HBA Focus Group Shows Home Builders Face Major Changes for Buyer Requirements, Financing, Lot Demand & Speculative Development; Only 30 Percent of All Houses Built to Exceed $175,000.
Click here to download the report: http://www.hbaaustin.com/associations/1360/files/Land_Development_2010_i.pdf
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
White House brief recognizes the City of Manor
Open Government Laboratories of Democracy
Posted by Beth Noveck on November 19, 2009 at 07:04 PM EST
"It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system," Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote in 1932, "that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country." The Obama Administration is taking unprecedented strides toward creating the most open and accountable government in history. And in so doing, we’re learning from those states and municipalities, which are undertaking exciting experiments to bring transparency, participation, and collaboration to the way they work as well.
Inspired by the President’s call for more open government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts launched its data catalogue, following in the footsteps of Washington, DC, San Francisco, New York, and elsewhere around the country (as well as cities in Canada and the UK), to provide public access to information by and about government. What makes this exciting is not merely having transportation information available in machine-readable formats, but that professional and amateur enthusiasts can then get together, as they did last weekend, to create new software applications and data visualizations to better enable public transit riders to track arrival times for the next subway, bus, or ferry. Publishing government information online facilitates this kind of useful collaboration between government and the public that transforms dry data into the tools that improve people’s lives. (For another great example, check out what happened when we published the Federal Register for people to use.)
The National Association of State CIOs is helping to spur this movement toward greater data transparency at the state level by publishing “Guidance for Opening the Doors to State Data.”
Just as the federal government is using online brainstorming with government employees and the public to generate ideas for saving money or going green, state and local governments are also using new technology to tap people’s intelligence and expertise. The City of Manor, Texas (pop. 5800) has launched “Manor Labs,” an innovation marketplace for improving city services. A participant can sign up to suggest “ideas and solutions” for the police department, the municipal court, and everything in between. Each participant’s suggestion is ranked and rewarded with “innobucks.” These innobucks points can be redeemed for prizes: a million innobucks points wins “mayor for the day” while 400,000 points can be traded for a ride-along with the Chief of Police.
Manor is also one of the few cities currently using bar codes (known as QR or Quick Response Codes) to label physical locations around town. These bar codes can be scanned with a mobile phone to communicate historical and touristic information, data about the cost of a municipal service, or emergency management information. Manor is experimenting with techniques for providing different information to different audiences. If a resident scans a QR code outside a home for sale, she gets the floor plan and purchase price; whereas the building inspector gets the inspection history; and the first responder gets information about the current occupant.
As more of these innovative projects that foster open government go live and achieve results, we look forward to showcasing some of them on our blog and eventually making details available on the Open Government Innovation Gallery. Developers with new tools to offer to facilitate open government – including free social media applications -- should also check out Apps.gov and list their products (here’s how) for others to use. Openness and accountability are the responsibility of government at every level. By getting out the word about innovations that help to realize open government in practice, we can both promote new experiments and help people find and re-use the best ones.
Beth Noveck is Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Open Government
Posted by Beth Noveck on November 19, 2009 at 07:04 PM EST
"It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system," Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote in 1932, "that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country." The Obama Administration is taking unprecedented strides toward creating the most open and accountable government in history. And in so doing, we’re learning from those states and municipalities, which are undertaking exciting experiments to bring transparency, participation, and collaboration to the way they work as well.
Inspired by the President’s call for more open government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts launched its data catalogue, following in the footsteps of Washington, DC, San Francisco, New York, and elsewhere around the country (as well as cities in Canada and the UK), to provide public access to information by and about government. What makes this exciting is not merely having transportation information available in machine-readable formats, but that professional and amateur enthusiasts can then get together, as they did last weekend, to create new software applications and data visualizations to better enable public transit riders to track arrival times for the next subway, bus, or ferry. Publishing government information online facilitates this kind of useful collaboration between government and the public that transforms dry data into the tools that improve people’s lives. (For another great example, check out what happened when we published the Federal Register for people to use.)
