State of the city

Mesquite Mayor John Monaco delivered the annual state of the city address on Friday night during the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner at the Mesquite Convention Center.

Monaco discussed some of the highlights of the past year, which were headlined by the finishing of construction on Interstate 635.

“I-635 was finished last August, and it has transformed the visual field at a critical entrance to our community. In fact, I think it is the most impressive stretch when compared to any other community along its path. Many of you may not know, but construction on I-635 in Mesquite originally was not scheduled to happen until the year 2012. Mesquite was able to raise $15 million dollars to have the timeline moved up,” Monaco said.

Economic development in 2009

Monaco discussed the impact that the finished freeway project has had on the Town East shopping corridor.

“As you exit the freeway, you see a reinvigorated commercial district. (There are) new ornamental street lights with our Rows of Texas logo, new roads and sidewalk improvements, and what you can't see underneath, there’s a new multi-million dollar water main supplying the mall and surrounding areas,” Monaco said. “Travel a few hundred feet more down the road, and you’ll see another multi-million dollar project where the city helped bring renovations to the Market East Shopping Center. Market East was the Metroplex’s first power center. The power center, combined with the mall across the street, is Mesquite’s epicenter for retail activity.”

Monaco mentioned the addition of the new Super Target, which opened in Oct. 2009, replacing the original Target store in the same location.

“The Mesquite location is the retail giant’s 240th store, and I'm proud to tell you it is the second-largest Super Target in the nation. I’m also proud to tell you the new store employs approximately 200 more people than the original Target it replaced,” Monaco said. “What’s even more impressive is that on any typical day you can find the parking lot packed. Surrounding stores are also seeing more customers as a result. This is why the city chose to support this project.”

Monaco also said that the Super Target private/public partnership also helped the city create another opportunity.

“This three-way-partnership caught the attention of the Dallas Business Journal and it is now a finalist for the Metroplex’s real estate deal of the year award. As part of the transaction, the city acquired several acres of undeveloped land behind the store. This creates a unique opportunity for another public/private joint venture, which will raise the bar for upscale development in our city,” Monaco said. “The development has no official name, but in the mayor’s office it is known as the ‘City Center’ project. It has that name simply because of its central location.”

He indicated that there are a few prospects including upscale, mixed urban development, town homes and possibly senior living developments. Monaco said there is no timeline for when the project may begin.

Monaco spoke about the changes to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo and the Resistol Arena.

“Camelot Sports and Entertainment was created by a group of Dallas area investors to specifically take over that property. Its primary objective is to revitalize the arena and everything it represents. I have come to know their new manager, Mike McCall, very well. I truly believe he is committed to continuing and improving the tradition and heritage of that internationally known venue,” Monaco said. “In addition, Camelot has begun to expand the number of non-rodeo events, transforming the Resistol Arena into a location with year-round entertainment.

Monaco mentioned the fact that Dwight Yoakam is scheduled to perform at the rodeo on Friday and that many other concerts and athletic matches are scheduled to take place in 2010.

“If you haven’t been there lately, then you don’t know what you’re missing,” Monaco remarked.

The mayor discussed the impact the Real.Texas.Festival. is having on the city.

“The festival has become our largest and most spectacular annual event, and I’m proud to report that our most recent celebration was our largest ever. Given the challenges of a recessionary economy, our strategy was to provide a quality show with real value for families at an affordable price. We hit the bull’s-eye,” Monaco said.

Monaco mentioned that the event this year will also play host to the first annual Mayor’s Motorcycle Food Drive. He encouraged all residents that have a motorcycle to join him in the morning on April 24 for a grand tour of the city. He said that all the proceeds will go to Mesquite Social Services and the Sharing Life Outreach Center to help put food in the food bank.

Monaco touched on some other key developments that took place in 2009 like the data center being built by CAPSTAR Commercial Real Estate Services and the Cambay Group. According to Monaco, they are nearing completion of a 35-million dollar project

“We are happy to have CAPSTAR and the Cambay Group here in our city and more importantly we are ecstatic to see our investment in high-tech infrastructure paying such high dividends,” Monaco said.

The mayor said that Distribution Management Incorporated has located a central hub at the Mesquite Business Center. He said the company, known as DMI, leased nearly 70,000 square feet of industrial space to host its Metroplex wholesale office supply operations.

“DMI had originally looked to other sites, both south and west of our city, but decided Mesquite was the place to be,” Monaco said.

Monaco talked about Fritz-Pak Corporation choosing to make its headquarters in Mesquite last year.

(The company) was recently honored with the 2009 Outstanding Project Summit Award. Fritz-Pak's new facility was built incorporating many environmentally friendly features. The new building incorporates skylights for natural lighting (and) low-energy glass (was) installed to reflect heat and reduce energy consumption,” Monaco said. “We are especially pleased to see Fritz-Pak receive this honor because it reinforces the commitment for local corporations to be environmentally responsible.”

Future development

Monaco talked about several projects that were underway or scheduled for completion this year.

He discussed the design details of the new city hall that began construction earlier this month. Monaco said that it would be very environmentally friendly, incorporating natural lighting features, energy-efficient materials and other low-carbon use designs.

“We are also adding two new commissioned pieces of public art. The first and most noticeable piece will be displayed outside the building. It will be a beacon of sorts, made of two 26-foot illuminated columns that will stand in the front plaza. The second work will be a kinetic sculpture set indoors. It will be made of aluminum plates suspended by metal rods on wires. The new public art features are part of our new focus to enhance the design of municipal projects. In fact, the city council and I passed an ordinance making sure all city projects in the future have an artistic element,” Monaco said. “Additionally, the new building will also have a high-tech city council chamber and will house the utility, tax and convention and tourism bureau offices.”

