Latest Hillwood News

Hillwood Properties to develop largest project yet in AllianceTexas

Candace Carlisle — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties announced Tuesday its largest project yet in AllianceTexas: A 1.2 million-square-foot speculative building.

"We are excited about this moving forward," President Mike Berry told me Tuesday afternoon. "It opens up a new development area for use that we haven't opened up yet."

The project will kick off Alliance Center North, a 650-acre industrial development at the northeast area of Eagle Parkway and Interstate 35W within AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use community in north Fort Worth. Alliance Center North will be east of Alliance Airport.

"This is one of our largest big blocks of undeveloped land in AllianceTexas," Berry said, adding that Alliance Center North will consist of 9 million square feet of industrial space at build-out. He declined to disclose the cost of the project.

Hillwood has seen a major rebound in the industrial market, and demand is expected to exceed available space, Berry told me.

"North Texas is still a growing logistics center and it's going to continue to attract these major distribution, fulfillment and distribution projects that needs the infrastructure in North Texas and the labor force," Berry said.

Last year, Berry told the Dallas Business Journal that he expected to begin working on a large speculative industrial project based on tenant demand. In 2012, Amazon.com signed two deals with Hillwood Properties totaling 2 million square feet for fulfillment centers in AllianceTexas and in Coppell.

This is the first time Hillwood has begun development on a speculative industrial project since 2007. This project marks the return of the industrial market in Dallas-Fort Worth, Berry said.

"It's a good trend line that we haven't seen in a long time," he said. "The market has tightened up and we want to be in the position to win the next round of business."

Hillwood Kicking Off New Industrial Park at Alliance With 1.2 Million SF Spec Building

Christine Perez — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties is responding to the demand for industrial space with a 1.2 million-square-foot speculative facility at Alliance, its 17,000-acre mixed-use development in north Fort Worth. Called Alliance Center North 1, the facility will launch a new 650-acre industrial park within Alliance that can accommodate more than 9 million square feet. It joins Alliance Gateway and Westport at Alliance, among others, and offers frontage along Interstate 35-W.

GDA Architects is handling design of the new spec building; construction will get under way this summer.

Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, said in a statement that the company has seen a “major rebound” in the industrial market. “Demand is beginning to exceed the available space that we have on the ground. This spec industrial building will give us a competitive site selection advantage under current market conditions.”

The project will provide access to the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, which includes the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Intermodal Facility, Fort Worth Alliance Airport, and Interstate 35W, Berry said.

Speculative development is in keeping with Hillwood’s strategy of having inventory ready to go, the company said. Historically, it has developed about 1 million square feet of spec space a year at AllianceTexas. But this will be the first such project since the recession hit; its last spec building was completed in 2008.

So far, about 40 percent of the acreage in the sprawling project has been developed. AllianceTexas can accommodate up to 30 million additional square feet of space, Berry said.

Last year, Hillwood inked more than 5 million square feet of leases at Alliance, including a 1.1 million-square-foot facility for Amazon. Its record year in its three primary divisions led D CEO to name Hillwood and its chairman, Ross Perot Jr., Developer of the Year Award in 2013 Commercial Real Estate Awards program.

Hillwood adding 1.2-million-square-foot building to Alliance

Andrea Ahles — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Hillwood Properties is betting that someone will want a big new distribution center or warehouse at its Alliance development.

The developer announced plans Tuesday to construct a speculative 1.2-million-square-foot industrial building as part of its Alliance Center North project. The building will be at the northeast corner of Interstate 35W and Eagle Parkway in far north Fort Worth.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood Properties to build 1.2 million-square-foot industrial building at AllianceTexas in Fort Worth

Hanah Cho — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties said Tuesday that it will build a 1.2 million-square-foot industrial building in its AllianceTexas project north of Fort Worth.

The news is the latest sign that the depressed market for industrial space is slowly rebounding in North Texas. South Dallas County also has seen several recent deals for large warehouse and distribution centers.

Across the country, industrial projects are picking up, said Jeff Turner, executive vice president of Indiana-based Duke Realty, who’s based in Dallas.

“People consider Dallas one of the top three distribution hubs in the United States,” said Turner, whose firm recently completed Whirlpool Corp.’s 1 million-square-foot distribution center west of Interstate 45 in Wilmer. “Our activity here, especially big deal activity, has gotten really strong, which is encouraging.”

Hillwood said the speculative building will be in its 650-acre Alliance Center North complex. The new industrial building, named Alliance Center North 1, will be on the northeast side of Interstate 35W and Eagle Parkway.

The market for industrial construction in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has been depressed in recent years. Now, demand for large industrial space in D-FW is starting to exceed available inventory, said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties.

“I don’t think anyone’s willing to say that the market is just on a rocket ship, but I think slowly but surely we’ve seen growth, and we’ve seen absorption [of vacant space] and buildings go off the market,” Berry said.

North Texas is seeing resurgence in industrial construction activity involving large spaces. Hillwood is also building a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Coppell for Amazon.

Earlier this month, two Southern California investors bought a 530-acre development site in southern Dallas County for industrial development. Xebec Realty Partners and CT Realty Investors said the land could accommodate almost 9 million square feet of industrial space.

And in the last year, major companies such as Ace Hardware, PepsiCo and Quaker Oaks announced plans to relocate major industrial facilities along Interstate 20 and Interstate 45 corridors south of Dallas.

Given the recent demand, Hillwood wants to be ready.

“Bottom line, we’re banking on the fact that this trend will continue and the industrial market will stay relatively firm,” Berry said.

It has been about four years since Hillwood built a speculative industrial building. That, he said, “shows you where the market has been.”

During that time, Hillwood has worked to fill vacant space and renew existing leases, Berry said.

Last year, Hillwood secured more than 5 million square feet of leases for new and existing tenants. That’s compared with just under 3 million in 2011.

Construction of Alliance Center North 1 will begin this summer. The building is expected to be completed in about eight months. It is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

Berry said several sectors, including e-commerce, electronics, automotive and aerospace, could be potential tenants for the building.

Hillwood’s Mike Berry, Caroline Rose Hunt Family Named to NTCAR’s 2013 Hall of Fame

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors has selected its 2013 Hall of Fame Inductees: Mike Berry of Hillwood and the Caroline Rose Hunt Family.

Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, was the driving force behind the company’s hugely successful AllianceTexas development in North Fort Worth. The Caroline Rose Hunt Family built Dallas-based Rosewood Hotel & Resorts into a global ultra-luxury hotel management company.

The hall of fame dinner and reunion will get under way at 5:30 p.m. at Brook Hollow Country Club in Dallas.

The North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame was formed in 1988, with Trammell Crow, Lyn Davis, Henry S. Miller Jr., John M. Stemmons Sr. and his brother, L. Storey Stemmons, and Angus G. Wynne as inductees. Other notables who followed include John Carpenter and Roger Staubach. Leo Corrigan Jr. and Steve Van Amburgh were the 2011 recipients; Gerald Hines and Jeff Hines and Granite Properties’ Michael W. Dardick were inducted in 2012.

According to 2013 NTCAR Hall of Fame chairman Chris Teesdale, Dallas-Fort Worth is the only market in the United States that honors the real estate professionals who have made a significant impact on the market in this way.

“We are extremely honored to add the Caroline Rose Hunt Family and Michael Berry to our distinguished Hall of Fame roster,” Teesdale said in a statement. “Mrs. Hunt and her family and Mike Berry have brought worldwide acclaim to North Texas for their exceptional hospitality management and innovative property management concepts, respectively.”

Here’s additional information on the two inductees, from NTCAR:

• The Caroline Rose Hunt Family currently operates The Rosewood Corp., which seeks to invest in a variety of areas including real estate, oil and gas, private equity capital, and ranches through three subsidiaries: Rosewood Resources, Inc.; Rosewood Private Investments; and Rosewood Property Co. Additionally, Caroline Rose Hunt is the founder and former honorary chair of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Rosewood debuted its first hotel, The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, in 1980 with a vision put in place by Mrs. Hunt to create luxurious, residential-style hotels that offer unparalleled attention to detail and exceptional personalized service. The Rosewood collection, which now encompasses 22 iconic hotels and resorts in seven countries, was sold in 2011.

• As president of Hillwood Properties, Mike Berry leads all management, operations and transactions and serves as the company’s representative among public sector entities for AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre development that is recognized as one of the most unique master-planned communities in the nation. Stemming from the strong commercial base of AllianceTexas are corporate campuses, office complexes, tech and data centers, destination retail and entertainment venues, residential housing, schools, churches and community shopping. In total, the development encompasses nearly 32 million square feet, over 300 corporate residents, 30,000+ employees and more than 7,700 single-family homes. AllianceTexas has generated more than $40 billion in economic impact to North Texas.

Rosewood’s Caroline Hunt and Mike Berry with Hillwood get North Texas real estate honors

Steve Brown — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Caroline Rose Hunt and her family, who built Dallas’ landmark Crescent complex and founded Rosewood Hotel & Resorts, will be honored with membership in the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of fame.

Also getting the award is Mike Berry, who’s headed Hillwood’s huge AllianceTexas development in North Fort Worth.

The Hunt family and Berry will be honored at the commercial real estate association’s May 2 dinner, which also celebrates the 25th year of the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors.

The North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame was started in 1988, and the awardees include the late developer Trammell Crow and commercial real estate legend Henry. S. Miller Jr. Since the award was founded, 80 business people have received the designation.

Berry, Rosewood Family, Become Hall of Fame Inductees

Amy Wolff Sorter — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

DALLAS-Hillwood Properties' president Michael Berry and the Caroline Rose Hunt Family, which built, owns and operates Rosewood Hotel & Resort, are the latest inductees into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Both will be honored at the NTCRE dinner and 25th reunion, which will take place on May 2 at the Brook Hollow Golf Club.

The Caroline Rose Hunt Family operates Rosewood Corp., which invests in real estate, oil and gas, private equity capital and ranches through three subsidiaries: Rosewood Resources, Inc.; Rosewood Private Investments and Rosewood Property Co. Additionally, Caroline Rose Hunt is the founder and former honorary chair of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Rosewood debuted its first hotel, The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas, in 1980 with a vision put in place by Mrs. Hunt to create luxurious, residential-style hotels that offer unparalleled attention to detail and exceptional personalized service. The Rosewood collection, which now encompasses 22 iconic hotels and resorts in seven countries, was sold in 2011.

As president of Hillwood Properties, Michael Berry leads all management, operations and transactions and serves as the company’s representative among public sector entities for AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned development in north Fort Worth. Stemming from the strong commercial base of AllianceTexas are corporate campuses, office complexes, tech and data centers, destination retail and entertainment venues, residential housing, schools, churches and community shopping. In total, the development encompasses nearly 32 million square feet, over 300 corporate residents, 30,000+ employees and more than 7,700 single-family homes. AllianceTexas has generated more than $40 billion in economic impact to North Texas.

“We are extremely honored to add the Caroline Rose Hunt Family and Michael Berry to our distinguished Hall of Fame roster,” says Chris Teesdale, chair of the 2013 NTCAR Hall of Fame dinner. “Mrs. Hunt and her family and Mike Berry have brought worldwide acclaim to North Texas for their exceptional hospitality management and innovative property management concepts, respectively.”

Hillwood to offer multifamily housing

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Multifamily, a subsidiary of Hillwood Properties, said it will build a 306-unit luxury apartment community at its Alliance development in far north Fort Worth called SageStone Village.

Click here to read the full article.

North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors

Candace Carlisle — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR) announced Monday it plans to name the Caroline Rose Hunt family and Mike Berry to its Hall of Fame in May.

The Hall of Fame honor recognizes game-changing professionals in the commercial real estate industry in North Texas. Other past recipients of the award include Trammell Crow, Henry S. Miller Jr. and John M. Stemmons Sr.

Both Mike Berry and Caroline Rose Hunt's family have brought worldwide acclaim to the North Texas region in their respective sectors of the industry, said Chris Teesdale, chair of the 2013 NTCAR Hall of Fame dinner.

That's why the two entities will receive the prestigious award, he said.

The Caroline Rose Hunt family built the Rosewood Corporation, which invests in real estate, oil and gas, private equity capital. It has three subsidiaries including, Rosewood Resources Inc., Rosewood Private Investments and Rosewood Property Co.

The family built the luxury Rosewood Hotel & Resort hotel management company.

Mike Berry is the president of Hillwood Properties, which has developed the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development. The company recently brought in a 1.1-million-square-foot distribution center for Amazon.com.

The awards will be given at the organization's annual Hall of Fame dinner on Thursday, May 2 at Brook Hollow Golf Club.

Amazon To Build Three Fulfillment Centers In Texas

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Coppell, Haslet And Schertz, Texas — Amazon plans to open three new fulfillment centers in Coppell, Haslet and Schertz that will create more than 1,000 jobs. The 1.2 million-square-foot center in Schertz and the 1 million-square-foot center in Coppell will handle larger items, such as televisions and grills. The 1.1 million-square-foot site in Haslet will handle smaller items, such as books, electronics and DVDs. USAA Real Estate Co. is building the Schertz fulfillment center, and Hillwood Development Co. is building the Haslet fulfillment center as part of AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned community. Hillwood is also building the Coppell center.

Amazon confirms it will build three fulfillment centers in Texas

Sandra Baker — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Amazon.com, the Seattle-based online retailer, confirmed Wednesday that it will build three fulfillment centers in Texas, including a 1.1 million-square-foot facility in the sprawling Alliance development in far north Fort Worth.

Click here to read the full article.

New Amazon warehouses are big projects for developer Hillwood

Steve Brown — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Amazon.com’s formal announcement of two big warehouse developments in North Texas will add to the industrial building boom underway in the area.

The distribution center deals have been in the works for months and will be constructed in Coppell near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and north of Fort Worth near Alliance Airport in the town of Haslet.

Both projects for the Seattle-based on-line retailer will be built by Dallas-based developer Hillwood, the real estate investment and building firm headed by Ross Perot Jr.