The National Association of State CIOs is helping to spur this movement toward greater data transparency at the state level by publishing “Guidance for Opening the Doors to State Data.”
Just as the federal government is using online brainstorming with government employees and the public to generate ideas for saving money or going green, state and local governments are also using new technology to tap people’s intelligence and expertise. The City of Manor, Texas (pop. 5800) has launched “Manor Labs,” an innovation marketplace for improving city services. A participant can sign up to suggest “ideas and solutions” for the police department, the municipal court, and everything in between. Each participant’s suggestion is ranked and rewarded with “innobucks.” These innobucks points can be redeemed for prizes: a million innobucks points wins “mayor for the day” while 400,000 points can be traded for a ride-along with the Chief of Police.
Manor is also one of the few cities currently using bar codes (known as QR or Quick Response Codes) to label physical locations around town. These bar codes can be scanned with a mobile phone to communicate historical and touristic information, data about the cost of a municipal service, or emergency management information. Manor is experimenting with techniques for providing different information to different audiences. If a resident scans a QR code outside a home for sale, she gets the floor plan and purchase price; whereas the building inspector gets the inspection history; and the first responder gets information about the current occupant.
As more of these innovative projects that foster open government go live and achieve results, we look forward to showcasing some of them on our blog and eventually making details available on the Open Government Innovation Gallery. Developers with new tools to offer to facilitate open government – including free social media applications -- should also check out Apps.gov and list their products (here’s how) for others to use. Openness and accountability are the responsibility of government at every level. By getting out the word about innovations that help to realize open government in practice, we can both promote new experiments and help people find and re-use the best ones.
Beth Noveck is Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Open Government
Developer offers use of land to remedy City Bike Ban
Dwyer Realty Companies care of its development Central Park have notified the City of Manor that it is willing and capable of donating the use of land along the south side of Blake Manor Road to remedy the City of Manor's pending Council action/ordinance to ban bikes along a segment of Blake Manor Road.
See attached link: http://www.dwyerrealty.com/documents/memotoMayorandCouncilreCityordinanceconsiderationprohibitingbicycleaccessalongBM11.19.09r.pdf
See attached link: http://www.dwyerrealty.com/documents/memotoMayorandCouncilreCityordinanceconsiderationprohibitingbicycleaccessalongBM11.19.09r.pdf
Monday, November 16, 2009
CHARACTER COUNTS
Since the 2008 school year, I have been aware that Manor ISD has promoted a CHARACTER COUNTS program as an instructive tool to its students on all of its campuses. The CHARACTER COUNTS program isn’t JUST a banner, a logo or an empty motto. Not at all.
The CHARACTER COUNTS programs is based upon a core of six ethical values that everyone can agree on — values that are not political, they are not religious, nor are they culturally biased. Through the use of these core ethical values young people grow to understand the Six Pillars, and use then use mnemonic devices to help them remember.
Trustworthiness
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends and country
Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices
Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly
Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment
Last week on a Tuesday morning Manor ISD presented a living testament and embodiment that it practices what it teaches through CHARACTER COUNTS. My office received a call that a school bus full of elementary school children were broken down on US 290, just west of the Parmer Lane intersection. The students, teachers and chaperons were on their way from Taylor, Texas to attend an educational field trip at the Travis County Exposition Center. Their bus was incapacitated and the students were going to miss an exciting day of events at the Expo Center. I called my friend and our Deputy School Superintendent Rusty Wallace to ask for his help. Rusty immediately jumped to action. Rusty sent over Greg Andrus, the District Transportation Director and a crew of mechanics, followed by a school bus. The students from Taylor were timely and safely transitioned from their broken down school bus and loaded onto the MISD bus, then taken to the Expo Center so they could make their field trip.
