1 (6.12.2006)
164. Phyllis Gilbert Addition (6.12.2006)
165. Lake Ridge Sect. 19 (6.26.2006)
166. Bluffs at Grand Peninsula (7.24.2006)
167. Coast at Grand Peninsula (7.24.2006)
168. Villas at Mira Lagos, Ph 2 (8.28.2006)
169. Lake Parks East, Ph 3-A (10.9.2006)
170. Lakeview West (11.27.2006)
171. Lakeridge, Section 20 (1.29.2007)
172. Candler Park (1.29.2007)
173. Greenway Trails, Ph 1 (2.12.2007)
174. S. Grand Peninsula Dr/Seeton Rd (2.26.2007)
175. H & E Equipment Addition (2.26.2007)
176. Mira Lagos G-2 (3.12.2007)
177. Causey Addition (3.26.2007)
178. Lakeside Villas, Lt 1, Blk A (4.9.2007)
179. Monterrey Park, Ph 2 (5.21.2007)
180. Blue Prairie, Blk A, Lts 1 & 2 (11.12.2007)
181.Kingswood Estates (2.11.2008)
182.Fairway Bend Ph1, Blk 1 (2.11.2008)
183.Mira Lagos, Ph B-2 (2.25.2008)
Representative Annexations
1. Boundary Adjustment, 10 acres on south side of Skyline Road, Crockett Elementary School, February 20,
2001 (Ord #6398)
2. Annexed 148.3511 acres, adjacent U.S. 287 in Ellis
County, August 14, 2001.
3. Annexed 46.63 acre tract of Jefferson Street right-ofway from Camden Road to Mountain Creek, waiving
extraterritorial jurisdiction on the portion of Jefferson
Street touching Dallas’ city limits from SE 14th Street
eastward to Camden
Road, June 18, 2002.
4. Annexed 24.09 acres,
Joseph Stewart Survey, Abst. #961, Ellis
Co., TX, December 7,
2004
10
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
Grand Prairie As A Regional, State,
and National Resource
OVERVIEW
Grand Prairie came of age during the period from 1980 to 2000. It was not
a stress free transition, however. Budget shortfalls in 1987 brought restructuring of City staff. Increased demand for services brought increases
in fees and tax rates. Expenditures on infrastructure increased significantly
during this period including construction of drainage facilities, major thoroughfares, and public facilities and services.
The City stepped onto the regional and state stage with major infrastructure projects such as Joe Pool Lake and the extension of SH-360 to SH
287. Regional recreation facilities such as Lone Star Park and Tangle
Ridge Golf Course began to draw visitors to the City. A series of Sector
Plans were developed in the 1980s establishing future land uses and design
guidelines for development in the City. In 1987 the City established a
Hospital District to provide a single area where the physical and mental
health needs of citizens could be accommodated. It was hoped the 267acre district would also prevent the development of less optimal land uses.
The City also adopted a Unified Development Code in 1990.
In the 1990s, residents voted to push forward by authorizing a 1/2 cent
sales tax in 1991 to construct the 311-acre Lone Star Race Track as a Class
1 horse racetrack in 1995. The bonds on that investment were paid off
early and the facility contributed millions of dollars to capital improvements in the City. It hosted the international Breeders Cup in October
2004. The sale of alcohol in restaurants was approved in 1985 (Ord #3754).
Development south of IH-20 began during this period, including the very
first Public Improvement District, PID-#1 in the Westchester Subdivision
on February 5, 1991. New plats for residential subdivisions south of IH-20
followed the light industrial development activity of the previous two decades.
In the final year of this period the City created three large tax increment
finance (TIF) districts (along the IH-30 corridor, Ord #6095/6123, along
the IH-20 corridor, Ord #6096/6124, and on the Joe Pool Peninsula, Ord
#6097/6126). Collectively the three TIFs encompassed more than 9,635
acres. The City also annexed 2,059 acres adjacent its southern City boundary and adopted a plan to reclaim 1,300 acres from the floodplain north of
the West Branch of the Trinity River and adopted the Belt Line Corridor
Overlay District to guide architectural standards adjacent to Lone Star
Park.
A Master Plan for revitalizing the City’s downtown core was finalized in
1999 creating the Central Business District Corridor. City Services were
expanded in 1999 to provide emergency medical services beginning August 1, 2000 (Resolution #3593).
When Joe Pool Lake opened in 1989, it
covered 7,740 acres. Six park sites
around the lake were under the auspices
of the Trinity River Authority and later
transferred to the City, with an additional park on the east side of the reservoir developed and managed by the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Grand Prairie’s “Estes Park Feasibility
Study” received a “Project Planning”
Award in 1987 from the Texas Chapter
of the American Planning Association.
The lake opened to the public on August 18, 1989. It was named for Congressman Joe R. Pool, who represented
Texas in Congress from 1963-1968.
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
City Council Minutes
April 29, 1980 ...Mayor James Weems made a motion that
the City Council request the resignation of City Manager
Clifford Johnson. The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilmember Anne Gresham read the following statement in behalf of the Council:
“The Mayor and City Council have met in executive session to deliberate the administration of this
city. These conversations included a number of
areas involving the role of the City Manager, City
Council, and Mayor. It is the intent of all of us as
elected officials to best ensure the operation of this
city and to best serve all the people of Grand Prairie. We have reviewed many general items, including the resignation of the City Manager, and while
personal feelings were well expressed, we are of
the belief that no change shall be made in the administration of this city. Our primary concern is to
work in harmony to serve our constituents.”
ferred to an authority or corporation to provide senior housing. By February 23, 1988, however, Mayor Debo favored
demolishing the building saying it was not adequate for
senior housing. Yet, on November 29, 1988 the City
Council conveyed the building to Residential Enterprises
Corp, a 501-C-3 non-profit corporation, to be rehabilitated
for housing for elderly persons. It was then transferred to
National Church Residences for affordable housing for the
elderly on August 6, 1991 (Resolution #2748), opening in
1992.
June 16, 1986...Established the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals, adopted By-laws and Policies.
July 15, 1986 …. Miss
Grand Prairie is crowned
Miss Texas! Stephany
Samone went on to be a
preliminary talent winner
in the 1987 Miss America
contest. (see right)
The Mayor then requested that a review of the duties and
salaries of the Assistant City Manager and all Division
Heads be placed on the following week’s agenda.
November 4, 1986...City
Council issues a contract
($12,000) with Collett
August 9, 1980 ...Election to consider creation of a Grand
Design Associates to do a
Prairie Transit Authority and authorize a 1% sales and use space analysis and protax to support a transit program.
vide alternative scenarios
to accommodate future
April 23,1985...City Council authorized participation with City staff growth. The
the Tarrant County 911 Emergency Assistance District
Council also discussed
(Resolution #2291).
retaining Roy Orr as a lobbyist for the City in the next State
Legislative Session. Mayor Debo said there was a need for
June 10, 1985... Section E-506 of Comprehensive Zoning a lobbyist, especially for legislation on developer participaOrdinance No. 2299 was amended to require a 3/4 majority tion and bidding procedures.
vote for approval by the City Council to override a negative
recommendation by the Planning & Zoning Commission.
February 24, 1987…
City Council is petiJuly 23, 1985...Adoption of Developer Participation Politioned by residents to
cies (Resolution #2311).
place a charter amendment providing for sinMarch 4, 1986 ...Mayor Debo requested relocation of the
gle member districts.
main City Hall complex to city-owned property at IH-20
and Belt Line (Resolution #2357).
June 10, 1986...Lennox Hotel is donated to the City for
Section 8 Housing for the elderly (Resolution #2377). The
Ways and Means Subcommittee determined there were
“sufficient funding alternatives of federal loans, grants,
Roy Orr— Lobbyist and
local fund raising and possible public and private joint ven- Former Dallas County
tures to make the project work.” On Sept 2, 1986 the Len- Commissioner
nox Hotel Committee recommended the Lennox be trans2
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
April 21, 1987 … Revenue shortfall in franchise fees and mittee was appointed to review the matter and make recommendations to the Council.
lower salary savings led to a $920,000 reduction in the
City’s General Fund and a 3.3% cut in the budget for FY
September 27, 1988 …
1986-87. (Ordinance #4151)
Adopted FY 1988-89 budget
including addition of a volJune 16, 1987 ...Councilmember Teri Jackson asked if
the western extension of Hill Street to January Lane was unteer coordinator position
ever considered as a Capital Improvements Project. Staff for City beautification prosaid no. (The project would be designed and built more than jects. (Ord #4418) This led to
20 years later to facilitate Dallas Cowboy football traffic from the creation of “Keep Grand
SH-161 to Randol Mill in Arlington.)
Prairie Beautiful, Inc” a
501C(3) non-profit organization.
December 13, 1988 … Animal Shelter Advisory Committee was asked to review the issue of snakes (boas and
python) being kept in Bill’s Pawn Shop and make a recommendation to the City Council. On July 28, 1989, the
Council instructed staff to draft an amendment to the
Wild Animal Ordinance requiring one permit per location
for non-venomous snakes. On January 16, 1990, the City
Council denied the proposed amendment to permit nonvenomous snakes, making them allowable by right. The
issue was again voted on, February 6, 1990, to adopt the
July 14, 1987 … Mayor Debo instructed City staff to not proposed ordinance and charge a permit fee of $100 as
require hold harmless agreements from developers unless recommended by staff. It was approved (Ord #4642).
the City Council determines the necessity for such agreements (after Crow Retail refused to sign a hold harmless April 11, 1989 … City Council accepted the Parks, Recagreement related to downstream drainage), thereby rereation and Open Space Master plan (Ord #4515).
versing City policy.
October 3, 1989 … City Council directed staff to initiate
August 2, 1987 … Grand Prairie’s 911 system is actian amendment to the Light Industrial zoning district stanvated.
dards which would eliminate the requirements for landscaping and paved parking areas, and expand the types of
September 8, 1987...City Council adopted Resolution
building materials allowed in certain older industrial ar#2472 requesting Dallas County Commissioners to
eas of the city. Specifically, the Twin Airports addition
schedule a local option election on November 3, 1987 on between E. Main and E. Jefferson and Bill Erwin and
pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound races.
MacArthur. The new classification was designated LILS. The proposed amendment was denied by the PlanOctober 27, 1987...City Council defeated by a vote of 4-3 ning and Zoning Commission on December 11, 1989. On
a zoning case to require specific use permits for pawn
January 16, 1990 the City Council approved the amendshops.
ment (Ord #4639). On February 6, 1990, Council rezoned
the Twin Airports Addition to LI-LS (Ord #4644) but a
December 8, 1987 ...City Council passed Ordinance
companion case for Dalworth Hills Addition was denied.
#4302 allowing City participation in developments, provided funds are specifically budgeted (by project) by the January 9, 1990 … Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a
City Council.
City authorized holiday observance.
February 23, 1988...Zoning Board of Adjustment asked
for City Council direction on handling illegal uses and
structures at Matthew Road Mobile Home Estates where
all mobile homes were a non-conforming use. A com-
May 8, 1990 ...Council Members adopted resolutions
supporting federal funding for the V-22 Osprey Aircraft
Program, B-2 Stealth Bomber, and the C-17 Cargo Aircraft.
3
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
May 10, 1990 ...City Council met in emergency session to ware and implementation services. At the same meeting,
discuss procedures following a Declaration of Disaster
they approved Ord #4926 to allowed citizens to keep potsigned by Mayor Debo following flooding in the City on bellied pigs for a permit fee of $25.00.
May 2 & 3, 1990.
December 3, 1991 … The City Council voted unanimously to call for an election on January 18, 1992 on a
proposition to adopt an additional one-half cent sales tax
for the purpose of constructing a Class I race track on Belt
Line Road (Ord #4935). The proposition passed by a vote
of 6868 “For” and 6336 “Against”. The following week,
Council passed Resolution #2779 for making an application for a Class I Horse Racetrack. On December 23,
Council passed Ord #4942, limiting implementation of a
one-half cent sales tax increase contingent upon a license
being granted to operate a Class I Horse Racetrack in the
City of Grand Prairie. They also procured a Racetrack
Economic Impact Analysis from Economist Dr. Perryman
of Baylor University. The City Council authorized the
Mayor to execute a letter of intent to the Lone Star Jockey
Club expressing the City’s interest in developing a horse
racetrack on March 3, 1992.
December 8, 1990 ...Discussions of the Capital Improvement Bond Program included: $12.5 million for drainage April 7, 1992... Zoning Case # Z920301 set aside 282
projects; $3.8 million for signalization; $20.1 million for acres east of Belt Line and south of Hunter-Ferrell as a
street improvements; $5 million in park improvements;
planned development for a horse racing facility (Ord
$4.9 million for Police programs and $3.7 million for Fire #4974) as proposed by Midpointe Racing Ltd. Case #
Department improvements. The total bond program was
Z920303 was also approved setting aside 254 acres west
$81.9 million, including $57.3 million in General Obliga- of Belt Line and south of Wildlife Parkway for construction Bonds and $24.4 million in Revenue Bonds (Ord
tion of a horse racing facility (Ord #4975). The Texas Rac#4770).
ing Commission awarded the Class I horse racing license
to Lone Star Jockey Club in 1993.
June 4, 1991 ...Grand Prairie demolishes Sol Spiegel Village, built as off-base housing for married and enlisted
April 28, 1992 … Council Resolution #2841 created the
naval personnel in the early 1950’s, and placed an addiGrand Prairie Sports Development Corporation, Articles
tional lien of $74,000 on the property to cover the cost of of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended. Original memdemolition.
bers of the Corporation were Mayor Charles England,
Council members Bo Craft, Ed Hemphill and Jim Morgan;
June 18, 1991 ...The City Council appropriated $1.4 M to and Wayne Hanks, Bryan Arnold and Allan Brown.
purchase and renovate the former Kroger building on the
southeast corner of NW 3rd and College for use as the
March 24, 1992 … Miss Teenage Texas is Aquita Cantu
City’s Development Center (Ord #4862).
of Grand Prairie, TX.
June 28, 1991 … The City received a Governor’s Community Achievement Award for 1990-91, receiving a
$100,000 landscape award from the State Department of
Highways and Public Transportation through Keep Grand
Prairie Beautiful. The award was presented for landscaping along state highways within the City.
October 13, 1992 … The City Council denied resident
requests to remove pawn shops from certain zoning districts, saying: “...if such an amendment is adopted, many
existing pawnshops will be non-conforming;...if the
amendment is adopted, all pawnshops will be in certain
Council districts, with none in other Council districts….”
and that it would be restricting business.
November 5, 1991 … The City Council authorized a contract with Arthur Anderson & Co., to develop an Informa- December 15, 1992 … Council established a new Chapter
tion Systems Master Plan (for $94,000) and appropriated 29 in the City’s Code of Ordinances that created a Code
Enforcement Ordinance (Ord #5059).
$38,663 (Ord #4924) for the acquisition of hardware, soft
4
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
January 5, 1993 … Grand Prairie’s City Council adopted
an ordinance (Ord. #5060) levying a one-half cent sales
tax for the Class I Racetrack project in the City, to be administered by the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation, effective April 1, 1993. The final plat
and site plan are approved on December 13, 1993 by the
Planning & Zoning Commission. On April 17, 1997 Lone
Star Park at Grand Prairie opens, bringing Class I horse
racing to North Central Dallas and an economic lift to the
City.
Development (PD) was created in a Heavy Industrial (HI)
District for HI and Sexually Oriented Business Uses on
June 16, 1998 (Ord #5915, #5916, #5917).
October 1, 1996 … Administration of the Convention &
Visitors Bureau was transferred to the City (effective
January 1, 1997) with the stipulation that it would be
moved to an independent agency when it makes good
business sense to do so. The Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corp., Inc. provided a site for the facility on Belt Line Road. A contract for $485,497 was approved on May 20, 1997 (Ord #5767) for construction of
the center. The Center opened to the public on February
24, 1998.
February 4, 1997 ...City Council appropriated $150,766
for the demolition and asbestos abatement of the Western
Oaks Condominiums (Ord #5736).
April 1, 1997 … Ordinance #5752 is passed, requiring the
microchiping of dangerous animals.
November 18, 1997 … The City Council adopted Resolution #3479, designating the Trinity River as an American
Heritage River.
Lone Star Park Opened to the Public on April 17, 1997
May 18, 1993 … The City is sued by “I-30 Partners” related to the Class I Horse Racetrack License awarded to
Lone Star Jockey Club.
June 1, 1993 … A contract is awarded to Ridgemont
Company (Resolutions #3006 & 3007) for a complete renovation of the former Kroger Building to be used for City
offices.
March 5, 1996 … City Council adopts Ord #5544, prohibiting the storage of vehicles and vehicle parts in the
floodway and providing a timeline for removal of vehicles presently located in the floodway.
March 19, 1996 ...The City issued a 6-month moratorium
on building permits or certificates of occupancy or the
approval of any zoning changes for sexually oriented
businesses (Ord #5545). The moratorium was extended
for an additional 6 months on October 1, 1996 (Ord
#5667); on March 18, 1997 (Ord #5748), and on December
16, 1997 (Ord #5855). On January 20, 1998 the City
Council appointed a Citizens Committee on sexually oriented businesses to study and make a recommendation on
zoning. The Committee’s recommendation to concentrate
sexually oriented businesses in one area and a Planned
February 17, 1997 … Grand Prairie entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Cedar Hill for provision of services to the Lakeridge Subdivision.
May 20, 1997 ...Vice President Al Gore presents the City
of Grand Prairie the Public Employees Roundtable Public
Excellence Award for its Service Excellence Program.
August 6, 1997 … City Council votes to exempt the following corporations from the existing 6-year term limit
for City boards and commissions: Housing Finance Corporation, Sports Facilities Development Corporation, Industrial Development Authority and the Health Facilities
Development Corp. (Ord #5630).
September 15, 1998 … Councilmember Robertson requested staff to begin developing long range plans for
zoning along the proposed SH 161 corridor.
August 13,1999 … The City Council approved the recommendation of the EMS Selection Team that the City
should provide EMS service through the Fire Department
effective August 1, 2000 (Resolution #3593). An additional 31 personnel were hired to provide the service.
5
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
RE: Economic Development
March 11, 1980... Council authorized advertising for
bids and allocation of cable television franchise funds for
payment of video equipment. A Cable Television Workshop for Council members was then scheduled on May
28, 1980 to “critique” their appearance on television.
The Instructional TV Dept. of Dallas County Community
College conducted the workshop.
May 5, 1981...Preliminary Plat for Grand Prairie Community Hospital Medical Building Subdivision passed
City Council.
June 23, 1992 … Council passed Resolution #2865 in
support of continued funding of the Superconducting Super Collider in the counties of Dallas, Ellis, Hill, Johnson
and Hill.
September 1, 1992 … The City approves a 30-year lease
with Careflite (Resolution #2899) providing direct revenue
to the airport of $4,356 annually (plus fuel sales).
February 2, 1993 … A contract for demolition of the
Valley View Apartments (at 102 W. Tarrant Road) in the
amount of $144,440 is awarded to Demolition Southwest
Structural Systems (Resolution 2951).
August 3, 1982 … Ordinance #3363 prohibited development, zoning, platting and issuance of building permits
July 20, 1993 … The Housing and Community Improvein the SH 161 Corridor and urged State Highway Dept. to
ment Commission is established by Ord. #5119.
purchase ROW as soon as possible.
June 21, 1983 ...Established Economic Development De- October 19, 1993 … The City Council authorized the
City Manager to enter into an interlocal agreement with
partment with an annual budget of $65,000.
the City of Dallas and Dallas County to establish a reuse
November 18, 1986 … City Council designated the area and redevelopment committee for Dallas Naval Air Stabounded by Jefferson St. on the north, Carrier Pkwy on
tion and established objectives and policies in Resolution
the east, Marshall Dr. on the south and West Freeway on #3100.
the west as a “development area” for the purpose of authorizing Industrial Development bonds for commercial August 23, 1994 … Reinvestment Zone #7, 92 acres at
projects.
Post & Paddock and SH 360 (Ord #5292); and Reinvestment Zone #8, 17.8 acres at SH-360 and Fountain Pkwy
August 24, 1987 … LTV Aerospace & Defense located a (Ord #5293), are adopted by the City Council.
major facility in Grand Prairie on 105 acres on SH-303.
November 29, 1988 … The Industrial Development Authority was designated as an advisory committee on tax
abatement applications, and would increase its membership to allow each Councilmember to appoint one member.
May 16, 1995 … City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with Rural/Metro for emergency medical services (Resolution #3341 & Ord #5426)
for a period of five years. The contract was approved by
the City Council on July 18, 1995.
December 12, 1989 ...The City Council adopted an ordinance providing for the taxation of business personal
property, otherwise exempted by the Freeport Tax
Amendment, for 1990 and future years (Ord #4632).
December 12, 1995 ...City Council revokes the requirement for annual compliance review of a: 1) SUP for inoperable vehicle holding area at 4226 E. Main, and 2) and a
flea market at 4226 E. Main Street (Ord #5511).
June 18, 1991 … A ten-year contract providing a partial
tax abatement to Poly-America for expansion that was
expected to add 100 new jobs.
January 9, 1996 ...The City establishes Reinvestment
Zone #10 (Ord #5518) for Trammell Crow Dallas/Fort
Worth BTS#1, Limited Partnership/Baxter Healthcare
Corp. at the northeast corner of IH-20 and SH-360. The
March 17, 1992...A Downtown Improvement Committee
18.2 acre tract was for a 300,000 sq. ft. facility with a $18
was appointed consisting of two Council members, two
million investment over a 10-year period. A partial tax
P & Z Commissioners, one Park Board member and four
abatement was granted by Resolution #3385.
downtown merchants. In August the committee requested $45,000 to remove awnings, landscape and irriMay 6, 1997 … The City Council approves a 64-acre exgate, repair and repaint stucco planter boxes, and provide
pansion of an existing 39-acre inoperable vehicle holding
trash receptacles.
yard at 509 Idlewild Road which sells autos for insurance
companies with the requirement the applicant conform
6
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
with all EPA regulations. (Ord #5762)
June 2, 1998 ...Proposed incentive package for NextStage
(Nokia Live) given to City Council including $1.5 million
in tax abatements over five years. A site was rezoned to
accommodate the facility on September 1, 1998 (Ord
#5956), and regulations amended to allow alcohol sales for
on-premise consumption at a performance hall,
allowing the facility to serve alcoholic beverages in concession areas provided they had a full service on-site restaurant (Ord #5957). The site was rezoned on September 1,
1998 (Ord #5956) for the 186,000 sq ft, 6,700 seat performance hall. A city/developer agreement including fee
waivers, sales tax rebates on construction materials, and
operating revenues agreement was adopted by Resolution
#3537 on September 15, 1998.
August 18, 1998 ...City Council approves a 50% partial tax
abatement for five years for three new speculative distribution facilities at 114th and Post and Paddock streets. Total
building sq ft is 440,016 valued at $8.7 million and expected to generate 220 construction jobs and 40 full time
employees.
September 15, 1998 ...A 50% tax abatement was granted to
Trammell Crow for three new speculative buildings at Red
Hawk and SH-360 totaling 600,000 sq ft and a $17 million
investment (Resolution #3536).
January 19, 1999 … A 50% tax abatement with a five year
abatement was approved (Resolution #3561) for 761,000 sq.
ft. of facilities on Trinity Blvd.
7
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
Planning
May 6, 1980...Graham Assoc., Inc. was engaged to conduct a land use study for Shady Grove. The City Council adopted the resulting proposal for a planned industrial district on October 7, 1980. City staff was directed
to “...proceed with a more definitive plan, working with
the Industrial Development Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and landowners,” and the Planning and Zoning
Commission was directed to “...begin holding public
hearings in order to study the development program and
rezone now that land which would not be compatible
with the planned industrial district.”
