Page 30 - Hurst FY19 Approved Budget

with city leadership to discuss future plans and conceptual ideas that are more
consistent with current retail trends. The city is committed to supporting North
East Mall and planning for its continued success. The City of Hurst currently has a
few more active economic development agreements that share sales tax, property
tax, and hotel/motel tax revenues with private developers. Current agreements
offer enhanced hotel, retail, and industrial developments within the city. The two
most recent economic development agreements provide for a hotel adjacent to
the city’s Hurst Conference Center and improvements to the Sprouts Crossing
shopping center on Highway 26. The hotel, a Hilton Garden Inn opened in the fall of
2018, and the shopping center is currently under construction. Hurst also provides
grant funding for improved commercial signage, store front facades, and maintains
a close working relationship with businesses and chambers of commerce. Hurst
continues to update its annual Restaurant, Retail & Business Guide, which can be
accessed on the economic development page of the city’s website
(www.hursttx.gov).

While the typical economic development activities are important to the City of
Hurst, the Council pays close attention to redevelopment of commercial areas in
need of revitalization. The City Council’s strategic plan identifies redevelopment,
economic vitality, and infrastructure as three of their six strategic priorities. All
three of these priorities are key to the success of our economic development and
redevelopment efforts. In 2016, a new shopping center anchored by a prototype
Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market opened near the Heritage Village Area called The
Shops at Hurst. Four older, somewhat dilapidated buildings were removed and
replaced with an attractive new 90,000 square foot shopping center anchored
by a much-needed new grocery store. The design used was the latest prototype
for the grocer, Walmart Neighborhood Market. The shopping center significantly
improved amenities for shoppers and provided an increase in gross property
and sales tax revenue within the project area. This private sector redevelopment
project was preced-ed by the city’s construction of a new Senior Center and
Fire Station just west of the new shopping center site. The city also continues
roadway improvements in the Pipeline corridor with 50% finan-cial participation
from Tarrant County. Hilton Garden Inn recently opened within Hurst Town Cen-
ter providing a new six level, 140-room hotel attached to HCC. The Bellaire/
Southeast Hurst is the next focus in the Transforming Hurst program. Success in
this area will take public-private part-nerships as the Council and staff uses our
available resources in tandem with private sector in-vestment. Examples of this
partnership are illustrated by the Fall Festival, the Ash + Lime Pop-up Events, and
negotiations with the private market that will help secure an arts presence in Hurst.
All redevelopment and infrastructure maintenance projects will help ensure that
the City of Hurst remains a sustainable, safe, and dynamic place for all individuals
to live, work, and play. These projects will also help accomplish part of the city’s
mission to ensure Hurst remains a vibrant community.

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