By Amanda Casanova

Business owners and residents invested in the Heritage Crossing district spent more than two hours on Jan. 8 discussing possible improvements to the area.

Scott Polikov, president of the Fort Worth-based Gateway Planning Group, told attendees at the public forum his company is working on making an action plan with recommendations that can be taken to the City Council.

“How do you take advantage of all the cars that drive past here?” he asked. “This is about harnessing what’s good about downtown and taking all that planning and coming up with a plan of what that means as far as improvements.”

Heritage Crossing, which includes downtown Irving, is bordered by Pioneer Drive, Shady Grove Road, Britain Road and MacArthur Boulevard.

“There may be places where we scale back,” Kevin Kaas, redevelopment and corridors administrator for the City, said. “Our initial focus is the core area where the City owns property. Those are our best targets, but it doesn’t mean we can’t expand.”

Among concerns expressed at the public meeting were worries about which section of the district would be worked on first, how the area could attract young professionals and how much the City would support the effort.

Some residents voiced concerns at the meeting the City would not “back the project,” but Polikov disagreed.

“The engagement of our firm is a sign they are serious,” Polikov said.

In the past, several plans have already been drawn for the area. If the City Council approves the recommendations, they will then be able to hire a firm that could create a final plan. Polikov said he would like the City to retain his company, but the decision is up to the Council.

Polikov said the company has worked to revive downtown areas in McKinney, Roanoke and Duncanville.

“We created a way for tbusinesses in those places to relate to each other,” he said. “Walkability is crucial. It allows for the perception that if you want to walk from the first part of your day to the second part of your day, then you can.”

The next public workshop will be at 9 a.m. on Feb. 5 at City Hall. Gateway Planning will present its recommendations to the City Council on Feb. 28.

– Miles Fain, 6, poses with “prisoner” Francesca Funk during the Get-Out-of-Jail Fundraiser on Jan. 7 at the Irving Central Library.By Amanda Casanova

Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. smuggled scraps of paper from his jail cell in Birmingham, AL. Those scraps would comprise his famous 21-page “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

On Jan. 7, a half century later, six Irving leaders volunteered to recreate King’s imprisonment for a “Conviction for Peace” Get-Out-of-Jail fundraiser. This time, however, instead of slipping pieces of paper to the outside, the “prisoners” made phone calls and posted to Facebook in hopes of drumming up $300 each in bail for a fundraiser to honor King’s work.

The funds raised will be used to buy paperback copies of the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” that will be given out at the City’s Martin Luther King Jr. Observance on Jan. 21.

“The letter is still so relevant today,” said Jacqueline Madden, special events coordinator for the City. “All of his writings are so current. There’s a message there that transcends time and everyone can benefit from his words.

“I think everyone connects him to his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. It didn’t stop there.”

During April 1963, nonviolent marches started in segregated Birmingham. Then on April 12, King was arrested for demonstrating without a permit. During his 11 days in jail, King penned his letter.Tony Grimes, president of the Irving-Carrollton Branch NAACP, grips the bars of his cell during the Get-Out-of-Jail Fundraiser on Jan. 7 at the Irving Central Library.

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” King wrote in the letter.

“It’s a message people still need today,” said Francesca Funk, a member of the Irving Arts Center board. “We need to be reminded that the struggle isn’t over. King said that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ and that’s for everyone. It could happen to anyone.”
Just before stepping behind the bars for his hour long lock-up, Tony Grimes, president of the Irving-Carrollton Branch NAACP, said he was glad to be involved in the fundraiser.

“I don’t think we’re there yet, where King wanted,” he said. “Something like this, it’s a good learning tool for people. It’s a really good cause to support education.”

Other “inmates” included Lorraine Taylor of the Irving Heritage District; Ray Cerda of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department; Bob Toler of the Lions Club; Chris Dobson, Library Director; and Doug Fox of the YMCA.

A second fundraiser will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Irving City Hall.

The City of Irving passed its legislative priorities for the 83rd Legislature at its City Council Meeting on Dec. 13.

“We are eager to share our city’s priorities for the 83rd session,” said Mayor Beth Van Duyne. “Economic development issues, transportation needs, future water needs and school funding levels will be issues the Legislature debates, and the outcomes will impact Irving residents square on.”

The Texas Legislature is expected to act on many legislative concerns affecting local government this session such as public safety; responsible and effective code enforcement; land use and zoning authority; municipal sovereign immunity; successful economic development tools; and infrastructure funding for our roads and waterways.

“As a city, we want to make sure we have the operational flexibility and authority to serve our residents and continue to be a recognized, high-performing organization,” Van Duyne said. “We have an excellent local delegation that will work with us to ensure a successful session for the city.”

Irving legislative priorities additionally call for cessation of state and federal unfunded mandates that are handed on to local taxpayers; necessary tools for public safety; and quality parks and library systems.

Source: City of Irving

Irving residents’ happiness with City services ticked up yet again in 2012, continuing the upward satisfaction trend that began in 2006. The majority of questions registered double digit increases; with code enforcement topping the list at a 90 percent lift over the six-year period.

“I think Irving employees go above and beyond in listening to our residents. We take every bit of information to heart and investigate each and every concern. If we need to change the way we provide service and it makes sense financially, we change,” said Irving Councilwoman Rose Cannaday.

In 2006, City officials recognized a growing problem with run down, dilapidated apartment complexes. The City formed an initiative teaming police, code enforcement and the inspections departments and went to work tightening policies and holding owners and managers accountable. Six years later, all the structures are cleaned up or torn down, resulting in a 35 percent reduction in crime, and a more visually attractive city.

“Irving is cleaner, safer, better,” said Irving City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. “We talked with residents, and developed a strategic plan that addressed their concerns. We set goals and measurements, engaged our workforce and the survey results speak to the vast and rapid progress we have made.”

Following are highlights of the 2012 Irving Resident Survey:

The anonymous residents’ comments carried compliments and suggestions for improvement. One citizen wrote, “I've seen Irving really grow and prosper and much of this is due to our city services, just keep it up!”

While another said, “Congestion during rush hour could be reduced with fine tuning of lights - some intelligent lights do not sense a car waiting for a light requiring long delay for multiple vehicles to activate light change.”

“We are aware of the frustration and are currently in the process of upgrading our traffic signal communications’ system to enhance progression and reduce driver delay throughout Irving,” said Dan Vedral, Irving transportation director.

Source: City of Irving