Sector Plans developed:
Shady Grove adopted August 1984 (Resolution #2233)
Lake Sector Plan, February 1985 (Resolution #2283)
Northeast Sector Plan, June 1985 (Resolution #2304)
South Central Sector Plan, June 1986 (Resolution #2378)
Northwest Sector Plan, Nov 1986 (Resolution #2417 )
Hospital District Plan, May 1987 (Resolution # 2453)
Central Area Plan, May 1987 (Resolution # 2455)
Dal/View Sector Plan, Feb 1988 (Resolution # 2492)
September 3, 1985 ...City Council Briefing session:
Recommend guidelines to encourage larger (quality)
homes and larger lots for development south of IH-20.
Roger Hedrick, Community Development Director, discussed ETJ in Joe Pool area, stating there is some overlapping ETJ with Mansfield & Midlothian. Council instructed staff to initiate discussions with the Cities of
Mansfield and Midlothian in an attempt to settle any
question regarding ETJ jurisdiction in this area.
November 20, 1990...The City adopts a Unified Development Code that supercedes Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance No. 2299; Chapter 14, Land Development/
Platting Regulations of the City Code of Ordinances and
other development-related ordinances and regulations.
October 15, 1991 ...Grand Prairie receives the 1991 Current Planning Award for its Unified Development Code
from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association.
May 4, 1993 … Rezoning of 47.6 acres north of Post &
Paddock Rd on SH 360 establishes the Riverside Community, Phase I (Ord. #5095). The land had formerly
been zoned for Light Industrial uses.
June 15, 1993 … A 6-month moratorium (Ord #5108) is
placed on zoning changes, plats, and building permits on
the Estes Park Peninsula to prevent premature developAugust 26, 1985...City Manager Bob Blodgett and P & Z ment on the peninsula prior to completion of a compreanalyze Grand Prairie revenues compared to other cities hensive land use study.
in terms of sales and property taxes, and consider what
zoning mix the Commission should take to maximize
August 2, 1996 ...A 90-day moratorium on development
development opportunities (Commercial zoning generwas adopted for the North Belt Line Road Corridor to
ates the most revenue, Industrial zoning the second high- allow for the Belt Line Overlay District study (Ord
est revenue, and residential varies). Mr. Bodgett believed #5620) to develop zoning, land use and urban design recthat, “larger home sales would bring in families with a
ommendations for the corridor.
greater disposable income that is conducive to retail and
commercial growth.” At the Sept. 23, 1985 P & Z meet- November 10, 1998 … The City rezoned the 77 acres of
ing an Issue Paper on “Water Availability in Southwest the former Dallas Naval Air Station that are located in
Grand Prairie, South of I-20 and the Ramification of De- Grand Prairie to a Planned Development to make the
velopment in the Area” was presented.
area compatible with adjacent residential areas (Ord
#5984).
February 13, 1990 ...A specific use permit is adopted for
a marina and associated uses and a golf driving range at November 10, 1998 ...The City Council recognized the
Lynn Creek Park (Ord #4646).
extension of Grand Prairie’s extraterritorial jurisdiction
8
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
June 28, 1993 … Council, Park Board and Golf Committee
(ETJ) to five miles from the City’s southern corporate
boundary, including the unincorporated land adjacent to its meet in a workshop to discuss the proposed $4.3 million
corporate boundaries, within the constructs of prior agreements with the other cities (Ord #5986).
February 1999 … The 1988 Comprehensive Plan Map was
updated to incorporate all adopted changes since 1988, revise land use classification designations to conform with
the Federal Standard Land Use Coding Manual, to realign
planning sector boundaries to be more representative of the
City’s population base, and to reflect future transportation
corridors (Ord #6025).
Public Facilities
May 16,1985... Fire Station #8, on Roy Orr Blvd near Oakdale Road, is constructed for an estimated cost of $325,000,
construction fee of $19,500.
August 6, 1985 ... Presentation of Fire Station Master Plan
to City Council (Resolution #2312).
February 10, 1987...Fire Station #5 site (at the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport) is approved by City Council
(Resolution #2440). A construction contract of $421,041
was awarded in September of 1987.
golf course (Tangle Ridge) with Golfscapes, the architects
for the course. The financing plan included payment of the
debt in seven years. On Sept. 21, the Council issued $5
million in Certificates of Obligation (Ord #5157) for construction of Tangle Ridge. An access road was constructed
in 1995 costing $300,000 (Ord #5415, 4.18.95).
January 1, 1988...Kirby Creek Natatorium opened.
June 11,1996 … City Council initiates discussion for the
construction of a branch library in south Grand Prairie. A
April 5, 1988...Appropriation of $3 million to expand the
site was obtained on the northeast corner of Bardin Rd and
Public Safety Building, including doubling the jail size and Robinson Rd through a developer agreement (Ord #5874,
adding two floors to the existing building.
Resolution #3494) on February 17, 1997.
July 5, 1988… City Council awards $612,578 contract for February 17, 1997 … The Master Plan for Public Parks is
construction of a new 8,170 sq. ft. Senior Citizen Recreaadopted by the City Council, Resolution #3495.
tion Center on a 4.5 site acre west of the Municipal Library.
August 4, 1998 ...The City Council authorized the City
December 13, 1988 … Funds appropriated to provide
Manager to contract for purchase of the building and lands
matching funds for development of Dallas County Fish
at 200 W. Main Street and 306 W. Main Street, appropriatCreek Forest Park ($50,000) to be maintained and opering $875,000 for this purpose (Resolution #3525 and Ord
ated by the City of Grand Prairie.
#5952) for relocation of the Municipal Court. A contract
for $108,415 was awarded for design and construction
January 16, 1990 … Curfew established between the hours management. Total costs in April 1999 exceeded $1.6 milof midnight and 6 a.m. in all city parks (Ord #4641).
lion.
March 19, 1991 ...The Central Police Facility at 801 Conover Drive is dedicated and named for Police Officer Lyndon F. King who was killed in the line of duty on March 1,
1982.
January 19, 1999 … Resolution # 3562 was adopted expressing the City’s desire to acquire the Runway Protection
Zone (RPZ) from the closed Naval Air Station Dallas for a
public park and recreational use.
July 2, 1991 … Contract approved for Phase 1 of the Fish
Creek Linear Park ($37,300 for design services).
February 16, 1999 ...An architectural contract for design of
Fire Station #9 and conceptual design of a future police
substation was awarded for $149,275.
9
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
Municipal Airport
FAA, contingent upon approval of the FAA.
June 1, 1985 ...City Council approved installation of a Vis- October 17, 1995 ...The Updated Master Plan for Grand
ual Approach Slope Indicator at the GP Municipal Airport. Prairie Municipal Airport is approved by Resolution #3374.
It calls for a total of $24 Million in improvements, to be
September 9, 1986... City Council, citing concerns regard- split three ways: 1) $12,522,340 in FAA funds; $7,338,497
ing standards of operation at GP Municipal Airport. apin City funds; and $4,144,192 in private funding. The plan
proved a buy-out agreement and lease agreement with Re- was submitted to the FAA for review and approval.
gional Aviation for return of airport assets to City Control.
On September 16, the City Council issued $490,000 “City November 21, 1995 … City Council overturned recommendations of staff and to rezone 10 acres of PD-77 adjacent
of Grand Prairie, Texas Combination Tax and Airport
Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 1986-A” to com Grand Prairie Municipal Airport and within one mile of the
plete the agreement (Ordinance #4038 and Resolution # 2408). end of the runway, (Ord #5508) to low density residential
use, an incompatible land use with aircraft operations.
February 3, 1987 ...John Anderson (FAA) and Julie Dunbar (NCTCOG) briefed City Council on future of Grand
December 11, 1995 ...The Planning & Zoning Commission
Prairie Municipal Airport. They anticipate a new location denied a proposal to realign Mayfield Rd from Forum Dr to
for the airport will be needed in the future and support a
GSW Pkwy to accommodate the future extension of the
new airport location to serve the mid-cities area.
runway at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport.
February 17, 1987… City Council adopts Airport Master
Plan calling for expansion and development of the City’s
Municipal Airport (Resolution #2442).
RE: Public Works
September 23, 1985...Issue Paper presented to P & Z Commission on “Water Availability in Southwest Grand PraiJune 7, 1994 ...The Council contracted with Carter & Bur- rie, South of IH-20 and The Ramification of Development
gess, Inc. to develop a Master Plan for Grand Prairie Muin the Area” by Steve Stackhouse, Subdivision and Zoning
nicipal Airport (Ord #5257). The City’s 10% share of the Administrator. P & Z approved a motion that a Citycost was $14,410.
generated analysis be conducted to ensure that the infrastructure is sufficient to provide adequate levels of service
January 24, 1995 …City enters a lease agreement with
(to new development) and that if the infrastructure plans
American Eurocopter for use of its tower facility to provide are insufficient to meet the needs of a particular developair traffic control at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport
ment that the City reserved the right to deny permits until
(Resolution #3286). Midwest ATC, Inc. was contracted to
such time as the City determines that there will be suffistaff the facility (Resolution #3327) for an annual amount of cient infrastructure services to meet the health, safety and
$1 million, to be paid by passing the cost through to the
welfare of the citizens.
10
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
neers for the proposed water treatment plant site.
mation System Phase 1 Study to provide data related to
site and location of water and sewer lines, streets, drain
October 28, 1986 ...Bill Hargett, Director of Public
Works, and Dale Powell, Civil Engineer, discussed the
need for the City Council to develop a general policy
guideline on what was envisioned as the future fully developed condition of the Trinity River corridor in Grand
Prairie including levees, mitigation of flood plain, open
space, etc. It was agreed to maximize the amount of usable space.
age, zoning, tax value, existing building improvements
and future city plans. On December 16, 1997, a contract
for $193,211 was approved for GIS hardware and software
and a contract for $240,000 was approved for GIS implementation assistance. The City also joined the North
Texas GIS Consortium for access to digital city maps.
September 6, 1994 … City Council adopts a resolution to
develop an implementation and funding strategy to extend
water and wastewater utilities to the Joe Pool Lake Peninsula, including a wastewater lift station and acquisition of
right-of-way (Ord #5299, Resolutions #3229 & #3230).
February 19, 1980...The Grand Prairie Transit Authority
was officially adopted by Resolution #1988, with a public
referendum on August 9, 1980 authorizing a one-cent
sales and use tax to support a transit program.
August 6, 1997 … An Emergency Water Use Plan is
adopted by the City Council (Ord #5629) to provide for
April 5, 1988...City Council accepted a bid of $83,700 for four stages of water emergencies and assure water for esdigging of a landfill pit at the new City landfill on Meyers sential purposes (drinking, sanitation and fire fighting)
(MacArthur) Road. Initially the landfill’s capacity was
will be available to all citizens.
expected to meet City needs until 2018.
May 20, 1997 … The City approves a $1.3 million conAugust 16, 1988 ...Long Range Water Supply & Treattract for drainage and storm water utility projects.
ment Study recommends: 1) use groundwater wells primarily during times of high demand, 2) initiate discusJanuary 20, 1998 ...Grand Prairie entered into a Developer
sions for joint regional treatment plant at Joe Pool Lake
Agreement for construction of a $525,000 wastewater
(with TRA, Cedar Hill & Duncanville), 3) if (#2) doesn’t trunk line to the Lakeridge Addition (Ord #5865 and Ord
work, plan and design a 6.4 MGD treatment plant for wa- #5866).
ter from Joe Pool, 4) assure Joe Pool Lake pump station is
operative to supply water to proposed treatment plant, 5) December 15, 1998 ...The City Council appropriated
discuss purchase of additional storage at Joe Pool Lake
$396,639 and awarded a contract for Phase I of the Lakwith surrounding cities and water districts, 6) initiate dis- eridge Water Transmission Main (Ord #6013).
cussions to purchase raw water from Tarrant County Water District.
January 5, 1999...Conversion to Geographic Information
System (GIS) approved at a cost of $465,000.
June 13, 1989 ...City Council approved construction of the
Dorchester Levee Flood Protection Project which had
March 2, 1999...Phase II for construction of the Lake–
originally been permitted in 1982. The $2.6 Million proridge Water Transmission Main was approved at a cost of
ject north of Eisenhower Elementary School was built to $1,190,638 (Ord #6040).
protect the Dorchester and Esquire Subdivisions.
June 1, 1999...A contract for drainage improvements in
August 14, 1990 … A construction contract for sanitary
Nottingham subdivision was appropriated in the amount
sewer replacement to the Keith Heights Addition is issued of $379,949 (Ord #6040).
in the amount of $548,954 by Ord #4726. A construction
contract in the amount of $832,993 is awarded for sanitary August 3, 1999...Resolution 3598 adopts the Belt Line
sewer replacement for Phase I of a sanitary sewer replace- Corridor Reclamation Master Plan, a joint project with the
ment from Cottonwood Creek to SE 8th St.
City of Irving to rechannel Bear Creek and reclaim 1,300
acres of land from the floodplain.
January 1994 ...Grand Prairie’s Stormwater Utility Fund
was established by Ord #5211. Fees collected are to be
used for drainage projects throughout the City.
RE: Transportation Services
February 26, 1985..Transportation Service Dept created
May 21, 1996 ...The City contracts for a Geographic Infor- (Ord #3748) - to include Traffic Operations Division.
11
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
May 1986 ...Grand Prairie and Arlington scheduled meeting with State Highway Commission to obtain funding and
right-of-ways for the extension of SH 360 from IH-20 to
SH 287. Roughly 243 acres were needed.
November 25, 1986 … The Texas State Highway Dept.
approves a request by Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield for the extension of SH-360 from IH-20 to SH-287,
agreeing to issue a minute order for immediate scheduling
and funding for the extension, to be completed by 19901991.
July 26, 1988 … City Council considered a 5-year Transportation Improvement Plan addressing: 1) future traffic
signal locations, 2) modernization of existing traffic sigOctober 23, 1990 ...City Council authorized City Manager
nals, 3) school zone safety, bottleneck and high accident
locations, and 5) railroad grade crossings. Identified needs to negotiate the acquisition of real property for the extension of SH-360 from IH-20 to U.S. 287 (Resolution #2702).
totaled $8.1 million.
March 7, 1989 … TXDOT’s 10-year Project Development
Plan was shared with the City Council. Council then requested an environmental impact statement for the following projects: 1) exit/entrance ramp from IH-30 to GSW
Pkwy, 2) frontage roads along IH-20 from Belt Line Rd to
Carrier Parkway, 3) extension of Camp Wisdom Rd to SH360, and 4) improvements of various farm to market roads
south of SH-287.
December 1984... City Council approves a contract for engineering services for the extension of Lakeridge Parkway
from the Dallas/Tarrant County Line to Vineyard Road at
an estimated cost of $247,900. The contract was reduced
to $72,500 due to priority projects for funding.
June 18, 1996 … Street names were changed by Ord’s #
5608 and #5609. Meyers Road was changed to MacArthur
Blvd and the old MacArthur Street was changed to SE 19th
Street.
July 16, 1996 … SH-303 is renamed Pioneer Parkway (Ord
#5622) to provide a more regional identity for businesses
located on SH-303.
October 7, 1997 ...Council approves the levying of paving
assessments for the extension of Robinson Rd from Warrior Trail to Pioneer Parkway (Ord #5828).
June 18, 1985 … Don Dietrich, Director of Public Works,
tells the City Council that the proposed Lakeridge Parkway
is to be designated a state highway from IH-20 to U.S. 67
in Cedar Hill and that if federally or state funded, the project would take 7 to 10 years. Staff’s recommendation is
that the City build the highway to state standards as a fourlane thoroughfare, and design for six lanes so that it can be
designated as a state highway in the future as an extension
of SH-161.
January 16, 1990 … City Council appropriated $2,758,000
for construction of Trinity Blvd from Belt Line Road to
Hardrock Road (Resolution #2610).
February 20 & March 6, 1990 … Public Hearings were
held to discuss proposed alignments of SH 161 through
Grand Prairie.
12
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
The Decision Makers: 1980—2000
MAYORS
1980—1982
1982—1984
1984—1990
1990—1992
1992—2000
James Weems
Anne Gresham
Jerry Debo
Duane McGuffey
Charles England
1979—1981
James Kellum
1979—1981
Dennis Seely
1980—1982
Anne Gresham
1981—1983
John Arbogast
1981—1983
Roy Owings
1981—1983
Phil Duncan
1981—1983
John Logan
1982—1986
Ron Axt
1983—1983
J. D. Stewart
1983—1989
James Kellum
1983—1986
Mike Lewis
1983—1993
L. B. Bo Craft
1983—1984
Jerry Debo
1984—1990
Tommy Ellison
1984—1985
Laura Kapka
1984—1986
Ed Churchill
1990—1990
Lee Alcorn
1990—1992
Mo Day
1990—1992
Ed Galligan
1990—1994
Ed Hemphill
1985—2009
Ruthe Jackson
1986—1986
Ralph Giessner
1986—2000
Teri Jackson
1988—1990
Michael McAfee
1988—1992
Duane McGuffey
1989—1990
Tyson Taylor
1989—1991
Michael Sandoval
1990—1994
Walt Howey
1991—1993
Tommy Smelser
1992—1993
Jim Morgan
1992—1994
Robert Gustafson
1992—1994
Robert Thornton
1993—1995
Miles Diamond
1993—1995
Tony Robertson
1994—2000
Jim Bledsoe
1994—1998
Don Doty
1994—2000
Richard Fregoe
1994—2000
Frank Robertson
1995—2000
Harry Englert
1995—2000
Tony Shotwell
1998—2000
Jim Swafford
CITY MANAGERS
1980—1981
Clifford Johnson
1981—1984
Ted Willis
1984—1987
Bob Blodgett
1987—1991
Wendel Hulse
1991—1999
Gary Gwen
1999—2000
Tom Hart
Mayor James Weems
(1959-1961)
(1980-1982, CC)
Mayor Anne Gresham
(1980-82) (1976-82, CC)
Mayor Jerry Debo198490) (1983-84, CC)
Mayor Duane McGuffey
(1990-92) (1988-90, CC)
Mayor Charles England (1992-2009) with Councilmembers
Tony Shotwell, Harry Englert, Frank Robertson, Terri Jackson, Jim Bledsoe, Jim Swafford, Richard Fregoe, and Ruthe
Jackson.
