Richardson Texas Living

Richardson industrial campus getting a makeover

2009-09-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Richardson industrial campus getting a makeover
By Steve Brown / The Dallas Morning News

A Richardson industrial campus is getting a makeover that will turn it into one of the region's largest data and telecommunications complexes.

Digital Realty Trust – a San Francisco company that builds and owns technology-related real estate – plans to redevelop the 70-acre former Collins Technology Park in Richardson.

The conversion of the seven buildings into a data center park will be done in partnership with Dallas-based Skyrise Properties, which has owned the project for several years.

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Richardson ISD holds back-to-school pep rally

2009-08-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

By Jeffrey Weiss / The Dallas Morning News

The dictionary isn't much help in defining a convocation: "a group that has been convoked." The Richardson school district provided a more concrete definition Tuesday: a pep rally for grownups.

This is convocation week for many local school districts, a chance to bring teachers and other staff together to celebrate last year's accomplishments and rev everyone up for the new school year that starts Monday. Districts gathering Tuesday included the Plano, Fort Worth and Carrollton-Farmers Branch school districts.

For Richardson, the celebration involved about 3,000 tie-dyed T-shirts and a principal in a Spider-Man costume. Plus an acknowledgment that the district is in transition. Former Superintendent David Simmons resigned abruptly two weeks ago, and another former superintendent, Carolyn Bukhair, became the interim boss during the search for a permanent replacement.

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2009 Accountability Ratings for Schools Released with big RISD gains

2009-08-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

By Andrew Laska / The Richardson Echo
July 31, 2009

The Texas Education Agency’s annual Accountability Ratings for schools were released on July 31, 2009. The Richardson Independent School District (RISD) showed improvement for the second year in a row. Of the 11 schools of the Plano Independent School District (PISD) that serve portions of Richardson in Collin County there was also an increase in ratings.

The number of RISD campuses rated ‘Exemplary’ went from 27 in 2008 to 36 in 2009. In fact, the number of Exemplary rated campuses tripled in two years up from 12 in 2007. The number of ‘Academically Acceptable’ campuses for RISD now stands at 1 which is down from 10 in 2007.

In the PISD serving Richardson two campuses had 1 less Exemplary Campus when it went from 3 to 2 campuses. However, the number of ‘Recognized’ campuses for PISD doubled from 4 in 2008 to 8 in 2009.

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Richardson ISD to expand after-school program

2009-06-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

By JEFFREY WEISS / The Dallas Morning News
June 20, 2009

When the Richardson school district took over its youth after-school programs last year from nonprofits that had run them for years, officials promised to make money, serve more students and provide a better curriculum.

The program did well enough that the district plans to add more schools next year. But officials admit the first year was no day at the playground.

The year before the district took over, the program served 947 students and made no revenue for the district. The number of students jumped to about 1,600 this year. And most parents paid less in tuition for on-campus activities than they had when the program was run by outside agencies.

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Richardson ISD approves budget with $5.8 million surplus

2009-06-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

By JEFFREY WEISS / The Dallas Morning News
June 17, 2009

During a year when the plunging economy has most school districts gasping, the Richardson school board has approved a budget that requires no tax increase, includes modest raises for all employees and calls for no significant cuts in programs or staffing.

The $318 million budget also includes a $5.8 million surplus that district officials said could be used to pay for raises in 2010-11.

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Nortel's clinic in Richardson aims to improve medical care

2009-06-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

By Victor Godinez / The Dallas Morning News
June 8, 2009

From pacemakers to prosthetic limbs, technology is a routine part of modern medical care.

But Nortel Networks is using a prototype medical clinic at its Richardson offices to demonstrate something a little different.

Rather than using technology to create new clinical tools, Nortel is using software and hardware to make hospital visits shorter, more productive and less nerve-wracking.

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Take Me Home Pet Rescue saves pets from shelters

2009-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

By Chris Coats / Dallas Morning News
June 7, 2009

Elise Bissell is tired. Round-the-clock bottle feedings will do that. Bissell has been fostering five hungry kittens whose mother was run over by a car.

"Early-morning feedings can feel pretty awful, but it's only for a few weeks," Bissell said. "It's all worth it to help them have a good life."

Bissell and friend Pam Nachajski are getting used to the schedule. The pair began Richardson-based Take Me Home Pet Rescue in April 2008 and since have helped about 200 cats and dogs find homes.

They and other volunteers take care of the animals in their homes until they are adopted. Most of the pets come from shelters where they were scheduled to be euthanized.

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Beauty, art, joy at Texas A&M AgriLife community gardens in Richardson

2009-06-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

By Chris Coats / Dallas Morning News
June 7, 2009

It's been almost a year now that I've had my plot at the Texas A&M AgriLife Education Community Gardens. I have a garden at home, too, but I love being part of a community garden.

At A&M, I'm surrounded by experts like Barbara Martinez, a master gardener who oversees the 20 gardeners with plots there.