Rusty, Greg and MISD could have come up with 20 reasons on why MISD couldn’t or shouldn’t get involved. But in the end, there were children involved and that was the primary focus for Rusty and MISD. It is EXACTLY that sort of CHARACTER that COUNTS!
My heart is full of appreciation and admiration for our school district and the wonderful personnel at the helm. Thank you MISD.
Danny Burnett
Development Coordinator
Dwyer Realty Companies
Friday, October 9, 2009
G'day from Down Under
I'm off on vacation, on the other side of the world in Perth, Australia. It is a gorgeous time of year so I am using it wisely to spend time with family and to compare real estate markets. I suppose it is just the way land developers are wired - always thinking about work.
As I drive (on the wrong side of the road) and walk throughout Western Australia, I am interested to note the similarities that encompass our own great Nation with that of Australia. Regions within Australia are effected differently, with some regions seeing a resurgence and others the full weight of economic strains. While in Perth I see more and more residential condo units going up, all-the-while with vacancies abound. Class A and B office space occupancy rates appear low (I'm not working THAT hard - so I haven't done research to verify my windshield study.), yet the presence of office and retail construction is still a strong and predominate observation.
As I check in on the office from time-to-time, and read the local Statesman, I am pleased to see that economists are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and strength in the Texas economy. I hope they are right. I know our company is doing our part to keep the local economy going, keep it strong and to promote a healthy and diverse product for interested buyers.
Even while I am out the office still presses forward, so don't hesitate to give us a call if you have an interest in one of our properties.
More later on the use of round-abouts and why we need more in Texas! The really work. See ya when I get back for Down Under.
Good on Ya!
Danny Burnett
Development Coordinator
Dwyer Realty Companies
As I drive (on the wrong side of the road) and walk throughout Western Australia, I am interested to note the similarities that encompass our own great Nation with that of Australia. Regions within Australia are effected differently, with some regions seeing a resurgence and others the full weight of economic strains. While in Perth I see more and more residential condo units going up, all-the-while with vacancies abound. Class A and B office space occupancy rates appear low (I'm not working THAT hard - so I haven't done research to verify my windshield study.), yet the presence of office and retail construction is still a strong and predominate observation.
As I check in on the office from time-to-time, and read the local Statesman, I am pleased to see that economists are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and strength in the Texas economy. I hope they are right. I know our company is doing our part to keep the local economy going, keep it strong and to promote a healthy and diverse product for interested buyers.
Even while I am out the office still presses forward, so don't hesitate to give us a call if you have an interest in one of our properties.
More later on the use of round-abouts and why we need more in Texas! The really work. See ya when I get back for Down Under.
Good on Ya!
Danny Burnett
Development Coordinator
Dwyer Realty Companies
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tougher Water Rules - will it affect you?
The rain has finally shown up in Central Texas and we sure are happy about it. But, is it enough? Is it too little too late? Can we count on more in the near future?
How is the drought affect you? Do you agree with current Drought Contingency Plans in place by local municipalities? Do you know what Drought Contingency Plan applies in your community?
Keep your eye out on the horizon and lets hope for more gentle and progressive rains to recharge our aquifers, refill our lakes and replenish our lives. But until then, stay abreast of impacts in the community. Take a look at this article in the Statesman today.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/09/25/0925drought.html
How is the drought affect you? Do you agree with current Drought Contingency Plans in place by local municipalities? Do you know what Drought Contingency Plan applies in your community?
Keep your eye out on the horizon and lets hope for more gentle and progressive rains to recharge our aquifers, refill our lakes and replenish our lives. But until then, stay abreast of impacts in the community. Take a look at this article in the Statesman today.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/09/25/0925drought.html
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
FM 973 continuous left turn lane construction starts September 01, 2009
If you will recall, bids were opened back on June the 9th for the TXDOT improvements along FM 973, constructing a continuous left turn lane and revised shoulders from Blake Manor heading south to just past LaPoynor Street. The low bidder was Aaron Concrete, with the winning bid at $212,485.12 coming in 30% under the engineer’s opinion of estimated costs to construct.