13
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
James Kellum
John Logan
Roy Owings
Mike Lewis
Laura Kapka
Tommy Ellison
Ralph Giessner
Michael McAfee
Michael Sandoval
Mo Day
Ed Galligan
Jimmy Morgan
Walt Howey
Miles Diamond
Ed Hemphill
Tony Robertson
Robert Gustafson
Jim Swafford
Robert Thornton
Ed Churchill
14
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
Cottonwood Village (1.22.80)
South Park (1.22.80)
Hawco Business Park (1.26.80)
Glen Oaks Addition (2.5.80)
GSW South #78 (3.4.80)
GSW Ind Dist #6, Blk 1, Site 4 (3.25.80)
Regency Business Park, 1st Instmt (4.1.80)
South Park, 2nd Section (5.12.80)
Vineyard Estates No. 2 (5.12.80)
Trinity Blvd ROW (6.9.80)
Flower Meadow (6.9.80)
GSC Dev Corp, Tract 1 (6.9.80)
Woodcrest Phase 2 (6.9.80)
Alex Cockrell #5 (6.9.80)
GSW Ind Dist #6, Blk 4, Site 2 & 3 (7.28.80)
GSW Ind Dist #2, Site 4, 1 & 2 (8.11.80)
GSW Ind Dist #7 (8.25.80)
Warrior Trail ROW (9.8.80)
Royal Highlands, Sec 1, A (9.8.80)
Southland Park (10.20.80)
Woodcrest Phase II (10.20.80)
Sol Spigel Village, #2 (11.10.80)
Forum Park, Blk D, Site 1 (11.10.80)
Oak Hollow, Phase 1 (11.24.80)
Woodcrest Townhomes (12.8.80)
Wheathill Addition (1.20.81)
GSW Ind Dist #6, Blk 4, Site 2R (1.20.81)
Ware Community, Phase 2 (2.17.81)
Holly Ridge (8.31.82)
GSW Ind Dist #6, Blk 5 & Blk 1 (3.9.81)
GSW Ind Dist #6, Blk 8, Site 1-R (3.31.81)
GSW South, Site 98 (5.19.81)
Sunset Crossing (6.16.81)
Dow Place (7.21.81)
GSW Pkwy ROW (7.13.81)
Osler Dr ROW (8.18.81)
GSW Ind Dist #7, Site 1, Blk 2 (10.6.81)
Park Square II (11.3.81)
Teresa Terrace (12.8.81)
West Freeway Business Park (1.19.82)
Countrywood (1.19.82)
Sir John Addition (2.2.82)
Quail Ridge Addition (2.2.82)
G.P. Cmmty Hosp #2 (2.2.82)
56. Haystack Apartments (4.12.82)
57. GSW Ind Dist #5 Site 11, Track A & B (5.4.82)
58. GSW Ind Dist #7, Site 7, Blk 1 (5.10.82)
59. McDaniel Addition (6.1.82)
60. Dickinson Indus Park (6.1.82)
61. Holly Ridge (5.24.82)
62. Medical Village, Phase 2 (6.22.82)
63. Sunset Crossing II (8.3.82)
64. Windridge Apartments (10.26.82)
65. Oak Hollow Plaza (11.2.82)
66. Polo Business Park (11.16.82)
67. Hillcrest Apartments (12.14.82)
68. Autumn Lake Apartments (11.16.82)
69. Fairways, Lot 1 (12.21.82)
70. Country Club Park Section 4 (2.1.83)
71. Fry Estates (2.15.83)
72. Patterson Addition (2.21.83)
73. K-F-H Addition (2.15.83)
74. Oak Hollow, Phase 4 (3.29.83)
75. Oak Hollow, Phase 5 A & B (5.3.83)
77. Windscape Apartments (7.5.83)
79. Cimarron Prairie (8.16.83)
80. Shady Grove Ranch Mobile Home Park (8.16.83)
81. L. O’Gwinn Addition (8.30.83)
82. Sunset Crossing III (8.30.83)
85. GSW Ind Dist #6 & #7, Site 4, Blk 4 (9.6.83)
86. River Ridge Mobile Home Park (10.4.83)
87. High Key Apartments (10.18.83)
88. K&S Addition (11.1.83)
89. Pittman Addition (11.1.83)
90. Riverside Section A, B, C (11.22.83)
91. Sunridge Apartments (12.13.83)
92. Prairie Oaks (12.20.83)
93. Gentry Place (12.20.83)
94. Riverside Club (12.20.83)
95. Grand Prairie Indus. Park (12.20.83)
96. Retail Business Ctr SH 360/Arkansas (1.17.84)
96. Red Hawk Dr/Hawco Bus. Park (1.17.84)
98. Sheffield Village, Phase I & II (2.21.84)
99. Alex Cockrell #5 (2.28.84)
100. GSW Ind Dist #6, Blk 7, Site 1-R (3.13.84)
101. Polo Village Shopping Center (3.13.84)
102. Shellito Addition (4.3.84)
103. Ashbury Square (4.3.84)
104. Meadow Park (4.24.84)
105. GSW Ind Dist #7, Blks 7 & 8 (4.24.84)
106. GSW Ind Dist #7, Blk 3, Site 1 (4.24.84)
107. GSW Ind Dist #7, Blk 9, Site 1 (4.24.84)
108. Milton Square (5.22.84)
109. R & J Addition (6.4.84)
15
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
110. Faust Addition (6.11.84)
111. Country Creek Estates (6.11.84)
112. Ranger Row (6.11.84)
113. Heritage Heights (6.11.84)
114. Sheffield Village, Phase 3 (6.25.84)
115. Pecan Estates (7.9.84)
116. Kaleta Torti Addition (7.23.84)
117. Westchester, Phase 1, A & B (7.23.84)
118. Trailwood Shopping Ctr (8.13.84)
119. Arbor Creek (8.13.84)
120. Stonechase Apartments (8.27.84)
121. Green Foliage Addition (8.27.84)
122. Wells Addition (8.27.84)
123. August Addition (8.27.84)
124. Pecan Estates (9.10.84)
125. Kirby Creek Village (9.10.84)
126. Parkway Addition (11.12.84)
127. Sharpston Heights #2 (11.12.84)
128. Westfork Center (11.26.84)
129. Theo’s Addition (12.10.84)
130. First Continental Bank (1.14.85)
131. Windcliff Apartments (1.14.85)
132. LTV Credit Union (1.14.85)
133. Irving Auto Impound Yard (1.28.85)
134. Parkway Addition (1.28.85)
135. Garden Oaks #1 & #2 (1.28.85)
136. Polo Estates (2.11.85)
137. Warrior Trail Apartments (2.25.85)
138. Greenwood II, Phase 1 (2.25.85)
139. Westchester, Phase 2 (2.25.85)
140. SAM’s Properties, SH 303 (4.22.85)
141. Evangel Temple Addition (5.13.85)
142. Twelve Oaks Addition (6.3.85)
143. Chief Auto Parts (6.3.85)
144. Westchester Phase 3 (6.10.85)
145. Duvall Addition (6.24.85)
146. Country Club Park #4 (6.24.85)
147. Kirby Creek Village #3 (7.8.85)
148. Cottonwood park Plaza (7.22.85)
149. Holland Addition (7.22.85)
150. Forum Drive (7.22.85)
151. Paddock Place Business Park (8.12.85)
152. Houseman/NCS Addition (8.12.85)
153. High Prairie Business Park (8.12.85)
154. Alouette Dr (9.9.85)
155. Forum Park, Site 3 (9.9.85)
156. Jones Addition (9.23.85)
157. DevTex Business Park (9.23.85)
158. Sheffield Village # 5 & #6
159. Exxon Southeast Addition (10.14.85)
160. Shellito Addition (11.11.85)
161. Emerald Square (11.11.85)
162. Morning Star Addition (11.11.85)
163. Circle K Addition (11.11.85)
164. TKO Addition (11.11.85)
165. Oak Hollow Elementary School (12.9.85)
166. Greenwood Addition #2 (12.9.85)
167. Southpoint Addition (1.3.86)
168. Westchester Commercial (1.27.86)
169. Paddock Way Dr (1.27.86)
170. D. M. Miller Addition (1.27.86)
171. Greenpoint Center, Phase 1 (1.27.86)
172. Greenwood Addition (1.27.86)
173. Jones Nursery Addition (2.10.86)
174. R.E.S. Subdivision (2.10.86)
175. River Ridge East & Farmer’s Indus. Addn (2.24.86)
176. Three Sixty Place (3.10.86)
177. Westchester West, Phase A (3.24.86)
178. S & S Properties (4.14.86)
179. Trinity Park West (4.28.86)
180. Garrett Addition (4.28.86)
181. Chasewood Park Streets (5.12.86)
182. Matt M. LaVail Addition (5.12.86)
183. Walingford Village (5.19.86)
184. Westchester Phase IV, #1 (6.9.86)
185. Warrior Crossing (6.23.86)
186. St. Michael Addition (6.23.86)
187. Southwest 20 Addition (6.23.86)
188. Parker Creek Addition (7.14.86)
189. Mel-Rose Addition (7.14.86)
190. Southpark Baptist Church (7.14.86)
191. Westchester Elementary School (7.28.86)
192. Westchester West Garden Homes (7.28.86)
193. Walingford Village, Phase 2 (7.28.07)
194. Addie Majors Addition (8.11.86)
195. Allen Chapel Addition (8.11.86)
196. Carrier Parkway LDS Church (8.11.86)
197. Westchester West, Phase B (8.11.86)
198. Topsy Addition (9.8.86)
199. Westchester Parkway (10.13.86)
200. Phillips Sign Company (11.10.86)
201. Westchester IV, #2 (11.24.86)
202. Sheffield Village, Phase 7 (12.8.86)
203. Country Club Park, #5 (12.8.86)
204. Greenpoint Center, Phase 2 (12.8.86)
205. Clean Machine Addition (2.17.87)
206. Forum Place Addition (2.23.87)
207. Westchester Town Center, Phase 1 (2.23.87)
208. Garden Oaks, Phase 3 (3.9.87)
209. Westchester Town Center, Phase 2 (3.9.87)
210. Nachawati Addition (3.23.87)
211. Windscape Apartments, Phase 2 (3.23.87)
212. Parker Road Addition (4.13.87)
213. Midpoint Phase 1C (4.13.87)
214. Midpoint Phase 3 (4.13.87)
215. Parker Place (4.13.87)
216. Ring Can Addition (5.11.87)
217. McAnalley Estate (5.11.87)
218. Westchester Commercial, Phase 2 (6.1.87)
219. Mid-Cities Medical Plaza (6.22.87)
220. FCC Addition (7.13.87)
221. Fajita Junction #2 (7.13.87)
222. Westchester Town Center, Phase 3A (7.13.87)
223. Kingswood Forest Addition, Phase 1 (7.27.87)
16
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
224. Spring Creek Circle (7.27.87)
225. Southpoint Addition (9.14.87)
226. Lincoln Industrial Centre (9.28.87)
227. Walingford Village, Phase 3 (10.12.87)
228. Trinity Oaks Baptist Church (10.26.87)
229. High Country Place (10.26.87)
230. Park Place Addition (10.26.87)
231. Sundance Park Addition (11.23.87)
232. Luby’s Addition (12.14.87)
233. Forum Place, Section 2 (12.14.87)
234. Westchester Commercial, Phase 3 (12.14.87)
235. Hillcrest Apartments (2.16.88)
236. Forum Place, Phase 1 (3.14.88)
237. Weems Addition (4.11.88)
238. Sheffield Village Phase 8 (5.9.88)
239. Polyco Phase 1 (6.13.88)
240. Parker Place Addition (10.10.88)
241. Dallas Auto Auction Addition (10.24.88)
242. Chandler Addition (10.24.88)
243. Westchester IV, Installment 2 (12.12.88)
244. Lakeview Church of Christ (2.13.89)
245. Vought Employees Addition (3.27.89)
246. Midpoint Addition (4.10.89)
247. County Line Addition (4.24.89)
248. Tegart Addition (5.8.89)
249. Lord Auto Addition (5.8.89)
250. Sheffield Village Phase 9, A & B (6.26.89)
251. Greenbriar South (8.14.89)
252. Kirby Creek Village, Setion 2 (1.22.90)
253. Raymond Smith Addition (1.22.90)
254. J.J. Goodwin Addition (2.26.90)
255. N. Texas Salvage Pool Addition (3.12.90)
256. Park Place Addition (4.23.90)
257. Westchester Town Center, Phase 3A (5.14.90)
258. Food Lion/Carrier Pkwy Addition (6.11.90)
259. Nachawati Addition (6.25.90)
260. JMH Printing Addition (7.9.90)
261. Country Club #1 (8.13.90)
262. Plattner Addition, Lot 1, Blk 1 (9.10.90)
263. Stellar Way Addition (6.24.91)
264. N. Fort Worth Bank, Lot 1, Blk A (10.14.91)
265. Tommy Winn Addn, Lots 1 & 2 (1.13.92)
266. Sheffield Village Phase X-A (2.10.92)
267. Sheffield Village Phase X-B (3.23.92)
268. Forum Place Phase 3 (7.27.92)
269. Dealers Auto Auction (11.9.92)
270. J. J. Goodwin Addition, Lots 2 & 3 (2.22.93)
271. Fairway Bend Addition, Phase 1 (5.10.93)
272. Crossland Oaks, Lot 8, Blk A (6.14.93)
273. GSW Indus Dist #7, Blk 4, Sites 6 & 7 (6.14.93)
274. Forum Place, Phase 4A (6.14.93)
275. Phillips Sign Co., Blk 1, Lots 1R & 2
276. Dalworth Trucking Co (6.28.93)
277. Garden Oaks Phase 2A (7.12.93)
278. Southwest 20 East, Phase 1 (7.26.93)
279. Lewis Cane Addition (9.27.93)
280. Allbritton Assoc. Addition (11.8.93)
281. W. J. Whiting Addition (11.22.93)
282. Lone Star Addition (12.13.93)
283. Westchester West, Phase C (2.14.94)
284. Westchester Commercial Ph II (2.28.94)
285. Fairway Bend Addition Ph II (2.28.94)
286. Foster Acres Addition (4.25.94)
287. Southwest 20 Addition, Ph 2 (5.9.94)
288. Truevine Addition (6.27.94)
289. Westchester East Addition (7.25.94)
290. Benjamin F. Smith Addition (7.25.94)
291. Carrier Pkwy Plaza East (8.29.94)
292. Regency Business Park (8.29.94)
293. Stone’s Addition (10.24.94)
294. Gables at Green Oaks (10.24.94)
295. One Stop Addition (11.28.94)
296. Mayfield Substation (11.28.94)
297. Riverside Apartments Block A, Lot 1 (12.5.94)
298. Kingswood Center (1.23.95)
299. Riverhill Apartments (1.23.95)
300. Kingsgate Addition (2.13.95)
301. Westchester East, Ph II (2.13.95)
302. Southwest 20 East, Ph 2 (2.13.95)
303. Castleridge at Westchester, Ph I (3.13.95)
304. Studio Suites (4.10.95)
305. Cornerstone Acres (5.22.95)
306. Power Church Addition (5.22.95)
307. Sheffield Village Ph XB (5.22.95)
308. Forum Place Phase II-A (10.23.95
309. Bristol Heights Addition (10.23.95)
310. Boating World Addition (11.27.95)
311. Regency Business Park, Blk 4 (1.8.96)
312. Kirby Creek Village Section 3 (2.26.96)
313. Corn Valley Elementary (5.13.96)
314. AISD Addition (5.13.96)
315. Westchester Village (5.28.96)
316. GSW Addition Lots 1-4, Blk 1 (7.8.96)
317. Chancellorsville at Westchester, PH 1 (8.26.96)
318. Farrens Addition (8.26.96)
319. Kirby Creek Village, Section 2 (9.9.96)
320. Springdale Elementary (9.23.96)
321. Forum III-A Addition (10.7.96)
322. Autonation Reconditioning Center (10.28.96)
323. Southwest Addition, Ph 3 (10.28.96)
324. Plantation Gate (11.11.96)
325. Westridge Baptist (12.2.96)
326. Riverside Addition (12.2.96)
327. Post & Paddock, Ph. II (12.16.96)
328. Westchester Commercial Addition (1.13.97)
329. Lone Star Chevron (1.27.97)
330. Kingswood Center Addition (2.24.97)
331. Sheffield Village, Ph X-C (3.10.97)
332. Royal Estates Addition (3.24.97)
333. Carrier Towne Crossing (4.7.97)
334. 5-J Addition (5.12.97)
335. Westchester on the Creek, Phase 2 (5.12.97)
336. Kirby Creek Village, Ph 5 & 6 (6.9.97)
17
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
337. IH-20 GSW Addition, Lots 5, 6 & 7 (6.9.97)
338. Lake Ridge Addition (6.23.97)
340. Big Cedar Ranch (10.13.97)
341. Red River Ranch (10.13.97)
342. Kingswood Forest Addition (10.27.97)
344. Westchester Meadow Ph I-A (10.27.97)
345. Lake Ridge Section 11 (10.27.97)
346. Hawco Business Park ( 11.10.97)
347. Matt M. Lavail Addition (12.1.97)
348. Golden Corral 360 Addition (12.15.97)
349. Stonebrooke Phase II (12.15.97)
350. Lakeridge, Section 12 (1.12.98)
351. Westchester Meadow, Ph I-B (1.12.98)
352. Jenson Addition (1.12.98)
353. Stellar Way, Lot 2, Blk 3 (1.12.98)
355. Westchester Meadow Ph I-C (2.9.98)
356. Starrie Park Estates (2.23.98)
357. Royal Estates, Ph 2 (3.9.98)
358. Southwest 20 East (3.9.98)
359. Westchester on the Creek, Ph 3-A & 3-B (3.23.98)
360. Stellar Way, Lot 1, Blk 4 (3.23.98)
361. Courtyard on Carrier (4.27.98)
362. Castleridge, Ph 2A & 3A (5.11.98)
364. Towns of Riverside, Lot 1, Blk A (6.8.98)
365. Carrier/Crossland Addition (6.8.98)
366. Westchester on the Creek, Ph 4 (6.22.98)
367. Westchester Commercial, Lot 1, Blk 1 (6.22.98)
368. U-Haul/MacArthur, Lot 1, Blk 1 (7.13.98)
369. H.P.Garcia Elementary School (7.13.98)
370. Horseshoe Bend (7.27.98)
371. Beacon Hill, Ph II (8.10.98)
372. Prairie Estates Townhomes (8.24.98)
373. Mirabella Village, Ph 1 (8.24.98)
374. Lone Star Park, Lot 1, Blk 2 (8.24.98)
375. Fuentes Addition (9.8.98)
376. Cimmaron Estates, Ph 1 (9.28.98)
377. GSW Center Addition (10.12.98)
378. Westchester Meadow, Ph 2-A (11.9.98)
379. Forum III-B Addition (11.9.98)
380. SJS Properties Addition (12.7.98)
381. Racetrac Addition Lot 2, Blk 1 (12.7.98)
382. 360 Commerce Center (12.7.98)
383. Forum Place 4-B (1.11.99)
384. Budget Suites of America Lot 1, Blk 1 (1.11.99)
385. Westchester Meadow, Ph 3 (1.11.99)
387. Securlock Addition Lots 1-3, Blk 1 (3.8.99)
388. Fresh Advantage (4.12.98)
389. Site Concrete, Lot 1, Blk A (5.10.99)
390. Cimmaron Estates, Ph 2 (5.24.99)
391. Grand Prairie Redevelopment Addn (6.28.99)
392. Cornelius Addition (6.28.99)
393. Castleridge, Ph 2B & 3B (7.26.99)
394. Kohl’s Lot 1, Blk 1 (5.24.99)
395. Fire Station #9 (11.8.99)
396. 360 Commerce Center, Lot 3, Blk 1 (12.6.99)
18
CHAPTER 2: 1980-2000
Representative Annexations
1.
2.
3.
980 Acres, north of SH 287, (Mar 1980) Ord #3123
Disannex adj Yellow Belly, (June 1980) Ord #3142
Petition against Mansfield Annexations, April 1986
No. 17-89808-85, 17th Judicial Dist
4. Disannex adjacent Cedar Hill (June 1981) Ord #3233
5. Realign 500’ bdry adj. Ellis Co (10.6.81) Ord #3247
6. Disannex portion of 500’ strip Ellis Co (10.6.81) Ord
#3268
7. Disannex ROW adjmts/Arlington (10.25.83) Ord #3527
8. ETJ Jurisdiction/Arlington, Resltn. # 2186 (10.25.83)
9. Annex. Lakeview Res. Area (10.13.81) Ord #3249
10. Annex. ROW adjmts/Arlington (5.22.84) Ord #3606
11. Boundary Alignment, South IH-360 (7.2.85)
Resolution #2305
12. Disannex Tracts along SH-360 ROW (8.6.85)
Ord #3828
13. Annex SH-360 south of IH-20 (12.17.85) Ord #3917
14. Surface of Joe Pool Lake (6.10.86) Ord #3984
15. Annex 600-foot strip 31/2 miles south of City limit
(2.17.87) Ord #4118
16. Resolution #2474 to disannex certain property from the
Dallas County Flood Control District #1
17. Disannex area approved in settlement agreement with
Mansfield, dividing ETJ of the two cities (11.3.87) Ord
#4278
18. Annex 3.31 Acres at Day Mair & Arlington Webb-Britton
Rd (4.5.88) Ord #4341
19. Disannex territory east of a boundary line established in an
apportionment agreement with the City of Midlothian
(4.12.88) Ord #4346
20. Disannex 600-foot strip in Ellis & Johnson Counties annexed (2.17.87) Ord #4118. (10.17.89) Ord #4607
21. Annex 18.36 Ac Dallas Auto Auction Addition (8.9.94)
Ord #5262
22. Boundary adjustment with Cedar Hill, Ord #5442 & #5465
(Aug 22, 95) to bring all of the Tangle Ridge Golf Course
into Grand Prairie’s City Limits.
23. Disannex and waive ETJ jurisdiction of a 30.672 acre tract
in Lake Ridge and adjacent Cedar Hill (6.17.97) Ord #5775
24. Annex 31 acres adjacent Grand Prairie in Lake Ridge
(7.1.97) Ord #5781
25. Annex 5.65 Ac on the west side of the Dry Branch Channel
between Shady Grove Rd and Rock Island Rd , boundary
adjustment with Irving (4.21.98) Ord #5896
26. Boundary adjustment with Arlington, annex 2.79 Ac for
reconstruction of Duncan Perry Rd bridge over IH-30
(6.16.98) Ord #5943
27. 27. Annex 2.789 acres of land for the reconstruction of
Duncan Perry Road (6.30.98) Ord #5943
28. Annex 454 acres in Ellis Co (7.20.99) Ord #6102
29. Annex 1,605 acres in Ellis Co (7.20.99) Ord #6103
19
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
OVERVIEW
1960 Census:
Population = 30,386
Land Area = 36 Sq. Mi.
Median Income=$5,948
From 1960 to 1980, the City of Grand Prairie was playing
“catch-up” to meet infrastructure needs. Subdivisions
which had been platted outside the City limits were being
annexed into the City, but did not have basic utilities
such as water, sewer and paved streets. Federal grants
and the Urban Renewal Program were used to meet these
pressing needs.
The City formed an Urban Renewal Commission. The
initial program was discussed during a meeting of the
Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 10, 1958:
“Their starting plan is for nice streets, sewer, properly
parks and playgrounds, proper traffic patterns; elimination of substandard type of dwellings where people can
have a reasonably nice home with modern convenience.
Where some are torn down they will help people to get
long term loans. They will lay out plans so that commercial is not across the street from single family...it may not
be Utopia, but it is better than we have. The Federal
Government underwrites the program. They are not going to run you out of business or put you in business.”
Grand Prairie’s Camelot
At the same time, The City was planning, platting and
developing its portion of the Great Southwest Industrial
District which became a major economic stabilizer for the
City. Although initial presentations had been held with
the Planning and Zoning Commission as early as Oct. 8,
1956, the Planning and Zoning Commission zoned the
district for General Industrial use on November 26, 1962.
In 1961, right-of-way for SH-303, Pioneer Parkway, was
being purchased for $2,000 per acre. Ramifications of the
Cold War were evidenced by the City’s plans to convert
tanks at the old sewage disposal plant into a civil defense
shelter and storage (Feb.6, 1962 P & Z minutes). The
cost of bringing one tank up to standards to store food and
hospital equipment was estimated to be $6,000.
Subdivisions that had been hastily thrown together to
house aircraft manufacturing workers during W.W. II left
behind 3,755 lots fronting on dirt streets and without city
water or sewer facilities. Abandoned by war plant workers, the City realized the substandard lots could not be
developed to City standards without outside interven-
Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy campaigns in Grand Prairie
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
OVERVIEW—continued
tion. The City, through the Texas Legislature, initiated
legislation that allowed cities in counties of more than
700,00 people to improve lots that have been platted
more than 10 years and then assess 90% of the cost back
to the landowner. (Dallas Morning News,3.14.1965)
First Southwest Company (a Dallas bond and brokerage
firm) provided the 90% funding needed in exchange for
the right to collect on an assessment lien from the prop
erty owners or resell the lots if the bills were not paid.
The City’s 10% share of the funding was provided
through engineering, inspection and other services, plus
some cash.
The 315-lot Grand Prairie Estates subdivision soon had
streets and utilities. The 750-acre Mountain Creek Lake
Park, leased from the City of Dallas and Dallas Power
and Light Company, was updated with an 18-hole,
$250,000, golf course with automatic sprinkler system
and clubhouse.
During the 1960’s, the Planning and Zoning Commission
approved a plethora of duplexes, mobile home parks and
automotive salvage businesses throughout the City. In
the 1970’s, the large number of billboards and specific
uses for alcohol sales granted became a concern.
Born in Fort Worth, TX,
Joe Richard Pool graduated from Oak Cliff
High School (now WH
Adamson HS) and attended the Univ. of
Texas from 1929-1933.
He graduated from
SMU’s School of Law in
1937 and practiced law
in Dallas before becoming a special investigator, Air Corps Intelligence (1943-1945). He
served as a State Rep in
Austin from 1953-1958,
and as a U.S. Rep. from
Texas from 1963-1968. Pool was instrumental in location of Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie.
______________________________________________
$7.5 Million, the (expanded) 120-acre flea market pays
slightly over $50,000 a year in taxes (2007) to the City of
Grand Prairie.
Major infrastructure improvements included the DFW
Turnpike Interchange at NW 19th approved by the State
The 127-acre Grand Prairie municipal airport (annexed
Dept. of Highways in November, 1977 and federal, state,
into the City in February 1957) was relocated from the
and local planning for Joe Pool Lake. Beginning with
southwest corner of Carrier Parkway and Jefferson Street
Rep. Joe Pool’s re-election campaign in 1968, through
to its current location on Mayfield Street when the U.S.
congressional hearings and negotiations with the Trinity
Government deeded 195.8 acres to the City under the
River Authority and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the
Title 16 Federal Airport Act. The former site was then
massive public works project brought tremendous ecotransformed into a $4,500,000 shopping center.
nomic development to the City (see page 12).
In 1973 Trader’s Village (below) was constructed as an
80-acre flea market with beer and food concessions. Millions of people flock to Trader’s Village on Mayfield
Road in Grand Prairie each year. The flea market’s
county fair atmosphere provides bargains and entertainment along with special festivals and events. Valued at
An increase in population meant a need for more hospital
facilities, resulting in creation of a Hospital District, and
a new 155-bed Grand Prairie Community Hospital in
1975 (see page 8).
Trader’s Village
2
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
July 27, 1971...Agreement with Lion Country SafariTexas & Gifco Properties and John R. Hill (Ordinance
#2243). Certificates of Obligation were authorized on
August 10, 1971 (Ord 2248). The Master Plan was apNovember 6, 1962… Authorized T & P Railway to run a proved by Resolution 1614-A on September 14, 1971.
spur track across W. Jefferson and Sherman into the
February 7, 1972...Revised Zoning Ordinance (#2299)
GSW District.
to classify newly annexed lands as agricultural use (A)
rather than single family (SF) as done previously.
October 1, 1963… Approved Grand Prairie Improvement Project #1 (improvements on Royal, Tarrant Rd,
Avenue J, and Grand Prairie Estates Addition) and Pro- March 28, 1972...Master Plan for a new City Hall Complex is approved. Smith and Warder Architects are seject #2 (improvements on Marshall Dr.).
lected for the project. (see below)
January 7, 1964...Authorized the Mayor as agent and the
Director of Finance as responsible for collections and
payments of Social Security for City workers.
May 15, 1961...Annexed eight land areas (Ordinances
#1417-1424) totaling more than 14,000 acres.
August 28, 1964...Prohibited congregating on public
streets (Ordinance #1611) and loitering in public or private buildings (Ordinance #1612).
March 22, 1966...Established a City Urban Development
Department.
September 26, 1967...Awarded contract for construction
of Great Southwest Parkway from Sherman to Marshall.