Just a few weeks ago Perot was talking about the deals he’s doing for the Internet retailer at a morning breakfast meeting.

“We are now doing 3 million square feet for Amazon,” Perot said at the Weitzman Group’s annual retail real estate meeting. “Internet fulfillment is a huge driver for our business.”

The Amazon warehouse being built near Alliance Airport will be just over 1 million square feet. And the Coppell building will be another million.

Hillwood just opened another million-square-foot Amazon warehouse in its Alliance California business park in San Bernardino.

The Haslet and Coppell projects will add to the surging Dallas-Fort Worth industrial building market.

But those warehouse deals for Amazon also are an indication of how much the retail scene has changed.

A couple of decades ago, the merchandise that’s in those 2 million square feet of Amazon warehouses would have been on store shelves in shopping centers in the region.

Now big box retailers including Best Buy and Office Depot are scaling back the size of their storefronts and the goods they would have sold are now sitting in warehouses for on-line retailing.

Huge Amazon Projects Getting Under Way in Coppell, Haslet

Christine Perez — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As RealPoints contributing editor Allen Gump wrote earlier this month, two build-to-suits for Amazon are among the big industrial projects planned for North Texas this year. Amazon has just released a statement making the projects official.

The company has inked 15-year leases for a 1.1 million-square-foot facility in Coppell, and a second 1.1 million-square-foot building in Haslet. It hopes to take occupancy in August 2013.

Hillwood has been selected to develop both buildings. Combined, they represent the largest industrial deal inked in the area in 2012.

USAA Real Estate Co. will build a third Texas center in suburban San Antonio. Statewide, Amazon is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs.

“The jobs and potential tax base that this development will bring to our community is a major milestone in our city’s growth,” said Bob Golden, mayor of Haslet, in a statement.

The Haslet facility will handle small items like books, small electronics, and DVDs. The Coppell and San Antonio sites will process larger items, from televisions to barbecue grills.

U.S. military veterans will be among those hired. Amazon recently committed to hiring more than 1,000 veterans in the United States this year. There are about 1.6 million veterans in Texas, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Amazon confirms it’s adding three fulfillment centers in Texas including Coppell

Maria Halkias — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Online shopping leader Amazon.com said today it will open three fulfillment centers in Texas that will employ more than 1,000 people.

The sites are in Coppell, Haslet and near San Antonio in Schertz. USAA Real Estate Company is building the project in Schertz. Hillwood Development Co. is building the project in Haslet as part of AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre, master-planned community, and in Coppell.

Amazon didn’t say when the centers will open.

The 1.2 million-square-foot site in San Antonio suburb Schertz and the 1 million-square-foot site in Coppell will handle larger items like televisions. The 1.1 million-square-foot site in Haslet will handle smaller items like books, small electronics or DVDs.

Comments from the press release:

“This is the biggest economic development partnership announcement in the history of our city,” said city of Haslet Mayor Bob Golden. “The jobs and potential tax base that this development will bring to our community is a major milestone in our city’s growth.”

“Amazon, coming to Coppell, complements our strategy of building a quality business base that supports the community and the region,” said Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt. “We are thrilled Amazon chose Coppell for a new fulfillment center. We recognize their large capital investment and new jobs brought to this area.”

“We are thrilled to formally and officially welcome Amazon to Schertz,” said city of Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter. “The investment Amazon is making in our community is significant, and it is a manifest expression by yet another highly successful and well-respected company that Schertz is a great place to do business.”

“We look forward to putting more than 1,000 Texans to work at our new fulfillment centers in Schertz, Coppell and Haslet,” said Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North American fulfillment. “We appreciate the state and local elected officials who have helped us make this exciting investment in the state of Texas.”

“We’re pleased Amazon is investing in Texas by bringing three fulfillment centers and more than 1,000 jobs to our state,” said Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. “I thank Amazon for working with us—making it possible to bring new jobs and revenue to the state of Texas.”

Amazon Announces Texas Fulfillment Centers

Amy Wolff Sorter — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

COPPELL, TX-Amazon has announced it will open three fulfillment centers in Texas. The online retail company, headquartered in Seattle, will place a 1-million-square-foot facility in Coppell (in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area); a 1.1-million-square-foot facility in Haslet, just north of Fort Worth, and a 1.2-million-square-foot one in Scherz, northeast of San Antonio.

According to a press release from Amazon, the Scherz and Coppell sites will handle the larger items, such as televisions and barbecue grills, while the Haslet facility will handle books, DVDs, small electronics and other smaller items.

USAA Real Estate Co. is building the project in Schertz. Hillwood Development Co. is building the project in the city of Haslet as part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas. Hillwood is also developing the Coppell project, at 900 W. Bethel Rd.

“We look forward to putting more than 1,000 Texans to work at our new fulfillment centers in Schertz, Coppell and Haslet,” says Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North American fulfillment in a press release. “We appreciate the state and local elected officials who have helped us make this exciting investment in the state of Texas.”

This is not Amazon's first foray into Texas by any means. This announcement comes less than two years after Amazon was involved in a brouhaha with the state of Texas over sales taxes from its Irving, TX warehouse/distribution facility. Amazon shut down the facility in protest in 2011. The $269 million bill was settled with the state in April, 2012 with Amazon agreeing to make more than $200 million in capital investment and create more than 2,500 jobs in the state.

It's official: Amazon to put distribution centers in Coppell, AllianceTexas

Candace Carlisle — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

After nearly four months of silence on its North Texas plans, Seattle-based Amazon.com has confirmed to the Dallas Business Journal that the online retail giant is making a foray back to DFW in a big way.

Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) plans to open two large regional distribution centers totaling more than 2 million square feet in Coppell and AllianceTexas. The distribution centers, along with an additional one near San Antonio, will generate about 1,000 fulfillment center jobs.

Fort Worth-based Hillwood Development Co. is the developer of the two ground-up projects. Both 15-year lease deals were completed in 2012. The terms of the agreements were undisclosed.

In December, the Dallas Business Journal obtained public records that outlined the details of its 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center in AllianceTexas, which will sit on roughly 68 acres of land.

The DBJ also broke the news last October that the City of Coppell was working on a tax incentive deal with Amazon.com. The economic development deal has not been completed yet, city officials say.

Coppell has authorized City Manager Clay Phillips to negotiate an agreement with the online retailer to bring a distribution center to 900 W. Bethel Road in Coppell, which is a tract owned by Hillwood.

Amazon.com had a facility in Irving, but it closed in 2011 after a dispute over whether the company had to collect sales tax.

The online retailer began collecting sales taxes from its Texas customers this summer, after reaching an agreement with Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, who had estimated Amazon owed the state $269 million in taxes and penalties related to sales from 2004 to 2009.

As part of the deal, Amazon committed to creating 2,500 jobs in Texas and making at least $200 million in capital investments within the state.

These two large Amazon.com regional distribution deals — and the addition of 1,000 fulfillment jobs in North Texas — reinforce the importance of Dallas-Fort Worth's distribution market. Other large companies, such as L'Oreal, Restoration Hardware and BMW, have also recently landed distribution centers in North Texas.

Hillwood Starts Construction of Multifamily Project at Alliance

Christine Perez — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties’ multifamily division has broken ground on SageStone Village, a 306-unit luxury apartment complex on 13 acres within its 900-acre Alliance Town Center development.

Units will range from one to three bedrooms, with an average size of 940 square feet. On-site amenities include a fitness facility, resort-style pool and pavilion, and outdoor social spaces.

Initial units will be ready for move-in at the end of 2013, with project completion slated for 2014.

Hillwood Starts Construction of Multifamily Project at Alliance

Christine Perez — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties’ multifamily division has broken ground on SageStone Village, a 306-unit luxury apartment complex on 13 acres within its 900-acre Alliance Town Center development.

Units will range from one to three bedrooms, with an average size of 940 square feet. On-site amenities include a fitness facility, resort-style pool and pavilion, and outdoor social spaces.

Initial units will be ready for move-in at the end of 2013, with project completion slated for 2014.

More apartments coming to Hillwood’s AllianceTexas community

Steve Brown — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Multifamily said Wednesday that it has started construction on an apartment community in North Fort Worth.

The 306-unit rental complex will be located in Hillwood’s Alliance Town Center development near Interstate 35W and Alliance Airport.

Called SageStone Village, the 16-acre rental development will open starting late this year.

It will be located near Hillwood’s 550-unit Monterra Village apartments.

Along with apartments, Alliance Town Center includes retail and commercial space.

Hillwood to develop luxury apartments in Alliance Town Center

Candace Carlisle — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Multifamily, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Hillwood Properties, announced Wednesday it plans to develop a luxury apartment community on 13 acres of land within the Alliance Town Center master-planned development.

The 306-unit apartment property will be called SageStone Village.

The project is part of Hillwood's strategy for developing high-quality apartments in AllianceTexas. SageStone Village will be next to Alliance Town Center's retail, restaurants and entertainment options.

With the rapid population growth in the North Texas region, Hillwood decided to move forward with the project to fulfill that demand, Hillwood President Mike Berry said.

SageStone Village will have a resort-style pool, outdoor living spaces and granite counter tops among its amenities. The project will deliver its first units during the fourth quarter of 2013, with completion expected in 2014.

This new project brings Hillwood's total investment of apartments at Alliance Town Center to 856 units.

Hillwood to offer multifamily housing

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities readies to meet frenzied homebuilding demand

Candace Carlisle — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dallas-based Hillwood Communities recently celebrated its most successful year to-date, with all sectors of the company's business — revenue, acquisitions and development activity — hitting on all cylinders.

"This past year was our most successful year to date in the company's 25 years," said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities. "The builders are scrambling to buy lots, and it's not speculative building, there's homebuyers that want to buy."

The company expects the trend to continue this year, Balda said.

"We believe there is pent-up demand for homes and we are benefiting from that because there's an under supply of homes," Balda said.

With that in mind, Hillwood Communities has been positioning itself during the downturn to be ready for this projected growth. It's a philosophy that permeates the other Hillwood real estate entities.

Last year, Hillwood Communities bought 11 properties in four markets earmarked for growth: Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Jose, Calif., and Jackson Hole, Wyo. About seven of those properties are located in North Texas.

The acquisitions: Five parcels totaling 675 acres in Northlake, a 136-acre tract in Lucas, and a 62-acre tract of land in Fate.

Hillwood Communities recently began developing a $1 billion, 1,000-acre residential master-planned mixed-use community in Northlake and Argyle. The community will have 3,000 single-family homes.

HCA Answers Healthcare Needs Of Alliance With New Hospital

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Having opened the only free-standing emergency department in the Alliance community just over a year ago, HCA is now set to build upon the site with the construction of a new $71 million hospital.

While the hospital has yet to be named, HCA North Texas will break ground on the 142,000 square-foot, four-story, acute care facility this summer and should complete construction by late next year. It will have 30 licensed beds with imaging services, surgery, labor and delivery services, an ICU, a neonatal ICU and other support functions in addition to its current ER services.

The four-story structure will also be able to support two further stories in the future.

“The initial hospital will be built to expand to six floors, with space to the north master planned for even further expansion to meet the needs of this dynamic market,” James C. Scoggin, Jr., president of HCA North Texas.

North Hills Hospital CEO Randy Moresi explained that “the size of Alliance is now close to the size of Lubbock, Texas. It’s an incredibly big population. With the highway situation being what it is, it’s just time for services to go out to Alliance.”

The new facility will stand at the northeast corner of Interstate 35W and North Tarrant Parkway.

Moresi also noted that the 73-acre property is “built for fairly easy and rapid expansion as we see fit, because we’ll actually have extra room not only in that building but also throughout that property.”

HCA will be targeting specifics in the population of Alliance in regards to staffing. “There will be an emphasis certainly on women’s services due to the demographics out there,” Moresi said. “There’s a large population of baby-bearing people.”

Currently the ER sees about 1800 patients a month and easily topped the facility’s expectations just after opening ,which spurred the decision to construct the hospital.

“Hillwood is pleased that HCA is expanding its presence at Alliance Town Center with this new hospital facility,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas. “This new hospital represents a huge commitment by HCA to the area, and will serve our community well. It has been part of Hillwood’s master plan for Alliance Town Center to provide the region with first-class medical facilities to meet the needs of our growing population.”

Moresi also suggested there will be a medical campus to follow sometime in the future.

Hillwood Communities Ends Year on High Note

Jessica Melton — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities had a burst of year-end activity, closing on 11 acquisitions in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Jose, Calif.; and Jackson Hole, Wyo.

During 2013, the residential developer acquired more than 1,000 acres, completed 500 lots, and began development of 600 additional lots.

Hillwood’s seven North Texas land buys include:

• Five parcels in Northlake, totaling 675 acres for 1,743 proposed lots

• One tract in Lucas totaling 136 acres for 206 half-acre lots

• One tract in Fate, 62 acres in the Woodcreek community for 228 lots

New hospital planned for Alliance area

Jim Fuquay — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

HCA North Texas, which opened a free-standing emergency medical department in the Alliance area just over a year ago, plans to add a $71 million hospital to the site.

The announcement continues a medical building boom in far north Fort Worth, which saw a general hospital open last fall and another specialty facility announced in December.

Click here to read the full article.

HCA to build $71M hospital in Alliance Town Center

Candace Carlisle — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

HCA North Texas plans to build a $71 million, four-story acute-care hospital with emergency services, surgical services and an intensive care unit at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth.

The new hospital will join HCA's free-standing emergency room that opened on the same 73-acre site in late 2011.

The initial four-story, 142,000-square-foot hospital will be expandable to six floors with space to the north of the hospital for further growth, said James Scroggin Jr., president of HCA North Texas, an affiliate of Nashville-based hospital service provider HCA Inc., which has 163 hospitals nationwide.

HCA North Texas plans to break ground on the hospital in the summer. It is projected to open December 2014.

The new hospital illustrates HCA's commitment to Alliance Town Center and fulfills a goal for first-class medical facilities to Hillwood's master plan of the development, said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of Alliance Town Center.