TXDOT has since officially awarded the project to Aaron Concrete and as of yesterday TXDOT and Aaron Concrete met on site for the preconstruction meeting and issuance of the Notice to Proceed. Per our office's coordination with TXDOT we understand that construction will commence on September the 1st.
Dwyer Realty Companies, through its partnership entity WildHorse Creekside Development Corporation, is funding the full construction costs of the referenced FM 973 turn lane and shoulder improvements on behalf of the City of Manor in their contract with TXDOT. WildHorse Creek is only responsible for just about 50% of the total costs to construct, based upon its ultimate traffic generation requirements. WildHorse Creek, via Dwyer Realty, agreed to partner with the City of Manor and advance funds for the related construction, with credits/cost allocations applied to future developments planned along FM 973.
Monday, July 13, 2009
City of Manor works with Dwyer Realty, local developers and CAMPO to initiate Regional Transportation in East Travis County
Dwyer Realty Companies was recently asked to attend a series of meetings between the City of Manor and area developers that have master-planned developments south of the City of Manor. The areas of development actually fell within the City of Austin’s ETJ and outside of the City of Manor’s purview, but Manor saw a problem in the tall grass and they repeatedly called the matter to point. A series of spirited meetings and notices culminated to a coordinative effort and outreach to CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) on July 2nd.To quote Joe Cantalupo, the Executive Director of CAMPO following our initiating meeting on July 2nd:
“I wanted to thank you all for looking at the transportation issues in and around Manor as a group. We need to be doing more large area and regional planning if we want to continue to grow efficiently and effectively; your desire to work cooperatively with each other and with your local governments is a huge step forward toward that. Thanks for giving regional planning a shot and for looking to CAMPO to help bring this all together.”
Dwyer Realty is hopeful that through the combined and coordinated efforts of the public and private sectors, an implemented Regional Transportation Plan can be created, with real world implementation metrics, that support the needs of our growing community. The Greater Manor area and the DDZ of the City of Austin have been on hold of recent due to the economy, but indicators show that trend in on the change. We plan on being at the front, leading our partnerships and developments to take advantage of the market when it does turn.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
FM 973 continuous left turn lane contract awarded to low bidder
Bids were opened yesterday for the TXDOT improvements along FM 973, constructing a continuous left turn lane and revised shoulders from Blake Manor heading south to just past
TXDOT will officially award the project to Aaron Concrete at the end of the month. Then TXDOT and Aaron Concrete will meet for the preconstruction meeting about 6 weeks later and the Notice to Proceed can be issued right thereafter. In just about 2 months you can expect to see dirt turning and roadway improvements moving forward.
Dwyer Realty Companies, through its partnership entity WildHorse Creekside Development Corporation, is funding the full construction costs of the referenced FM 973 turn lane and shoulder improvements on behalf of the City of
Friday, June 5, 2009
Dwyer Realty attends local Commercial Real Estate Expo
On Thursday, June 4th Dwyer Realty sponsored a booth at the Central Texas Commercial Association of Real Estate Professionals (CTCAR) Expo for the second year in a row. This three-hour informational reception and commercial real estate information and product convention attracts hundreds of commercial sales and leasing professionals throughout
Dwyer Realty met face-to-face with several Brokers, Owners and Investors, Lenders, Title Company Professionals, Architects and other affiliated professionals in the commercial sector to help furthermore our vision in the Manor area and development plans for the future. It is our hope that utilizing tools such as CTCAR will garner local support and attract the attention of major commercial brokers and investors.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sundial Farms on the Hill
The Seeds To SuccessFor several years now Dwyer Realty Companies has been working, studying and forging new relationships in the realm of Community Sustainable Agriculture (CSA’s). Our office believes that the incorporation of Urban Farms, Urban Gardens and Community Gardens is a key in the success and prosperity of the new paradigm of planned community growth, not only here in Manor, but across our great Nation.