He mentioned the fact that ALDI, the German-based grocery store, was scheduled to open in Mesquite this year.

“ALDI is bringing its European-style of grocery shopping to our community. Mesquite will be one of the first sites in Texas where the ALDI grocery chain is opening a store. ALDI offers a new approach to grocery services, and we're happy to see this great new business product for our residents,” Monaco said.

Monaco mentioned the successful grand opening of Cheddars restaurant earlier this month.

“I am glad to tell you the Mesquite Cheddars is arguably one of the nicest and best-looking anywhere. The general manager tells me the Mesquite Cheddars now holds that restaurant chain’s record for a successful new opening in the entire country,” Monaco said. “We’re glad they’re able to share in Mesquite’s success.”

The mayor discussed the future growth opportunities that the city has in place in Kaufman County.

“Last year I told you about our K-20, or Kaufman-Interstate 20 plan. K-20 will provide the framework for a planned development in Mesquite along the I-20 corridor. It will include developments with community centers, housing with neighborly appeal and pedestrian-friendly communities. Recently, I have had discussions with a principal of a major corporation that wants to help us make this vision a reality. I cannot reveal their identity at this time, but hope to be able to in the near future,” Monaco said. “It will provide us justification for future selective annexation in Kaufman County. Though this project is several years away, I wanted you to know there are serious people, with serious money, committed to making large investments in our community’s future.

Monaco said that Ridge Ranch is on track to be the most likely site for the city’s next round of residential growth. He said the plans for the community include an executive housing inventory.

“(The city has) provided development incentives to ensure homes valued at several hundred thousand dollars and more are constructed there. This expands our stock of housing, and gives current residents move-up options. It will also broaden our retail prospects,” Monaco said.

Monaco said that he gets asked all of the time by residents about the current plans for the Big Town and the Peachtree Town Center developments.

“Most of you know, a little more than three years ago, a Dallas architect approached Mesquite with a plan to build a sports complex on the old Big Town Mall site. Progress was well underway until the financial markets collapsed here at home and abroad, and that has put this plan on hold. The Peachtree Town Center funding has run into a similar financial roadblock. Neither (development) plan was considered an overnight deal, and I, the developers, and your city council, remain optimistic about the future of both projects,” Monaco said. “If I have learned anything as your mayor, (it’s that) there are no guarantees, not now – not ever. I can say that your city council and I are committed to ensuring that, no matter what happens, both sites will be significant additions to the community. We promise you that.”

The last major project that Monaco addressed was the possibility of commuter rail service in the city of Mesquite. He said that it is the single-largest project that the city is trying to put together currently.

“The goal [of the project] is to have commuter light rail on the ground by the year 2020. Right now I call it the ‘M-Tran Plan,’ or MTP. If you hear about the MTP somewhere in the community then you will now know what it’s about,” Monaco said. “MTP is (the city’s) plan to connect Mesquite to DART’s Green Line, which leads to downtown Dallas. Just as transportation hubs and corridors have done in the past, this will be a huge economic engine for our future. It will open the door for new types of development downtown in Old Town Mesquite and it will create new business districts. (The project) will provide a much-needed option for commuters when gasoline prices rise up once again to four dollars or more per gallon. Though many other projects have our attention, getting light rail to Mesquite by the year 2020 is a high priority for this community. The opportunities it will bring mean too much to Mesquite to let this goal fail, and I have been working closely with our state legislators to find ways to make light rail happen. I’ve been told our timeline is an ambitious goal, but I’ve also learned that we can do it and that our city can see light rail arrive here before Super Bowl 55 is played and we can do it without being a DART member city.”

Changing perception

Monaco also discussed the city’s goal to change the image and perception of Mesquite around the Metroplex.

“We are taking a more active role in changing Mesquite’s image, so that it more fairly represents our wonderful community. Last October, in conjunction with the Mesquite Independent School District, the city started a billboard campaign; this is combined with our new Web portals, which went active last year. We are doing this to share with folks throughout the Metroplex our stories of success. Together, they allow us to reach out to future residents and prospective tourists. This is important as we strive to better market our community, and enhance our economic tax base,” Monaco said.

Quality of life

Monaco said Mesquite has embraced the value of greenways and trails. He discussed the city’s master trail plan.

“It is a work in progress and last year we added an important new section, a 3-mile addition to the South Mesquite Creek Trail. “This is a key segment that connects hike and bike paths through Mesquite and into Dallas and Garland. When we complete all of the segments, we will have created more than 200 miles of interconnected paths. In the next few months work will begin to design a more than $3 million expansion of the trail system in north Mesquite. The new stretch connects I-635 through Town East Boulevard and into Garland. Design work begins this spring, and we hope to break ground around this time next year,” Monaco said.

Monaco said that Mesquite Specialty Hospital and Dallas Regional Medical Center made decisions for significant future investments in the community last year.

“In May, Dallas Regional Medical Center celebrated the opening of its more than $6 million cardiac care unit expansion. Just down the road, the city council and I helped Mesquite Specialty Hospital break ground in November for a more than 14,000-square foot expansion,” Monaco said. “It is critical for any city to have quality health care, and it is tremendous to see these facilities taking steps for future growth in our community.”

Monaco said that most ordinances passed by the city tend to go unnoticed. He said that last year the passing of the city’s smoking ban was not one of them.

“Whether or not you smoke, I hope you will appreciate our goal to create a healthier environment throughout our community.”

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