Blue Angels Back At Alliance Air Show In October

Jeff Ray — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – If you saw a Blue Angel jet in the skies above Fort Worth this afternoon don’t expect a show just yet. But it’s coming. Tom Harris is the President at Alliance Airport. Every October they host the premier air show in the area. This year the Blue Angels are the head liners. “When the blue angels preform it’s something special” says Harris.

After a three year hiatus the Blue Angels return to the show. Two pilots flew their specially marked F-18 into Alliance just after lunch. The two will visit all 33 air show sites over the next month to prep for the 50 person team that arrives with the seven pilots.

If you have even seen one of the 45-minute presentation the Blue Angels put on it is a sometimes frightening demonstration of precision but this doesn’t mean they’re perfect.

Mike Cheng is one of the three new pilots that are rotated into the performance team every year “It may look great for everyone else but deep inside we know what we did well and what we didn’t do well and there is no way we will fly a perfect demo but we’ll always strive for that.”

The Blue Angel team is currently in the middle of their training season. It takes a lot of practice to get this good. They’ll go through the routine over 100 times before the Air Show season starts in March. “We talk a lot about how we fly as close as 18″ but that doesn’t just happen. That’s a part of the 120 minimum flights that we do,” said Cheng.

And in here is the lesson for all of us ‘non-jet fighter pilots’ for the New Year – and our jobs. It takes lots of practice to get to a top-tier level. Then it takes constant striving for a perfect performance to maintain it. If you find your work a little scary, it’s the routine of that work that can handle those nerves. As Cheng told us, “By the time we put on a demonstration there really isn’t a lot of nerves that our guys go through, they fall back on the repetition the muscle memory they have been doing.” Preparation beats back fear almost every time, even at 700 miles per hour only 50 feet off the ground.

The Alliance Air Show is in October. Admission is free, you pay for the parking. All proceeds go to over 30 different charities across the Fort Worth area.

In case you were thinking this, the Blue Angels are NOT planning a fly over for tomorrow night’s Cotton Bowl at Cowboy Stadium. The two pilots will head tomorrow morning for their training facility at El Centro, California. The roof of the stadium is going to be closed anyway.

Video - Blue Angels Back At Alliance Air Show In October: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/01/03/blue-angels-return-to-alliance-air-show-in-october/

Alliance says it's topped a total $1 billion paid to local governments

Scott Nishimura — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- AllianceTexas, the 17,000-acre development in far north Fort Worth, has surpassed a total of $1 billion in property taxes paid to local governments over the project's 22 years, the developer's chief executive told the Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday.

Click here to read the full article.

NGC closes deal on Alliance Airport site for headquarters, manufacturing facility

Sandra Baker — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NGC Renewables, the North American subsidiary of a large Chinese manufacturer of wind turbine equipment, has closed its deal to buy 18.6 acres at U.S. 377 and Texas 170 in the Alliance development in far north Fort Worth for a $96 million headquarters and factory.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance gets federal funding for runway extension

Andrea Ahles — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance Airport received another piece of federal funding for its ongoing runway expansion project, this time a $15.6 million grant.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance Airport gets $15.6M FAA grant to expand runway

Candace Carlisle — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fort Worth-based Hillwood Properties announced Wednesday that Fort Worth Alliance Airport received a $15.6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to support a runway extension project at the north end of the airport.

The extension will extend the runway by 11,000 feet, which will give the airport the ability to accommodate aircraft making nonstop cargo trips to Europe or Asia.

This grant brings FAA's funding on this project to $30.7 million this year. Other FAA grants totaling $15.1 million was awarded earlier this year for runway design, perimeter road construction and noise mitigation.

Since this project began, the airport has secured $215 million from the FAA, Texas Department of Transportation and Tarrant County to support the extension. There is less than $30 million unfunded remaining for the project.

The runway extension project is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013, with completion expected in 2016.

H. Ross Perot Jr. speaks about history of Alliance Airport, future of aerospace industry

Written by Phil Cerroni / By Elaine Paniszczyn — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the opening address of the Aviation and Aerospace Industry Manufacturing Summit in Fort Worth, H. Ross Perot, Jr. recounted the history of Alliance Airport and touched on the future of the aerospace industry.

“Why we are here – why we have an Alliance Airport was all built upon growing the aviation base in north Texas and attracting more companies into the North Texas aviation community,” Perot said. “As you watch those aircraft (at the Alliance air show), watch those pilots and watch the training, you realize that it’s not an accident that we have the finest aviation base in the world in the United States and the second largest cluster of aviation companies in North Texas.”

Perot, who was an Air Force pilot, said he has been in aviation and a pilot for 31 years.

“I’ve been around most of the leaders in aviation in the North Texas marketplace and around the country and around the world, and as you talk to leadership and as we started working on this Alliance program, we worked very closely with the FAA,” Perot said. “When I started working on the Alliance project, this was going to be the second of four new airports the FAA was going to build in North Texas. They asked if we would donate the land for the airport.

“Being a pilot, just out of the Air Force, and real estate developer, it looked like a great combination project for all the interests that I had. We started work on this airport with the FAA in partnership, and we were going to donate the land for the airport. Originally, it started out to be a general aviation airport.”

Perot said his friend Wayne Joseph at Bell Helicopter told him what the area needed was an airport for industry.

“It’s the industrial airports that have really made North Texas great,” Perot said. “We have Carswell Air Force Base with General Dynamics/Lockheed and then Navy Dallas which had the Vaught headquarters. That is where we had the big World War II manufacturing facilities that helped grow the aviation base and helped attract companies like Bell Helicopter back in the 1950’s. But if you look at the airport infrastructure 20 years ago, where would that industrial base grow?

“DFW Airport is designed for commercial aviation, moving people and belly freight. What we saw we needed was this evolution of this industrial airport concept. The FAA liked the idea; they supported the idea, and that’s why Alliance Airport was built and why it grew into a large airport and into this industrial airport complex, was to take care of all the non-commercial aviation customers.

“It’s worked very well; the team’s worked very hard,” he said.“We have 300 companies at Alliance today with 33,000 people working in the Alliance program. We have 50 of the Fortune 500. I challenge all of our customers to outgrow us because we are only 40 percent developed. We have thousands of acres left to be developed to continue to grow the economic base in North Texas.

“If you add up all the clients at Alliance today, and you add up the taxes that we pay, we are the largest tax paying entity now in the City of Fort Worth, and if you look at the money that’s been invested, over $7.5 billion in investments has been put into the Alliance program by the private sector. So it’s worked out well; it’s a huge partnership with the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Denton County, the State of Texas, and it’s the FAA and the private sector that’s pulled this off. I believe that the best years are still in front for aviation, and really the best years are in front of us at Alliance.”

Perot said the goal of the conference was to make sure that the United States continues to attract and build great aviation companies, supported by a labor force that brings the talent necessary to keep the competitive edge.

“If you’ll look around the world today, the United States still has the finest aviation products in the world,” Perot said. “No other air force has the technology, training, manpower, and processes of the United States Air Force.

“If you look at every major combat activity around the world – if you’re going to go fight in Syria, today, you really can’t do it in a cost effective manner, or for a practical matter without the United States Air Force,” Perot said.“If anybody goes into Iran today, even if the Israelis go in, it’s not going to be (the same) type of operation if you don’t have the United States Air Force.

“How do we prepare our communities to train up the leaders of this great industry we call aviation? Look what is on the front page of the paper today: Elon Musk launches Dragon Space craft to go resupply the space station. The foundation of private space is in the United States. It’s the next great industry, the privatization of space.

“Elon Musk is doing a very good job,” Perot said. “Erik Anderson was the real pioneer working with the Anastasias on the X PRIZE to encourage private space activity. Richard Branson now has his private space program in New Mexico that will give rides into private space. Jeff Bezos of Amazon has his own private space company out in West Texas, where they are working on privately designed rockets.

“Erik Anderson started space adventures. He’s taken nine people into space with the Russians, and Anderson now has his asteroid mining company that he is beginning where he has a team from NASA that will be going out to the asteroids trying to determine how we mine asteroids and bring that product back to earth.

“So these are very exciting times for aviation, extremely exciting times for space and every country in the world wants these jobs,” Perot said. “I go all over the world, and I’ve toured the aviation factories in China; I’ve toured the factories in Mexico; I’ve toured the budding factories in the Middle East that want aviation. India has a very, very focused and dramatic program to grow their aviation business.

“The jobs we have today; the technology we have today, a lot are pioneered between the private and public partnerships between the private sector and the Defense Department. These jobs are wanted around the world; it is very competitive.

“We still dominate, and there’s no reason we can’t continue to dominate this industry. These are the jobs this nation needs. They’re private sector jobs, high-paying jobs, skilled jobs building this phenomenal product that we export out around the world.”

MONTERRA VILLAGE PHASE II NOW LEASING

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 25, 2012) – Hillwood Multifamily, a subsidiary of Hillwood Properties that focuses on multifamily development and investment opportunities, is now leasing residential units at Phase II of Monterra Village. Monterra Village is a master-planned, 130-acre, mixed-use community located within Hillwood’s 900-acre Alliance Town Center development.

The new phase of Monterra Village includes 262 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes with floor plan options and amenities that are complementary to the existing townhome-style apartments constructed during the initial phase of the development. Delivery of 36 units in the first two buildings has taken place, and pre-leasing activity has been strong. Although the development is still under construction, it is already 20 percent leased.

Monterra Village is Hillwood’s first multifamily community within its award-winning AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre, master-planned development. The luxury townhome and apartment home community was the first 100 percent smoke-free property in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. Phase I of the high-performing project opened in 2008 with 288 units.

Located in one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation, and in close proximity to the hundreds of businesses located throughout AllianceTexas, the first phase of Monterra Village experienced a high level of demand and has continued to maintain over 96 percent occupancy. Hillwood Multifamily began construction on the second phase of the development earlier this year to continue meeting the multifamily housing demand for the north Fort Worth residential marketplace.

For more information about leasing at Monterra Village, visit www.MonterraByHillwood.com, or visit the leasing office at 8301 Monterra Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76177.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

# # #

Video: Ross Perot Jr.: We have to grow out this debt crisis

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Son on father's endorsement of Mitt Romney

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1925040629001/ross-perot-jr-we-have-to-grow-out-this-debt-crisis/?playlist_id=903226511001

Video: Will Housing Recovery Help Boost Economy?

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Perot Group Chairman Ross Perot, Jr. on the positive signs for the housing market and economy and their impact on the election.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1907747932001/will-housing-recovery-help-boost-economy/?playlist_id=937116503001

Alliance Airport president to retire

Andrea Ahles — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance Airport President Tim Ward, who has overseen the north Fort Worth industrial airport's operations since it opened in 1989, will retire at the end of the year.

Ward, 63, will be replaced by another Hillwood Properties executive, Tom Harris, who has been involved in developing AllianceTexas for 20 years.

Click here to read the full article.

Tim Ward to retire as head of Alliance Air Services

Lance Murray — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance Air Services President Tim Ward announced Tuesday that he plans to retire from Hillwood at the end of the year.

Since Alliance's inception in 1989, Ward oversaw the development and management of For Worth Alliance Airport.

Ward also has led a fixed-based operation at the airport for the past 23 years that has received many industry awards, Hillwood said in a release.

He also oversaw the Alliance Air Show, one of the nation's top annual air shows.

Tom Harris, Hillwood Properties senior vice president, will succeed Ward as president of Alliance Air Services at year's end, Hillwood said.

Harris joined Ward’s management team at Alliance in 1990.

Texas Health hospital opens in far north Fort Worth

Mitch Mitchell — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Emergency trips to the hospital in north Fort Worth could be shorter starting today with the opening of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance.

The average emergency medical trip could be reduced by 15 to 20 minutes, said Matt Zavadsky, MedStar spokesman.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance Airport president Tim Ward retires

Andrea Ahles — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance Airport president Tim Ward, who has overseen the north Fort Worth industrial airport's operations since it opened in 1989, will retire at the end of the year.

Ward will be replaced by another Hillwood Properties executive, Tom Harris, who has been involved in developing AllianceTexas for the past twenty years.

During his time at Alliance, Ward managed the airport's fixed base operations and managed over $200 million in public funding for the expansion of the airport. Earlier this month, Alliance received a $10 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to expand its runways.

"Tim has made a tremendous impact on Hillwood, on our city and on the aviation industry," said Ross Perot, Jr., chairman of Hillwood. "Tim's leadership in managing not only the world's first industrial airport, but also one of the first major airport privatization efforts in the U.S., is unparalleled and will serve as a longstanding legacy of the amazing work he has done over his 40-year career."

Aerospace industry summit to be held at Alliance

Andrea Ahles — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Following its popular air show this October, AllianceTexas is hosting an aviation and aerospace industry summit to talk about the future of the industry.

Alliance, which is home to Lockheed Martin, DynCorp and Bell Helicopter, teamed up with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to bring aerospace manufacturers and service providers together to discuss the global aviation and aerospace marketplace.

Click here to read the full article.

THR’s Alliance Hospital Set to Open Next Week

Steve Jacob — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance area population in north Fort Worth more than doubled between 2000 and 2010, adding more than 110,000 residents and doubling its household count to more than 75,000. According to a study commissioned by Alliance developer Hillwood Properties, the 108,000-acre area bounded by Loop 820 on the south, Denton County on the north and Lake Grapevine on the east is one of the nation’s fastest-growing communities.

Moderately priced housing has attracted thousands of young families; the area is home to more than 82,000 women of childbearing age.

Not coincidentally, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance makes its debut next week to serve the booming area. It will open its doors September 19 at I-35W and Golden Triangle Boulevard. It plans to introduce the facility to the community at an open house 2-5 p.m. Saturday.

The 188,000-square-foot, four-story hospital is licensed for 50 beds, including 12 ICU beds, 24 medical/surgical beds and 14 postpartum beds. Hospital services will include emergency medicine, women and infant services including neonatal intensive care, surgical services, imaging, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation and occupational health.