Decades and Decades of societal belief that it is somehow acceptable to push farmers, further and further out to the periphery of development, all in the name of “progress”, has placed an undue and almost unrecoverable burden on our Nation and our communities core fabric. Agriculture is a keystone to all of our lives and we can not afford to displace it as if it were a secondary thought. Our office has seized upon this realization and we are moving forward with a pilot farming program for a series of farming ventures within the greater Manor area.
The vision of Sundial Farms is born; while conceived more than two years ago, the tangible fruits of our labor, was officially launched with the tilling of soil and laying of seeds at the offices of Dwyer Realty. Sundial Farms on the Hill is the pilot program of our ultimate Sundial Farms, a CSA program with multiple farm locations that we know will service the greater Manor and Austin communities. It is our company’s goal to incorporate paddocks of tenable agricultural use within the continual growth of our various projects.
Dwyer Realty Companies is excited in formalizing its working relationship with Andy Erwin, a local Austinite with vast and colorful experience in sustainable agriculture. Andy and his family have quickly evolved into the family fold at Dwyer Realty. Andy and his family are the heartbeat behind the future of our company’s vision for incorporated Community Sustainable Agriculture. It is through this partnership forged with sweat and hard work on Andy and his family’s part that we will truly be able to provide “Giveback Sustainability”. One of the things that our office learned quickly is that we aren’t farmers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be informed and creative in our visions, but it did mean that we needed to find that special person to help evolve the vision into reality. Our office believes that Andy and his family are exactly what we need, what we were looking for.
Giveback Sustainability is the ultimate goal in our vision of creating integrated farming in and urban and masterplanned setting, to allow for the fruits, vegetables etc of our efforts to flow back into the community, to our restaurants, to our farmers markets, to our grocery stores, to our very tables and ultimately to our own health and enjoyment.
We hope that you will share in our excitement of the vision of Sundial Farms.
Decades and Decades of societal belief that it is somehow acceptable to push farmers, further and further out to the periphery of development, all in the name of “progress”, has placed an undue and almost unrecoverable burden on our Nation and our communities core fabric. Agriculture is a keystone to all of our lives and we can not afford to displace it as if it were a secondary thought. Our office has seized upon this realization and we are moving forward with a pilot farming program for a series of farming ventures within the greater Manor area.
The vision of Sundial Farms is born; while conceived more than two years ago, the tangible fruits of our labor, was officially launched with the tilling of soil and laying of seeds at the offices of Dwyer Realty. Sundial Farms on the Hill is the pilot program of our ultimate Sundial Farms, a CSA program with multiple farm locations that we know will service the greater Manor and Austin communities. It is our company’s goal to incorporate paddocks of tenable agricultural use within the continual growth of our various projects.
Dwyer Realty Companies is excited in formalizing its working relationship with Andy Erwin, a local Austinite with vast and colorful experience in sustainable agriculture. Andy and his family have quickly evolved into the family fold at Dwyer Realty. Andy and his family are the heartbeat behind the future of our company’s vision for incorporated Community Sustainable Agriculture. It is through this partnership forged with sweat and hard work on Andy and his family’s part that we will truly be able to provide “Giveback Sustainability”. One of the things that our office learned quickly is that we aren’t farmers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be informed and creative in our visions, but it did mean that we needed to find that special person to help evolve the vision into reality. Our office believes that Andy and his family are exactly what we need, what we were looking for.Giveback Sustainability is the ultimate goal in our vision of creating integrated farming in and urban and masterplanned setting, to allow for the fruits, vegetables etc of our efforts to flow back into the community, to our restaurants, to our farmers markets, to our grocery stores, to our very tables and ultimately to our own health and enjoyment.