August 26,1969...Annexed 7.28 square miles in the Flor- October 31, 1972...Adopted Height/Hazard Zoning Ordience Hill area (4,600 acres).
nance #2378 for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
August 14, 1970...Purchased 25 acres from the Howard
Corporation for a new police facility designed by Smith
& Warder. The building was constructed by Charles H.
Berry at a cost of $598,558.
February 13, 1973… Adopted Ordinance #2402 controlling the sale and use of alcoholic beverages.
May 28, 1974...Adopted Ordinance #2562 prohibiting
the sale of obscene materials and Ordinance #2563 prohibiting nudity in public places.
April 13, 1976 … City Council approved an operating
agreement and an option agreement with Wynne Enterprises, Inc. concerning Lion Country Safari Park. On
February 15, 1977, the Lion Country Personal Property
was sold to the International Animal Exchange.
Mayor Joe W. Colwell accepts national beautification award on
behalf of the City of Grand Prairie.
April 2, 1977...Charter Revisions voted on in a Municipal Election included a provision adding a new Section
33 to Article IV of the Charter entitled “Mass Transit
Systems” which read as follows:
The City Council shall be prohibited from spending
any City monies derived from the general fund or operating budget for a mass or rapid transit system,
mass transit to include bus lines, trains, or any other
form of public transportation without approval of an
3
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
affirmative vote of the citizens of Grand Prairie. This
section does not prohibit spending of funds from any
other source for any such mass or rapid transit system,
nor does it prohibit the use of monies from the general
fund or operating budget for mass transit with approval of the voters of this City of Grand Prairie.”
August 9, 1977...The City Council hired Gibbons and
Klug for a fee of $3,200 to appraise Sol Spigel Village
and then authorized the City manager to pursue negotiations for the sale of Sol Spigel Village on March 21,
1978. The village was sold to Leonard Reiter for the
amount of $413,750 on April 29, 1978 with the closing
date extended to Sept. 1, 1978.
March 28, 1978 ...Adopted a Flood Plain Ordinance (Ord
#2918) to comply with new Federal Insurance Agency
Regulations.
February 6, 1979… City Council approved a contract
with Aerospatiale Helicopter Corp for construction of
facilities and improvements at the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport.
May 15, 1979...Sister City Program initiated with Grand
Prairie, Alberta, Canada (Resolution #1945)
August 21, 1979… Approved issuance of Trinity River
Authority of Texas (City of Grand Prairie Water Project)
Revenue Bonds, Series 1979 in the amount of $3,250,000
(Ord #3062).
Sept.18,1979...The City Council adopted Resolution
#1964 endorsing and supporting the principle of fair and
open housing as set forth in Title VIII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1968.
October 2, 1979 … City Council approved the preliminary geometric design of SH-161, as presented by the
State Dept. of Highways and Public Transportation.
October 23, 1979 … Adopted Resolution #1972, to not
participate in the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Transportation Authority and decided to form a transportation authority in the City of Grand Prairie (Resolution #1975).
4
Planning and Zoning Commission Actions
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
“Of all the organizations I have been in I have never seen March 30, 1970 ...Recommended approval of a plan for
as much disorder as I have since being on the Planning the New Town in Town Urban Renewal Project Tex. R129, and adopting waivers and variances to certain codes
and Zoning Board…”
Commissioner Cecil Owens, May 12, 1960 and ordinances.
The first order of the Planning and Zoning Commission
during the 1960-1980 period was to organize itself to
deal with City development. Caught between making up
for the mistakes of the past and huge projects for the future, the Commission first put its own house in order by
recommending a new structure, representation and terms
of service to the City Council on May 12, 1960.
October 23, 1972...Forwarded to the Department of
Housing and Urban Development an application for
$1,900,000 of improvements to sanitary sewer and storm
drainage in the Penman and Robinhood Additions, sanitary sewer and water improvements in the Florence Hill
area, and addition of 12-inch water mains in various sectors of the City. The project was funded with Federal
funds (50%) and City funds (50%).
August 22, 1960 … A Public Hearing was held on a proposed new Zoning Ordinance and Zoning District Map,
April 23, 1973...Recommended that “all occupations diswith recommendations to be made to the City Council for pensing alcoholic beverages shall require a Specific Use
adoption on September 25, 1960.
Permit….”, followed by a moratorium (June 25, 1973)
“on applications for Specific Use Permits for on and off
July 17, 1961… The P & Z Commission took a stand
premises sale and use of alcoholic beverages until the
against prefabricated portable buildings by recommend- City Council makes available to this body the results of a
ing an amendment to the Southern Standard Building
study being made relative to Tarrant County land use.”
Code that would require, “In local retail, local business,
and central business district, 50% of all exterior loadNovember 5, 1973 ...Approved a rezoning request for
bearing walls on the 1st floor of any structure will be
983 acres east of SH-360 and south of IH-20.
constructed of masonry.”
August 23, 1976… The Commission approved specific
April 23, 1962 … Rezoned “...the low bottom land east of use permits for ten separate alcohol on-site use clubs lotown that is not fit for residential use…” from Temporary cated on West Jefferson (2515-A, 2515-B, 2515-C, 2515Residential (TI) to General Industry (GI) in compliance
D, 2515-E, 2515-G, 2515-H, 2515-I, 2515-J, and 2515with the future land use plan adopted in August 1960.
K).
The area was later rezoned for Light Industrial (LI) and
Heavy Industrial (HI) uses, becoming a regional center of March 14, 1977 ...Approved the City of Grand Prairie
automotive salvage.
Airport Zoning Ordinance, with plans for a 10,000 foot
runway.
November 26, 1962 ...Recommended the rezoning of all
property owned by the Great Southwest Corporation be- February 27, 1978...Approved the site plan for a new
tween the Tarrant County line and S. H. 360 and north of City Library on Conover Drive in PD-12.
the GSW Industrial District to the Trinity River from
Temporary Residential (TI) to General Industry (GI),
June 12, 1978… Revised sign ordinance to require 1000
including the extension of Carrier Parkway to the north. ft. separation between billboards, maximum sign area of
800 sq. ft. and minimum 50-foot setback from property
April 12, 1965…Approved a land use, zoning and public line.
improvement plan for the relocation of low income families to the Lakeview Urban Renewal Project.
August 14, 1978… Revised Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance #2299 changing off-street parking regulations in
June 23, 1969 … Approved the final plat of Grandview
residential areas. All vehicles must be parked on hard
Addition with utilities underground to minimize hazards surfaces and vehicles larger than 10 feet wide and 36 feet
for children.
long can not be parked in residential areas.
September 8, 1969 ...Adopted a Comprehensive Beautifi- May 14, 1979...Voted to approve a final plat for Aerospacation Plan for the City of Grand Prairie. The plan was
tiale Helicopter Corporation, west of the Grand Prairie
prepared by Shrickel, Rollins & Associates.
Municipal Airport.
5
Public Facilities
Three fire stations were constructed during this period.
They include:
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
April 13, 1976 …Construction of a Natatorium as a joint
project with the Grand Prairie Independent School District is approved by the City Council.
*Fire Station #4 at 1602 Duncan Perry, built in 1969.
*Fire Station #6 at 602 Stonewall Street, built in 1974.
*Fire Station #7 on Matthew Road was authorized by the
City Council on February 7, 1978. It was later
relocated to the Joe Pool Peninsula to accommodate population growth.
Fire Station #7 at 5206 Matthew Road
October 12, 1976 … Awarded the contract for construction of the new City Library to Smith and Warder Architects. The site plan was approved on February 27, 1978.
C & L Stone submitted the winning bid of $804,900 to
construct the library.
Police Headquarters and City Jail constructed at 801
Conover Street. Designed by Smith and Warder Architects, the building was constructed by Charles H. Berry at
a cost of $598,558.
6
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
Development in the Great Southwest
Industrial District continues to build a strong
industrial revenue base in Grand Prairie.
On January 11, 1965, Henry H. Dickerson, Jr. requested
the rezoning of roughly 6000 acres, a tract of land lying
on either side of the County Line east of Duncan Perry
Road and north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, from
temporary residential to General Industry for the Great
Southwest Industrial District. He was rebuffed by the
Planning and Zoning Commission on grounds the zoning
request was speculative, another 6,000 acres of General
Industry land existed on the west side of Duncan Perry,
and because residential development was planned north
of the (I-30) Toll Road.
Dickerson and Russell Chaney, representing the owners
and the Great Southwest Corporation tried again on February 9, 1965. Chaney told the Commission the Great
Southwest Corporation had purchased the land subject to
rezoning, and that they also owned the land to the south
and west of the tract. Convinced that Duncan Perry was a
good buffer from the retail to the west, the Commission
again denied the rezoning request.
Later in 1965, a special public hearing was held on Nov.
27th to consider rezoning a tract of land in the Great
Southwest Industrial District to General Industry for the
site of a new Bell Helicopter plant. And in June, 1966,
the Commission did grant Dean Dauly of the Great Southwest Corporation a Specific Use Permit to operate a riding
stable and club on their property along the Trinity River.
On Feb. 13, 1967, the Commission approved rezoning of
a 36.9 acre tract for new facilities for LTV Corporation.
GSC was unique among industrial parks in that it offered
multi-line rail services including a 10-mile track belonging to the Great Southwest Railroad, Inc. The railroad’s
capital stock was owned jointly by the Texas & Pacific
Railroad Company and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company.
Great Southwest Warehouses, Inc. was a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of GSC that merged with GSC in
September, 1961. The Warehouses subsidiary was then re-incorporated in October, 1961, retaining its public identity and preserving its franchises. Six Flags Over Texas was also a subsidiary of GSC as was the 100-room Inn of
the Six Flags located on the Dallas/Fort Worth Turnpike.
Grand Prairie grew significantly during this period, annexing significant amounts of land area and encountering legal battles with Dallas, Arlington, Irving, Mansfield and Cedar Hill over extraterritorial jurisdictions. Many of the
disputes centered upon state law which required land be adjacent to a City’s border (a City boundary could not be
land that was in the process or “first reading” of annexation, but had to be fully adopted) before it could be annexed.
(See Case No. 73-5928-C, William Turner, et al vs. City of Grand Prairie, Texas et al, 1974, 68th Judicial District Court, Dallas County). Such boundary disputes would continue until the turn of the century.
7
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
Great Southwest Industrial District
Master Plan, May 1963
5,800 Acres in Arlington & Grand Prairie
8
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
Medical Facilities in Grand Prairie
The first medical clinic in the City of Grand Prairie was
the Plattner Medical and Surgical Clinic that opened on
August 26, 1940. The clinic was operated by four brothers who were also physicians. The clinic was first located on the site of the present Lennox Hotel, and then
moved to 813 E. Main Street in 1941. It moved again on
April 12, 1959 to 322 NE 8th Street as the Plattner Clinic
and Hospital, with 14-hour emergency care and a staff of
10 physicians. In 1961, a 98-bed GSW General Hospital
was constructed.
A petition from 25 local physicians in January 1972 led
to creation of the City’s Hospital Authority. The Authority was charged with studying the need for a Community
Hospital and overseeing its construction and maintenance.
On June 29, 1975 the 155-bed Grand Prairie Community
Hospital at 2705 Hospital Blvd. was opened to the public.
Cost for the facility was approximately $8 million. The
existing Mid-Cities hospital merged with the new facility
and the Plattner hospital closed. On May 5, 1987, Ordinance #4161 rezoned the 267.46 acres around the hospital as a hospital district (Z870301 and Z870304).
The hospital subsequently closed in 2000. Renovation by
a private developer was begun in 2007 and remains incomplete as of May 1, 2008.
ANTON
ST
MID-CITIES
HOWELL ST.
HOSPITAL BLVD.
TIMBER OAKS LN
OSLER DR
TYRE ST
DILLARD ST
GRAND PRAIRIE CITY LIMITS
PRAIRIE HILL
JESSE
HEINZ WAY
MEDICAL ROW DR
STEWART DR
OSLE
R
SHERMAN ST
TRAILER DELL
ST
COX ST
PEE WEE
H IN ES
N GREAT SOUTHW EST PKWY
ABR AM
ARLINGTON CITY LIMITS
9
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
URBAN RENEWAL in Grand Prairie
10
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
Urban Renewal Projects
The City of Grand Prairie utilized Federal Urban Renewal
programs to make many needed infrastructure improvements in the 1960’s. Northeast Grand Prairie (the “Anna”
project), South Dalworth, and Lakeview were three major
Urban Renewal Projects. In addition, the City developed
a Community Renewal Program in 1964 under a grant
from the Urban Renewal Administration, Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Community-wide, the
study determined that, “approximately 53% of the City’s
existing structures should be conserved, 45% rehabilitated
and 2% redeveloped.” (Report 5, Community Renewal
Program, 346.045, C734 v.5). The City-wide inventory
was grouped into three areas of priority:
Twin Airports Project
Priority One (greatest deficiency/funds previously
allocated)
1. Twin Airports
2. South Dalworth
3. Lakeview
Priority Two (organize neighborhoods to assure
implementation)
Improvement Project #1
Improvement Project #4
Priority Three (in proximity to other programs)
Anna—Code Enforcement Portion
Lakeview Urban Renewal Project
Of the city’s 8,430 residential structures surveyed, 1.8%
(149 structures) warranted demolition. The most (69)
were in the Twin Airports area. Of the 648 non-residential
structures surveyed, 7.4% (48) warranted demolition with
22 being in the Twin Airports area. Proposed capital im–
provements 1965-1970 totaled $6.500,000.
Located adjacent Dallas Naval Air Station/Jefferson
Street, the renewal plans estimated spending $2.6 million
on schools, parks, sewer lines, storm drains, street improvements and water system. The 1964 Bond Issue authorized expenditures of $269,000.
The Twin Airports Project called for “concentrated clearance and redevelopment along with
rehabilitation of existing
commercial and industrial facilities and areas.”
The 1964 Bond Issue
included $64,590 for
street and water improvements, short of the
estimated $1,982,000
needed (City portion was
estimated at $257,000).
11
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
South Dalworth Urban Renewal Program
The South Dalworth urban renewal program
was a 295-acre project impacting 514 families. Improvements included installation of
sidewalks, utilities, an addition to a school, a
17-acre park and a $121,000 recreation center.
In 1964 bonds were issued authorizing a total
of $223,600 in street improvements, storm
drainage and water improvements.
Project Anna
Project Anna involved rehabilitation of the worst housing and public improvement problems in the
City. More than 1400 residential
structures were being affected by
noise, low-flying aircraft and industrial plants in addition to being
in substandard conditions. In December 1964, bonds totaling
$1,032,000 were issued to provide
parks, street improvements, water
improvements, sewer and storm
drain improvements in the area.
12
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
With momentum behind them, City officials began talking with the Trinity River Authority regarding their plan to build
the Lakeview reservoir. In 1968, Congressional Representative Joe Pool, a Dallas Democrat, made the proposed reservoir part of his re-election platform. The proposed reservoir had already been authorized by Congress as a part of the
Trinity River flood control program, and $100,000 had been appropriated for planning the project. The exact location of
the future reservoir, however, was being debated by the Cities of Irving, Dallas, and Grand Prairie. The project was
competing for federal dollars against other local projects, such as making the Trinity navigable for barges from the Gulf
of Mexico, the Wallisville Reservoir on the Trinity, Lavon Reservoir in Collin County, Lake Kemp Reservoir and the
Clear Fork Extension of the Fort Worth Floodway.
To reduce the cost of the reservoir, the Army Corps of Engineers moved it south to provide right-of-way for IH-20, to
shorten the length of the required dam, and to, “remove the need for the federal government to purchase two housing
developments.” (Dallas Morning News, 5.24.1969). Yet, construction of the reservoir was held up in federal court for
four years and subsequently in a fight for water rights between the City of Dallas and its suburbs. The Corps would purchase 17,692 acres for the 7,000 acre Lakeview Reservoir with a total estimated cost of $203 million.
The Master Plan for the lake describes it as having, a rolled-earth fill embankment (dam) 22,180 feet long including a
50-foot uncontrolled broadcrested spillway, maximum height of dam above streambed is 108.5 feet. The outlet works
will consist of gate-controlled conduit 10’ 6” in diameter and 2-4’ 9” x 10’ 6” electrically operated slide gates. At top
of flood control pool, elevation 536.0 msl (mean sea level), the lake will contain 304,000 acre feet (of water). The downstream channel will be maintained for project flood control releases, preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife,
and public access to the river and recreational facilities.
Under the Federal Water Project Recreation Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-72) a non-Federal public body needed to agree
to cost-share in the development of recreation facilities for the lake. A contract with the Trinity River Authority (TRA)
and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was signed to include an additional 5,129 acres of public recreation areas
in the project. Designed to provide water supply for surrounding cities and regional recreation facilities, in addition to
flood control, the lake has a drainage area of approximately 304 square miles. Several roads were relocated for the project including Beltline Road, Mansfield Road, Arlington-Webb-Britton Road, Ballweg Road, Texas Plume/Mountain
Creek Road, and Ellis County Road E-101.
City Planner Marvin Springer and the State Dept. of Highways and Public Transportation recommended construction of
a road across Joe Pool Lake to the City Council on Dec. 5, 1978.
