Category Archives: Business
Texas’ 2011 Drought Bill: $5.2 Billion
Yes, that’s five billion. The hottest summer in Texas history, which has been coupled with one of the worst drought stages ever, has left Texans with losses totalling $5,200,000,000, according to Associated Press. As of September 13, 88 percent of the Texas landmass fell into the worst category: exceptional drought. If you took that 88 percent and compared its size to another part of the country, it would cover the Northeast United States from Virginia and Maryland all the way up to Maine.
The financial damages are calculated estimates of the total monetary losses due to crop and livestock infliction during the drought.
It’s also estimated that Oklahoma has lost $1.6 billion in crop and livestock damages, while Kansas lost $1.7 billion.
Irving Commercial Real Estate Demand
Up until recently, the demand for Irving commercial real estate was nothing to write home about. In particular, the office leasing market in Irving hasn’t shown signs of life, even when the plans for the Irving convention center and transit line connections were already drafted.
In fact, in 2010 just 100,000 square feet of office space was leased in Irving, leaving demand for Dallas commercial real estate in a bad state. Consider also that a whopping six million square feet of empty office space sat in Las Colinas at the beginning of 2011.
Burgers That Transcend Time
Rowlett is one of the smaller suburbs of Dallas, especially when compared to its mammoth neighbor: Garland. It’s a quiet town with a lot of history, but a piece of that history may been lost without a certain saving grace: hamburgers.
Like many Texas burger joints, Big Star Burgers features an order-at-the-counter system and a cozy interior. However, its brick walls aren’t there for a “down-home” feel, they’re there because the restaurant resides in a building that is over a century old.
Shopping, Hotels, and Restaurants May Soon Fill DFW Airport Expanse
When I travel through the massive landmass that is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the property seems to mimic the form of a traditional North Texas prairie: hot, flat, and relatively empty. While I don’t think much can be done about the heat or lack of elevation change, the emptiness may soon be remedied.
Metro airports are typically surrounded by economy-friendly attractions — restaurants, shops, hotels. DFW is a bit of an anomaly though, with all establishments separated from terminals by several miles of driving. Grapevine’s shopping area is about three miles north of Terminal A, and everything else requires driving around the 20-mile-plus highway perimeter.
Demand Rising for Victory Park Real Estate
Just a year or two ago, Victory Park, by some critics’ standards, was a flop. The area was originally designed as a high-end destination where the most demanding Texans could live, work and play. However, the real estate downturn came along and made Victory Park simply unattainable for most businesses and residents.
Fast forward to 2011, however, and the fate of Victory Park has changed dramatically. In fact, Victory Park real estate demand is on the rise, thanks to a shift from luxury to affordable.
This beautiful area of Dallas, which is located off of Interstate 35, in the heart of Dallas, links many key areas of Dallas, including Uptown, Downtown, Turtle Creek and the Arts District. In addition, there are a number of key locations just minutes from this urban destination, including the American Airlines Centers, the Dallas Convention Center, the West End, and the Dallas Market Center.