We hope that you will share in our excitement of the vision of Sundial Farms.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Despite recent foreclosure of ShadowGlen Residential, Dwyer Realty continues to be a strong developer in the community
On April 7th, Residential Funding Company (RFC) posted Notice of Foreclosure Sale on ShadowGlen Residential’s (SGR) assets in ShadowGlen, which includes, but not limited to, 170+- developed lots, 300+- acres of undeveloped land and the $2,000,000 bond sale reimbursements forthcoming from the TCMUD2 bond sale. Despite continued negotiations between SGR and RFC, neither side was able to arrive at an amicable conclusion to the disposition of the SGR development loan for ShadowGlen. As stated above, the SGR assets were foreclosed on, on the Travis County Court House steps on May 5th.
Dwyer Realty would like to remind the community that we are still an active developer, we were not the lead Developer entity of the foreclosed assets but are the Managing Developer for SGR. Dwyer Realty and its partnership with Cottonwood Holdings, Ltd. are consulting with legal professionals involved in our projects to ensure the foreclosure has the least impact on the current and future residents of ShadowGlen, and that all efforts are maintained to promote the health and vitality of the Greater Manor Community.
Also, we ask you please maintain an active role in the community and take a moment to read the update sent to our ShadowGlen residents by clicking the link below. Here you may read further details and explanation on the foreclosure and future health of ShadowGlen.
http://www.dwyerrealty.com/documents/ShadowGlenCommunityStatusUpdate05.07.09.pdf
Dwyer Realty would like to remind the community that we are still an active developer, we were not the lead Developer entity of the foreclosed assets but are the Managing Developer for SGR. Dwyer Realty and its partnership with Cottonwood Holdings, Ltd. are consulting with legal professionals involved in our projects to ensure the foreclosure has the least impact on the current and future residents of ShadowGlen, and that all efforts are maintained to promote the health and vitality of the Greater Manor Community.
Also, we ask you please maintain an active role in the community and take a moment to read the update sent to our ShadowGlen residents by clicking the link below. Here you may read further details and explanation on the foreclosure and future health of ShadowGlen.
http://www.dwyerrealty.com/documents/ShadowGlenCommunityStatusUpdate05.07.09.pdf
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Dwyer Realty Releases $20,000,000 in Seller Financing
Available to facilitate small business owners acquire ownership, this site financing package pairs with the 2009 Recovery Act Small and Rural Lender Advantage and Community Express 7(a) SBA financing. Now available for Recovery Act SBA Guaranteed Loans up to $1,600,000.
Available in 15% or 20% Down Payment Versions, these funds are available for immediate purchase of select Dwyer Realty Inventory, listed on this Property Inventory Price List.
Available in 15% or 20% Down Payment Versions, these funds are available for immediate purchase of select Dwyer Realty Inventory, listed on this Property Inventory Price List.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Las Entradas gifts land to TCESD12
When Dwyer Realty companies was contacted by Travis County Emergency Service District 12 (ESD12) about plans to renovate and remodel the current fire station facilities at 501 W. Parsons Road we asked “How we could help?”.ESD12 has been in its current facilities since 1994 and as we all know a lot has changed in the Greater Manor area since then. The Manor area growth and demands placed on the ESD12 required expansion and updates to the current facilities to allow for improved performance and service to the community. In this process it was determined that TCESD12 needed more land to accommodate its planned upgrades. Dwyer Realty, through its Las Entradas development, worked with its own design team (Land Design Studios, AECOM, and GDH&M) and that of ESD12 to come up with a final plan that maximizes the needs to service our growing community and support the immediate growth needs of ESD12 . On March 21st ESD12 had a ground breaking ceremony to commerorate the upcoming renovations. Construction is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2009.