The facility will be loaded with the latest integrated technology–electronic medical records, wireless hands free communication system, and real-time location capabilities for equipment, staff, and patients. Clinicians will be able to communicate more efficiently and spend more time in direct patient care.

Planning for the hospital began in August 2009, at the height of the national healthcare-reform debate. Hospital executives consulted a physician-led council of clinicians and Texas Health Resources employees charged with developing strategies for coordinating and improving care. They also held town hall style meetings with homeowners’ associations and local business leaders.

Winjie Tang Miao, the new hospital’s president, said, “We had a very rare opportunity to build a hospital from scratch. We asked ourselves what the next generation of healthcare would look like. This facility is truly built by the community, for the community. We have brought best practices from across the Texas Health system and the country to this hospital in order to deliver the health care this community deserves.”

Surgeon Nabeel Shabout, one of six doctors involved in the project, said, “Sometimes, the (hospital) structure kind of inhibits you. Medicine has changed since hospitals were built 40-60 years ago. Newer technology makes things different. This is where physicians want to be. We want input from the get-go.”

Steve Jacob is editor of D Healthcare Daily and author of the new book Health Care in 2020: Where Uncertain Reform, Bad Habits, Too Few Doctors and Skyrocketing Costs Are Taking Us. He can be reached at steve.jacob@dmagazine.com.

Population in Alliance, surrounding areas, more than doubled in past decade

Sandra Baker — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Population in a broad area around the Alliance development in north Fort Worth more than doubled during the past decade, adding more than 110,000 residents, a new demographic report shows.

Click here to read the full article.

AllianceTexas Among Fastest-growing Corridors in Nation

Mike Berry — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Although AllianceTexas is more than 20 years old, it wasn’t until 2001 that I began to fully realize how much a large real estate development could change the landscape of an area. That realization manifested itself one morning, when my typical 20-minute commute from downtown Fort Worth took nearly an hour.

A decade later, AllianceTexas is marked by populated neighborhoods featuring residential, retail, office and industrial space that stretches along much of Interstate 35W. From the anchor airport to our newest multifamily project, Monterra Village, each component carries the distinct look and feel of a continuous community. And, we’re still working hard to solve the infrastructure challenges that come with a development that encompasses a 65-square-mile area.

Working closely with our partner cities that include Fort Worth, Haslet, Westlake and Roanoke, as well as Tarrant and Denton Counties, we have all been able to prosper and grow the tax base together. I believe the cooperation among each government entity in the region should be used as a model for the rest of the country.

Although no one has any intention of creating a separate city at AllianceTexas, this year the Hillwood team enlisted the expertise of a demographer, Research Demographic Solutions, to compare the AllianceTexas area to other fast-growing cities in the region. Just completed, the results are simply staggering.

The report suggests that AllianceTexas and the area surrounding it is one of the fastest-growing corridors in the nation. Adding 111,000 persons from 2000 to 2010, the AllianceTexas corridor had the second-largest absolute population gain and the third-fastest percentage of growth, when compared to North Texas cities with more than 50,000 residents. Taking into account a previous report by the U.S. Census Bureau, which shows that Fort Worth added more than 200,000 new residents during the same time frame, it is likely that nearly half of the city’s population growth is taking place in the AllianceTexas area.

Based on this population growth, if the AllianceTexas area were its own city, it would rank as the seventh-largest community in the Dallas/Fort Worth MSA. Compared to all Texas cities, the AllianceTexas area would rank as the 14th-largest city in the state.

The development is attracting residents at a rapid pace because we are constantly working to meet the demands of our business and residential population. Our retail offerings at Alliance Town Center include some of the nation’s top names in fashion, home goods, sporting goods, restaurants and grocery stores. Entertainment options include the recent opening of Cinemark’s flagship NextGen theater. And a medical community is starting to emerge with the opening of the ER at Alliance, a North Hills Hospital emergency care facility. Later this year, Texas Health Resources will open Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, while a wide range of health and wellness providers are also establishing offices at AllianceTexas to serve residents of this community.

Another strength is the symbiotic relationship between the business community and the labor force. As home to 300 companies, AllianceTexas offers employees access to a large and diverse base of employers. Similarly, these companies have access to large pool of qualified job candidates, which attracts even more businesses to the development. One of the most impressive bits of information that came from the demographic report was that the AllianceTexas area has one of the most highly educated workforces in the nation. More than 93.4 percent of its residents have earned at least a high school diploma; more than 37 percent have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Our primary goal, when having these types of reports produced, is to give us better insight into understanding the scope of the growth in our area. By knowing who and what make up our community, we’re empowered to effectively communicate with state and national leaders about the urgency of our infrastructure needs.

Serving as president of Hillwood Properties, Mike Berry leads development efforts the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development north of Fort Worth. Contact him at mike.berry@hillwood.com.

ALLIANCETEXAS AREA RANKS AS ONE OF THE NATION’S FASTEST-GROWING, MOST EDUCATED COMMUNITIES

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 5, 2012) – The area including and immediately surrounding AllianceTexas, Hillwood Properties’ 17,000-acre master-planned community in north Fort Worth, more than doubled its population during the past decade, according to a study released today. The population increase makes it one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation, while likely accounting for nearly half of Fort Worth’s population growth during the same period. The study further indicates that AllianceTexas is attracting one of the most educated workforces in the state.

The AllianceTexas area added 111,000 persons from 2000 to 2010, giving the area the second-largest absolute population gain and the third-fastest percentage of growth when compared to cities over 50,000 in the Metroplex. Taking into account a previous report by the U.S. Census Bureau, which identifies Fort Worth as the fastest-growing large city in the nation due to the addition of over 200,000 new residents during the past decade, it appears likely that more than half of the city’s population growth is taking place at AllianceTexas.

With this level of growth, if the AllianceTexas area were its own city, it would rank as the 7th-largest MSA in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Compared with all Texas cities, the AllianceTexas area would rank as the 14th-largest city in Texas. Nationally, the AllianceTexas area would be the 5th-fastest-growing community among cities with over 100,000 individuals, just behind Surprise, Ariz.; Frisco, Texas; McKinney, Texas and Murrieta, Calif.

“It’s staggering to see how much this community has grown during the past decade,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “There are many reasons why the AllianceTexas region has become a leading destination for North Texas residents, including a robust job center and affordable, quality housing. In tandem with our business, civic and government partners, we have built a sustainable community that offers a quality lifestyle for its residents. AllianceTexas is only 40 percent developed to date, and our challenge moving forward will be to create the infrastructure needed to meet the region’s demands. We’re very excited about the expansion of 35W, rail and mass transit. Each will play a significant role in AllianceTexas’ ongoing success.”

According to the report, between 2000 and 2010, the AllianceTexas area saw a 114 percent population increase. The community experienced a 115 percent increase of individuals 18 years or older. Hispanics/Latinos were the fastest growing ethnic group in the area with a 223 percent increase, while non-Hispanics accounted for a 102 percent increase.

In order to keep up with the growth, total housing units in the area increased just over 111 percent, with owner-occupied units increasing by 104 percent and renter-occupied units increasing by 151 percent. Occupancy remained steady at 95 percent, indicating that the housing supply kept pace with the demand. The average household size in the AllianceTexas area was 2.95 persons, a slight increase of 1.1 percent, which is higher than the national average of 2.59 and the Texas average of 2.78.

Along with the growing population, the value of homes in the AllianceTexas area also increased. During the 2000-2010 period, the median home value was $183,929, an increase of 23.8 percent. This is higher than the Texas median home value at $123,500, and slightly below the U.S. median home value at $188,400.

In addition to rapid growth, the demographic study shows that the AllianceTexas area has established one of the most highly educated workforces in the nation. Over 93 percent of residents 25 and over have earned at least a high school degree, ranking AllianceTexas first in educational attainment when compared to Texas cities with more than 100,000 residents. When compared nationally to cities with more than 100,000 residents, AllianceTexas ranks 6th, just after Overland Park, Kan.; Irvine, Calif.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Gilbert, Ariz.; and Madison, Wis.

The AllianceTexas area is also among the top Texas communities attracting individuals with a college education. The study shows that just over 37 percent of residents in the region have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. When compared to Texas cities with more than 100,000 residents, AllianceTexas is one of the top five communities attracting individuals with a college degree.

Higher education has led to higher incomes at AllianceTexas. The median household income increased by 17 percent, to $85,353. This is significantly higher than both the national median household income at $51,914 and the Texas median household income at $49,646.

The demographic study by Research and Demographic Solutions reviewed demographic trends from 2000-2010 for a 108,000-acre area identified as the AllianceTexas Area of Interest (AOI). The AOI includes portions of Denton and Tarrant Counties. It is bounded by the Wise County line to the west; Grapevine Lake to the east; Justin, Texas to the north; and Northwest Loop 820 to the south.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (http://www.alliancetexas.com/) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to over 300 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes more than 7,700 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes. Since its inception, AllianceTexas has generated $40.65 billion in economic impact for the North Texas region.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

ABOUT RESEARCH AND DEMOGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS (RDS)
Research and Demographic Solutions (RDS) is a professional consulting firm that specializes in demographic research and analysis specializing in household, population and employment estimates and forecasting. RDS staff uses Geographic Information Services (GIS) for planning, demographic and mapping solutions. Our mission is to provide outstanding data, unmatched service and innovative GIS techniques that ensure accurate planning and forecasting decisions.

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AllianceTexas among nation's fastest-growing communities

Candace Carlisle — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas — a 17,000-acre master-planned community developed by Hillwood Properties in North Fort Worth – has been ranked as one of the nation's fastest growing communities having more than doubled in the past decade.

The ranking is backed up by a study conducted by Southlake-based Research & Demographic Solutions, which was released Wednesday. The study was commissioned by Fort Worth-based Hillwood.

The AllianceTexas area added 111,000 persons from 2000 to 2010, which gives it the community the second-largest absolute population gain for cities over 50,000 in the Metroplex.

Based on a previous report by the U.S. Census Bureau, research officials say it appears more than half the population growth of Fort Worth — which added more than 200,000 new residents in the past decade — is taking place in AllianceTexas.

There are many reasons behind the population growth at AllianceTexas, including a robust job center, affordable and quality housing and a community with a quality lifestyle, said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties.

AllianceTexas is 40 percent developed. One of the keys to AllianceTexas' ongoing success will be creating the transportation infrastructure needed for the development, Berry said.

The full report measures education, income, the makeup of households and other demographics in the AllianceTexas community.

Embry-Riddle, Alliance to hold aerospace supply chain summit

Matt Joyce — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and AllianceTexas have announced plans for an aviation and aerospace summit that will focus on the industry’s supplier base and new challenges and opportunities in the marketplace.

The 3rd Annual Aviation & Aerospace Manufacturing Summit is scheduled for Oct. 7-10 at the Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle in Fort Worth.

Organizers said conference will cover the national and global economic environment, restructuring of the U.S. Department of Defense, liquidity in capital markets, a forecast for air travel demand and air cargo capacity, workforce development, statewide economic development programs, technological advancements in the aerospace supply chain, and trends in research and development and post production.

The speakers scheduled to participate include Norm Augustine, the former president and CEO of Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter President and CEO John Garrison, Hawker Beechcraft Chairman W.W. (Bill) Boisture and Hillwood Development Chairman Ross Perot Jr.

Two new office buildings latest in AllianceTexas buildout

Matthew McGowan — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Developers of Alliance Town Center plan to open hundreds of thousands of square feet of new high-end office space next year, according to a recent announcement from Hillwood Properties, yet another of the company’s indefatigable efforts to build up and out the North Fort Worth master-planned community.

Hillwood is still working on designs for the two spec buildings along Interstate 35W, the first located just north of Heritage Trace Parkway and the second nestled further south in the heart of the Alliance Town Center’s retail footprint.

Bill Burton, a Hillwood senior vice president who has spearheaded much of the Town Center development, said he anticipates that the first office building, designed primarily for variously sized corporate leases, will contain between 120,000 and 150,000 square feet of Class-A office space across two or three stories. The second building, this one designed for smaller, boutique office tenants, should feature somewhere between 50,000 and 70,000 square feet of Class-A offices, also across two or three stories.

Office demand has remained robust in the AllianceTexas corridor, which has leased out all 2.8 million square feet of its existing office space. Burton said that fact, combined with the ever-growing retail and residential spread of the development, makes the Town Center a solid bet for additional office space.

“You’ve got a tremendous amount of employees,” he said about the growing residential base of the area, which is located in a Fort Worth city council district with a 2010 population of 150,000 people, “so it’s inevitable that over time, we think, companies will take advantage of that and move to where the employees are.”

Burton expects the two newest office buildings to precede additional office construction further down the line. In other words, these two buildings could be the beginning of a much larger office expansion in both the Alliance Town Center and the broader AllianceTexas corridor.

But Alliance planners continue to focus on developing the area as a unique master-planned community full of amenities and offerings Fort Worthians won’t find elsewhere in the area, he said. That means jogging trails and pocket parks blended seamlessly with big-box retail and hospitals such as the 262,000-square-foot facility that Texas Health Resources is expected to open this fall just north of Alliance Town Center.

“The worst thing that could happen to us is if we woke up in 10 to 15 years and we look like any other highway in America,” Burton said.

That’s why savvy, far-sighted planning factors so heavily in the fate of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas vision, which first sprouted up as an industrial hub around Alliance Airport 20 years ago. Retail and residential buildings began to arise in the surrounding landscape in more recent years. Burton said the corridor won’t take its final shape for decades, probably toward midcentury.

“As we continue forward, this is not a 5- or 10-year development program,” he said. “This is a 40- to 50-year development program. Look, we are vested. We’re vested and invested.”

Hillwood sells land for AllianceTexas apartments

Steve Brown — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties said Wednesday that it’s sold land in its AllianceTexas project for a new apartment community.

Hillwood sold 18.5 acres at State Highway 170 and Old Denton Road to SWBC Real Estate LLC.

The developer plans to build a 318-unit apartment project called Overlook Ranch.

The design of the new apartments being built in North Fort Worth is described as “Hill Country charm architecture.”