13
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
14
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
CITY MANAGERS
MAYORS
1959-1961
1961-1962
1962-1970
1970-1972
1972-1976
1976-1980
James Weems
Eugene Goree
C. P. Waggoner
Joe W. Colwell
William F. Bowles
Weldon Parkhill
George Watson
1958-1961 Larry Crow
1961-1962 Guy McCraw
1962-1981 Clifford Johnson
1959-1961
Bob Shanks
1959-1961
W. C. Hardman
1959-1961
George Watson
1961-1963
Cecil Owens
1962-1968
Aubrey Vickers
1963-1965
James Dees
1963-1969
Roy McGlothlin
1965-1971
J. D. Brown
1967-1971
Billy Martin
1968-1970
Dr. O. V. Cartwright
1969-1970
C. M. Wrotenberry
1970-1972
Bob Edwards
1970-1976
Weldon Parkhill
1971-1973
Frank Cone
1971-1979
Bob Wilson
1972-1976
Johnny Jinks
1973-1975
L. B. Bo Craft
1975-1976
Billy S. Strong
1975-1977
Phil Duncan
1975-1977
Davis Hopkins
1976-1978
Harry Englert
1976-1979
Ben Whitley
1976-1980
Anne Gresham
1977-1979
Garland McGarrahan
1979-1979
Jim Swafford
1978-1980
Reg Crump
1979-1981
Ed Churchill
1979-1981
L. B. Bo Craft
1979-1981
James Kellum
1979-1981
Dennis Seely
Mayor Eugene Goree
(1961-62)
Bob Shanks
Cecil Owens
James Dees
Aubrey Vickers
Roy McGlothin
Mayor Weldon Parkhill
(1976-80) (CC, 1970-76)
15
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
Billy Martin
C. M. Wrotenbery
Johnny Jinks
Phil Duncan
Davis Hopkins
Ben Whitley
Bob Edwards
Garland McCarrahan
Bob Wilson
Dennis Seely
16
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
1. Dorchester Place (4.23.62)
2. GSW IND Dist, Site 3, Blk 4 (5.28.62)
4. International Estates #3 (7.23.62)
5. GSW IND Dist, Site 4 (7.23.62)
6. W.E. Richardson Addn (7.23.62)
7. Lakeland Heights (8.27.62)
10. Dowcort Addn (10.22.62)
11. Washington Park (10.22.62)
13. Steele Subdivision (2.25.63)
14. Esquire Estates (3.25.63)
15. GSW IND Dist, #1, Site 2, Blk 14 (4.22.63)
18. International Estates #3 (10.14.63)
19. New Castle Addn (1.13.64)
20. Monterrey Gardens (3.9.64)
21. Nottingham Estates #1 (3.9.64)
22. Meadow Oaks #1 (3.9.64)
27. Holiday Hill Addn (9.14.64)
29. Sherwood Forest (11.9.64)
30. Hudson Lakeland Hts (11.9.64)
31. Cambridge Hills Addn (11.9.64)
32. Garden Manor Addition (1.11.65)
37. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 7, Blk 7 (1.11.65)
38. Sherwood Forest Addition (3.8.65)
39. GSW IND Dist Lead Tract No. 1 (3.8.65)
40. GSW IND Lead No. 17(3.8.65)
42. GSW IND Dist, Site 2, Blk 1 & 13 (3.8.65)
43. Westover Ridge (5.1.65)
44. GSW IND Dist Lead No 6, Blk 16 (5.10.65)
46. Camelot Acres (6.19.65)
47. Great Southwest Golf Course (8.9.65)
48. GSW IND Dist, Site 4, Blk 13 & 16 (2.14.66)
50. GSW IND Dist South, Site 3 (3.14.66)
52. GSW IND Dist 2, Parcel 2, Lead 18 (3.14.66)
53. Country Club Estates No. 2 (4.11.66)
54. Kingston Square (4.11.66)
56. GSW IND South, Site 7 & Site 5 (6.13.66)
58. GSW IND Dist 2 (6.13.66)
59. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 2 (6.13.66)
60. GSW IND South, Sites 5, 6, & 10 (7.11.66)
61. Airport Industrial Park (7.11.66)
63. GSW IND South, Site 9 (8.8.66)
65. Westover Ridge No. 2 (11.14.66)
68. GSW IND Dist 2, Site 3 (1.9.67)
70. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 4 (5.8.67)
71. Coral Heights (5.8.67)
74. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 5 (7.10.67)
76. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 6 (8.14.67)
77. Garden Manor (12.11.67)
78. Nottingham Estates (2.19.68)
80. GSW IND Dist 5, Sites 8 & 9 (5.13.68)
81. Kings Place (6.17.68)
82. GSW IND South, Site 13 & 23 (6.17.68)
83. GSW IND Dist Site 9, Blk 7 (6.17.68)
85. Warlick Addition (8.12.68)
86. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 10 (8.12.68)
88. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 12 (9.9.68)
89. Nottingham Estates No. 3 (10.14.68)
90. Meadow Oaks (10.14.68)
91. Continental Estates (10.14.68)
92. GSW IND Dist 1, Site 4 (11.11.68)
93. GSW IND Dist 2, Site 2 (11.11.68)
94. Nottingham Estates No 4 (12.9.68)
95. Country Club Estates No 5 (12.9.68)
97. Airport Indus Park, Site F (12.9.68)
98. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 1-A, Blk 5 (2.10.69)
101. GSW IND Dist, Site 30 (4.14.69)
103. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 1, Blk 1 & 3 (5.12.69)
107. GSW IND Dist, Site 13 & Site 15 (5.12.69)
110. Grandview Addition (6.23.69)
112. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 14 (7.14.69)
114. GSW IND South, Site 31 (8.11.69
17
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
123. Shirley’s Addition (9.8.69)
130. GSW South, Riverside Dr, Tract 1 (2.9.70)
131. Bagdad Industrial Addition (2.23.70)
133. Vista Grande Estates (4.13.70)
135. Mountain Creek Townhouses (4.27.70)
137. Sport Haven (9.28.70)
139. Shirley’s Addition No. 2 (11.9.70)
140. GSW IND Dist, Site 43 (11.23.70)
143. Allen Ranch Estates (3.8.71)
144. Crutcher Addition (3.22.71)
147. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 7 (5.10.71)
148. Alex Cockrell, No. 2 (5.24.71)
149. Mountain Lakeview South (6.14.71)
150. Rheims Place (6.28.71)
151. Lake Park Village No. 1 (6.28.71)
152. Meadow Oaks Addn No. 3 (6.28.71)
154. Two Worlds, (8.9.71)
155. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 17 (8.9.71)
156. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 18 (9.13.71)
156. Continental Estates, #2 (9.27.71)
157. Royal Valley Estates, #1 (9.27.71)
158. Cluster 1 (10.11.71)
159. Beeman Addition (11.22.71)
160. My Estates #2 (11.22.71)
161. Shady Creek Mobile Estates (12.13.71)
162. Park Heights Annex (1.24.72)
163. Park Valley No. 1 (2.14.72)
165. Park Valley Estates, #2 (3.27.72)
166. Rock Creek Estates (4.24.72)
168. Chimney Rock (6.26.72)
169. GSW IND Dist 5, Third Installment (6.26.72)
170. Grand Oaks Estates (9.11.72)
171. Park Valley #3 (9.22.72)
172. Nottingham Estates #5 (11.13.72)
173. Gran Villa Townhouses (11.27.72)
175. GSW IND Dist 5, Blk 4 (11.27.72)
178. Lake Park Village #2 (1.8.73)
179. Meadow Oaks #7 & #8 (2.12.73)
184. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 9, (Blk 4 (4.9.73)
185. Twelve Oaks Center (5.14.73)
186. Kawasaki Jet-Ski (6.11.73)
187. PD #39 (6.25.73)
190. Royal Valley Estates #4 (8.13.73)
193. Pradera Grande Addition (11.12.73)
194. Wax Museum & Auto Museum (11.12.73)
195. Royal Valley Estates (12.10.73)
196. Wings & Wheels Museum (12.10.73)
197. GSW IND South, #48 (1.14.74)
198. Country Club Square #1 (1.14.74)
202. GSW IND Dist 5, District 2, Lots 1 & 1A (6.1.074)
203. Grand Prairie Cmmty Hosp, Lot 1, Blk 1 (7.22.74)
205. GSW IND Dist 5, Blk 5, Sites 6, 5, & 4 (9.16.74)
206. Plaza 303 Shopping Center (4.28.75)
207. Mark II South, Tracts A, B, & C (7.14.75)
208. GSW IND Dist 2, Site 6 (7.14.75)
209. GSW IND Dist 5, 4th Installment (7.28.75)
210. Nottingham #6 (8.25.75)
211. Airport Indus. Park #3 (8.25.75)
212. Meadow Oaks #8 (11.24.75)
213. Fairway Park (1.19.75)
214. Southpark Addition (1.26.76)
215. Country Club Park (1.26.75)
216. Trailwood (3.8.76)
217. Cluster 1 (3.8.76)
218. LaDell Heights (3.8.76)
219. Meadow Oaks #7 (4.12.76)
220. GSW IND South, Site 28-R (4.12.76)
221. South Park Addition (4.26.76)
223. Fairway Park (5.17.76)
226. Trailwood Addition 1, #2, & #3 (10.11.76)
227. GSW IND Dist 2, Site 7 (12.13.76)
228. Bell Helicopter (1.24.77)
229. Forum on the Creek #1 (2.28.77)
231. The Cluster #3 (2.28.77)
18
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
233. Sharpston Heights #2 (2.28.77)
235. Park Square (4.25.77)
237. Churchill Estates (5.23.77)
238. Greenbriar Estates (5.23.77)
239. Meadow Oak Estates (Tarrant & Dallas) (6.13.77)
241. Alex Cockrell #4 (6.13.77)
243. National Pride (6.27.77)
244. Wild Rose Ridge (7.11.77)
249. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 4-A, Blk 1 (9.12.77)
250. Grand Prairie Cmmty Hosp, Lot 1, Blk 2 (9.12.77)
251. Trailwood #4 (9.12.77)
253. Greenbriar Estates #2 & #3 (12.12.77)
254. Trailwood #5 & 36 (1.23.78)
255. Forum Terrace #1 (1.23.78)
257. Woodcrest Addition (2.13.78)
261. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 7, Blk 2, Lot 1 & 2 (5.8.78)
265. GSW IND Site, Blk 6 (5.22.78)
269. Fairway Park, #3, Ph. 1 (5.22.78)
270. W. Freeway Business Park (6.26.78)
280. GSW IND Dist, Site 65 (7.24.78)
281. Heritage Estates, #2 (8.14.78)
282. Trailwood #9 & #10 (8.28.78)
284. GSW IND Dist, Site 6, Parcel 2 (9.25.78)
285. Sol Spiegel Village, (10.9.78)
286. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 7, Blk 2, Lot 3 (10.9.78)
287. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 7, Lot 4, Blk 2 (10.9.78)
288. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 2, Blk 2 Parcel 1 (11.13.78)
291. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 5, Blk 7 & Blk 2 (11.13.78)
292. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 6, Blk 5, Parcel II (11.13.78)
293. Coronado Woods (11.13.78)
294. Valencia Village (11.13.78)
295. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 11, Blks 5 & 6 (11.27.78)
296. Fairway Park, Phase II, (11.27.78)
299. GSW IND Dist 5, Site 1, Blk 7
300. Trailwood #11 (1.8.79)
301. Greenwood Hills South (1.8.79)
302 Meadow Green Addition (2.12.79)
304. Cinnamon Ridge #2 (3.26.79)
305. Trailwood #12 (4.9.79)
306. Aerospatiale Helicopter Corp (5.15.79)
307. GSW IND Dist, Site 89 (6.11.79)
308. Mountain Creek, Ph. 3 (6.11.79)
309. Wedgewood Estates (6.11.79)
310. Vineyard Estates (6.25.79)
311. Hunters Glen (6.25.79)
313. Forum Park (7.23.79)
314. GSW IND Dist 6, Site 1, Blks 1-3 (8.13.79)
318. GSW IND Dist 6, Site 1, Blks 5 & 6 (8.20.79)
322. GSW IND Dist 6, Site3, Blk 6 (9.10.79)
324. GSW IND Dist, Site 90 (9.24.79)
325. Forum Terrace (10.8.79)
326. Longmark Addition (10.8.79)
327. Forum Village Southwest (10.8.79)
329. Burney Oaks Addition (11.26.79)
331. K-Mart Addition (12.10.79)
334. GSW IND Dist,Site 77 (12.10.79)
335. Forum Industrial Park, Sites 1 & 2, Blk A (12.10.79)
336. American Memorial Park Cemetery (12.10.79)
19
CHAPTER 3: 1960-1980
Annexations
1. SH 360 Tract #1 (July 12, 1960) Ord #1373
2. SH 360 Tract #2 (July 12, 1960) Ord #1374
3. S. Grand Prairie (May 1961) Ord #1417
4. NE Grand Prairie (May 1961) Ord #1418
5. GSW Ind Dist (May 1961) Ord #1419
6. Naval Air Station, E. Grand Prairie (May 1961) Ord #1420
7. 5,523 Acres N Grand Prairie (May 1961) Ord #1421
8. 8,076 Acres S Grand Prairie (May 1961) Ord # 1422
9. SE Grand Prairie (May 1961) Ord #1423
10. GSW Ind Dist (May 1961) Ord #1424
11. Disannex (Ord #1422) Fish Creek (Dec 1961) Ord #1451
12. Disannex Mayfield/County Line (Dec 1961) Ord #1452
13. Disannex orphan rds (Dec 1961) Ord #1453
14. Annex adjacent areas,10 ft strip (Dec 1961) Ord #1454
15. 124 Ac, The Oaks (June 1962) Ord #1446
16. Disannex (Ord #1421) 10 Ft strip (Dec 1961) Ord #1453
16. Annex Mayfield area (Aug 1963) Ord #1455
17. Annex Rock Island/NE 8th (Dec 1961) Ord #1456
18. Annex E Park Row to NY Ave ((Aug 1962) Ord #1463
18. Lakeview Dr area (Aug 1963) Ord #1530
19. SH 360 (Aug 1963) Ord #1531
20. 10-ft East City Limit strip (Aug 1963) Ord #1532
22. Disannex JeffersonSt, SW 14th/east (Dec 1963) Ord #1561
23. Disannex along Rock Island (Dec 1963) Ord #1565
24. Lakeview area (Feb 1964) Ord #1571
25. Fish Creek/SF 1382 (Oct 1964) Ord #1615)
26. Annex Lakeview tracts (Feb 1965) Ord #1639
27. Lakecrest (Feb 1965) Ord #1641
28. Disannex Yellow Belly (April 1965) Ord #1668
29. E of Lakeview (April 1966) Ord #1751
30. Disannex SH 360/Ave K (August 1966) Ord #1781
31. Adjacent IH-20 (Nov 1966) Ord #1790
32. Shady Grove (May 1968) Ord #1912
33. Florence Hill (July 1969) Ord #2050
34. Amendment to Ord #2050 (Dec 1969) Ord #2096
35. Amendment to Ord #1790 (Feb 1970) Ord #2107A
36. ETJ limits (April 1970) Ord #2112
37. Amendment to Ord #2050 (Feb 1971) Ord #2202
38. Annex 6,829 Ac east of Mtn Creek (June 1971) Ord #2235
39. Boundary with Arlington, Resolution #1607, June 1971
40. Disannex homes to South (Jan 1972) Ord #2294
41. Disannex S Grand Prairie (Jan 1972) Ord #2296
42. Annex Corn Valley (May 1972) Ord #2323
45. Annex Fish Creek (Jan 1974) Ord #2491
46. SH 360/IH-20 (Nov 1973) Ord #2495
47. S Grand Prairie (March 1975) Ord #2516
48. Disannex TX Turnpike tract (Feb 1974) Ord #2528
49. 493 Acres, Cedar Hill area (Oct 1976) Ord #2762
50. Cedar Hill area (Nov 1976) Ord #2763/Ord #2829
51. 299 Acres, S Grand Prairie (Jan 1977) Ord #2787
52. Resolution #1891 (Sept 1977) 500 Ft Strip Boundary
53. 792 Acres, Ellis County (Jan 1978) Ord # 2888
54. Disannex Dry Branch, N. Grand Prairie, (Feb 1979) Ord
#3018
20
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
W.W. II and Recovery
OVERVIEW
Two forces propelled Grand Prairie to fiscal health following the Depression. In the 1940’s it was the war effort
and the opportunity to house up to 25,000 workers from
the North American Defense Plant adjacent the City’s
eastern boundary. In the 1950’s the catalyst was developer Angus Wynne, Jr.
On that day, the City of Grand Prairie appointed a City
Planning and Zoning Commission, “...to provide a com
prehensive plan for promoting the health, safety, morals,
and general welfare of the City of Grand Prairie….” A
related ordinance (November 20, 1940) was aimed at temporary construction buildings and regulated the renting of
space for trailer cars and providing for sanitary facilities.
On October 26, 1940, the Grand Prairie City Commission Building standards had been upgraded on May 15, 1940
passed a Resolution that included the following language: with the passage of a Fire Limits Ordinance.
WHEREAS, the Government of the United States has
located one of its Defense Projects in the suburbs of this city,
to wit, the North American Aviation, Inc., an agent to manufacture airplanes for the Army and Navy,….
...we, the mayor and commissioners of said city, point
out to the Government that there are closely situated to said
plant well drained, well and pleasantly located land suitable
for housing purposes...with all utilities near at hand and accessible, and the use of such land for housing by the Government of the United States will result in economy both to the
Government of the United States and to that of the City of
Grand Prairie; and
...the City of Grand Prairie has now and will continue to have an ample supply of pure water, a modern and up
to date sewage disposal plant of sufficient capacity to care for
the said housing, a progressive school system which will be
enlarged to meet the demands of the housing occupants, and
that it is served by high tension electric and high pressure
natural gas lines so that utility costs are low.”
On April 9th, 1941, the City Commission adopted an Interim Zoning Ordinance with this language,
WHEREAS, the City of Grand Prairie with residential, business, and limited industrial and manufacturing areas
is confronted with the problem of coping with the National
Defense problem and the housing of vast influx of population
due to the location of the North American Aviation Airplane
Manufacturing Plant, and
WHEREAS, the street, sewer, and water systems of
the City of Grand Prairie have not been designed to take care
of the anticipated rapid growth of the city, and
WHEREAS, there is a possibility without proper
regulations and building restrictions a chaotic condition
may occur….
General Douglas MacArthur visits Grand Prairie
The City also appointed an 11-member Municipal Defense Council as requested by the U.S. Office of Civilian
Defense by Executive Order on May 20, 1941.
Penham Addition (11.20.40), Avacon Parque (4.18.41),
Avion Village (6.6.41) and Fairview #1 and #2 (8.13.41)
were the first plats filed to house the anticipated new residents. Avian Village, 83 federally-owned acres transferred to the City, was a model development and state of
the art at the time of construction. The City Commission
formed the Grand Prairie Housing Authority and charged
this group with developing a housing program of more
than 1,000 new homes.
One of the first local beneficiaries of war-time investment
was the Gifford-Hill Pipe Company contracted by the
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
City, “... to provide concrete pipe and other necessary
materials for the construction of sewer improvements….”
Burleson-Garrett Engineers were contracted to draw
plans for mosquito control for the State Health Department and submit for a grant from the Defense Works
Agency for both the sewer expansion and mosquito control projects.
At the height of operations the North American Aviation
plant employed an estimated 38,500 persons. But the
aviation boom ended abruptly when the plant closed on
August 14, 1945 and the remaining 15,000 employees
lost their jobs. Although the plant reopened in 1948 as
United Aircraft Corporation and remains open into the
21st century, it never again provided as many jobs in the
region as during the early 1940’s. In the decade from
The Uptown Theatre was built in 1950 at 120 E. Main St.
1940 to 1950, Grand Prairie’s population rose from 1,595 Renovated in 2007, it is shown here with the Grand Prairie
to 18,000 during the war and then back to 14,594 by the
High School graduating class of 1957.
1950 Census. By 1960, the population had increased to
Ordinance #1128, adopted 12.19.56, set the stage for de30,386.
velopment of the Great Southwest Industrial District in
In 1947, the City of Dallas annexed the aircraft plants
Grand Prairie.
and surrounding industrial land, Hensley Field and
Mountain Creek Lake. Grand Prairie (population of
The year 1951 was a time of putting the City’s regu11,303) was left in a position of having to provide mulatory house in order. Several ordinances were
nicipal services to those areas, without receiving any inadopted to maintain quality of life for residents.
dustrial taxes. In response, Grand Prairie residents voted
(686 FOR vs. 222 AGAINST) to adopted a new homeMarch 1951—Ordinance passed making it unlawful
rule charter on May 1, 1948. The Home Rule Charter
to discharge any gun, on any street, within
was filed with the Secretary of State on June 28, 1948.
100 yards of any residence (except for police
This allowed the City to facilitate annexation of unincorofficers).
porated land adjacent its city limits and to keep adjacent
April 1951—Ordinance regulating and restricting
cities from encroaching on its boundaries. The number
carnivals and circuses to Industrial and Com
of City Commissioners increased from two to four. Like
mercial zoning districts, requiring a permit
the communities around it, City subdivisions often inand $50 license.
cluded restrictions like this one from the R.P. Motley AdApril 1951– Ordinance prohibiting dropping of
dition: “...No person of any race other than the Caucanewspapers, circulars, pamphlets, or paper of
sian race shall use or occupy any buildings or any lot,
any kind from airplane or balloon over City
except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by
limits with fine up to $200.
domestic servants of a different race domiciled with an
April 1951– Ordinance prohibiting loitering in alley,
owner or tenant.”
street, or on private property near a residence
for purpose of peeping into windows or
The election of E. Carlyle Smith as Mayor in 1949 sigdoors of said residence with fine up to $200.
naled a change of leadership style including a shuffling
August 1951—Ordinance regulating the keeping of
of City staff, resulting in resignation of four top police
honeybees within City limits, maintaining
officers after the appointment of Ray Weaver as Chief of
100-foot distance from residences with fine
Police on May 16, 1949.
up to $200.
August 1951– Ordinance defining and regulating
Grand Prairie’s annexation zeal resulted in extension and
restaurants in the City. Annual operating
repeal of the City’s western limit into Tarrant County and
permits were $5 for restaurants operating for
Arlington in August of 1951. From 1951 to 1953, Grand
more than two weeks, $3 for restaurants opPrairie annexed more than 117 square miles, or 75,500
erating for more than one week, $2 for resacres (compared to today’s total land area of 81.4 square
taurants operating less than one week.
miles). By 1960 the City’s land area was down to 36
square miles.
2
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Grand Prairie on the verge of WW II
1940 Census Data:
Area = 5 Square Miles
Population = 1,595
1950 Census
Population = 14,594
1960 Census
Population = 30,386
Grand Prairie, 10 years later
3
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Like cities through the U.S., Grand Prairie sent many
citizens into WW II action. Among the many veterans
were Russell Anderson (left), Bob Shanks, Raymond
Reed, and Elbert Pollard.
Robert Shanks became a Captain in the Army Air
Corps and was shot down during a bombing mission
over Burma. He was captured and held as a POW by
the Japanese for five months, during which he was
beaten, starved and tortured. After the POW camp
was abandoned by the Japanese, Shanks was rescued
by the British, weighing less than 100 lbs.
Raymond Reed, a 1942 graduate of Grand Prairie
High School, earned two Purple Hearts while serving
in the Army Air Force in Italy. A machine gunner, he
was shot down and hidden from the Germans by local
families, returned to the U.S. and was discharged in
September 1945.
Elbert K. Pollard, Jr. was stationed on the Italian peninsula, and delivered the German surrender papers to
General George Patton via jeep while serving with the
U.S. Army during W.W. II. He received seven Battle
Stars, and spoke five languages. After the war he reinlisted in the Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer.
Lt. Russell Anderson went missing in action on November 30, 1944 over Germany while an armorer gunner on
a B-17. He was believed to be shot down by anti-aircraft fire.
WW II Casualties
Capt. Madison D. Beaty (9.29.1907—5.5.1943)
U.S. Army
Pvt. W.W. Booher, Jr (6.10.1913—5.17.1945)
112th Cavalry
PFC Lonnie C. Bostick (10.18.1925—2.21.1945)
Co. B, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Div.
T/Sgt. Truman W. Carter (4.3.1923—2.25.1945)
15th Air Force
Lt. Ercy Dewberry (12.5.1924—8.9.1944)
Sgt. Edwin G. Craig (6.7.1924—7.14.1945)
409th Fighter Sqdrn, 3rd Air Force
T/Sgt. Mack E. Daniels (10.29.1920—2.25.1945)
360th Bomb Sqdrn, 303 Bomb Group
U.S. Army Air Corps
Sgt. Patrick H. Dillard (8.15.1925— 4.5.1945)
785th Bomb. Sqdrn., 466th Bomb. Grp
Lt. Samuel D. Dillard (3.31.1920-1.26.1944)
U.S. Army Air Corps
2nd Lt. H. T. Jackson (10.10.1920—3.3.1944)
U.S. Army Air Corps
Pvt. Fulton S. Kirby (1.6.1899—122.25.1943)
34th Engineers., U.S. Army
Capt. Lynn L. Motley (6.30.1919—3.3.1943)
U.S. Army Air Corps
Lt. Carl P. Swadley (7.1.1920—6.17.1944)
U. S. Army Air Corps
Lt. Billy A. Turner, Jr. (8.16.1921—9.20.1944)
Co. A, 501st Regiment
101 1st Paratroop Inf. Div.
Sgt. Estle Wammack (5.17.1921—9.20.1944)
U. S. Army Air Corps
4
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
April 23, 1942 ...The Federal Works Agency established a
May 15, 1940 … Adopted Fire Limits Ordinance estab$50,000 line of credit at the Grand Prairie State Bank to
lishing building standards, providing for the inspection of expedite water and sewer improvements.
construction, and establishing penalties for noncompliance with the regulations.
May 13, 1942… Voters approved a Water Revenue Bond
Issue for construction of improvements, enlargements and
November 20, 1940 … Adopted an ordinance regulating extensions of the sewer system, pledging the revenues of
the renting of space for trailer cars and providing for sani- the water system to payment thereof, by a margin of 67-2.
tary facilities.
June 24, 1942 … Approved name changes to 68 City
November 20, 1940... Adopted an ordinance making it
streets, or portions thereof, to facilitate the establishment
unlawful for any natural person or association of natural of free delivery mail service.
person, trustee, receiver, partnership, corporation, or the
manager, agent server, or employee, of any of them to
August 12, 1942 … Agreed to furnish the City of Daldirectly or indirectly sell, offer for sale, barter, offer to
worth Park water at a rate of 40¢/1000 gallons and to pay
barter, exchange, or offer to exchange, give, wine, malt or all expenses of connecting to their mains. The City anvinous liquors or any alcoholic beverage by retail for con- nexed Dalworth (September 16, 1942)and purchased its
sumption on or off the premises, within the corporate lim- water system for a sum of $16,500 on November 10,1942.
its of the City of Grand Prairie.
Street lights were also ordered for Dalworth, Indian Hills,
and Fairview additions.
March 12, 1941 … Granted a franchise to the Texas Electric Service Company to provide electric service for an
December 17, 1942 … The City Paid W. D. Cunningham
annual payment of $750 to the City of Grand Prairie.
$7.50 for hauling 15 bales of cotton from Dallas to Grand
Prairie to make mattresses for W.P.A.
April 9, 1941 … Created an interim Planning & Zoning
Commission to provide a comprehensive plan for promot- January 2, 1943 … Received $125,000 payment of reveing the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the
nue bonds from the Federal Works Agency for construcCity.
tion of the Water System to new additions.
May 20, 1941 … Appointed the 11-member Municipal
August 12, 1943 ...Approved monthly payment of $25 to
Defense Council as requested by the U.S. Office of Civil- the Volunteer Fire Dept. and authorized payment of $15
ian Defense (Presidential Executive Order).
per month to Dr. Copeland to inspect cafes and grocery
stores in a clean-up campaign.
June 11, 1941 ...Adopted Ordinance appropriating certain
income and revenues of the sewer system for payment of November 12, 1943 … Adopted ordinance for registrainterest and principal of the City of Grand Prairie Sewer tion, licensing of bicycles and a penalty for violators; and
Extension Warrants, 1941 Issue.
an ordinance prohibiting the riding and parking of bicycles on sidewalks, and regulating operation of bicycles
August 15, 1941 … Contracted with the Federal Govern- and motorcycles on the streets of Grand Prairie.
ment to provide water to Avion Village, which had become an architectural model for innovative design and
November17, 1943 …Organized a Christmas Party for
construction techniques. The Village was sold in 1948 to City employees a $10 gift for each, requested ordinances
residents.
for a Juvenile Traffic Court and Jay Walking and raised
the following salaries:
January 14, 1942 ...Mayor Turner is authorized to locate
a site for drilling two new water wells. Three new well
Librarian
to $30/month
pumps were authorized on February 11, 1942 at a cost of
Policemen
to $160-175/month
$3,472.75.
Phone Clerk
to $60/month
Tax Collector to $125/month
March 31, 1942 … Granted a franchise (Ord #92) to W.
W. Wheeler to operate motor buses and motor vehicles
June 15, 1944 … Purchased three chlorinators for City
for hire on the public streets and highways of the City.
reservoirs.
5
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
January 27, 1945 … Paid expenses of poison and food
used in rat killing campaign conducted by the State Department of Health and the County Health Department.
June 30, 1945 … Held a special bond election for
$100,000 for the purpose of securing land and developing a City Park. Measure passed by a vote of 110-21. A
37-acre parcel owned by Tobie and Gertrude Glasgow,
lying between Belt Line Rd and NE 5th was bought at a
cost of $200/acre.
November 20, 1946 ...Contracted with Texas Water Tank
Service Co. to paint and repair water tanks for a fee of
$5,490 and authorized the issuance of $7,500 in Sanitary
Sewer System Improvement Warrants.
May 21, 1947 ...Called for a special census on July 24,
1947. The census reported a total of 11,303 residents,
and increase of 9,708 people (608.6%) in seven years.