Then there's Fouad Jaber, assistant professor and water resources management specialist whose many duties include managing the gardens. He works with Barbara in providing educational seminars each month with speakers who are the best in everything green – most hand picked from the Texas AgriLife vine of top researchers.

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Home sellers using cars, other inventive incentives

2009-05-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

May 8, 2009

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas real estate agent Lydia Player hopes her bright-red convertible will turn a few heads.

The new car is a snazzy perk for whoever buys a North Dallas home that Player has on the market.

"If they don't like red, we'll give them another color," said Player, who's offering a string of incentives to lure buyers to houses she's trying to sell.

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Richardson Heights Shopping Center posted for foreclosure sale

2009-05-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

May 19, 2009

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

One of the Dallas area's first successful suburban shopping centers is being threatened with foreclosure 50 years after it opened.

Richardson Heights Shopping Center at North Central Expressway and Belt Line Road has been posted for foreclosure sale next month, according to Dallas County records.

The owner of the 220,000-square-foot retail center is in default on more than $32 million in debt, according to information from Addison-based Foreclosure Listing Service.

The property was financed by Credit Suisse First Boston's mortgage securities firm.

The shopping center has been owned since 2005 by an affiliate of Dallas-based Shafer Property Co.

Richardson Heights is one of three retail centers – including two smaller properties in Dallas – that are owned by Shafer-related companies and posted for foreclosure in early June.

Officials with Shafer Property could not be reached for details.

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Auditions for the musical ANNIE at The Richardson Theatre Centre

2009-04-17T10:27:00.002-07:00

Annie," an award winning musical, is scheduled for auditions at the Richardson Theatre Centre in its all new theatre space. Rachael Lindley the director said"Annie" is packed with feel good spirit and wonderful songs.

May 2nd Saturday from 2pm-6pm May 3rd Sunday from 4pm-8pm Please call 972 699 1130 for audition appointment we are located at 2701 N Custer Parkway Suite 909 Richardson Tx 75080

www.richardsontheatrecentre.net

More Info Here

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Thousands demonstrate in Tea Parties around North Texas

2009-04-17T10:27:00.001-07:00

Texans joined people across the country for Tea Party demonstrations against taxes and government overspending.

Hundreds of people attended a demonstration in Arlington at River Legacy Park off Green Oaks Boulevard and Cooper Street. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Joe Barton spoke before the crowd.

"This is not an organized, top-down group of people," Barton said. "This is kind of everyday America standing up and saying, 'Today's Tax Day. We're mad about what's happening in America, and we want our congressmen and senators to do something about it."

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Dallas County foreclosures hit record high

2009-04-17T10:26:00.001-07:00

Foreclosure filings at the Dallas County courthouse for auctions beginning in May reached a record high, a new report from Foreclosure Listing Service Inc. said Friday.

Addison-based FLS Inc., which analyzes monthly foreclosure postings filed at Dallas-Fort Worth area courthouses each month, said Friday 2,385 postings were filed on homes in Dallas County for the upcoming May auction.

This is a new record high, considering the previous record was set in February of last year when courthouses recorded 2,351 foreclosure postings.

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Stocks jump on bank plan, rise in home sales

2009-03-23T08:43:00.001-07:00

By TIM PARADIS, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK – Wall Street is getting the good news it wants on the economy's biggest problems: banks and housing.

Investors reignited a two-week rally Monday after hearing the government's plan to help banks remove as much as $1 trillion in bad assets from their books and home sales showed a surprise increase. Major stock indexes jumped as much as 4 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which rose nearly 300 points.

The Treasury Department said its plan would rely on the government's $700 billion financial rescue fund, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., as well as private investors.

Full Story March 23, 2009

Expand your culinary horizons at Zituna World Food Market in Richardson

2009-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

By KIM PIERCE / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

If you're open to adventure and like bargains, you'll want to add Zituna World Food Market in Richardson to your shopping circuit. It looks a lot like a Western-style supermarket, but its focus is bargain-priced, Middle Eastern comfort foods, with plenty to inspire you in the kitchen.

Bright, colorful signs designate the various departments, such as dairy, meat and coffee. An on-premises bakery tempts with a full case of cookies and desserts, many French influenced. Some of the meats are pre-seasoned, such as lean, ground kofta beef, which can be made into meat loaf, meatballs or shish kebab.

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Dallas program's mentors help families prevent homelessness

2009-01-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

By KIM HORNER / The Dallas Morning News
January 22, 2009

Andra Surney had fallen so far behind on her rent, she was nearly evicted from her apartment.

But an intensive financial makeover has helped the single mother figure out how to start paying off her debts, set a monthly budget and even plan to save money despite her very low income.

Surney has received mentoring and financial assistance through a new program created by the Interfaith Housing Coalition. Called Equip, the Dallas charity's program aims to keep families from becoming homeless.

