Sunday's Dallas Morning News carried an informative story on recent progress in Downtown Garland, accompanied by pictures and a map.
 
Numerous District 1 residents were quoted or mentioned, which both emphasized the strong commitment to Downtown from District 1 residents and the importance of a strong Downtown to all of Garland. I know some District 1 residents that are building and moving to Downtown and there may be some new tenants Downtown that also originated in District 1.
 
Seeing all the recent changes Downtown is extremely encouraging. Now if the Mr Smith mentioned in the story would get that new coffee shop open....
 

From the Dallas Morning News, Metro section, May 31, 2009:

5th Street Crossing project in downtown Garland fuels lofty goals

11:20 PM CDT on Saturday, May 30, 2009
By RAY LESZCYNSKI / The Dallas Morning News
rleszcynski@dallasnews.com
 
The argument that downtown Garland is ripe for reinvestment might be as old as the 19th century dates on the buildings along Main Street.
 
And while these may not be ideal times for an economic breakthrough, residents are moving into new addresses, and the first students are sidestepping finishing touches on a workforce training center, all across the street from a DART station.
 
Downtown's newest addition, 5th Street Crossing, marks the city's first mixed-use transit-oriented development. It offers 189 apartments and 13,500 square feet of combined retail, restaurant and office space.
 
Much is riding on 5th Street Crossing, the latest in a series of projects aimed at revitalizing downtown. Like other inner-ring Dallas suburbs, the years have taken a toll on Garland buildings and businesses. But city officials are learning the future lies in redevelopment.
 
The project "is being viewed as the bellwether for how successful Garland can be at changing its image," urban planner Bill Cunningham told the City Council last week.
 
Anchored by a Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail line, new projects have taken shape in recent years in an area just north of historic downtown. The apartments for lease at 5th Street are the latest piece of the puzzle. Businesses are hoping spending will follow.
 
"I'd like to see this really take off," said David Baker, who co-owns a furniture store nearby. "The more people who come down here, the more there are going to be for business."
 
A rail stop and a vision
 
Neil Montgomery, the city's top planning official, said that once DART arrived in late 2002 and city leaders toured the Mockingbird Station, Galatyn Park and downtown Plano developments, Garland had a vision and a location.
 
The block of real estate between Fifth and Sixth Streets was key, Montgomery said. As luck would have it, the city owned most of the land.
 
"Part of what makes it work is that we do still have a downtown, unlike many of the suburban communities," he said. "We already have the elements here. What we're doing now is enhancing those."
 
The city's investment includes the Arts Center atrium it opened in 2003, a Utility Services Building on the site of the former police and fire headquarters and a parking garage. The city also has redone some streets and sidewalks and completed utility work.
 
Across Walnut Street, some residents wanted a traditional academic campus. But city and Richland College officials said an emphasis on workforce development would be precisely the type of instruction that Garland's manufacturing-centered economy needs.
 
Paul Mayer, CEO of the Garland Chamber of Commerce, credits city leaders for the redevelopment, and voters for sticking with DART.
 
"All of the sudden, we were hearing, 'You already have government, arts, transit and the beginning of business. You're not just starting from ground zero. You're starting from a pretty advantageous position,' " he said.
 
Bad timing?
 
For 5th Street Crossing, economic timing will be key.
 
Another downtown revitalization effort, in Plano, recently hit a snag as Tennessee-based Southern Land Co. put off a large-scale apartment and retail project.
 
But Art Lomenick, President of High Street Residential, owner of 5th Street Crossing, believes his project will be different.
 
"When you're building a village, it's not as much of a victim of these market cycles as a standalone development would be," he said. "Somebody can get a lot more real estate for their dollar in downtown Garland then they'll ever get up and down [U.S. Highway] 75."
 
Central Expressway does provide a transit element unavailable to downtown Garland. The $140 million Brick Row residential and commercial project, with potential to be five times the size of 5th Street Crossing, is being built at the Spring Valley DART station in Richardson.
 
Lincoln Properties started leasing 5th Street Crossing in mid-March. About 7 percent to 8 percent of the units have been pre-leased, said on-site leasing consultant Grant Gummelt.
 
Neighbors watching
 
Nearby, Garland natives John and David Baker run Main Street Furniture on a family-owned site where furniture has been sold for 85 years. They stayed to recapture existing clientele and can cite to the unit how many apartments – potential customers – 5th Street Crossing offers.
 
Others also carry the momentum of redevelopment over to the historic district. Robert Smith has spent a year renovating a building on the square that had been vacant more than 15 years.
 
Around the corner on Wednesday, Garland resident Cheri Stigler opened doors on her Paw Paw's Sweet Shop and Cafe.
 
Still, time will tell how much of a boon 5th Street Crossing will be.
 
"The apartments are in. That's real. They're there," John Baker said. "I think something is going to happen, but I need to see more."