July 24, 1947 … Agreed to hold an election to vote on
whether or not parking meters should be installed in the
July 11, 1945 … Initiated condemnation proceedings for business district.
acquisition of land to build a City Jail and City Fire StaSeptember 17, 1947 ...Appointed a Charter committee
tion. (Property was owned by J.Y. Martin who had refused a reasonable offer on the cash market value of his “to draft and prepare a charter to be submitted to all the
qualified voters…” of Grand Prairie for adoption or reland, being Lots 4-7, Block F-6 of the W.H. Thomas
jection. Citizens approved the Home Rule Charter in an
Second Addition to the Town of Grand Prairie.)
election held on May 1, 1948 by a vote of 686 to 222.
January 16, 1946 ...Approved construction of a slaughter Adoption of the Home Rule provision gave the City
Commission power to annex territory adjacent to the city
house at the Locker Plan on West Main Street.
limits with or without the consent of the territory and the
May 2, 1946 ...Contracted for $123,000 water and sewer inhabitants annexed (at that time). It also increased the
revenue refunding bonds, subject to approval of the Fed- number of commissioners from two to four (one each for
Place One, Place Two, Place Three, and Place Four).
eral Works Agency.
The salary for Commissioners was $5/meeting (not to
June 7, 1946 …Awarded a contract for $36,100 for drill- exceed $25.month). The Mayor received a salary set by
ing and casing of Trinity Water Well and installation of the City Commission, not to exceed $100/month.
deep well pumping equipment.
April 22, 1948 … Adopted ordinance providing for the installation, regulation and
September 11, 1946 ...Authorized a 10-year franchise
control of parking meters in the downtown
with Metro Bus Lines for operations within the City
Limits with the City receiving 2% of the company’s net area. On October 27, 1948, hoods were
placed on the parking meters with busiincome per year.
nesses being split 50-50 for/against their
use. The meters were discontinued in faLevies on Bonds & Warrants, Sept. 1946-47
vor of a 2-hour parking ordinance on July
17, 1949. On November 2, 1949 the Commission apSewer Sinking Fund
8%
$4,640
proved reinstallation of the meters, calling for a public
Water Works Extension
2.5% $1,450
vote on December 17, 1949. The measure passed, 151 to
Water Refunding Bonds
2.5% $1,450
66.
Street Warrants
1.5% $ 870
Water Works Bond Fund
Water Works Imprvmt. Bond
Municipal Refunding
Park Imprvmt. Sinking
Utilities Purchased
1946-Water Works Imprvmt.
1946-Sewer Ext, Warrants
1946-Indian Hills Paving
General Fund
Total
4.5%
9%
6.6%
6.5%
8.5%
6.0%
1.5%
3.0%
41%
100%
Total Assessed Valuation = $4,597,757
$2,610
$5,220
$3,190
$3,770
$4,930
$3,480
$ 870
$1,740
$23,780
$58,000
June 3, 1948...Awarded architecture/planning contract
for City Fire Station and Police Station (3% of the totalconstruction contract).
September 14, 1948 … Annual public hearing on the
City’s proposed FY 1948/49, $329,447 Budget. Tax
revenues accounted for almost $76,000, while water
revenue exceeded $119,129.
November 17, 1948 … City Attorney was asked to prepare an ordinance regulating billboards.
6
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
May 19, 1949...Appointed a committee in the Negro section of Grand Prairie to work with the City Commission
for improvements and betterment of that section, and to
bring reports and suggestions of the needs and progress
of the community.
September 1, 1953—City Salary Adjustments
Position
New Rate/Month
FY
1948/49
Estmt. FY
1949/50
$51,623
$298,808
$350,431
$ 75,652
$393,400
$469,052
Office Manager
Office/Clerical
City Secretary
Police Chief
Police Sergeant
Policeman
Lieutenant/Meter Repair
Warrant Officer
Police Investigator
Fire Chief/Manager
Assistant Chief
Fireman
Water Dept. Superintendent
Street Dept. Superintendent
Animal Control Officer
$ 91,755
$ 84,906
$ 51,869
$274,779
$150,048
$111,000
$ 70,500
$391.048
January 20, 1954...City Commission voted 3-2 to not
hire a City Manager (as allowed by a Home Rule Charter).
US Bonds
$ 20,000
Sinking funds $ 75,652
Operating funds $ 30,940
$ 20,000
$78,004
$ 25,350
February 25, 1954...Mayor Daugherty and Commissioner Charles W. Powers appointed to Greater Dallas
Planning Council.
June 1, 1949 … City endorsed a Chamber of Commerce
plan to raise funds for purchase of DDT and plane rental
to spray Grand Prairie and the community.
City of Grand Prairie
Budget for Fiscal Year Sept. 1, 1949-Sept .1, 1950
Beginning
Balance
Receipts
Disbursements
Expenses
Water/Sewer
Fire/Police
City-wide assessment
Tax rate
$19,540,000
$ 1.50/$100 valuation
$425
<$285
$542
$400
<$300
<$285
<$325
<$285
$300
$400
$300
$285
$400
$325
$1.25/hr
September 15, 1954...Approved bid of E.P. Townley
($12,495) for construction of a colored recreations and
library building.
November 2, 1949 …Grand Prairie entered into a 20-year
franchise agreement with Lone Star Gas giving the City January 16, 1957...Annexed Toll Road (IH-30) section
within GP City limits—ORD #1139.
2% of the company’s gross revenue in the City.
November 30, 1949… The City Commission approved an
ordinance providing for the licensing of itinerant vendors,
merchants and peddlers; and an ordinance making it
unlawful for any person to play any marble board/pinball machine within the City Limits.
July 3, 1957...Adopted Civil Service for Police and Firemen, ORD #1191
December 6, 1950 ...Issued policies on the extension of
utilities both within and outside City limits and established a $25 connection feel.
September 24, 1958...Resolution #1109 authorized Trinity River Authority (TRA) to operate within the City limits. Resolution #1110 (10.15.58) adopted TRA’s Master
Plan for development of the Trinity River Basin.
May 31, 1958 .. Citizens voted to establish Urban Renewal Board.
December 27, 1950...Passed a resolution to acquire and
manage 48 units (6 acres) of war housing in Avion Village.
December 17, 1958...Adopted Resolution #1115 congratulating the Dalworth Dragons and Coach Randolph
Reed for their outstanding accomplishment as particiAugust 5, 1953...Abolished the existing Planning & Zon- pants in the State Football Championship for Negroes.
ing Commission and appointed a new 15-member commission. Marshall Warder, Sr. was appointed Chairman. February 11, 1959...Created the Grand Prairie Hospital
Authority (ORD #1302).
7
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Planning Commission
May 16, 1949 ...City Commission appointed a committee to draw up an electrical, plumbing and building
code.
May 25, 1949 … City Commission passed an ordinance
creating and establishing a zoning commission for the
City of Grand Prairie composed of nine members. At
the same meeting, the Commission approved an ordinance creating a planning commission composed of 14
members, serving for a period of two years.
September 12, 1949 … Adopted the Rules and Regulations Governing the Platting and Subdividing of the
Land of the City of Grand Prairie.
October 24, 1949 … Recommended an interim plan that
assumed canalization of the Trinity River and industrial
land uses along the banks of the Trinity River.
March 6, 1950...Recommended adoption of a Building
Code and Fire Prevention Ordinance.
November 13, 1950 …Zoning Commission and Planning Commission were combined into the Planning and
Zoning Commission.
December, 1951 … Adopted a motion to annex the
Trinity Industrial District, industrial areas east and west
of the City, and Cottonwood and Fish Creek in Tarrant
County.
to build permanent installations of any type before the
property is legally zoned.
June 8, 1959 … Amended the City’s Zoning Ordinance
to allow the use of Specific Use Permits (SUP) to place
conditions upon a land use.
December 27, 1955 … Regulations adopted for the plat- August 11, 1959 … Approved a contract for an updated
Land Use Map, Land Use Survey, Future Land Use
ting of property and fees established (Ord #1050)
Planning, Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, and a new
Zoning District Map.
September 10, 1956 … Proposed upgrading the neighborhood surrounding Manning Road, “in order that the
TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME
colored citizens might have a desirable community in
which to build and establish a home.” The motion
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame was originally at 401 E.
passed: 4 in favor, 3 opposed, and 2 abstaining.
Safari Parkway. Established by the Texas Sports Writers
September 24, 1956 ...Recommend adoption of an updated City Thoroughfare Plan to the City Council.
October 8, 1956 … Approved a preliminary plat for the
Great Southwest Corporation on the condition the property would be annexed and then zoned for industrial use.
This was the beginning of the Great Southwest Industrial District in Grand Prairie.
August 11, 1958 … Went on record as being opposed to
prospective builders being given temporary permission
Association as a nonprofit organization in 1951, the Hall
ultimately had more than 120 honorees and featured a variety of displays and biographical sketches of famous Texas
involved in sports. Construction on a building to house the
Hall of Fame began in February 1980. The two-story structure had 29,000 square feet housing items such as Willie
Shoemaker’s riding boots and racing jersey and Bobby
Morrow’s gold medal for track and field at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The Hall closed in 1986 for financial
reasons and reopened in Waco in 1991, where it is collocated with the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame.
From The Handbook of Texas Online
8
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Government Housing Projects
Avion Village, 800 Skyline Road
Constructed by the U. S. Federal Works Agency as a
Defense Housing Project in 1941, Avion Village was
annexed into the City of Grand Prairie on June 5,
1941. Designed by internationally lauded architects
Richard Neutra and David Williams it was one of
eight experimental housing developments built in the
U.S. by the Federal Government. Avion Village
broke new ground in federal housing policy in three
ways: (1) unique architecture and design; (2) experimental prefabricated building techniques; and (3) mutual home ownership concept.
Sol Spiegel Village (21 acres)
Built in the early 50’s under the Wherry Housing Act as off-base housing for married and enlisted naval personnel,
this project was 100% financed, to operate on a cost-plus basis with rental rates approved by the government. Located at Skyline Road and SW 14th Street the subdivision was annexed into the City October 21, 1953. It was
forced into bankruptcy and was managed in receivership by Fanny Mae (Federal National Mortgage Assoc.) The
City of Grand Prairie purchased and rehabilitated the project (1978) to serve as a relocation site for persons living
in the Lakeview subdivision, prior to its renewal. The City demolished the housing in June 1991.
————————————————————————————–—————--————————————
The Bagdad Supper Club
On Sunday, April 19, 1953, according to the history of the of the Grand Prairie Fire Department, “...the fabulous
Bagdad Club burned. It was known as the most spectacular fire in western Dallas County. The estimated loss of
this fire was more than a million dollars on building and contents. The contents were furniture, Oriental furnishings, especially Japanese and Chinese, 45 paintings of the late Hungarian Artist Armand Grotz. Other paintings
included a Gainesborough, Van Dyke and many tapestries, drapes and scores of rugs termed priceless as they were
made by hand. The total insurance loss was $50,000.” Built at the corner of Bagdad Street and S.S. 80 in 1928, the
B a g d a d
Club’s Middle Eastern
Motif featured
a
$10,000
solid ceiling
C a n o p y
thought to
be imported
from Istanbul.
9
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Public Facilities
January 13, 1943 … Library hours were extended to
11:am to 6:pm daily and the Librarian’s pay raised to
$50/month.
March 23, 1943 ...Contracted with Alide Wells Company of Denver Colorado for construction of a new
2100-foot water well with a capacity of 750 gallons per
minute, for a lump sum payment of $17,160. It was
called the Trinity Sand Well.
January 12, 1944 ...Began extension of sanitary sewers
to Dalworth area.
August 18, 1944 … Awarded contract to Joplin and
Spencer for $23,894, to construct a new Municipal
Building at 318 W. Main Street (below). An air conditioner was added on December15, 1944. New furniture
was approved on March 14, 1945. The building is still
being used for government offices. The architect was E.
Carlyle Smith. Mr. Smith was elected Mayor of Grand
Prairie on April 5, 1949.
for stores and cafes on Main Street, charging merchants
$5/week for the service.
July 17, 1946 … Water line (6”) extended from Church
Street to City limits North on NW 3rd St to serve Athletic Field with water.
August 13, 1946 ...Taxi Cab service, A.B.C. Cabs, within
the corporate limits of Grand Prairie was approved, with
2% of gross receipts going to the City. The cabs included; a 1939 4-door Mercury, two 1940 2-door Fords,
a 1940 4-door Chevrolet, a 1941 4-door Plymouth, and a
1941 2-door Ford.
December 11, 1946 …Property owners were assessed$1.25 per front foot for curb & gutter, and $1.75
for improvements exclusive of curb and gutter along
Choctaw Trace in the Indian Hills Addition.
October 31, 1947 … Voters approve $200,000 Sewer
Improvement and Extension Bonds, $50,000 in Waterworks Improvement and Extension Bonds, and $150,000
in Street Improvement Bonds by a margin of 2-1.
April 22, 1948 … Entered into agreement with State
Highway Commission to widen Main Street from West
8th Street to West 3rd Street, and from East 3rd Street to
the eastern city limit (1.4 miles).
November 17, 1948 ...Contracted with Whittle Construction Company for construction of a new sewage disposal
plant (Estmt. cost of $145,000). Approved installation of
a four-way signal light at 5th and E. Main in response to
a citizen petition.
October 11, 1944 … Water line extension to serve Twin
Airport Addition was authorized (2” pipe).
December 15, 1944 ...Authorized construction of two
pounds, one in west Grand Prairie and one in East Grand
Prairie, to take care of stray stock running at large.
July 11, 1945 … Acquired land for Grand Prairie’s first
fire station and a City Jail. Fire Station #1 was built at
321 W. Main Street in 1949 at a cost of $51,710.75.
August 4, 1945 … Purchased 37 acres ($200/acre) for a
City Park between Belt Line Rd and NE 5th Street.
March 14, 1946 ...City began daily pick-up of garbage
November 8, 1949...The City’s first fire station was built
at 321 W. Main Street, at a cost of $51,710.75. It was
Designed by Architects Smith and Warder who also designed the City’s first Police Station, adjacent Fire Station #1 (Page 10).
10
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Wage Scale for Installing Sanitary Sewers
Grand Prairie’s first Police Station (above) was funded
by a 1949 bond referendum for $58,000 and was formally dedicated on November 8, 1949. McIntire Construction Co. submitted the lowest and best bid for both
the Police and Fire Stations.
Originally built in 1952 at 2334 Pine Street, Fire Station
No. 2 was purchased by the U.S. Navy and was closed
on January 23, 1987. The new No. 2 Station opened at
3110 Bowles on January 23, 1987. Hines Builders, Inc.
had the winning construction bid of $26,924.
Classification
Hourly Rate
Air tool operator
Blacksmiths
Blacksmith’s helpers
Bricklayers
Carpenters, journeymen
Cement Finishers
Firemen and oilers
Iron workers, reinforcing
Laborers, unskilled
Mason tenders
Plumbers
Sewer pipe yarners
Sewer pipe layers
Sewer pipe helpers
Mortar tender
Fine grade men
Blade graders operators
Bulldozer operators
Crane, derrick, & dragline operators
Mixers
$ 1.00
$ 1.25
$ .60
$ 1.25
$ 1.25
$ 1.25
$ .75
$ 1.25
$ .70
$ .70
$ 1.625
$ .75
$ 1.00
$ .70
$ .70
$ .75
$ 1.25
$ 1.25
$ 1.375
$ 1.25
Grand Prairie’s first Public Library Building was constructed at 326 W. Main Street in 1954 at a cost of
$50,000. A 78 ft x 71 ft addition in 1965 cost $65,000.
May 8, 1956…GPISD awarded a $200,000 contract for
construction of the 7,500 seat Gopher Bowl Stadium for
Grand Prairie High School. Smith & Warder Architects
& Engineers designed the stadium in a natural ravine
north of the school. It was renamed the Gopher-Warrior
Bowl on July 8, 2004 to include South Grand Prairie
H.S. Land for the school and stadium was annexed into
the City on Sept. 19, 1951.
In 1958, Fire Station No. 3 and Drill Tower were built at
1702 Robinson Road, for a cost of $69,440 on a site donated by the Great Southwest Corp.
11
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
1952 Sales Office for the Industrial Profit Zone of America is launched for Grand Prairie’s
Great Southwest Industrial District.
Developer Angus Wynne, Jr.
Great Southwest Industrial District Layout—late 1950’s
Eventually totaling over 8,000 acres, the Great Southwest Industrial District master-planned business park is located in both Grand Prairie and Arlington. The park gives Grand Prairie a strong industrial base, with more than
41 million square feet of warehouse space. It was the largest such park in north central Texas at the time of its
development.
12
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
13
CITY STORES
WATER & SEWER DEPT
J. D. Steadman, Jr. Supt.
BUILDING
PERMITS
ELECTRICAL
INSPECTOR
PLUMBING
INSPECTOR
BUILDING
INSPECTOR
Jess Trigg
ENGINEERING
CITY ATTORNEY
Archie Price
CORP COURT
RECORDS
CLERICAL
SUPERVISION
METER SERVICES
TAX ASSESSMT
& COLLECT
OFFICE
MANAGER
J. P. Aderholt
CITY HALL ADMINISTRATION
J. A. Johnson, City Secretary
SUPERINTENDENT
Robert. M. Hines
PARKS BOARD
Chairman
CITY PLAN COMMITTEE
FIRE DEPT MGR
J.C. Swadley, JR
FIRE DEPT
POLICE CHIEF
POLICE DEPT
CITY HEALTH
OFFICER
Dr. H. V. Copeland
ZONING COMMITTEE
H. N. Peek, Sr. Chm
CITY SHOP
CORPORATION
COURT
A. H. Waddell
STREET & GARBAGE DEPT
R. L. Stanley, Sr. Supt.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPT
C. F. Ballard, Director
City Engineer
MAYOR
E. Carlyle Smith
CITY COMMISSION
John Stufflebeme Don W. Small
Ray Reed
William J. Perry
LIBRARIAN
Mrs. Glenna Lowe
LIBRARY BOARD
Chairman
PURCHASING
ACCOUNTING
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
14
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
The Decision Makers: 1940 — 1960
MAYORS
1940-1949
1949-1953
1953-1955
1955-1959
1959-1961
G. H. Turner
E. Carlyle Smith
John W. Daugherty
C. R. Sargent
James Weems
1940-1947
J. C. Swadley
1940-1947
J. W. Trimble
1947-1949
Wesley R. Flinn
1947-1953
John Stufflebeme
1949-1951
T. R. Barnard
1949-1951
John W. Daugherty
1949-1953
Don W. Small
1951-1953
W. J. Perry
1951-1953
Ray Reed
1953-1955
Sam W. Pettigrew
1953-1955
Charles W. Powers
1953-1955
William G. Ellis
1953-1955
John E. Henry
1955-1959
Thomas Mays
1955-1959
Dewey Millar
1955-1959
Joe W. Perkins
1959-1961
W. C. Hardman
1959-1961
Bob Shanks
1959-1961
George Watson
1959-1961
James Weems
1959-1967
H. H. Milling
W. J. Perry
Don W. Small
Wesley R. Flinn
Ray Reed
CITY MANAGERS
1955-1958
1958-1961
Dean I Dauley
Larry M. Crowe
Mayor E. Carlyle Smith
1949-1953
Mayor John W. Daugherty
(1953-55) (CC, 1949-51)
Bob Shanks
George Watson
15
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
John E. Henry
William G. Ellis
Charles W. Powers
Joe W. Perkins
Dewey Millar
Thomas Mays
W. C. Hardman
H. H. Milling
16
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Representative Subdivision Plats
1.
2.
3.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
Penman Addition (11.20.40)
Tina Clara Addition (3.12.41)
Avacon Parque (4.18.41)
Avion Village (6.6.41)
Magnolia Park #1 (6.12.41)
Kathryn-Gene Addition (10.28.41)
Robinhood Addition (1.9.42)
Wheatland Homes Addition (3.24.42)
Robinhood Terrace (4.14.42)
Grand View Addition (5.6.42)
Fairview #1 (5.29.42)
Northaven #1 (8.29.42)
Fairview #2 (12.17.42)
Fairview #3 (6.17.42)
Fairview #4 (12.2.42)
Northaven #2 (1.19.43)
Pacific Park Addition (4.12.43)
Mary Lee Addition (4.29.43)
Cebu Parkway Addition (6.22.43)
Peltwood Park (6.21.43)
Namaco Plaza Addition (7.20.43)
Burger & Sowells Addition (8.28.43)
G. W. Spikes #1 (11.22.43)
G. W. Spikes #3 (11.16.44)
Poulin Addition (11.20.45)
Magnolia Park #3 (6.3.46)
Britt’s Subdivision (2.19.47)
Vivian Ann Addition (4.16.47)
Lake Drive Park (9.17.47)
Verne Addition #1 (11.19.47)
Jefferson Hts (Jan 1948) Tarrant Co
Lillie Payne Addition (4.14.48)
Tyre Estates (5.13.48) Tarrant Co
Highland Hills Addition (7.9.48)
Prairie Mead Addition (8.10.48)
Sherwood Estates (8.26.48) Tarrant Co
Evelyn Jean Addition ( 8.30.48)
Neva Shanks Addition (1.1.49)
Garnet Terrace (1.24.49)
Vought manor Addition (6.20.49)
Marler Hills Addition (9.12.49)
Magnolia Park (12.20.49)
Neva Shanks Addition (1.23.50)
Vought Manor, #3 (1.23.50)
Burbank Garden Subdivision (2.13.50)
Hensley Park #3 (2.13.50)
North Haven Addition (2.13.50)
Grand Prairie Prize Acres (5.8.50)
Vought Manor, #4 (6.12.50)
Westover Place Addition (7.10.50)
Dalworth Park Addition (7.10.50)
47. Barnard Addition (7.10.50)
48. Pine Street (10.9.50)
49. Westover Place, revised (2.28.51)
50. Center Dale, FHA approved (3.26.51)
51. Indian Hills Addition #3 (3.26.51)
52. C.L. Kitchen Addition (4.9.51)
53. Indian Hill Addition, No. 2 (4.9.51)
54. J.E. Payne Addition (6.11.51)
55. Turner Heights Addition (7.30.51)
56. H. Berry Addition (10.2.51)
57. Valley View Addition (10.8.51)
58. Hensley Park Addition, No. 4 (10.8.51)
59. Vought Manor Apartments (11.12.51)
60. Blue Bonnet Addition (2.25.52)
61. Peek Hill (2.25.52)
62. Pecan Acres (2.25.52)
63. Dabney Plat (2.25.52)
64. Bowie Addition (4.8.52)
65. Daisy Addition (4.28.52)
66. Chokas Heights Addition (4.28.52)
67. Lillian J. Ware Plat (5.26.52)
68. Chokias Heights Addition (6.5.52)
69. Keith Heights (7.28.52)
70. Park Heights Addition (9.22.52)
71. Burnett Plat (11.17.52)
72. Lake Terrace Addition (1.12.53)
73. Parkway Addition, No. 2 (1.12.53)
74. Ridgeway Manor (1.12.53)
75. Turner Heights #2
76. My Estates Subdivision (2.19.53)
77. Greenbrier Addition (4.6.53)
78. Valford Addition (4.13.53)
79. Turner Estates (4.27.53)
80. Manor Place Addition #2 (5.6.53)
81. Barrett Hill Addition (6.8.53)
82. Winfield Addition (6.25.53)
83. Rogway Terrace #1 (7.7.53)
84. Crest Hollow Edition (8.24.53)
85. Wildwood Oaks Addition (9.8.53)
86. Carrier Pkwy ROW (10.12.53)
88. Grand Prairie Estates (11.6.53)
89. Jana Subdiv. (1.23.54)
92. SaddleHill Addition (6.22.54)
93. Church Addition (8.1.54)
94. Hillside Addition (9.13.54)
95. Church Addition (9.13.54)
96. Phillips Park Addition (9.20.54)
97. Houston Addition (12.13.54)
98. Jackson, Womack & Davis (1.11.55)
17
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Representative Plats (cont)
99. Phillips Park (1.19.55)
100. Lobb-Milliorn Addition (1.17.55)
101. Hillcrest Addition, Sec. 1 (2.21.55)
102. Church Hill Addition (6.20.55)
103. Prairie Mead Addition (6.20.55)
104. Spruce Circle Addition (8.15.55)
105. Oakwood Estates (8.22.55)
106. Inglewood Park Addition (9.6.55)
107. Belt Line Addition (11.7.55)
108. Inglewood Terrace (11.28.55)
109. Vickery Place Addition (11.28.55)
110. Idlewild Heights Addition (1.16.56)
111. Inglewood Park #2 (4.25.56)
112. Ford’s Lakeside Subdivision (6.25.56)
113. Florence Hill Addition, No. 1 (7.23.56
114. International Estates (11.12.56)
115. Florence Hill Addition, No. 2 (1.14.57)
116. International Estates, No. 2 (1.14.57
117. Prairie Mead #2 (3.7.57)
118. Sharpston Heights, Section 1 (3.11.57
119. Burbank Gardens Lt 2, Blk B (5.13.57)
120. Sharpston Heights, Section 2 (5.13.57)
121. Great S’west Indus. Cmty. #1 (9.9.57)
122. Mountain View Acres (10.16.57)
123. Covington Plat, (1.13.58)
124. Inglewood Park #3 (6.9.58)
125. Park Heights Addition (6.9.58)
126. South Manor Addition (11.10.58)
127. Sheppler Villa Estates, #1 (4.13.59)
18
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Principle Annexations/Disannexation
1. Avion Village (6.6.41)
2. Fairview 1 & 2 (8.13.41) 34.17 Ac & 18 Ac
3. RobinHood Addition (1.9.42) 20 Ac
4. Fairview #3 (6.17.42) 9.35 Ac
5. Fairview #4 (11.14.42) 9.6 Ac
6. 53 Acres (2 tracts) adjacent G.P. (1.6.42)
7. Perry Linney survey, Abst. 777 (1.6.42)
8. Central Business Area (9.16.42)
9. Dalworth Park (9.24.1942)
10. Burgher & Sowells Addn (11.14.42)
11. 6 Ac., R. Wilson Survey, Abst. #1548 (11.28.42)
12. Peltwood Addition (7.24.43) 5.6 Ac
13. G.W. Spikes, 3rd Ed (10.23.46)
14. Evelyn Jean Addition (9.17.47)
15. 14.39 Ac P. Linney survey, Abst 777 (9.17.47)
16. 21.24 Ac P. Linney survey, Abst 777 (9.17.47)
17. 9.58 Ac Lillie Payne Addition (4.14.48)
18. 10 Ac R. Wilson survey (2.16.49)