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"Lollipop Lane" : Richardson, Texas : Holiday Lights

2008-12-05T14:13:00.000-08:00

Candy-colored milk jug bottoms become glowing gumdrops on Opal Lane in Richardson.Some Richardson residents call it Lollipop Lane. It looks more like Gumdrop Gardens. Red-, green-, orange- and blue-lighted squares, which resemble shoebox-size gumdrops in the grass, line the sidewalks and dot the landscape of several homes on Opal and Kirby lanes. One of the houses features mammoth red and white lollipops and candy canes – perhaps that's where the Lollipop Lane nickname came from.

Several other streets in the neighborhood, to the south and east of the intersection of Floyd and West Arapaho roads, have some fun displays.

• Opal Lane is off Floyd Road, one block south of West Arapaho Road.

More holiday lights!

Richardson Real Estate

2 Asian-American candidates aim to represent Richardson, Garland in Texas House

2008-10-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

October 4, 2008
By IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News
imccann@dallasnews.com

Barring an improbable third-party upset, an Asian-American will be the next state representative for parts of Richardson and Garland, areas known for a large Asian population.
The question is, will voters choose Republican Angie Chen Button or Democrat Sandra Phuong VuLe?

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Murphy golfer shoots two aces in one round

2008-09-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

September 24, 2008

Mark Holliday of Murphy hoped to help raise money for a local church group when he played in a tournament last week. He had better odds of winning the lottery than what actually happened.

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Preservation plan approved by council

2008-09-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

September 24, 2008

by Ian McCann

Residents on Huffhines Street in Richardson will see their ability to build massive homes curtailed under a plan given preliminary City Council approval this week.

The zoning change restricts the size of new homes on the street, which include some of the few houses in Richardson that were built in the early 20th century.

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Dallas transit agency records another booming month

2008-09-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

September 25, 2008

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER

August was another big month for DART, the transit agency said today.
Average weekday ridership was up across all modes – light rail, bus and commuter train – compared with August 2007.

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Richardson - Lake Highlands Home Sales

2008-09-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

Dallasnews.com Reports:

75080
1900 block of Deep Valley Place: $177,219. Aug. 6
2100 block of Flat Creek Drive: $148,000. July 25
600 block of Newberry Drive: $136,000. Aug. 4
900 block of Warfield Way: $148,457. Aug. 8
75081
1500 block of Montclair Drive: $132,240. Aug. 8
1700 block of Morningstar Trail: $159,468. Aug. 6
2100 block of Sunrise Trail: $112,500. July 31
75238
9700 block of Elmcrest Drive: $248,000. Aug. 4
9200 block of Rolling Rock Lane: $178,706. Aug. 8
75243
10000 block of Apple Creek Drive: $139,500. Aug. 7
9200 block of Locarno Drive: $255,780. July 11
12600 block of Whispering Hills Drive: $141,779. July 31
9100 block of Windy Crest Drive: $231,050. Aug. 4
75248
7400 block of Bluefield Drive: $205,600. Aug. 5
6200 block of Bluff Point Drive: $233,700. July 10
6900 block of Middle Cove Drive: $275,793. July 18
7600 block of Rolling Acres Drive: $256,381. Aug. 4
7400 block of Roundrock Road: $305,600. July 30
6400 block of Shortland Drive: $194,400. July 24
75252
6100 block of Stapleford Circle: $280,500. Aug. 8

More Motorcycles, More Accidents

2008-09-05T14:36:00.001-07:00

DallasNews.com Reports:

RICHARDSON – The city is on the verge of a dubious and ominous record. With 11 traffic fatalities already this year, police expect Richardson to easily top the record 12 motorists who died on its streets in 2000 and 2006.

Police say one big reason for the surge is that there are more motorcycles on the road these days.

"Texans are looking for cheaper modes of transportation to save on gas, and there's a huge increase in the motorcycle population out there," said John Young, coordinator for the Texas Department of Public Safety's motorcycle safety unit. "But with the increase in [motorcycle] usage, we're seeing an increase in mishaps."

Statewide, motorcycle deaths have increased steadily in recent years, from 295 in 2004 to 405 last year. Though the end of July, 279 people have died in motorcycle crashes on Texas roadways.

So far, four of the Richardson's 11 traffic deaths this year involved motorcyclists, three more than all of 2007. Other North Texas cities have also experienced a rise in the number of motorcycle-related fatalities.

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Gardener cultivates a bit of Thailand in Richardson back yard

2008-09-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Tucked into the back yard of Annie Chapman's Richardson house is a garden that feels as if it's in another part of the world.

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Portrait Homes - Wyndsor Court - Richardson, Texas

2008-08-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

Portrait Homes at Wyndsor Court new home community in Richardson, Texas offers homes from 2044 to 3400 square feet priced from the $225s to the $320s.

Amenities include:

Brick and stone exteriros

High pitched dormers

Curved windows

Arched entries

Art niches

Exterior wrought-iron accents

Carriage style garage doors

Buyer's incentives $45,000

Call us today at 866-697-7638