“Overlook Ranch fills a growing need for increased multifamily options within AllianceTexas,” Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, said in a statement. “The project complements Hillwood’s efforts in the multifamily industry in North Fort Worth.”

Hillwood has previously said that it plans to build several thousand apartments in its 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project over the coming years.

Most of those will be located in the Alliance Town Center along Interstate 35W. Earlier this week, Hillwood also announced that it would build two speculative office projects in that area.

SWBC Real Estate is a Dallas company that is an affiliate of San Antonio-based financial firm SWBC Enterprises Ltd.

Construction is set to begin on the development before the end of the year.

“The Overlook Ranch site is situated near a growing employment base of the world’s leading companies,” Terry Gwin, president of SWBC Real Estate, said in a statement.

Blake Barnard with J.B. Barnard & Co. brokered the land sale.

Land sold for garden-style apartment complex at Alliance

Sandra Baker — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Hillwood Properties has sold a tract of land in north Fort Worth for a multi-family development, the second such property sale since it announced plans earlier this year for as many as 3,000 apartments at its Alliance development.

Hillwood said Wednesday it has sold 18.5 acres at the northeast corner of Texas 170 and Old Denton Road to SWBC Real Estate in Dallas, which plans a 318-unit community called Overlook Ranch.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood Sells Land For New Multifamily Property

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Overlook Ranch, a 318-unit, Class A apartment community being developed in AllianceTexas.

FORT WORTH — Hillwood Properties has sold 18.5 acres of land to SWBC Real Estate within AllianceTexas, Hillwood's 17,000-acre master-planned community located in Fort Worth. SWBC has plans to develop Overlook Ranch, a 318-unit, Class A apartment community at the site, located within the community's Alliance Town Center development on the northeast corner of Old Denton Road and the Texas Highway 170. The apartment community will feature a movie theater with surround sound, car wash/detail center, club house, resort-style swimming pool and spa and a fitness center. Hillwood currently has 550 multifamily units at Alliance Town Center under construction or completed, plus an additional 306 units planned to break ground in the second half of 2012. Blake Barnard of J.B. Barnard & Co. coordinated the transaction. Overlook Ranch is slated for a late 2012 groundbreaking, with pre-leasing available in early 2013.

Hillwood Sells Land to Multifamily Developer

Jessica Melton — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SWBC Real Estate has purchased 18.5 acres to develop Overlook Ranch, a 318-unit, Class A apartment community within AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre, master-planned community in North Texas. The acreage is on the north side of State Highway 170.

The community will include 318 rental units in 15 garden-style apartment buildings, with an average unit size will be 850 square feet. The mix will include 204 one-bedroom apartments, 99 two-bedrooms, and 15 three-bedroom units. The project is located within the Northwest Independent School District.

Blake Barnard with J.B. Barnard & Co. put the deal together. Construction on the apartments should begin by the end of the year, with pre-leasing available in early 2013.

More apartments coming to Alliance Town Center

Matthew McGowan — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties sold more than 18 acres of its Alliance Town Center land to Dallas-based SWBC Real Estate for the construction of a 318-unit apartment complex, the developer announced today.

The project will nearly double the number of apartments at Alliance Town Center, which currently has some 550 multi-family units online and another 300 or so slated to open in the coming year, not counting this newest development, dubbed Overlook Ranch, that will begin pre-leasing early next year.

“Overlook Ranch fills a growing need for increased multi-family options within AllianceTexas,” Hillwood’s president, Mike Berry, said in the company’s announcement. “The project complements Hillwood’s efforts in the multi-family industry in north Fort Worth, and we are pleased to see the diversity of product coming to the area. Hillwood believes SWBC’s proposed development can serve another growing segment of the broader AllianceTexas submarket.”

One-bedroom units will comprise more than 60 percent of the 15-building complex, though the development will also include 99 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom apartments. The average apartment will have 850 square feet.

Plans also call for a state-of-the art on-site gym, car wash and detail center, and a fully accoutered movie theater. Exterior designs call for what planners are calling “hill country charm” architecture of wood framing with brick/stone, stucco and siding on the outer façade.

The site is located just north side of State Highway 170 at the northeast corner of Old Denton Road.

Alliance Town Center is at the heart of Hillwood’s multi-family strategy for AllianceTexas, the 17,000-acre master-planned community that has seen a flurry of activity in recent weeks, particularly the 900-acre Alliance Town Center, where crews are working on several new additions. Dick’s Sporting goods recently purchased 50,000 square feet of retail space. Hillwood also recently announced the construction of about 200,000 square feet of Class A office space in the area.

Long-term plans call for 3,000 total apartments at Alliance Town Center, which falls within the Northwest Independent School District.

HILLWOOD PROPERTIES SELLS 18.5 ACRES FOR NEW MULTIFAMILY PROJECT WITHIN ALLIANCETEXAS

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT WORTH, Texas (July 11, 2012) – Hillwood Properties, one of the leading real estate investors and developers in the U.S., announced today that it has sold 18.5 acres to SWBC Real Estate, LLC to develop Overlook Ranch, a 318-unit, Class A apartment community within AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre, master-planned community in North Texas. The site is located on the north side of Texas Highway 170 at the northeast corner of Old Denton Road in Fort Worth, Tarrant County.

Overlook Ranch will include 318 rental units in 15 garden-style apartment buildings constructed of wood framing with brick/stone, stucco and Hardi-plank exteriors. The average unit size will be 850 square feet, and the unit mix will include 204 (64%) one-bedrooms, 99 (31%) two-bedrooms and 15 (5%) three-bedrooms. The project will feature Hill Country Charm architecture and a comprehensive amenity package, including a movie theatre with surround sound, car wash/detail center, clubhouse with resort-style pool and spa, and state-of-the art fitness center. The apartments are located within the Northwest Independent School District.

Hillwood’s internal multifamily business strategy at AllianceTexas is concentrated in its 900-acre Alliance Town Center development, where the company has long term plans for upwards of 3,000 multifamily units. Hillwood currently has 550 multifamily units at Alliance Town Center, completed or under construction, with an additional 306 units planned to break ground in the second half of 2012.

“Overlook Ranch fills a growing need for increased multi-family options within AllianceTexas,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “The project complements Hillwood’s efforts in the multi-family industry in north Fort Worth, and we are pleased to see the diversity of product coming to the area. Hillwood believes SWBC’s proposed development can serve another growing segment of the broader AllianceTexas submarket.”

“With a major increase in the area’s population during the past decade, and an emerging market for multifamily options coming online, we anticipate the Overlook Ranch apartment community will be a strong success,” said Terry Gwin, president with SWBC Real Estate. “The Overlook Ranch site is situated near a growing employment base of the world’s leading companies and provides strategic access to both State Highway 170 and Interstate 35W.”

Blake Barnard with J.B. Barnard & Co. coordinated the transaction. Construction on the apartments is anticipated to begin by the end of the year with pre-leasing available in early 2013.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 290 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes more than 7,700 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes. Since its inception, AllianceTexas has generated $40.65 billion in economic impact for the North Texas region.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

ABOUT SWBC REAL ESTATE, LLC
SWBC Real Estate, LLC (www.swbcrealestate.com) is owned by SWBC Enterprises, Ltd. SWBC Real Estate is managed by an experienced team of real estate development professionals located in Dallas, Texas, with a primary focus in multi-family real estate development. SWBC Enterprises, Ltd. is owned by Charlie Amato and Gary Dudley, co-founders of SWBC, a diversified financial services company headquartered in San Antonio. SWBC has been in business for more than 36 years and specializes in residential mortgage lending, insurance sales, and investment advisory services.

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Hillwood sells land in north FW for another apartment community

Sandra Baker — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH — Hillwood Properties has sold a tract of land for a multifamily development, the second such land sale since it announced earlier this year it planned as many as 3,000 apartments at its Alliance development in north Fort Worth.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance corridor takes shape, development charges forward

Matthew McGowan — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Anybody who’s been keeping an eye on the goings on up at Alliance Town Center may now begin to see the massive development’s retail component clicking into the broader plan for AllianceTexas, which has grown from an industrial zone around an airport to a full-blown miniature city replete with a golf course and two hospitals.

The recent announcement that national retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a 50,000-square-foot anchor store in Alliance Town Center’s 140,000-square-foot second phase – not to mention the 14-screen Cinemark megaplex theater that just opened – is more than just another checkmark in the win column for the project’s development team. It’s also an indication that the 5-year-old Alliance Town Center is hitting full stride as the retail centerpiece of the broader 17,000-acre master plan.

Developers expect Dick’s arrival to usher in a new wave of signings for the surrounding retail shops. And other new Alliance corporate residents are expected to spur additional growth, and not just in retail. Recent and planned hospital openings are also lifting the area’s profile and attracting a fresh round of attention to the suburb.

Now planners are looking to the 900-acre Alliance Town Center as a piece of the broader picture, which includes sizeable single-family residential development just to the east. The master plan’s medical component has also begun falling into place, thanks to the addition of the North Hills Hospital emergency room satellite and th e planned opening of a Texas Health Resources branch this fall. The two medical facilities, just to the south and north of Alliance Town Center, respectively, basically sandwich the retail development.

“It’s a very comprehensive master plan that’s involved here,” said Bill Burton, senior vice president of Hillwood Properties, the project’s co-developer. “No doubt, Dick’s helps us frame what we see as the lifestyle component that will move back toward the east, connecting horizontally with the residential.”

In other words, Burton said, Alliance shoppers and residents can expect the development to become increasingly “horizontally integrated” in the coming months and years.

Originally, planners intended to begin filling out Alliance Town Center with integrated mixed-use developments consisting of boutiques and specialty shops, but cooled their heels on these riskier types of development as the economy deteriorated.

“I’d say that we are fortunate to have been able to execute on the plan that we’ve started with, with the exception of the specialty lifestyle that has been moved back as a result of the economy,” Burton said. “And, fortunately, we didn’t get ahead of ourselves. It’s given us an opportunity to refine that and take a look at what we anticipate the market to be moving forward.”

All the activity in the area is attracting a new round of attention from outside developers and brokers. Henry S. Miller recently inked a contract with the Texas General Land Office to broker some 160 acres between Keller Hicks Road and Golden Triangle Boulevard west of Interstate 35W just across from the Texas Health Resources site.

Bill Bledsoe, who is handling the deal for Henry S. Miller, said he was drawn to the area originally by another client in Dallas who expressed interest in getting in on the Alliance action. That prompted him to dig around for a way into the Alliance corridor, which he said has obvious potential.

Only one problem: Hillwood isn’t really selling any of its vast holdings in the area.

So Bledsoe went to the land office and negotiated to handle the state-owned acreage, which he said is in a prime location.

The site is currently zoned as light industrial and Bledsoe is anticipating the most interest from medical service providers itching to get on the periphery of the hospital going up just across the freeway. Behind the medical offices on the highway side of the site, Bledsoe can imagine multifamily housing and maybe even some office space.

Regardless of the details, Bledsoe expects the land to attract bids sooner rather than later. Now that the economy appears to be sputtering back to life, the entire Alliance area is growing hotter.

“I think it’s poised for growth,” he said. “I think it’s rebounded very well [from the downturn]. We think this is the next growth corridor.”

AllianceTexas development timeline

1989 Alliance Airport opens on land donated by the family of Texas billionaire and Hillwood Properties chairman Ross Perot Jr.

1991 American Airlines opens maintenance base. ?Alliance hosts its first airshow.

1992 Alliance signs its first customer.

1993 Control tower complete. BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility opens.

1994 FedEx regional sorting hub opens.

1995 Crews break ground on Texas Motor Speedway.

1996 Texas Motor Speedway opens.

1998 Alliance Opportunity Center begins helping nearby employers meet staffing needs.

1999 Construction begins on high-end housing ?development Vaquero.

2000 Fidelity Investments sets up shop at Westlake Corporate Center.

2003 Westlake Academy opens.

2004 Cabela’s opens.

2005 Bell Helicopter opens Alliance site.

2006 First residents move to Monterra Village ?apartments.

2010 First medical facilities arrive. Airport runway extended. AllianceTexas touts employment of 30,000.

2011 One of the nation’s largest accounting firms completes Deloitte University, a $300 million, 712,000-square-foot training complex.

2012 In addition to employing more than 30,000 people, Alliance is home to more than 280 companies and 2,700 single-family homes – all with an estimated economic impact of $40 billion.

Hillwood Adding 2 Spec Office Buildings at Alliance

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties has unveiled a plan to develop two spec class A office buildings in the 900-acre Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth. Construction will begin by year's end on the first structure.

Bill Burton, Hillwood's senior vice president, said the spec project is demand-based due to an increase in professional jobs moving to the submarket and suburban class A office space. The buildings are in the design phase so the square footage is still being determined.

"We have the opportunity in north Fort Worth to create a fully amenitized class A office park with retail, hotel, open space and amenities that will enable us to attract quality companies that can take advantage of the vast number of residents in the area," he explained.

A recent 50,000-square-foot lease with Dick's Sporting Goods jump-started Hillwood's plan for a second phase at Alliance Town Center, located off Interstate 35W and part of Hillwood's 17,000-acre AllianceTexas.

First to come out of the ground will be a class A office building north of Heritage Trace Parkway. The design is aimed at large and small corporate users. A second structure will be incorporated into the town center's lifestyle component and designed to meet needs for small or boutique offices.

Alliance Town Center's retail component features such names as JCPenney, Belk, Best Buy, Pet Smart, Hobby Lobby, BJ’s Brewhouse and Mi Cocina. It also has been entitled for multifamily and single-family residential options, a comprehensive medical community including medical office buildings and senior living facilities, hotels and entertainment venues. In the coming decade, Hillwood plans to build a majority of its entitled 3,000 multifamily units at the town center.

Opening in September will be Texas Health Resources' 262,000-square-foot Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance. The project includes a 73,000-square-foot medical office complex.