19. Vought Manor #1, 19.2 Ac (4.16.49)
20. 6 Ac Ballard-Burgher Addition
21. Twin Airports: 170 Ac from three surveys: E.
Crockett, Abst 222, T. Collins, Abst. 308 &
W.C. May, Abst 891 (6.1. 49)
22. Vought Manor #2, 14.7 Ac (7.27.49)
23. Vought Manor #2, 19.5 Ac, (9.14.49)
24. Vought Manor #3, 22 Ac, (3.1.50)
25. Dalworth, Blk 220, 2.87 Ac (7.5.50)
26. Saddle Hills Addition, 23 Ac (9.20.50)
27. Burbank Gardens, Westover, & Hensley Park
959.3 Ac (Sept. 21, 1950) Ord #825)
28. Vought Manor #4, 43.7 Ac (11.1.50)
29. Fish Creek Rd to County Line (8.1.51)
30. 21.4 Ac, Stadium Dr (7.18.51)
31. Indian Hills. #2 (8.1.51)
32. South of Skyline from SE 8th to Grand Prairie
Estates Addition (8.1.51)
33. North of Clarice and SW 5th St (8.1.51)
34. Sunnyvale to Arkansas west of County
Line (9.5.51) - repealed 9.19.51
35. Valley View Addition (10.5.51)
36. Disannex Valley View Addn (11.1951)
37. Skyline Rd & west line of war housing tract
(12.19.51)
38. Tarrant Co, Fort Worth St & NW 23d (1.20.52)
39. Indian Hills #2 (4.2.52)
40. Tyre Park (4.16.52)
41. Indian Hills Addn #2 (4.16.52)
42. Hill Street Grade School (4.16.52)
43. Walnut Street Grade School (4.16.52)
44. Lamar Street School (4.16.52)
45. Cottonwood Creek Trunk Sewer (4.21.52)
45. US 80 to Houston—NW 23rd to NW 26th
(6.3.52)
46. 36 Ac, Co. Line to Arlington (6.3.52)
47. Sol Spigel Village (6.28.52)
48. Indian Hills Park Addition (8.6.52) 21 Ac
49. Turner Heights (9.3.52)
50. Annex territory east of Grand Prairie in vicinity of
Jefferson St., Highway 80 & Mountain Creek
(10.12.52)
51. Centerdale Addn (11.19.52)
52. 700 Ac, U.S. 80, Jefferson St, Mountain Creek
Arcadia Park (11.6.52)
53. Disannex 14 Ac Burbank Garderns (Dec 29, 1952)
54. N. of Trinity River (1.21.53)
55. Cockrell-Hill Rd to US 157 s. of Arkansas
Lane (5. 1953)
56. All unannexed property east of City (May 6, 1953)
57. County line, published (May 6, 1953)
58. Disannex, SH 183, Co. line, Irving (May 14,1953)
59. Vought Manor Business Area (12.29.53)
60. Vought Manor Addn #4 (12.29.53)
56. Beltline Rd (Jan 20, 1954)
57. South Dalworth, 88.7 Ac (April 7, 1954)
58. 24.5 Ac, Myers Rd (Aug 29,1954)
59. Stadium Dr (Nov 7, 1954)
60. Disannex areas to east of G.P. (Dec 15, 1954)
61. Dawson Circle & Beltline Addn (Dec 19, 1954)
62. Disannex area adjacent Dallas (Jan 13, 1955)
63. Jefferson to Sherman—County Line West
(April 1955)
64. Disannex area adjacent Duncanville (Aug 15, 1955)
65. Disannex area adjacent Duncanville (Sep 12, 1955)
66. 30 Ac Mountain. Lakes Estates (Sep 19, 1955)
67. Disannex area in Tarrant Co (Oct 12, 1955)
68. Inglewood north of Marshall Dr (Oct 1955)
Ord. #1009
69. Repeal part of No. 11 (Oct 1955) Ord. #1028
70. E. Jeffersons & SE 14th (Oct 1955) Ord #1029
71. Highway 80 (Oct 1955) Ord #1032
72. Beltline Rd, Clarice to Marshall (Nov 1955)
Ord. #1033
73. SW 5th to Highland (Nov 1955) Ord #1038
74. Tarrant Co Line to Arlington-Webb Britton Rd
south of Arkansas lane to Dallas Harwood Rd
(Jan 1956) Ord #1039
75. Grand Prairie Estates, Dalworth Park-Dalworth
Hills, Jefferson to U.S. 80 (Dec 1955)
76. Several portions (Dec 1955) Ord. #1048
77. Grand Prairie Airport (May 1956) Ord. #1087)
78. Jefferson St ROW, County Line to SW 6th (Aug
1956) Ord #1099
79. Inglewood Addition, from Cober and Ballaway
North (Dec 1956) Ord #1125
19
CHAPTER 4: 1940-1960
Principle Annexations/Disannexation (cont)
89. South Inglewood (Sept 1957) Ord # 1206
90. Intern’l Estates (Sept 1957) Ord #1207
91. Disannex: Jefferson Pkwy (Nov 1957) Ord #1215
92. Hillside Addition (Dec 1957) Ord # 1218
93. 11 Ac, Gifford Hill (Jan 8, 1958) Ord #1229
94. Centex property (Jan 1958) Ord # 1231
95. Disannex eastern prop. (April 1958) Ord #1254
96. Mid Cities Hospital (Sept 1958) Ord # 1285
97. Arkansas to I-20 to SH 360 (Oct. 19, 1958)
98. N Inglewood Terrace (Dec 1958) Ord # 1297
99. SW 3rd—Marshall to Freetown (May 1959)
Ord # 1308)
100. Burleson St Park (Apr 1959) Ord #1310
101. Grand Prairie Prize Acres (Aug 1959) Ord #1321
102. Carrier Pkwy ROW, Marshall to Freetown
(Aug 1959) Ord #1322
103. Gifford & NE 28th St (Nov 1959) Ord #1339
104. Tract 4, Beltline & Toll Rd (Nov 1959) Ord #1340
105. L.A. Darsey Property (Nov 1959) Ord #1341
106. Sheppler Property (Nov 1959) Ord #1342
107. Barrett Property (Nov 1959) Ord #1343
108. NW 7th (Nov 1959) Ord #1344
109. 175 acres south of Dalworth (Nov 1959) Ord #1345
110. Inglewood Terrace (Nov 1959) Ord # 1346
111. South Manor (Nov 1959) Ord #1348
112. Disannex % of Scheppler (Dec 1959) Ord #1351
113. 233 Ac Furgeson Survey Abst 454 (6.3.60)
20
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
“Grand Prairie is in trouble,—we are
being invaded from the east and polluted
from the west.”
Mayor G. H. Turner
Overview
Grand Prairie struggled to survive from 1920-1940. The
Great Depression (1929-1940) forced the City to borrow
to meet payrolls. Participation in New Deal programs
required local matching funds for materials. An estimated $20,000 was granted through WPA for school construction projects and improvement of Hensley Field in
the City of Dallas.
The City’s location on a transportation corridor between
Dallas and Fort Worth led to construction of U.S. 80 in
1920, with widening and upgrades in the 1930’s.
A second major construction project during the 1930’s
was the construction of Mountain Creek Lake by Dallas
Power and Light. Located east of Grand Prairie, the new
reservoir for the Dallas power plant was built on land
located in “Freetown,” a settlement of freed slaves and
purchased by the power company for $40/acre. Construction was halted briefly during the Depression, and
“Grand Prairie is growing and the town
will become just what its citizens make
it.” Fred Kreger, Editor, The Texan
The Depression Years
completed in 1938. The City initiated some innovative
methods to collect back taxes, while at the same time extending deadlines and making allowances for the inability
of some citizens to meet this obligation.
Residents voted (88 to 56) to replace the Alderman form
of government with a Commissioner format in April of
1920. Mayor T.G. Collins was retained while F. N. Fagan and R. L. Keith were the elected commissioners.
The three-person form of government set the path for
early City development.
Regulations adopted during this period prohibited the
reckless operation of motor vehicles; parking within fire
limits and fireplugs; placement of poles and wires over
public streets; who may make and how to connect to the
City sewer; prohibited the use of barbed wire fences; prohibited unnecessary noise; regulated parking, traffic
lights and truck weight; required property owners to cut
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
grass and weeds on vacant lots; and defined gambling,
prohibiting operation of or playing of certain machines
by minors.
Interurban service was discontinued December 24, 1934
creating discussion about how to remove tracks and
utilize the remaining right-of-way.
Throughout this time the City Commission and residents faced extreme hardships. It was not a period of
growth, but one of survival.
Cotton Gins produced up to 4,000 cotton bales (on platform
below for loading to rail car) per shipment
Passenger Station
New school, as seen from City’s water tower.
1929—Front counter of the Grand Prairie Garage and Fire
Station at 202-218 E. Main Street
2
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
March 1, 1926 … Board of Commissioners awarded a
May 3, 1921 … Adopted an ordinance forbidding play- bid in the amount of $21,940 for the paving of Main St.
Followed on March 8th with an assessment against
ing on the roofs or awnings of any store or public
property and owners on Main Street for a part of the
building.
cost of the improvements.
October 4, 1921 … Council granted a special rate of
August 15, 1927 … City authorizes addition of 25
20¢/1000 gallons to GPISD on their delinquent water
street lights under contract with Northern Texas Tracbills, and set the salaries of two meter policemen at
$100/month, provided there was enough revenue from tion Co., for a total of 55 lights, costing $1.10 per
month along the “Great White Way.”
the water department to cover the amount.
November 1, 1921 … The City authorized borrowing
$1,100 from First State Bank to purchase two fire hydrants and a 4” valve, to be repaid out of the water rent
fund.
March 19, 1928 ...The street running parallel with the
Northern Texas Interurban Line is renamed from
“Houston Street” to “Jefferson Avenue” through the
entire City limits.
November 17, 1921 ...The Commissioners approved
construction of a 100,000 gallon concrete reservoir for
a total cost of $1,500.
May 21, 1929 … City Commission receives a petition
with 100 signatures, requesting a public City park.
February 16, 1931 … Mayor Turner is authorized to
meet with state highway engineer in Austin to work out
November 7, 1922 … Passed an ordinance regulating
the right-of-way and paving of State Highway #1
commercialized moving picture shows.
through Grand Prairie (today’s Main Street). The
July 31, 1923 … Adopted result of Sewer System Bond Commission also hired a City Attorney for $10.00/
month.
Election. Of 193 votes cast, 150 voters approved the
issuance of sewer system bonds and 43 votes were cast
against bonds in the amount of $65,000 to build a City September 21, 1931 … City’s first school crossing
guard, S. E. Taylor, is authorized to escort children
sewer system.
across Main Street each morning and afternoon for
payment of $15/month.
November 22, 1932 … Grand Prairie agrees to comply
with the Bureau of Public Roads of the Department of
Agriculture of the U.S. requirements for construction
of State Highway #1, including preventing encroachment and agreeing to not set a speed limit under 20
mph.
September 13, 1933 … Commission passed an Ordinance regulating the sale of beer in the City.
May 31, 1935 … Water meter deposits were raised to
$5.00 for residences and $10 for all other businesses.
Grand Prairie’s Original City
January 21, 1924 ...City Council accepted a bid for
installation of a 20-light “White Way” at Main and
Center Streets. Along with an estimate of $11,132.27
for a sewer system from R. J. Estep and Co.
City Hall, Circa 1925
June 16, 1936 … City Commission voted to pay the
City Marshall a commission on traffic fines in addition
to his regular salary, in the amount of $1.00 for each
red light violation of $3.00, and $2.00 for all other traffic violations of $7.20 or more. The mayor was also to
be paid a fee of $1.00 on each red light fine of $3.00,
“...in addition to his regular fee of $2.15 on all fines of
$7.20 or more.”
3
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
December 15, 1936 …Adopted an ordinance defining
gambling devises, slot machines, and marble machines; prohibiting the operation of such machines by
minors under age 18; requiring a license fee of $2.00/
year; prohibiting location within 500 feet of any
school building; and providing penalties for violation
of the regulations.
January 12, 1937...Passed an ordinance regulating the
weight loads of trucks operated within the City limits
and providing a minimum fine of $5.00.
July 15, 1939 ...Adopted ordinance prohibiting the
sale of and firing of fireworks within the City limits
and also prohibited carnivals within the City limits.
Major Industries in Grand Prairie—1921
1. Grand Prairie Gravel Company (north of
Trinity River)
2. State Refining Assoc. (2 mi. east of town)
3. Continental Tire and Rubber Company
4. Spike Brothers Broom Factory
5. American Mercantile Company (building
materials)
6. 3 Cotton Gins (shipping 3,000-4,000 cotton
bales per shipment)
7. Anderson Motor Company of Grand Prairie
Roadster with starter $556.28
Roadster w/o starter
$483.39
Touring Car
$606.14
Coupelet
$847.83
Public Facilities and Services
December 15, 1920 ...The City took delivery of a new
“Type 32” Combination hose & Chemical Ford LaFrance fire truck. The $2,500 cost was paid off over
three years at a 6% annual rate of interest.
January 12, 1924 ...The Board of Commissioners authorized bonds to purchase a, “standard Reo SPEEDWAGON chassis, equipped with 33x5 U.S. Royal
Cord tires with Waterous Rotary Impeller Fire Pump
and Metal Side Body. Body to be built by Mr.
Barbee, representative of Waterous Fire Engine Company….” Cost of the new fire truck was $3,035.
1923 City Employee Salaries/month
City Fire Marshall
City Health Officer
Motorcycle Officers
City Pumper
City Secretary, Assessor
City Marshall, Collector
Deputy City Marshall
Disposal Plant Manager
$ 25
$ 25
$100
$125
$100
$100
$ 25
$ 50
February 2, 1935 … Commissioner J. C. Swadley
was authorized to find a dumping ground site for the
City. The selected site
was on the east side of
Belt Line Rd in an old
pit between the road and
the river on property
owned by Mr. Gifford.
“Cans and automobile
bodies could be dumped
…. provided it was out of
sight of the road,” and
that a gate was added for
access.
4
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
The Great Depression
The Depression ( October 29, 1929-1940) forced Grand
Prairie citizens to be less social and more self-sustaining.
The City’s budget suffered. Former city employees told
the Urbanite newspaper in May, 1970, “During the Depression years, Grand Prairie City government was practically financed by the water department...When the Texas
and Pacific Railroad paid their water bill, then we’d all
get paid.”
The City’s financial posture had been relatively strong
going into the Depression. On April 1, 1930, total cash
on hand was $6,495.59. By July of that year, the City
needed to borrow $1,000 from City National Bank to
cover an overdraft in water funds, and when the note
came due on January 5, 1931, there were no funds to
make payment.
City Commission meeting notes are tacit during this period, although the bills presented for payment give some
insights. During the Christmas season of 1931, bills for
Christmas groceries, gifts and charity exceeded $140 and
included the following items:
Food for transients (3 mo.)
Food for charity in City
Christmas groceries
Groceries for Christmas charities
Underwear, charities
144 lbs beef, Christmas charities
Shoes, Christmas charities
Fruits, candy, nuts, cash, charity
$15.45
$ 4.43
$23.85
$18.54
$23.70
$19.47
$24.10
$11.12
newed its efforts to collect delinquent water bills to fund
the project, cutting off those who failed to comply.
The mayor was authorized on February 26, 1936 to borrow $350 from Grand Prairie State Bank to pay laborers
on the WPA project.
City initiatives to provide jobs during the Depression included opening the Grand Prairie Cannery under auspices
of the Dallas County Relief Board. The Commissioners
Court paid for utilities and the City paid rent on the building.
May 24, 1937 ...President Roosevelt approves a W.P.A.
grant for $4,070 to enlarge City Hall, provide the Grand
Prairie Community House and improve the City Park.
The Mayor was authorized to contract with Kock and
Fowler to design the projects on February 16, 1938. Included were:
1. Sanitary sewer and storm sewer across the
T & P Railroad tracks;
2. Curbs, sidewalks and the planting of shrubs
and other improvements in the City park.
3. An addition to the Community House, pump
house and City Hall.
The City was required to hire bricklayers and skilled carpenters to complete the job in April, 1939 due to a lack of
skilled workmen on the W.P.A. project.
———————
An innovative strategy for dealing with delinquent property taxes was devised by the City Commission in 1935
was to contract with the Mayor for a monthly payment
plan for back taxes from 1924 through 1934. Persons
who did not apply for the contract by the deadline date of
May 31, 1935 were liable for collection of back taxes
through the efforts of an Attorney contract by the City on
August 13, 1935. In a major effort to correct the delinquent tax situation, the City agreed to pay for any correction on names of owners, lien holders, property descriptions and court costs where necessary.
On January 17, 1936, the City was forced to raise minimum water rates from $1.50/2000 gallons to $1.75, to
cover the purchase of materials needed ($2,500 worth) for Grand Prairie State Bank played an active role in keeping
City funds sufficient for payrolls and capital investments duruse on a $20,000 WPA project in progress. Water cusing the Great Depression.
tomers complained the fee was too high, and the City re-
5
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
Mountain Creek Reservoir - a major infrastructure development project of Dallas Power and Light provided
some economic lift for Grand Prairie in the 1930’s. The
mayor and local delegates “began intensive efforts toward
the realization of this (Mountain Creek Reservoir) project
in 1923,” according to Martin Vail’s History of Grand
Prairie (1954). Their efforts culminated in 1930, when
Dallas purchased several hundred acres of farm land for
approximately $40/acre in the Mountain Creek area and
construction began on the reservoir. The site covered
Freetown, a village of slaves freed by the Civil War
pastures and over cultivated land in the Mountain Creek
drainage basin (Dallas Morning News, 9.21.1947). The
volume of sedimentation was more than six times the
original engineering projection.
The reservoir was to be six miles long and two miles wide,
extending south of today’s IH-20 (Dallas Morning News,
Sept 1936). The Great Depression, however, brought a
reduced demand for electric power. Dallas Power and
Light ceased construction on their new power plant and
reservoir, “under an agreement by which the power company was relieved of taxation at full value, but at the same
time bound not to place any of the property value on its
books for computation of rate of return” (Dallas Morning
Lakeside Speculation Photo courtesy of Charles Brown.
News, Sept 9, 1936). DPL’s initial investment was
$4,590,000 (including dam, lake and land).
Developer/speculator J. A. Hodges, caught up in local exIt was not until 1936 that construction resumed, to be
citement about the recreational benefits the future resercompleted in 1938. Area residents once again looked for- voir would create, bought 80 acres on the southwest corward to Mountain Creek Lake becoming, “a week-end
ner of the reservoir site, out of the John Hudnall Abstract
mecca for Dallas sportsmen….” (Dallas Times Herald,
(653). Hodges platted 1620 campsite lots in 1931 and be9.12.1937) But access was a problem. Lack of “a good,
gan his marketing campaign.
safe road to the reservoir,” (Dallas Morning News,
6.4.1939) was a problem. In addition, the Dallas Park
By the time the lake opened in 1947, heavy sedimentation
Board was wondering how to fund public park improvefrom surrounding farmland had reduced the lake to 75% of
ments. “Since they can spend their bond money only on
its original size. Mr. Hodge’s 1620 campsites were no
city property within the corporate limits they may favor
longer on the edge of the reservoir, had not been surveyed
annexing the new recreational center by the plan of runand had not been surveyed. Construction of IH-20 north
ning a narrow strip out West Jefferson to the
of the 80-acre plat in 1976 permanently severed the Lakelake…” (Dallas Morning News, 6.4.1939). Questions of side Addition’s vision of waterfront campsites. Mountain
funding and liability were still being debated when the
Creek Reservoir today is roughly 50% of its original size,
lake was opened on May 1st, 1940 for public recreational due to sedimentation.
use.
Mr. Hodges’ plat lay dormant until 2003 when a local
W.W.II and expansion of Hensley Field on the northwest realtor began to contact owners and heirs of the 1620
shore of Mountain Creek Reservoir raised security issues, campsite lots and assimilate them for redevelopment. The
City entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understandand the lake was closed to public use on January 5, 1941
ing with the developer on August 30, 2007 to facilitate
at the request of army and navy officials (Dallas Times
redevelopment of the property, following passage of legisHerald, 6.28.1945) It was reopened for public use on
lation in the 2007 legislature which allowed the City to
July 1, 1945.
foreclose on abandoned lots (where no owner/heir could
By 1947, the Mountain Creek power plant was supplying be located).
40% of Dallas’ power needs according to Agricultural
Editor Roy Roddy. The cooling lake, however, had been
reduced in size by 24.2% by silt flowing from over grazed
6
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
Hensley Field
Hensley Field (right) was named after
Major William Hensley, commander of
the Eighth U. S. Army Air Corps. The
City of Dallas located the military base
on 200 acres on the eastern City Limit of
Grand Prairie in 1928.
