Sunday, June 2, 2013

Waco opens for business

Waco Oil and Gas, located at 2358 West 23rd St., has opened up an office complex to provide rented office space for not only the gas and oil industry, but for anyone that is in need of office space. The offices include complete secretarial services, full furnishings, all utilities, free parking, conference room access, a full kitchen and full security system. The business that wish to rent office space will only have to pay one price a month and will also get to pick out its own furniture as well as decide wether or not they want cubicals or an open floor plan. There are eight offices in the complex.

"Waco is a premier dirt mover ... They go in and move all dirt and creates roads (for the oil and gas industry)," said Greg Duvall, the facilities manager at the office complex, who is from Belmont County. "The owner of Waco Oil and Gas is Ike Morris, he's the president, his son, Doug Morris is the vice president. This venture here in Bellaire is really under the umbrella of Doug Morris."

The current building, which used to be a sports bar, has been completely renovated and holds eight offices, each ranging in different sizes. It was on one of the trips to this area, that they noticed there was a need for office space for these entities that were coming to the area. These offices are open to any business that would be in need of office space.

"We are now ready to open up our doors and ready to do business," said Duvall. "We have a few groups showing interest and using our facilities. We are trying to make this as easy as possible for these companies that are coming in."

Many of these oil and gas companies that are coming into the Ohio Valley are from different states and unfamiliar with the area. In renting an office, these companies have a ready made office, along with a secretary, Verna Marinelli, who knows the area. Marinelli, a Bellaire native, has 28 years of office management experience.

"This office facility is set up to where a business could come in open his or her laptop and be ready to go," said Duvall. "The internet, telephones and copy and fax are all here, anything they need to do office work ... Everything is ready to go."

Everyone who worked on the renovation as well as all the materials that was used came from within a 20 mile radius of the Waco Oil and Gas Office Complex.

"They own this building, they are not fly by night kind of people," said Duvall. "In the 70s' when the gas and oil people were in this area, they were (unreliable), but this Waco Oil and Gas out of Glenville, West Virginia ... if they say something, it is the truth."

For residents who enjoy our many parks and trails, there is more good news on the way. The Council and Town Staff have identified a specific area within the Town’s signature green space, Heritage Park, for the long-awaited dog park. Proposed features of the dog park include separate areas for big dogs, small dogs, and additional space for training. Also, the Council will formally accept a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife this month, which will help enhance Twin Coves Park, located on the shores of Grapevine Lake.

After many years of discussion, the Council is moving forward with a permanent Senior Center. During a joint work session with the Parks, Arts, and Library Services Board, the Council selected a proposed site, centrally located at the southwest intersection of FM 2499 and West Windsor Drive. The Senior Center will be tucked away on the back of the property for privacy, near an existing park. Additionally, the Town recently received the permit from TxDOT to place a traffic signal at this intersection and construction crews will have it functioning this summer. During the June 17 meeting, the Council will consider a professional services agreement for the center's design, with the hopes of breaking ground before the end of the year.

While we marked the completion of Post Oak Park in May, we also celebrated the beginning of another project with the Canyon Falls groundbreaking ceremony. In addition to the residential development, the 1,242-acre master-planned community is expected to include areas for commercial businesses and retailers in addition to a high school site for Argyle ISD, a Flower Mound Fire Station, and a Denton County building. Construction has started and the project's first roads and home sites are scheduled for completion later this year, with home sales beginning in early 2014.

Also this summer, residents have the chance to voice their opinion in other future economic development projects in the Retail and Restaurant Survey. Conducted every few years, the Town seeks input from residents about their favorite shopping and dining locations. I encourage everyone to participate as the Town uses the data as a recruitment tool and actively pursues the top 50 choices from each category. This is a great tool to have in hand when it comes to attracting businesses because we have the data already showing our residents’ support. Once available, Town staff will get the word out and invite resident participation.

Additionally, restaurants and retailer representatives showed increased interest in our Town at the recent International Council of Shopping Centers global retail real estate convention (ICSC Recon). Our Town Manager Jimmy Stathatos and Economic Development Director Mark Wood attended ICSC Recon along with 30,000 industry professionals, which provided the Town with the opportunity to meet with prospective retailers and restaurants, network with brokers, and learn of retailers actively pursuing new locations. Following several positive meetings, the Town will now follow-up with retailers and restaurants interested in a Flower Mound location.Read the full story at www.ecived.com/en!

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