FY 2014 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2014 Popular Annual Financial Report | Seite 11

Economic Development

T

he Office of Economic Development creates a pro-business climate that encourages growth and supports
already established partnerships.
In 2014, Arlington welcomed new businesses, celebrated the 60th anniversary of GM in Arlington,
hosted the Kaleidoscope of Homes tour at the upscale Viridian master-planned development and saw the renaming of the Texas Rangers ballpark to Globe Life Park in Arlington.

To ensure the success of future companies, the City and UT Arlington initiated collaboratation on an
incubator project that will house and support new business ventures, retain intellectual resources, and
accelerate business development and job growth.

City Leaders Set
Development Strategy

The City adopted a new
economic development
strategy that includes
increased marketing, focused
recruitment and transformative
redevelopment opportunities.
The plan targets industries
in aerospace, automotive
manufacturing, professional
services, medical equipment and
industrial machinery. It identified
specific geographic areas for
development: downtown, the
Entertainment District, the Great
Southwest industrial district,
the Lamar-Collins area and the
airport for catalytic development
opportunities.

Arlington
Commons

Arlington Commons KickStarts Redevelopment

In 2014, the $160 million
Arlington Commons project to
redevelop a swath of apartment
complexes along Lamar Boulevard
got under way with the demolition
of existing structures. Arlington
Commons is a major public/
private partnership focusing on
the best practices replacement of
rental housing that has outlived

its life. The project, the first of this
scope and quality in Arlington,
is designed to restore property
values of the surrounding area
and create quality housing
options geared toward young
professionals.

Aircraft Companies Expand,
Relocate to Arlington

Link Simulation & Training
(L-3 Link) expanded its current
operations in Arlington.
Incentives from the City will
allow the company to renovate
one facility and build another.
When complete, L-3 will have
invested $17 million and employ
approximately 787 workers.

Triumph Aerostructures,
a leading aerospace company,
relocated its engineering services
operations to a 100,000-squarefoot facility. Triumph is a global
manufacturer for commercial,
military and business jet aircraft.
The City Council approved a tenyear performance-based grant
that will help offset costs related
to relocation and retrofitting the
facility.

Specialty Home Ware
Company Brings
Distribution Center

Williams Sonoma Direct, Inc.
is locating an 821,502 square-foot
distribution facility at the newly
developed Arlington Commerce
Center. The new location, which

L-3
Link

will eventually employ 500-600
employees, will allow Williams
Sonoma to ship regionally with
a one-to-two-day drive time.
Over a 10-year period, the City
is expected to realize about $4.4
million in net revenues.

Residents, City Work
to Revitalize Unique
Neighborhood

Longtime residents of
the Westador Addition, a
unique 40-lot subdivision
just north of west Mayfield
Road and south Cooper Street,
created a plan to revitalize their
community and are working
with City planners to set up
meetings and create surveys to
gain feedback on issues facing
their community. Officials also
are assisting with an Arlington
Tomorrow Foundation grant
application to help Westador
residents enhance neighborhood
entrances and improve lighting.

Westador
Addition

Popular Annual Financial Report

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