The Naval Air Station in Dallas was a
shore installation of the commander of
Naval Air Reserve Forces, one of fifteen
major naval-reserve installations in the
United States. It was located at the northwest end of Mountain Creek Lake, just
west of Dallas. It was established in August 1929 by the city of Dallas as a training field for reserve pilots and was
named Hensley Field for Maj. William
N. Hensley, who was on the first transAtlantic dirigible crossing in 1919 and
was a flying instructor near Dallas in the
early 1920s.
The site was leased to the United States Army by the city
of Dallas for twenty years for $1.00 a year, and the field
became the Air Corps Reserve Base in the Eighth Corps
Area. The lease was extended to forty years at the beginning of World War II. The United States Navy began
maintaining operations there in March 1941 and on May
15 of that year established a naval reserve training base
on 160 acres adjacent to Hensley Field. On October 8,
1941, Maj. Thomas D. Ferguson, commander at the field,
was made control officer for the Middle West Area of the
United States, and on December 23, 1941, Hensley became headquarters of the Midwest Area of the Air Corps
Ferrying Command. It served as such until the ferry command became the Fifth Ferrying Group and was so expanded that it had to be moved to Love Field.
In early 1946 Congress appropriated funds to establish a
naval reserve training program at NAS Dallas, and by
March of that year the reserves had taken over the field.
The United States Marine Air Reserve Training Command also established itself there at that time. Reservists
from Texas, Oklahoma, and eastern New Mexico continued to train at NAS Dallas. Hensley Field passed from
the command of the Air Force to that of the Navy on September 30, 1949, but the field continued to serve as an air
force reserve training center. The air force conducted air
operations for its reservists, for the air national guard,
and for the USAF Civil Patrol regional office. In 1950
the naval reserve squadron stationed at NAS Dallas was
the first air reserve squadron to be called to active service
in the Korean War.
The installation became Naval Air Station, Dallas, on
January 1, 1943. Its initial mission was to provide primary flight training for naval, marine, and coast guard
cadets. Enlisted personnel for aviation duty with the fleet
were also trained there, and at one time a number of Free
French aviators received flight training at NAS Dallas.
During World War II the base also served as a radial engine repair station. Thousands of engines were overhauled there. NAS Dallas handled all air traffic for the
adjacent North American Aircraft Company plant. It was
also the flight test facility and the receiving station for
4,400 SNJ (Texan) training aircraft manufactured at that
plant.
The station continued to grow with the installation of
new and longer runways. Jet aircraft were assigned to
NAS Dallas in 1952. In 1963 the base was the first one to
fly the F8 Crusader. The 1980s brought to the installation
some of the nation's most sophisticated aircraft, including
the F-14 (Tomcat) and the C-9B. By 1990 there were
2,057 active-duty personnel on the base, with 6,789 reservists assigned to the station. The total economic impact of the base by then was almost $76 million. The following year, more than 1,700 soldiers, sailors, and marines had been deployed from the base to the Persian
Gulf.
7
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
In response to the recommendations of the 1993 Depart- for use by reserve units and the Department of Interior for
ment of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commis- use as a neighborhood park.
————————
sion (BRAC-93) and to legislative requirements of the
1990 Base Realignment and Closure Act (Pub. L. 101510), NAS Dallas, Texas was closed and the property to
be made available for disposal and reuse. Some of the
NAS Dallas property was owned by the Navy; the remaining portion is leased to the US Government by the City of
Grand Prairie’s Municipal Airport, 1931
Dallas, and was returned to
the city in accordance with
the lease agreement.
Naval Air Station (NAS)
Dallas officially decommissioned 26 September 1998.
Its tenant commands had
been relocating to NAS
Joint Reserve Base (JRB) in
Fort Worth for several
years. NAS JRB Fort Worth
was officially established
01 October 1998. Shortly
after the establishment ceremony, commands and units
from NAS Dallas moved to
Fort Worth in stages, as
renovation or new construction projects were completed.
The City of Grand Prairie
subsequently transferred the
portion of NAS Dallas that
was within its City limits to
the US Defense Department
8
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
GRAND PRAIRIE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT NORTHEAST 2ND STREET IN 1925
Left to Right, Firemen and Sweetheart on trucks: Charley Sikes, Preacher Hatfield, John Stubbs, Grady Turck, Neville Hall, Elzie
Whitley, Marvin Hancock, Sweetheart Miss Julia Brandenburg.
Standing Left to Right: Chief Jess Small, Paul Florence, Rex Robbins, Carl Swadley, George Berley, Raymond Saxton, Stanley
Hatfield, Joe Elkington, Floyd Cox, J.C. Swadley, Sr., Ed Small, Emmet Turck, Rev. Roberts (Chaplin) Mayor G. H. Turner,
Commissioners Charley Daniels and Tom Bacon, Carl Page Swaadley, Mascot, 5 years old.
Not in Picture: Ferman Martin, Blake Hewitt, Hal Jackson
Background (on right): First Baptist Church which later burned on January 7, 1929 with a lost value of $10,000.
Fire protection was a top priority in early Grand Prairie.
Bucket Brigades were all residents had until a volunteer
fire department was formed in 1917 by Jacob Cleveland
“Uncle Jake” Swadley, Sr., Jess Small, and John L.
Stubbs. The City’s first fire truck was built by the volunteers on a Model T Ford chassis and replaced in 1919 by
an American LaFrance Hose and Chemical truck with two
30-gallon soda and acid tanks mounted on a Model T
Ford. Lacking a Fire Station, the firemen operated out of
a garage in the 300 block of W. Main Street. The City
rented space for its fire fighting equipment until the first
station was built in 1949.
Lack of water pressure was a chronic problem. The City
installed its own water system in 1918, including two-way
fire hydrants. In late 1920, the City spent $20,000 to install some six-inch water mains and some three-way fire
hydrants, replacing some of the two-way hydrants. A general alarm siren was purchased in 1922 and augmented
with 25 home receivers for firemen in 1952.
The Department evolved from 25 volunteers in 1940 to 16 J. C. Swadley, Jr. joined the volunteer department in in
1931 and became the City’s first paid fire fighter in 1945.
paid professionals and 25 volunteers in 1958.
9
CHAPTER 5: 1920-1940
MAYORS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
1920-1921
1921-1923
1923-1935
1935-1937
1937-1940
T. G. Collins
T. W. Wright
G. H. Turner
George N. Doyal
G. H. Turner
CITY COMMISSIONERS
1920-1921
1920-1921
1921-1923
1921-1923
1923-1924
1923-1931
1924-1926
1926-1931
1931-1932
1931-1933
1932-1935
1933-1935
1935-1937
1935-1940
1937-1940
R. L. Keith
F. M. Fagan
C. E. Horsley
S. G. Smith
F. C. Rector
Tom F. Bacon
Charles M. Daniels
J. C. Swadley
H. F. McCormick
S. E. Taylor
L. B. Leslie
J. C. Swadley
W. H. Breitsprecher
John W. Trimble
J. C. Swadley
Mountain View Acres, 44 Ac (7.13.1925)
Jefferson Ave Extension (3.13.28)
Twin Airports Industrial Addn, 32 Ac (11.12.1929)
John Howerth Addn (7.2.1930)
Lakeside #1 & #2, 80 Ac (3.12.1931)
Mountain Lakeview #1, 45 Ac (5.6.1931)
Mountain Lakeview #2, 14.7 Ac (6.27.1931)
Mountain Lakeview #3, 15.4 Ac (8.22.1932)
Dallas-Fort Worth Highway (12.30.1932)
Burbank Gardens, 255.6 Ac (3.12.1936)
Dallas Pwr & Light, Mtn Creek Lake (1.14.1937)
Gifford Hill (1.20.1937)
J. A. Adair Addn (7.14.1937)
John Farrans Addn (10.27.1937)
L. W. Means Homestead Addn (9.7.1939)
Mayor G. H. Turner began his 12 terms at the
helm of Grand Prairie in
1923. He served from
1923-1935 and 19371949, taking the City
through the Great Depression.
J. C. Swadley, Sr. served as
City Commissioner from
1926-1931 and 1933-1935.
He was a Volunteer Fire
Chief and instrumental in
the development of the
City’s professional fire
fighting program.
10
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
The Town of Grand Prairie
Overview
Incorporated in 1909 under Title 22 of the Texas Revised
Statutes, the Town of Grand Prairie elected S.P. Lively
as its first Mayor. The 1910 Census listed 994 persons
living within the City Limits. The Dallas-Fort Worth
road had been graveled, and the Interurban brought dependable transportation to Grand Prairie. To the west,
the Dalworth community was being organized by the
McIlhenny family, extending from sixth street to the
county line.
The Council meet bi-weekly for the purpose of regulating
City services and paying bills. City services were minimal and City coffers likewise. The 1916 tax rate was
$0.25/$100 valuation and on April 1, 1918 City balances
were:
The first ordinances adopted by the City Council including prohibiting the firing of firearms within City limits,
forbidding playing ball on the streets of the City, prohibiting obstruction of sidewalks, prescribing duties of the
Chief of Police, preventing cruelty to animals, prohibiting leaving horses and mules attached to unguarded /
unfastened vehicles, and the prohibiting of throwing paper, etc. in City streets and gutters.
A major initiative was the design and construction of a
City water system. Begun in 1917, the City issued its
first major warrants (bonds) in the amount of $15,000 for
installation of the system and an additional $9,000 to repair streets after the pipes had been put in.
General Fund
Water Fund
Cost & Fines Fund
$527.33
$324.29
$250.00
To help pay for infrastructure improvements the City began an aggressive program to collect back taxes that totaled $500.00 in 1918. It also began to issue new taxes,
Early minutes of City Council meetings are handwritten such as the $1/year dog tax that included a $10.50/year
with existing copies dating from 1915. City government tax on female dogs that had to be registered and wear a
included the Mayor and four aldermen during this period. collar.
The Little Motor Kar Company came to Grand Prairie in 1919, just
north of the site of Hensley Field. Their proposed 27-hp “Texmobile”
was to sell for $350. After constructing two 500-foot production buildings, the company went into receivership in August, 1920.
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
The focus of City leaders in the first 11 years of existence
as a town was to provide basic services. The bi-weekly
commission meetings considered sanitation, fire protection, streets and sidewalks, the creation and extension of
utilities and other fundamental needs of the citizenry.
A major fire in April 1909 consumed the Texas and Pacific Depot, J.C. William’s Restaurant, Collins and Collins
Hardware and the Houston and Liggett Lumber Yard,
causing $25,000 in damage. In 1914, another major fire
burned one of six buildings of the Chase Furniture Company. The Grand Prairie Volunteer Fire Department was
organized in 1917, with 12 members. By hand, the volunteers assembled parts for and constructed a Model T Ford
chassis with solid tires, 1,000 feet of single jacket 2 1/2”
hose, one axe and one crowbar. The homemade equipment was replaced in 1919 by an American LaFrance
Hose and Chemical truck with two 30-gallon soda and
acid tanks mounted on a Model T Ford.
community with uniform restrictions throughout business
and residential districts, parks and public grounds.
The Anderson/Hart Building at 1502 Houston Street (above) was
built in 1915 and occupied by many businesses during the years
including The Rainbow Gardens, a dinner nightclub; Dalworth
Business College, and apartments.
Dalworth Park was marketed as the perfect escape from
the congestion and high taxes of Dallas and Fort Worth, as
well as cold of the northern states and the heat of the tropics. It was platted but not incorporated.
SPIKES BROTHERS * BROOMS & DUSTERS
To the west, the Dalworth Park Development was taking
place. Platted on October 18, 1912 by F. P. Holland of the
Spikes Brothers Broom Factory, 1204 W. Main St, 1911
The largest and most modern Broom Factory in the South.
Dalworth Realty & Improvement Company, Dalworth
Park was an ambitious plat including parcels for industrial
The Spikes Brothers Broom Factory was one of the largest
use. Several industries were recruited and relocated to
Employers in the area. Enticed by free land (Block 66 of
The Model City.
Dalworth Section 2, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets
on the north side of Pacific Avenue) Jack, Luther, George
DALWORTH INN
and Paul Spikes relocated the manufacturing portion of their
broom factory from
Marilla Street in Dallas to Dalworth Park.
The business was
sold to United Broom
The first high-class “Automobile Inn” in Texas
Company in 1942.
Production ceased
and the building was
Advertised as an ideal place to live, with all the modern
abandoned in 1981
conveniences (water, natural gas, concrete sidewalks,
graveled streets and telephones), Dalworth was a planned and later demolished.
2
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
Minutes of the Grand Prairie City Council, April 17, 1916
3
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
4
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
5
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
Public Facilities and Services
June 9,1909...Passed the following ordinances:
1. Prohibition on firing of firearms in City Limits
and setting a $50 fine.
2. Forbidding playing ball on City streets.
3. Prohibiting obstruction of sidewalk.
4. Prescribed duties of Chief of Police.
June 14, 1915 ...Citizens petition for a water main in SW
portion of the City.
March 6, 1916 … City Council approves the purchase and
installation of a water main 16” underground to SW Grand
Prairie. Costs of the pipe were 6¢/foot for 1” pipe, 10¢/foot
for 1 1/2” pipe, and 15¢/foot for 2” pipe.
June 14, 1909...Passed ordinance preventing cruelty to animals.
May 7, 1917 ...City
Council authorized conJuly 19, 1909...Passed ordinance prohibiting leaving horses tractor to proceed with
and mules attached to unguarded or unfastened vehicle.
construction of a water
system ($15,000) and
May 12, 1911 … The City granted a franchise to Lone Star repair streets following
Gas Co., bringing natural gas to residents for heating, cook- installation of the sysing and lighting.
tem ($9,000).
Grand Prairie installed
April 9, 1913…Passed ordinance prohibiting littering in
its water system in
City streets or gutters.
early 1918. The overhead storage tank
June 14, 1915 … Appointed Dr. H. V. Copeland as the City (right) was located at
Health Officer.
NW 3rd and W. Main
Street. It was torn
October 11, 1915 ...Adopted ordinance #12, restricting the down in 1958.
speed of motor vehicles to 12 mph within City limits.
February 26, 1917 ...The City Council issues its first bonds
in the amount of $24,000, for establishment of a water system.
April 23, 1917 … The City Council authorized a position to
haul garbage in the City.
The City’s first industrywas the Dallas Cracker &
Biscuit Company (left).
The building at Jefferson
and SW 3rd was bought
by the Grand Prairie Tire
and Rubber Company and
burned in 1940.
September 16, 1918 … The City issued a notice to water
customers that all leaky faucets must be repaired within 24
hours or their water service would be cut off.
February 17, 1919 ...City Council decided to pursue a better lighting system for the City (the Great White Way) and
also voted to purchase City Hall for a sum of $850.
April 28, 1919...Adopted a $1/year dog tax ($10.50 for female dogs plus registration and required collar). The next
month a more general animal tax was levied.
November 23, 1919...City Council approved a water meter
rate of $1.50 minimum for 2000 gallons and $0.40 per
thousand gallons over the minimum.
6
CHAPTER 6: 1909-1920
MAYORS
1909—1909
1909—1910
1910—1911
1911—1913
1914—1917
1917—1918
1918—1919
1919—1920
S. P. Lively
R. E. Means
P. A. Geeo
R. E. Means
E. E. Hall
J. T. Owens
L. O. Turner
T. G. Collins
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Jackson Wameck & Davis Addn, 67.7 Ac (9.7.1910)
R. L. Hight Addition (2.11.1911)
Chase Addition (9.21.1911)
Westover Place, 102 Ac (7.17.1912)
Dalworth, Tarrant Co. (10.18.1912)
Penman Addition (10.30.1913)
Joe Bishop, 79 Ac (2.12.1914)
Northern Texas Traction Co (11.3.1917)
M. O. Jones, 232.9 Ac (12.14.1917)
J. D. Duncan (5.22.1919)
CITY ALDERMEN
1915—1916
1915—1918
1915—1916
1915—1916
1915—1916
1916—1917
1916—1917
1916—1918
1917—1918
1917—1920
1917—1919
1918—1920
1918—1920
1918—1919
1919—1919
1919—1920
1919—1920
H, K, Wafenbarger
L. G. Tinsley
N. T. Keith
G. J. Carter
H. H. Moore
H. J. Lucas
Dick M. Hatfield
C. H. Wheat
Noah Turner
K. A. Ward
O. A. Bradshaw
J. F. Small
Sam G. Smith
J. C. Swadley
Ira Allen
Ed Burns
C. H. Spears
Engines for the Little Motor Kar Company
Artist’s Concept
Texmobile truck being tested to carry a
3,508 lb load. Manufactured by The
Little Motor Kar Company.
7
CHAPTER 7: PRE-1909
Officially organized in 1863,
Grand Prairie was one of
several communities in Dallas County located adjacent
the Trinity River and its
tributaries. Early settlers
envisioned using the Trinity
as a water transportation
route to the Gulf of Mexico.
۩
Future Grand Prairie
The Village of Grand Prairie
Dechman (now Grand Prairie) was an unincorporated village from 1880 to 1909. Located west of Dallas and Eagle Ford on the Trinity River. Settlers arrived before the Civil War, bringing with them cattle and slavery. The
community was organized in 1863 when A.M. Dechman purchased a 239-acre tract from William and Walter
Caruth. In 1876, Dechman surveyed and platted a town site, giving the Texas and Pacific Railway alternating
lots in designated blocks, in exchange for the operation of a depot. The Railroad called the new community,
“Grand Prairie” after the “Grand Prairie” land formation land running through the area, and the town name was
officially changed to Grand Prairie in 1877.
Civil government was provided, in part, by a Dallas County (Precinct 6) Deputy Constable whose area of responsibility also included Cedar Hill and Duncanville. The Justice Court met on the second Saturday of each month.
The village was three blocks square. Grand Prairie Independent School District filed its Articles of Incorporation
with Dallas County on July 5, 1902. Few records of local government remain today other than abstracts and
plats on file with Dallas County. On March 20, 1909, 107 electors representing a population of 1,107 persons
voted for incorporation.
An
Early
View Of
Main
Street
Grand
Prairie
CHAPTER 7: PRE-1909
Infrastructure and public facilities developed slowly. It was 1900 before the first telephone was installed in
Grand Prairie. Grand Prairie Independent School District incorporated in 1902, and S. R. Lively as the first
mayor. The Dallas-Fort Worth Pike (which became U.S. 80) was graveled by 1907.
Development Chronology
1841-Peters Colony Land Grant includes area
1845-1850s-David & Alexander Jordan (TN) built
Jordan-Bowles home (705 NE 28th St),
brought slaves with them
1846-Dallas County is created, Thomas Vernay
settles on 350 acres along Cottonwood Creek
1854-First bridge built across Trinity River
1861-1865-Texas joins Confederacy in Civil War
1865-1867-A.J. Hamilton is provisional governor
1867-1870-Texas under military rule during Congressional Reconstruction Plan
1870-Public elections held statewide, Congress
readmits Texas to the Union, David & Alex
Jordan free their nine slaves, dividing 50 acres
between them. “Freetown” is established 2 1/2
miles SE of the City near the west shore of
Mountain Creek Lake by emancipated slaves,
with their own school and church (Antioch
Baptist Church) near Hardy Rd and Avenue D.
Above: Goodwin Cabin, constructed in 1846 near Sunnyvale and east of Duncan Perry Road. Macajah Goodwin
brought his family from Alabama, purchasing 640 acres.
Left: Main Street Grand Prairie, 1908
Below: Jordan/Bowles Home: The Jordan and Bowles
families were among the first settling in the Grand Prairie
area. The house served as a stagecoach stop in the 1870s
before the railroad was constructed. Moved from its original site in the early 1900s, it was bought by the City in
1957.
1870’s (late)-cotton introduced as a
crop
1873-Texas & Pacific RR extended to
Dechman
1874-Post Office established in Dechman
1875-Census lists 42 families in area
1877-Dechman is renamed “Grand
Prairie”
1880-1909-Grand Prairie is an unincorporated village
1903-Livestone Lodge No. 152
granted a charter (for free and
accepted masons).
1907-Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike is
completed, built by convict labor
gangs over a period of 11 years.
2
CHAPTER 7: PRE-1909
GEO//Political Context
Dallas County is primarily
flat, heavy Blackland
Prairie encompassing 902
square miles. Early Indians in the region were the
Anadarkos, a Caddoan
group who settled in villages along the Trinity
River. The Cherokees
arrived around 1819,
driven westward by Federal legislation. Within
three years, they had been
driven out by local tribes
of prairie Indians. European settlers drove the
Indians from the area by
1843 and voters approved
annexation of Texas to the
U.S. by a vote of 29 to 3 in 1845.
1887 Passenger Engine, Texas & Pacific Railroad
In 1861, citizens voted for secession from the Union. The
area was not invaded during the Civil War, but 1,300 men
from the county, comprising 10 companies, fought for the
Confederacy. The Confederate government established a
general quartermaster’s and commissary headquarters for
the army in Dallas County as well as a pistol factory in
Lancaster. Slaveholders form other areas of the south
moved into Dallas County with their slaves to avoid attack
by Union troops.
Located at the intersection of the Military Road from Austin to the Red River (completed in 1842) and Preston
Road, the County still needed a railroad to ship its agricultural products to markets in the east. The Houston and
Texas Central Railroad built a route running north-south
through Dallas County in 1872. In 1873, the Texas and
Pacific Railroad ran through Dallas from east to west, creating communities like Grand Prairie and Mesquite.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad, chartered by Congress in
1871, led to development of the City Grand Prairie. It’s
charter included 20 sections of land in Texas, from Marshall to the western state line. Tracks from Eagle Ford
(Dallas) to Fort Worth were opened on July 19, 1876.
3
The discovery of oil along the Texas and Pacific line in
West Texas during the late 1920s helped the company
through the depression, with crude oil accounting for 22%
of all freight tonnage in 1928. The company was subsequently merged with the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company over a period of years, officially becoming the Missouri Pacific Railroad on October 15, 1976.
Caboose #2040, Texas & Pacific Railroad
CHAPTER 7: PRE-1909
Texas & Pacific Depot in Grand Prairie, Circa 1896
The Texas & Pacific Passenger Depot in Grand Prairie was
located on the north side of the tracks between Center and
NE 2nd Street.
The Northern Texas Traction Company running through
Grand Prairie from 1902 to 1935 was one of four electric
interurban railways in northern Texas. The interurban track
was south of the Texas & Pacific and later become the center line of Jefferson Street.
Texas Electric Railway, Bulletin 121, p.170
Interurban Cars Running on Future Jefferson Street
Cotton bales wait for shipment on Texas & Pacific Railroad
4
CHAPTER 7: PRE-1909
Original plat of Dechman, Texas (1876)
5
CHAPTER 7: PRE-1909
Early depot
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Dechman (1876, Original town)
E. W. Dallas Addition (11.17.1903)
Thomas, 1st Addition (11.23.1904)
Thomas, 2nd Addition (3.10.1906)
R. E. Gunner Addition (3.22.1906)
Fuqua Addition (4.9.1906)
O. Gurlach Addition (4.11.1906)
A. H. Sheppard Addition, 2.4 Ac (4.20.1906)
D. M. Miller Addition
J.E. Paynes Addition
Livestone Lodge No. 152
Chartered on July 24, 1903, the Livestone Lodge No.
152 for free and accepted masons in the African
American Community known as The Line also served
as a school house and church. Originally located at
the intersection of Hardy Road and Avenue D near
the Antioch Baptist Church and Cemetery, the Lodge
was relocated to the Dalworth Community in 1944.
S. P. Lively and Son Cotton Gin, 1904
Trimble-Martin Home, 1897—301 SW 4th Street
6

Centennial 1909-2009 - City of Grand Prairie

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