HILLWOOD TO BUILD SPEC, CLASS A OFFICE SPACE AT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Development continues transformation into fully-integrated, master-planned community

FORT WORTH, Texas (July 5, 2012) – Hillwood Properties, developer of the 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use AllianceTexas development in north Fort Worth, today announced plans to build two spec, Class A, multi-story office buildings at Alliance Town Center. This announcement follows last week’s decision by Dick’s Sporting Goods to locate a 50,000-square-foot store within Alliance Town Center, kicking off phase two of the project. Combined with the existing retail, residential, medical and emerging entertainment options, this spec office space will further transform the 900-acre Alliance Town Center development into the only fully integrated, master-planned community serving the Interstate 35W and Alliance Corridors.

“As professional jobs continue moving to north Fort Worth, the demand for Class A office space continues to increase,” said Bill Burton, senior vice president of Hillwood Properties. “We have the opportunity in north Fort Worth to create a fully amenitized Class A office park with retail, hotel, open space and amenities that will enable us to attract quality companies that can take advantage of the vast number of residents in the area.”

The first building, which will be located north of Heritage Trace Parkway, is targeted to large and small corporate users. The second building, which will be integrated into the lifestyle component of Alliance Town Center, will be designed for smaller office residents and will cater to boutique office needs. Features will include healthy-building initiatives, high-quality finishes, multi-tenant configurations and connectivity to future bike and jogging trails.

Designs for the building are currently under development. Construction on the building located north of Heritage Trace Parkway will begin by the end of 2012.

Plans for the 900-acre development also include lifestyle components. Alliance Town Center is already recognized as a top-tier retail destination with the nation’s leading brand names, including JCPenney, Belk, Best Buy, Pet Smart, Hobby Lobby, BJ’s Brewhouse, Mi Cocina and more. In addition, the center will include multifamily and single-family residential options, a comprehensive medical community including medical office buildings and senior living facilities, hotels and entertainment venues.

Texas Health Resources’ 262,000-square-foot Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance will open in September 2012. The facility will provide traditional hospital services and includes a 73,000-square-foot medical office complex for physicians. This will complement the North Hills Hospital ER at Alliance, an emergency care center that opened in 2011, and other physicians, dentists and wellness providers currently residing at Alliance Town Center.

Hillwood is also expanding its multifamily housing options, with plans to develop a majority of its 3,000 additional units at Alliance Town Center over the next decade.

Over the next five years, the combination of best-in-class retailers and entertainment, Class A office space, hotels, medical facilities, senior living, single-family and multifamily options will transform Alliance Town Center into the only fully-amenitized, master-planned commerce center for the Interstate 35W and Alliance corridors.

ABOUT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER
A project within the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development, the 900-acre Alliance Town Center is located between North Tarrant Parkway and Golden Triangle Boulevard on the east side of Interstate Highway 35W. The retail component, which includes national brand names JCPenney, Best Buy, Belk and Pet Smart, is a joint venture between Hillwood Properties and Trademark Property Company. Plans for Alliance Town Center include Class A office, a medical campus anchored by Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, senior living, single-family and multi-family options, and additional retail and entertainment options. www.alliancetowncenter.com

# # #

Hillwood to Build Spec Office at Alliance Town Center

Christine Perez — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties, the Perot company behind the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas corridor in North Fort Worth, has announced plans to build two speculative office buildings at Alliance Town Center.

The first, located north of Heritage Trace Parkway, will range between 120,000 and 150,000 square feet and is targeted to both small and large corporate users. Hillwood says it’s evaluating both two- and three-story alternatives. The second, which will be incorporated into the lifestyle component Alliance Town Center, is being designed for boutique office users.

The two facilities are currently being designed; construction on the first office building is slated to begin before the end of the year.

Demand for Class A office space is on the rise, as professional jobs continue moving to the Alliance corridor, said Bill Burton, senior vice president of Hillwood Properties, in a statement. The company has an opportunity to create an office park with retail, hotel, open space, and other amenities that will attract tenants that can “take advantage of the vast number of residents in the area,” he said.

Last week, RealPoints reported that Dick’s Sporting Goods would anchor Phase II of Alliance Town Center, with a 50,000-square-foot anchor store. Current tenants at the 900-acre project include JCPenney, Belk, Best Buy, Pet Smart, Hobby Lobby, BJ’s Brewhouse, Mi Cocina and more.

The center is slated to include multifamily and single-family residential, medical office buildings and senior living facilities, and hotels and entertainment venues. Additionally, according to Hillwood:

• Texas Health Resources’ 188,000-square-foot Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance will open in September. Along with traditional hospital services, it includes a 73,000-square-foot medical office complex for physicians. This will complement the North Hills Hospital ER at Alliance, an emergency care center that opened in 2011, and other physicians, dentists and wellness providers currently residing at Alliance Town Center.

• Hillwood is also expanding its multifamily housing options, with plans to develop a majority of its 3,000 additional units at Alliance Town Center over the next decade.

Alliance Town Center is situated on 900 acres between North Tarrant Parkway and Golden Triangle Boulevard on the east side of Interstate 35-W. The retail component is being developed as a joint venture between Hillwood and Trademark Property Co.

Hillwood to add two office buildings at Alliance Town Center

Sandra Baker — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Hillwood Properties announced plans today to build two speculative Class A office buildings at its 900-acre Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth and expects one building to be under construction by the end of the year.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance to add two office buildings to mix

Matthew McGowan — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties will be adding two top-of-the-line, multi-story office buildings to its ever-growing list of leasing options at Alliance Town Center in North Fort Worth, the developer announced today.

Planners have yet to finalize designs for the two Class-A office towers in the mixed-use, 900-acre Alliance Town Center project, but construction on the first of the two spec buildings is expected to begin before the year’s end. The first tower, located north of Heritage Trace Parkway, will be marketed to large and small corporate clients, while the second building will cater more to smaller boutique-type clients, according to Hillwood’s early plans.

“As professional jobs continue moving to north Fort Worth, the demand for Class A office space continues to increase,” Hillwood Senior Vice President Bill Burton said in the company’s announcement. “We have the opportunity in north Fort Worth to create a fully amenitized Class A office park with retail, hotel, open space and amenities that will enable us to attract quality companies that can take advantage of the vast number of residents in the area.”

Tarrant County College considers taking flight with aviation proposal

A. Lee Graham — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A plan under consideration by Tarrant County College officials at tonight's board meeting could have a long-lasting economic impact on North Texas’ ability to attract new aviation-related businesses and technologies.

Before the college district considers a financing offer to develop and construct an aviation learning center at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, it plans to review its budget priorities.

“What we’re trying to do is figure out what we want to do insofar as capital improvements are concerned,” said TCC board President Bill Greenhill.

The college is considering an offer by Hillwood Properties to fund the development and construction of an aviation learning center that would be overseen by the school. The Hillwood proposal gives the college a lease-to-own financing option spanning 25 years. In turn, the school would run and maintain the center.

Trustees learned details of the proposal at their June 21 board meeting and were expected to tackle the issue again at a July 5 board workshop.

“It’s an excellent opportunity,” Greenhill said.

A regional transportation proponent agrees.

“As we’ve moved from horseback to covered wagon to railroads to air, aviation is a huge part of Fort Worth’s heritage and a large part of our future,” said Fort Worth District 6 Councilman Jungus Jordan, who also serves as secretary-treasurer of the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition and is a former chairman of the North Central Texas Regional Transportation Council.

“I am very excited by the announcement of this,”Jordan said. “It’s a huge win.”

Though TCC already offers aviation education at its Northwest campus, the proposed Alliance Learning Center would double the size of the program and add a pilot-training program, as well as a logistics associate degree and composite materials training program.

“Avionics, logistics and composite materials: these are three very important components of our employment here In North Texas and Alliance [Airport] is a great place to do it,” Greenhill said.

Tom Harris agrees.

As senior vice president of operations with Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas, Harris views the center as essential for narrowing the gap between the 8,000 aviation and aerospace workers expected to be needed in North Texas in the coming decade and the number of trained professionals able to meet that need.

“Having a trained and qualified workforce in those industries and having a funnel of students that can fill existing jobs and new jobs is going to be very important for this region,” Harris said.

From pilots and flight crews to mechanics, engineers and air traffic controllers several professions will need a steady supply of trained workers to keep pace with aviation, aerospace and logistics industries that are increasingly expanding.

Some 2,463 students enrolled in TCC’s aviation education program in the 2010-11 academic year, with aviation ranking as one of the most requested fields of study, according to the college district.

Graduates have found jobs at Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and other airlines; FedEx,UPS and other air cargo carriers; Boeing Corp., Textron and other aircraft manufacturers; and General Electric Co., among engine manufacturers.

“When you look across Fort Worth at our major employers and the suppliers for our major employers, it’s a huge part of what we do,”Jordan said of aviation. “I know our children are fascinated by air and space, and that’s certainly one reason I’ve always been a huge supporter of protecting our aviation heritage and promoting it.”

North Texas is home to 250 aerospace and aviation employers, with its aerospace cluster the second-largest in the nation, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Airports and the aviation industry generate $23 billion annually for the North Texas economy, 7.9 percent of all pilots live in Texas, and 270 aircraft mechanics are needed through 2014 in North Central Texas, according to NCTCOG. And according to Boeing Co., about 24,000 pilots will be needed annually worldwide through 2030.

But why Tarrant County College? According to Hillwood, the school was chosen because of its Northwest Campus aviation program, not to mention that the district owns the land, among other reasons.

“If Tarrant County College moves forward with this project and allows us to move forward with this financing and development concept, then we think we could get this project designed and constructed in 18 to 24 months,” Harris said.

Aviation in North Texas

• North Texas is home to 250 aerospace and aviation employers
• The North Texas aerospace cluster is the second largest in the U.S.
• Over the next decade, the North Central Texas Council of Governments says the region will need 8,000 workers in the aviation and aerospace sector.
• Jobs needed will include: pilots and flight crew; mechanics and technicians; engineers; and air traffic controllers

Hillwood announces 2 Alliance Town Center office buildings

Lance Murray — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties announced Thursday that it plans to build two spec Class A multistory office buildings at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth.

The Dallas-based company said the announcement comes on the heels of last week's decision by Dick's Sporting Goods to place a 50,000-square-foot store at the 900-acre Alliance Town Center development.

The area is a part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

"As professional jobs continue moving to north Fort Worth, the demand for Class A office space continues to increase," Bill Burton, senior vice president of Hillwood Properties, said in a release.

The company said the first building will be north of Heritage Trace Parkway and is intended for large and small corporate clients. The second building will be integrated into the lifestyle part of Alliance Town Center and will be designed for boutique office needs, Hillwood said.

Building designs are being developed, Hillwood said, and construction on the first building should begin by the end of 2012.

Another Landing at AllianceTexas

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In keeping with its vision of preparing aviation and aerospace leaders for tomorrow’s world, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) opened its second campus in Fort Worth on May 28 with evening and online classes in aeronautics, project management and systems engineering. The university leased 3,991 square feet at the Heritage Commons office complex at Alliance. The site also houses The Center for Aviation and Aerospace Leadership, an educational program to share aviation and aerospace leadership information.

The Alliance campus joins the original campus located at the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. ERAU teamed with Tarrant County College and the University of North Texas to offer three degrees at Alliance.

“AllianceTexas is a dynamic location that provides us direct access to global leaders in the aviation, aerospace and logistics industries,” said Dr. Mark Friend, ERAU Worldwide Central Region dean. “The proximity of our campus to these companies and our collaboration with local workforce development partners enable us to refine our programs based on the industry’s specific needs and fully prepare our students to meet the immediate and long-term demands of this industry.”

For more information on ERAU, visit embryriddle.edu.

Personnel Moves

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Mercedes Bolen has been named director of communications at Hillwood Properties, where she will be responsible for the management of customer service, public relations and photography services, as well as planning and implementation of all media and marketing strategies. Prior to joining Hillwood, Bolen served as public affairs manager for Chesapeake Energy, where her responsibilities included government relations, community affairs, and public education for the Barnett Shale.

Bolen Named Director of Communications at Hillwood Properties

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties has named Mercedes Bolen as director of communications, where she will be responsible for the management of customer service, public relations and photography services, as well as planning and implementation of all media and marketing strategies for AllianceTexas.

AllianceTexas is Hillwood's 17,000-acre, master-planned development in north Fort Worth. The development includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Alliance Town Center, Heritage, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects.

Previously, Bolen served as public affairs manager for Chesapeake Energy. Her responsibilities included government relations, community affairs and public education for the Barnett Shale. Through Bolen's work with Chesapeake, she also served as the company's public relations liaison to the Barnett Shale Water Conservation Management Committee, was a volunteer educator for the Independent Petroleum Association of America and was a Chesapeake representative to Score a Goal in the Classroom, a program designed to encourage and motivate students to raise grades, achieve better attendance and become responsible citizens.

Prior to her work with Chesapeake, Bolen served as international marketing coordinator for the dental division of Henry Schein, Inc.

Bolen earned a bachelor's degree and an MBA from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Greater Fort Worth Chapter, and is a member of the Leadership Fort Worth Leading Edge Alumni. She spends much of her personal time serving the community as a member of the Mayfest, Inc. Board of Directors and the AAC Gala Committee for Camp Fire USA First Texas Council. She also volunteers for the Tarrant Area Food Bank and Cowboy Santa.

Dick’s Sporting Goods to Anchor Phase 2 of Alliance Town Center

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Dick’s Sporting Goods has signed a 50,000-square-foot lease at Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth. The store will anchor a 140,000-square-foot second phase of the large retail development.

Construction on the store is slated to begin in July, with opening set for summer 2013.

Alliance Town Center is a joint venture between Hillwood and Trademark Property Co., which put the Dick’s Sporting Goods deal together. Currently 800,000 square feet and growing, the retail development sits off Interstate 35W at Heritage Trace Parkway in North Fort Worth.

Dick's Sporting Goods to anchor Alliance phase two

Steven R. Thompson — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Dick’s Sporting Goods signed a 50,000-square-foot lease to anchor a new phase of Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth.