As a final outcome, Las Entradas made a land gift and deed conveyed the needed land to ESD12 at no cost. It is Dwyer Realty’s and Las Entradas’ hope to continue a positive working relationship with our friends and neighbors in the Manor Community and particularly to support our local police and fire departments when and however we can. There is no greater service than those that lay their lives on the line to protect our daily endeavors. The Las Entradas land gift is but a small gesture of our commitment to Manor.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Money for road improvements paid to City of Manor
Consistent with the 2008 agreements between the City of Manor; TxDoT and private developers, Dwyer Realty’s WildHorse Creekside Development Corp completed payment to Manor in the amount of $365,344 on Monday. Bringing the total paid under this project to $395,344: WildHorse Creekside Commercial’s payment completes the required funding for the TxDoT Phase 1 project along FM 973 under the developer’s Advanced Funding Agreement for “Funding and Reimbursement Agreement – Construction of Left Turn Lane” dated June 6, 2008. The Dwyer Realty payment, through financing arranged by Manor’s own Independent Bank, provides private sector funding in place of public funding for improvements within the State roadway right of way of 973 to create a center turning lane between the Dollar General Store at 973 and Lapoyner Street, and the Exxon station Manor Market at 973 and Blake Manor Road.
This funding was paid to the City of Manor, on the heals of $30,000 paid to Manor in December for design work on the 973 project, and $313,268 paid through Letters of Credit by Dwyer Realty in March to secure final plats in ShadowGlen, and ShadowaGlen Commercial development fiscal impact fees for the future extension of Lexington Boulevard past the ShadowGlen Golf Clubhouse over Wilbarger Creek and into ShadowGlen’s residential areas.
The Monday cash payment to Manor and TxDoT appears timely amidst the storm of controversy surrounding the Park Springs Neighborhood Association and other’s opposition led by former Mayor Jeff Turner; to several other larger developments in the area . Turner, whose email campaigns have circulated over the internet lately to transportation staff and elected officials, appears to advocate shutting down development in the area south of Manor, until the TxDoT advocated “973 Bypass” is constructed east of Manor bridging 973 north of SH 290 to 973 south of Manor over Wilbarger Creek. According to Terry McCoy and Bobby Ramthun, TxDoT transportation staff, the $20,000,000 973 Bypass project, has lost construction funding for the immediate future, although the project has been in design for several years.
While the 973 improvements south of Manor, funded by the Monday payment by WildHorse, will be bid for construction by TxDoT in June of this year, they are only one piece of a badly needed regional transportation planning and improvements necessary in and around Manor. Many hours have been spent with State and local officials in attempts to coordinate the Las Entradas improvements to Gregg Manor, Lexington, Parsons, Hill Lane and SH 290, and the Dwyer Realty’s future project, Central Park’s planned improvements and enhancements to the 973 Bypass including the creation of an extra wide Parkway section for 973 through Central Park, which would have included broad tree lined medians and Pedestrian and Bike Trails alongside the future road.
The Monday payment brings the total of Dwyer Realty sponsored payments to the City of Manor to $708,612 since December.
This funding was paid to the City of Manor, on the heals of $30,000 paid to Manor in December for design work on the 973 project, and $313,268 paid through Letters of Credit by Dwyer Realty in March to secure final plats in ShadowGlen, and ShadowaGlen Commercial development fiscal impact fees for the future extension of Lexington Boulevard past the ShadowGlen Golf Clubhouse over Wilbarger Creek and into ShadowGlen’s residential areas.
The Monday cash payment to Manor and TxDoT appears timely amidst the storm of controversy surrounding the Park Springs Neighborhood Association and other’s opposition led by former Mayor Jeff Turner; to several other larger developments in the area . Turner, whose email campaigns have circulated over the internet lately to transportation staff and elected officials, appears to advocate shutting down development in the area south of Manor, until the TxDoT advocated “973 Bypass” is constructed east of Manor bridging 973 north of SH 290 to 973 south of Manor over Wilbarger Creek. According to Terry McCoy and Bobby Ramthun, TxDoT transportation staff, the $20,000,000 973 Bypass project, has lost construction funding for the immediate future, although the project has been in design for several years.
