Grand Prairie development is the topic of conversation in this edition of the Champions DFW Commercial Realty Radio Show and Podcast. Marty Wieder, who is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Grand Prairie, joined Jim Kelley and Rudy Janecka of Champions DFW along with show host Ron Taylor to discuss Grand Prairie development.
After reading this excerpt from their conversation, be sure to listen to the complete conversation to learn more about Grand Prairie development.
Jim Kelley: We’re glad you’re here today to talk about what’s going on in Grand Prairie. Give us a quick background of yourself and an introduction to the city of Grand Prairie.
Marty Wieder: I’m a lifetime resident of North Texas, was born in Collin County and grew up mostly in Tarrant. I’m pleased to be working in both Tarrant and Dallas County now. And for that matter, Grand Prairie, if people aren’t aware, actually extends into three counties, a long, very long community.
Ron Taylor: I wasn’t aware of that.
Marty Wieder: Seventy-eight square miles, and in the future, we may one day be in four counties. So when I talk about being boldest and grandest from Texas our Texas and use that with my hashtag, I really mean it. It’s a great city of about 200,000 people now, and we sometimes fly under the radar. We’ve got a great aviation background. People don’t realize that we’re so well located just south of DFW International, bounded by I-30, I-20, but with a great 161 President George Bush turnpike passing and cutting right through our city. It’s breathed new life in the Grand Prairie.
Jim Kelley: I also want to introduce and welcome to the panel today, Rudy Janecka, Director of Retail Services at Champions. Rudy’s going to jump in here with Marty because he focuses heavily on retail. Marty’s got a lot of insight in what’s happening on the retail front in Grand Prairie. Marty, let’s go back to Grand Prairie and let’s talk about a couple of the new things that are happening. Talk to us about the economic climate going on right now and give us some heads up of what you see and what’s going on in Grand Prairie.
Marty Wieder: I’ve known Tom Hart for years, the city manager, he’s been on staff almost 20 years. He and the council have focused on building the infrastructure that accommodates Grand Prairie development. The investments we’ve already made with the Police-Fire facility on 161, with the thing known as the Summit, one of the first of its kind in the whole nation, a recreational facility targeted to people that are 50 and over or married to somebody 50 and over. And then now, an 88-million-dollar project called Epic, Epic Waters, and playground. That’s all right across the highway from where IKEA is about to get started.
Learn more about Jim Kelley and Rudy Janecka, here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
