Invest In Our Economy September 2019 | Page 4

$5 Million Fielder Plaza Shopping Center Renovations Nearing Completion Major renovations to Fielder Plaza shopping center, where Arlington residents and visitors have shopped and dined for more than 40 years, are expected to be complete by late October. The 15-acre shopping center originally opened on the northwest corner of Fielder Road and Randol Mill Road in 1978. Today it is home to a Tom Thumb grocery store, Tandoor Indian Restaurant, Don Mario’s Mexican Cuisine, Starbucks and numerous other businesses. Weitzman’s reinvestment, which exceeds $5 million and started earlier this year, includes adding a new façade and signage, landscaping, parking and lighting to the busy center. “The renovation is both designed to modernize the center and also make it more attractive for today’s tenants, and today’s customers,” said Randy Stebbins, Senior Vice President and Director of Asset Management for Weitzman. One of the biggest changes is the complete modernization of the Tom Thumb to provide customers with a more convenient shopping experience, Stebbins said. Tom Thumb, the center’s anchor, held its grand re-opening in July. Other improvements are aimed at making Fielder Plaza shopping center more pedestrian-friendly, including seating, arbors and green space. In addition, shoppers can see improvements to the parking lot, landscaping and signage as the center progresses. “Everything being done is focused on making shopping at Fielder Plaza the best possible experience for our customers,” Stebbins said. “As part of that shopper-focused package, we have also rolled out a full shopping center digital marketing package for this center, including a website, social media pages, location-enabled retailer outreach programs and promotions.” The City of Arlington continues its eff orts to create jobs, attract more visitors, and maintain a desirable environment for businesses. Strategic economic development, such as the Fielder Plaza project, allows Arlington to build and protect its commercial tax base while keeping the property tax rate low so the City can continue to provide the high-quality services - such as police, fi re, parks, and libraries - that our residents expect. The Arlington City Council approved up to $1.25 million in economic development incentives in June 2018 to help revitalize the aging shopping center, which was last updated in 1990, and to protect neighborhood integrity and property tax values. The Chapter 380 Program Agreement provides three separate grants, ranging from $400,000 to $450,000, after major project milestones are achieved. Pottery Barn Outlet Opens in South Arlington Whether your decorating style is sleek and modern or trends more towards farmhouse chic, a new Pottery Barn Outlet in south Arlington off ers shoppers a variety of furniture and décor perfect to spruce up any living space. Arlington’s new 52,000-square-foot Pottery Barn Outlet, is the company’s second location in Texas. It opened on Friday, June 28, inside the former Gander Mountain location off Center Street and Interstate 20. The store off ered special savings to customers who visited on opening day. “Pottery Barn Outlet off ers a wide range of high quality, one of a kind furniture, rugs, decor, and accessories, all at outlet exclusive discounts,” said Johnie Hart, Director of Pottery Barn Outlets. “We believe your home should be a haven. It’s where your life takes place, and our goal is to help our customers live a more functional, beautiful and comfortable life at home.” Pottery Barn offi cials said Arlington’s convenient location in the center of the Dallas- Fort Worth Metroplex was among factors that made The American Dream City an ideal spot for its new outlet, which will bring 35 new jobs. “Our Pottery Barn Outlet store in San Marcos, Texas continues to be very successful, and we wanted a chance to reach new customers in the Dallas area as well. Arlington is a perfect fi t for us as we already have a presence in the city through our distribution center and existing Pottery Barn locations,” Hart said. “We are very excited to introduce Pottery Barn Outlet to the fl ourishing Arlington community and continue to build lasting bonds with our customers.”