While the 973 improvements south of Manor, funded by the Monday payment by WildHorse, will be bid for construction by TxDoT in June of this year, they are only one piece of a badly needed regional transportation planning and improvements necessary in and around Manor. Many hours have been spent with State and local officials in attempts to coordinate the Las Entradas improvements to Gregg Manor, Lexington, Parsons, Hill Lane and SH 290, and the Dwyer Realty’s future project, Central Park’s planned improvements and enhancements to the 973 Bypass including the creation of an extra wide Parkway section for 973 through Central Park, which would have included broad tree lined medians and Pedestrian and Bike Trails alongside the future road.
The Monday payment brings the total of Dwyer Realty sponsored payments to the City of Manor to $708,612 since December.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
ShadowGlen: TCMUD2 appoints new Directors and approves $2,000,000 bond sale
A change of the guard took place yesterday, April 1st, 2009, in the ShadowGlen community. All five of the TCMUD2 Directors resigned to make way for appointments of a homeowner controlled MUD board. Four of the five director positions were replaced immediately with the 5th and final position being held out until a greater paneling of the community can be had for the appointment.Letting no moss grow, the newly appointed directors took immediate action to authorize the sale of $2,000,000 of MUD bonds. The TCEQ originally approved the $2,000,000 bonds packet on May 14th, 2008. However, the past TCMUD2 directors would not authorize bonds sales, despite the approvals by TCEQ and all of the MUD professionals (Financial Advisors, Bond Counsel, Engineers, Auditors etc.) This lack of bond sales put the cash flow of the project in dire straits and had immediate impact on the day-to-day operations of the current ShadowGlen HOA. With the current authorization, the TCMUD2 professionals are processing the bonds for sale which will hopefully transpire in about 60 days.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
QR Codes
Keep your eyes open and focused on those new Dwyer Realty FOR SALE signs. We are adding a new lil twist that should increase the speedy and accurate dissemination of sales information. We are adding QR codes to our marketing signs. A QR code t is a style of barcode that looks like a little pixilated black and white square. QR stands for Quick Reference and the intent of the QR is to allow people out and about to read the QR with their camera phones and find imbedded information.As an example: each of our marketing signs will have a QR code located in a prominent location. An interested person could view the QR with their phone and then imbedded information would be sent directly to their phone giving detailed information about the property they are looking at.
A lot of newer phones already have QR readers installed on them, but if you happen to have a phone that is behind the technology curve, fear not! Visit http://www.i-nigma.com/personal/GetReader.asp and you can upload a reader to your phone – it’s EASY! Then, the next time you need information on the fly while looking at our FOR SALE signs, give that QR a try. We think you will be amazed!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Dwyer Realty FOR SALE Signs
Many of you may have noticed the new Dwyer Realty For Sale Signs in the greater Manor area. Here at Dwyer Realty, we are excited by the activity that these signs have generated on our $200 million land portfolio. But we would also like to address a lingering concern in the community. Just so all of our friends and neighbors are on the same page, we have one thing to say — Dwyer Realty is not going anywhere!Dwyer Realty is a diverse, multifaceted real estate land development and project management company; and at the core of our business, we sell land. To sell land and market our projects, we have to be able to promote the land. Our For Sale signs are the perfect promotion tool. However, these For Sale signs DO NOT mean that we are leaving town, bailing on our projects or retiring to the Bahamas. (Well, we would all like to retire one of these days, but that is a couple decades down the road.)
Here’s an interesting bit of Dwyer Realty advertising trivia: The new For Sale signs were placed in the very same location as our old For Sale signs, which had been there for years. The power of advertising! It’s amazing how the fresh look caused an increase in sales calls (GOOD) and increased consternation and fret in our friends and neighbors in the community (BAD).
Times are tough for us all right now, and Dwyer Realty has not been immune to the economic downturn. We have had to adjust our programs, timeline projections and goals across the board — on all projects. But we are not leaving Manor. We have a commitment to our community, to our neighbors, to our friends, and to our projects’ success. We are still the lil’ development company on top of the hill. Come by and see us. Drop us a line, take a peek at our website, and tell everyone you know to “Land a Deal With Us!”
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