Trademark Property Co. said construction on Dick’s would begin in July and the store is set to open in summer of 2013.

Phase two will add 140,000 square feet to the existing 800,000 square feet. Alliance Town Center is a joint venture of Hillwood and Trademark.

Dick’s Sporting Goods to anchor new phase of Alliance Town Center

Katherine Field Boccaccio — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fort Worth, Texas -- Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. said Tuesday that Dick’s Sporting Goods will open at Alliance Town Center, located in North Fort Worth.

The 50,000-sq.-ft. store will anchor a 140,000-sq.-ft. Phase 2 of the center. Construction on Dick’s is scheduled to begin in July with opening set for summer 2013.

Alliance Town Center, currently 800,000 sq. ft., is a joint venture of Hillwood and Trademark, and is part of the 17,000-acre Alliance, Texas, master-planned community.

The center is tenanted by Belk, J.C. Penney, Best Buy, Sam Moon, Rooms To Go, The Children’s Place, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace, PetSmart, Ulta and Justice. Dining options include BJ’s, Olive Garden, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s, Which Wich, Jason’s Deli and Mi Cocina.

Dick's Sporting Goods to anchor phase two development at Alliance Town Center

Sandra Baker — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sports and fitness retailers in the U.S., will open a 50,000-square-foot store at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth, anchoring the second phase of the retail center, developer Trademark Property Co. said today.

Click here to read the full article.

TCC is offered financing for aviation center in Fort Worth

Diane Smith — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Hillwood Properties is offering a 25-year lease-to-own financing option that would pay for the development and construction of an aviation learning center at Alliance Airport that would be operated and maintained by the Tarrant County College District.

The proposal was part of a presentation to TCC trustees Thursday night. No action was taken.

Alliance is "the premier aviation center in the United States," said Michael K. Berry, president of Hillwood Properties.

Click here to read the full article.

TCC considers starting an aviation center in Fort Worth

Diane Smith — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- If workforce projections prove true, North Texas should see plenty of job openings for pilots, aircraft mechanics and aerospace engineers over the next decade.

Tarrant County College wants to help train some of those future workers, which is why it spent about $5.2 million to buy 20 acres at Alliance Airport in 2008. Five more acres were donated by Hillwood Properties.

Click here to read the full article.

Dallas developer steps into Rocky Creek subdivision

Shonda Novak — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities is developing more land in the Rocky Creek residential subdivision along Hamilton Pool Road in western Travis County, with the next 100 lots to be ready for homebuilders in July, the company said.

In all, the Dallas-based firm founded by Ross Perot Jr. plans to develop nearly 400 lots at Rocky Creek over the next three years if sales continue at their current pace of about 75 houses a year, Brian Carlock, senior vice president for Hillwood, said in an email Monday.

Hillwood has developed lots for the 90 homes built to date at Rocky Creek, with eight more under construction.

Hillwood also said Monday that it is buying the remaining 52 residential acres in Sarita Valley, a master-planned community in Leander, from Austin-based Riverside Resources.

Hillwood plans to start developing the second phase in July to sell to builders in the project, which is east of the 183-A tollway.

Riverside Resources completed the first phase, 55 lots, earlier this year. More phases are planned, Carlock said.

Slated for 255 homes, Sarita Valley is off Ronald Reagan Boulevard between RM 1431 and RM 2243.

Drees Custom Homes and Grand Haven Homes are building houses there in the $230,000 to $430,000 range, Carlock said.

At Rocky Creek, Drees and Highland Homes are building homes in the $320,000 to $600,000 range, Carlock said.

Hillwood was drawn to Rocky Creek and Sarita Valley for a number of reasons, Carlock said, with "outstanding homebuilders and a great location in Austin's Hill Country ... only the beginning."

Sales from Rocky Creek's first phase "have already far exceeded our expectations," Carlock said.

In addition, "the healthy Central Texas economy and homebuilding market further validate Hillwood's commitment to expand in the area," Carlock said.

Though builders scaled back during the economic downturn, experts say Central Texas' housing market held up better than other parts of the country.

Hillwood purchased the 468 acres formerly known as Rocky Creek Ranch in 2010 from a bank that had foreclosed on the property.

The first phase of Rocky Creek was completed in March 2011. Hillwood's next 100 lots will complete the second of four phases.

"Rocky Creek Ranch has had strong sales since its opening several years ago," said Eldon Rude, director of the Austin region for Metrostudy, which tracks the housing market locally and nationally. "Of all the markets tracked by Metrostudy in the Austin region, the Lake Travis submarket has experienced the strongest rebound in new homes sales since the recession hit in 2008."

Rocky Creek's draws include large lots, open spaces and its location in the desirable Lake Travis school district, Rude said.

At Sarita Valley, Drees and Grand Haven have sold 16 houses, with an average sales price of $360,000, Carlock said.

While new home demand has been strong for many years along the Parmer Lane corridor south of RM 1431, Sarita Valley "is one of several new home communities now offering home buyers options north of this major roadway," Rude said. "The location of the subdivision in the Leander (school district) will be a strong selling point for the community."

Said Carlock: "Builders will need lots before I can complete them, which is a good problem."

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY WORLDWIDE

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT WORTH, Texas (May 15, 2012) – Hillwood Properties announced today that the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide (ERAU-WW) has leased 3,991 square feet at the Heritage Commons I office complex within AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned development.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest fully accredited university specializing in the aviation and aerospace industry, is based in Daytona Beach, Fla., and through its Worldwide Campus, has over 150 additional locations around the world. The Alliance campus will be the second in the Ft. Worth area. The university is also located at the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. ERAU is working with Tarrant County College and the University of North Texas to offer degrees in aeronautics, aviation maintenance, project management and systems engineering at the Alliance campus.
“The presence of Embry-Riddle at AllianceTexas reinforces the development’s position as a premier destination for the aviation and aerospace industry,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “The institution integrates nicely into our master plan to serve as the one of the strongest aviation and aerospace workforce development centers in the nation. We are delighted to welcome them to AllianceTexas.”

Embry-Riddle offers three degree programs at Alliance. In addition to a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics (BSPA), students may earn a Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) or a Master of System Engineering (MSE). The MSPM degree program was developed entirely by certified project managers and is registered with the prestigious Project Management Institute. The MSE, Embry-Riddle’s newest degree program, prepares students to effectively manage complex systems and engineering projects by establishing a solid foundation of systems engineering knowledge and by learning how to apply a systems perspective to business and technology.

“AllianceTexas is a dynamic location that provides us direct access to global leaders in the aviation, aerospace and logistics industries,” said Dr. Mark Friend, Worldwide’s Central Region Dean. “The proximity of our campus to these companies, and our collaboration with local workforce development partners, enable us to refine our programs based on the industry’s specific needs and fully prepare our students to meet the immediate and long-term demands of this industry.”

Classes at the Alliance campus will begin on May 28, 2012. They are held in the evenings or online to appeal to working adults.

The site also will house The Center for Aviation and Aerospace Leadership (CAAL), an educational program designed to capture, create, and share relevant information on leadership in the aviation and aerospace industry.

Retired Brig. Gen. Robert Mansfield, executive director of CAAL at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide stated, “Collocating our leadership center with our academic programs and particularly at AllianceTexas could not be better. We’re located at a hub of innovation and foresight using aviation to enhance business and industrial operations. There is a heritage of leadership excellence here that fits perfectly with our vision of preparing aviation and aerospace leaders for tomorrow’s world.”

For more information about Embry-Riddle degree programs at the Alliance campus, please contact Jeannie Simmons or Mary Bittle at 817-737-8180, or e-mail fortworth@erau.edu. Details are also available at www.worldwide.erau.edu/fortworth.

In addition to opening its Alliance campus, Embry-Riddle and CAAL are reinforcing its presence in North Texas by presenting the 3rd Annual Aviation & Aerospace Industry Manufacturing Summit (AAIMS 2012). The event, which is co-hosted by AllianceTexas, takes place October 7-10, 2012, at the Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle. Set against the backdrop of AllianceTexas – the nation’s first industrial airport and premier inland port, AAIMS is a rare convergence of the industry’s private, private and academic sectors. Its workshops, sessions and panels provide participants an opportunity to interact with preeminent thought leaders who are
driving the aviation and aerospace industry’s transformation. For more details about the AAIMS 2012 summit, visit HERE.

ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., and through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada and the Middle East. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It consists of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village. AllianceTexas is now home to 290 companies, including more than 50 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes list of Top Private Firms. Together, these companies have built 31.2 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs.
ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

# # #

ALLIANCETEXAS TO HOLD HIRING FAIR ON APRIL 27

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hundreds of Part- And Full-Time Jobs Available

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 18, 2012) – AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use community in North Texas, will host a hiring fair as the final segment of the 2012 North American Workforce Symposium. The symposium will be held on Thursday, April 26 with the hiring fair held on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Texas Motor Speedway’s Speedway Club located at 3545 Lone Star Circle in Fort Worth. North Texas job seekers will have an opportunity to network with representatives of more than 40 companies located within AllianceTexas, including FORTUNE 500 and Global 500 corporations.

“Continuous growth at AllianceTexas has created a steady stream of job opportunities for many years,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Corporate residents continue to relocate and expand at AllianceTexas because this region offers access to one of the most abundant and qualified labor forces in the nation. The annual hiring fair allows us to bring together the two components that make AllianceTexas a significant economic driver for the North Texas region: a diverse group of employers and a large, highly skilled workforce.”

The hiring fair is sponsored by Hillwood, the Alliance Opportunity Center and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County. Past hiring fairs have attracted 1,800 job seekers, and through the years, it has become one of the premier job fairs in North Texas. The AllianceTexas Hiring Fair is unique in its diversity of employers from industries such as aviation/aerospace, logistics, financial services, healthcare and retail. It also offers a wide range of positions such as warehouse/manufacturing/distribution staff, forklift operators, logistics professionals, financial service professionals, administrative professionals, food service staff, commercial drivers, call center operators, hospitality staff, bank tellers, customer service representatives and more.

Participating organizations include AIG, CK Technologies, Bridgestone, Cinemark, Deloitte University/Benchmark Hospitality, DynCorp International, FedEx, Fidelity Investments, GE Transportation, Grainger, Hawaiian Falls, JCPenney, KRAFT Foods, Kroger, Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Michaels Stores, Nationwide Insurance, RECARO Aircraft Seating, Texas Health Resources, Texas Instruments, Tom Thumb, Tucker Rocky and more.

The 2012 North American Workforce Symposium will be held in cooperation with Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas, the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and Hillwood Properties. The event brings together business leaders, educational partners and community organizations to ensure a vibrant supply of trained and certified personnel for the manufacturing, supply chain and logistics industries. For more information, visit www.nascocorridor.com/workforcesymposium.

For information on current job openings or the AllianceTexas Hiring Fair visit www.AllianceTexas.com or call the Alliance Opportunity Center at 817.548.5274.

# # #

Hillwood Communities has purchased land in the Woodcreek community near Rockwall.

STEVE BROWN — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Communities said Wednesday that it has purchased land near Rockwall northeast of Dallas for 216 single-family home sites.

Hillwood purchased 62 acres in the Woodcreek community in the town of Fate. The property was bought from developer Jim Baker.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Homes built on the property will be priced near $250,000, the developer said.

“We chose this community because of its wonderful master plan, outstanding schools and superb quality of life that both Hillwood and home builders expect in our neighborhoods,” Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities, said in a statement.

Woodcreek is located near Interstate 30 and has homes priced from around $150,000 to more than $300,000. Builders in the community include Drees Homes, David Weekley Homes and Horizon Homes.

Hillwood Communities is a company owned by Dallas businessman Ross Perot Jr. that has been in business since 1988. Hillwood has built 70 communities with more than 20,000 lots in North Texas and in other markets.

Hillwood Communities buys land in East Texas town of Fate

SANDRA BAKER — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities, a Perot company, said it has bought 62 acres in the Woodcreek master planned community in Fate from developer John Baker.

Hillwood Communities will develop about 216 home sites, with average home prices expected to be around $250,000. The lots will be ready for home-building in summer 2013, Hillwood said.
Drees Custom Homes has already been building in Woodcreek and is expected to continue doing so on the Hillwood lots. Hillwood expects to announce an additional builder.

Woodcreek is near Interstate 30, Highway 66 and Texas 190 and is in the Rockwall school district.

The community has a swimming pool, playgrounds, clubhouse, fitness center, fishing pond and walking trails.

Since 1988, Hillwood Communities has built 70 communities throughout the U.S. and Costa Rica, developing more than 22,000 lots. Right now, the company has 34 communities in 28 cities and seven states.

KERA’s “CEO” FEATURES MIKE BERRY OF HILLWOOD PROPERTIES

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 22, 2012

This March on KERA’s CEO with Lee Cullum

DALLAS/FORT WORTH – How did Hillwood Properties transform farm land in North Fort Worth into one of the world’s busiest inland ports? On the next episode of CEO, Hillwood Properties’ President, Mike Berry, talks with host Lee Cullum about the launch strategies for AllianceTexas, the company’s signature development. Berry states, “What started out as an industrial airport idea grew into a multi-modal inland port. It was a unique and first-of-its-kind idea.” What are the possible outcomes if anchor tenant American Airlines closes its expansive maintenance facility? Berry shares lessons learned from Hillwood’s Victory Park project and his outlook for growth in North Texas, “Victory Park is going to continue to be a shining star for Dallas. It’s back in forward motion. I’m pretty optimistic about the next decade.”

KERA’s CEO features insightful discussions with successful North Texas business leaders from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about what it takes to make a company successful in today’s global marketplace and changing economy. The March episode featuring Mike Berry airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2012, on KERA TV with rebroadcasts at noon Sunday, April 1, and at 10:30 p.m. Monday, April 2, 2012. CEO also can be heard at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 1, 2012, on KERA FM. Following the initial on-air broadcast, the half-hour program will be available on www.kera.org/ceo. Previous CEO episodes are available on demand at www.kera.org/ceo.

CEO is sponsored by Southwest Securities, the Executive Education Center at The University of Texas at Dallas, The Berry Firm and Sewell Automotive Companies. For more information about Hillwood Properties, visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

ABOUT MIKE BERRY
With more than 30 years of real estate development experience, Mike Berry is a skilled transaction expert in all real estate classes with senior level management and operating expertise. Serving as president of Hillwood Properties, Mike Berry leads development efforts for one of the most unique master-planned communities in the nation – the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development. The project’s foundation is the Alliance Global Logistics Hub – an international trade and logistics complex offering inland port transportation options via one of the nation’s largest intermodal yards, two Class I rail lines, the world’s first industrial airport and connecting state and interstate highways. Stemming from this strong commercial base are corporate campuses, office complexes, tech and data centers, destination retail and entertainment venues, residential housing, schools, churches and community shopping. In total, the development encompasses nearly 32 million square feet, over 265 corporate residents, 30,000+ employees and more than 7,600 single-family homes.

ABOUT CEO
Host Lee Cullum conducts insightful discussions with successful North Texas business leaders from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about what it takes to make a company successful in today’s global marketplace and changing economy. CEO episodes are available on-demand at www.kera.org/ceo.

ABOUT KERA
KERA is a not-for-profit public media organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the fourth-largest population area in the United States. KERA produces original multimedia content, carries the best in national and international public television and radio programs, and provides online resources at http://www.kera.org/. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at http://www.artandseek.org/. KERA-TV broadcasts on Channel 13.1. KERA WORLD broadcasts on 13.2. KERA-FM broadcasts on 90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 88.3 in Wichita Falls, 100.1 in Tyler and 99.3 in Sherman. The music station KXT 91.7 FM is also streamed online at http://www.kxt.org/.

###

Brookfield, Hillwood JV on $1B Acquisition Vehicle

Gail Kalinoski — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With the U.S. industrial market improving, Brookfield Asset Management and Hillwood announced a joint venture that is expected to invest up to $1 billion in industrial properties over the next three years.

Backed by an equity commitment of $400 million, the joint venture will acquire, develop and manage industrial property, mainly large warehouses, across the United States. The companies said it was one of the more significant investments in industrial real estate since the U.S. recession began in 2008. The companies noted they have a wealth of combined experience and resources to make a significant impact on the market. Hillwood, a Dallas-based real estate investor and developer owned by Ross Perot Jr., will look for the properties.

“The partnership between Brookfield and Hillwood is not only the right fit, it’s happening at the right time,” Perot said. “Industrial development slowed during the downturn due to a lack of equity and debt. Given the liquidity and resources supporting our investment, our joint venture is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement.”

A year-end report by services firm Cushman & Wakefield Inc. noted that demand had “accelerated significantly” in 2011 at levels not seen since before the recession and was expected to continue this year. The national overall vacancy rate declined to 10 percent in 2011 from 10.8 percent the previous year, and leasing activity increased by 20.5 percent to 417.1 million square feet in 2011 from 345.8 million square feet leased in 2010. Cushman said it was the highest level of leasing activity seen in the U.S. industrial market since 2007. Many of the major markets in the study reported increased demand with leasing activity and absorption rates rising and overall vacancy rates declining. Several markets, particularly in Pennsylvania along the I-81/I-78 corridors and in Pittsburgh, were reporting the need for more development.

“As long-term, value-oriented real estate investors, we believe this is an excellent time to selectively build a portfolio of high-quality industrial properties, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Hillwood,” said David Arthur, managing partner of Brookfield Asset Management.

Brookfield Asset Management, based in Toronto, is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. It has approximately $150 billion of assets under management, including $83 billion in property assets in North and South America, Europe and Australia.

Hillwood is the top residential developer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country. One of its biggest developments is AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre, master-planned, mixed-use community that features industrial, office and retail space for nearly 300 companies. It is anchored by the multi-modal inland port known as the Alliance Global Logistics Hub. Hillwood has developed similar projects in California and Florida. It also has industrial properties in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi.

Hillwood developer teams with Canadian firm for $1 billion investment

Aleshia Howe — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance, Texas developer Hillwood has inked a deal with Canadian firm Brookfield Asset Management to form a joint venture to acquire, develop and manage up to $1 billion in industrial property throughout the United States.

With an equity commitment of $400 million, the partnership is expected to deploy up to $1 billion within the first three years.

"The partnership between Brookfield and Hillwood is not only the right fit, it's happening at the right time," said Ross Perot Jr., chairman of real estate firm Hillwood in a release. "Industrial development slowed during the downturn due to a lack of equity and debt. Given the liquidity and resources supporting our investment, our joint venture is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement."

Brookfield is a global asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with about $150 billion of assets under management – with more than $83 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. The firm is listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively.

"As long-term, value-oriented real estate investors, we believe this is an excellent time to selectively build a portfolio of high-quality industrial properties, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Hillwood," said David Arthur, managing partner at Brookfield Asset Management, in a release. "This initiative expands the scope of our real estate platform in an exciting asset class, strengthening our global property operations in line with the expected launch later this year of our flagship property vehicle, Brookfield Property Partners."

Hillwood joins billion-dollar team

Sandra Baker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood, developer of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas in far north Fort Worth, said Wednesday that it has teamed with Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management to invest $1 billion in industrial property nationwide.

Click here to read the full article.

Brookfield Asset Management and Hillwood Launch Venture to Acquire, Develop and Manage U.S. Industrial Properties

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The partnership is expected to deploy up to $1 billion over the next three years

DALLAS, March 14, 2012 — Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM.A) and Hillwood, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate investor and developer owned by Ross Perot, Jr., announced today a joint venture to acquire, develop and manage industrial property, principally large warehouses, across the United States. With an equity commitment of $400 million, the partnership is expected to deploy up to $1 billion within the first three years. Hillwood will locate industrial property investments with potential for value creation.

The partnership represents one of the more significant commitments to U.S. industrial real estate since the economic downturn that began in 2008. With a wealth of combined experience in investments, acquisitions, development, finance, accounting, legal, leasing and property and asset management, the partnership has the resources and expertise to establish a significant presence in the industrial warehouse market.

“The partnership between Brookfield and Hillwood is not only the right fit, it’s happening at the right time,” said Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman, Hillwood. “Industrial development slowed during the downturn due to a lack of equity and debt. Given the liquidity and resources supporting our investment, our joint venture is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement.”

“As long-term, value-oriented real estate investors, we believe this is an excellent time to selectively build a portfolio of high-quality industrial properties, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Hillwood,” said David Arthur, Managing Partner at Brookfield Asset Management. “This initiative expands the scope of our real estate platform in an exciting asset class, strengthening our global property operations in line with the expected launch later this year of our flagship property vehicle, Brookfield Property Partners.”

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with approximately US$150 billion of assets under management, which includes over US$83 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.brookfield.com/.

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

* * * * *

Note: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and applicable regulations and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbour” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “expected”, “continue”, “believe” and “will” and other expressions are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects or identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to acquisition, development and management of industrial properties by the joint venture, the joint venture’s presence in the industrial warehouse market, the demand for industrial space and the outlook for investment in industrial and logistics-driven real estate. Although we believe that the joint venture’s anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information as such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include the following: economic and financial conditions in the United States; the behaviour of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and exchange rates; availability of equity and debt financing; strategic actions including the ability to acquire or develop high quality assets; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; acts of God, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in the form 40-F of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (“Brookfield”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as other documents filed by Brookfield with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States, including Brookfield’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Results under the heading “Business Environment and Risks.”

We caution that the foregoing factors that may affect future results are not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Brookfield, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Brookfield Asset Mgmt And Hillwood Create New JV To Manage Industrial Properties

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

(RTTNews) - Brookfield Asset Management (BMA) Wednesday announced that it has partnered with real estate investor, Hillwood to create a new joint venture to acquire, develop and manage industrial property, principally large warehouses, across the United States.

Both the Brookfield Asset Management and Hillwood have agreed to invest $400 million each for the proposed joint venture.

It has been projected that the joint venture would deploy up to $1 billion within the first three years. It would be the responsibility of Hillwood to locate industrial property investments with potential for value creation.

David Arthur, Managing Partner at Brookfield Asset Management, commented: "This initiative expands the scope of our real estate platform in an exciting asset class, strengthening our global property operations in line with the expected launch later this year of our flagship property vehicle, Brookfield Property Partners."

Brookfield, Ross Perot Ink $1 Billion Venture

Steve Gelsi — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK – Brookfield Asset Management said Wednesday it's teaming up with a Dallas/Fort Worth real estate firm owned by Ross Perot Jr. to deploy up to $1 billion in the first three years to acquire and develop industrial properties. Brookfield and Hillwood are launching with $400 million in equity to locate industrial property investments with potential for value creation, the companies said.

Brookfield Asset Management, Perot Firm Enter US Warehouse Venture

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM, BAM.A.T) agreed to an industrial property-focused joint venture with a Texas real-estate investor and developer owned by Ross Perot Jr.

The venture, which is expected to mostly include large warehouses in the U.S., has an equity commitment of $400 million, and expects to invest as much as $1 billion within the first three years.

Brookfield and Perot's Hillwood said in a statement the venture represents one of the more significant commitments to U.S. industrial real estate since the economic downturn that began in 2008.

The Toronto investment giant established a bridgehead in U.S. real estate during the downturn of the early 1990s. Through much of the last decade, Brookfield has primarily focused its real-estate efforts in the U.S. on building its office holdings.

Hillwood Chairman Ross Perot Jr., son of the computer billionaire and former U.S. third-party presidential candidate, said the partnership is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space that will increase as the economy continues to strengthen.

Brookfield Managing Partner David Arthur said the move expands the scope of the company's real-estate platform in an exciting asset class and strengthens its global property operations ahead of the expected launch later this year of its flagship property vehicle, Brookfield Property Partners.

Brookfield shares were down 9 cents at $32.22 in early trading. The stock is up about 17% this year.

Hillwood, Brookfield Aim to Deploy $1 Billion

Christine Perez — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Dallas-based Hillwood and Toronto’s Brookfield Asset Management are teaming up to buy, develop and manage industrial properties across the United States. Backed by an equity commitment of $400 million, the partners hope to place up to $1 billion in the next three years.

“The partnership between Brookfield and Hillwood is not only the right fit, it’s happening at the right time,” said Ross Perot, Jr., chairman of Hillwood, in a statement. “Industrial development slowed during the downturn due to a lack of equity and debt. Given the liquidity and resources supporting our investment, our joint venture is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement.”

David Arthur, managing partner of Brookfield Asset Management, said the initiative will expand the scope of the firm’s real estate platform, strengthen its global property operations, and is in line with the expected launch later this year of Brookfield Property Partners. “As long-term, value-oriented real estate investors, we believe this is an excellent time to selectively build a portfolio of high-quality industrial properties, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Hillwood,” he said.

Here is additional information, taken from a joint press release:

Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with approximately $150 billion of assets under management, which includes more than $83 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively.

Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company’s developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand, which includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia.

Hillwood partners in $1 billion industrial deal

Steve Brown — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood said Wednesday that it is teaming up with Brookfield Asset Management to invest in $1 billion in industrial and commercial properties.

The real estate company owned by Dallas businessman Ross Perot Jr. is best known for its big AllianceTexas development north of Fort Worth.

Now Hillwood and its new partner Brookfield are committing $400 million to buy, develop and manage industrial buildings across the country during the next three years.

Hillwood will be in charge of locating the properties.

The company said that the new partnership is one of the largest such ventures since the start of the recession in 2008.

“The partnership between Brookfield and Hillwood is not only the right fit, it’s happening at the right time,” Perot said in a statement. “Industrial development slowed during the downturn due to a lack of equity and debt.

"Given the liquidity and resources supporting our investment, our joint venture is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement.”

Brookfield is a Toronto-based public real estate company with about $150 billion of assets under management.

The company has previously invested in North Texas real estate.

“As long-term, value-oriented real estate investors, we believe this is an excellent time to selectively build a portfolio of high-quality industrial properties, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Hillwood,” David Arthur, Managing Partner at Brookfield Asset Management, said.

Alliance trade zone leads U.S. for fourth time in five years

Sandra Baker — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- More than $4 billion worth of foreign goods passed through the foreign-trade zone at Fort Worth's Alliance Airport in fiscal 2010, making it the No. 1 foreign-trade zone in the U.S., according to a new government report.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance ranked top foreign-trade zone

Matt Joyce — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone at the Alliance Logistics Hub admitted more than $4 billion in foreign products in 2010, making it the top-ranked general purpose foreign-trade zone in the United States.

Alliance said Tuesday that the ranking was included in an annual federal report. Numbers for 2011 are not yet available.

The value of foreign goods admitted to the Alliance FTZ in 2010 increased 36 percent over 2009.

Operations within foreign trade zones are not subject to formal customs entry procedures or payment of duties until the imported goods are moved for domestic consumption.

Companies at the Alliance Logistics Hub that use the Alliance FTZ include Cinram, Hyundai, LEGO, Motorola, GENCO ATC, Callaway Golf and Alliance Operating Services.

About 80 percent of the product received into the Alliance FTZ in 2010 arrived from China, while South Korean goods accounted for 12 percent and Danish goods accounted for 8 percent.

“Much of the product is received into the West Coast ports of L.A./Long Beach and remains within U.S. Customs and Border Protection bonded status as it travels to BNSF Railway’s Alliance Intermodal Facility at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub,” Alliance said in a news release. “The materials are transported to an FTZ-designated facility, where they can be inventoried, assembled, labeled, kitted, exported or destroyed.”

Alliance Foreign-Trade ranked as top zone in U.S.

Aleshia Howe — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 196 was ranked as the top General Purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the United States, in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted, according to the Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board just released to the U.S. Congress.

In the fiscal year 2010, the Alliance FTZ admitted more than $4 billion in foreign products, a 36 percent increase compared with 2009. This is the fourth time in five years the Alliance FTZ has received the top U.S. ranking.

Companies that contribute to foreign products in the Alliance FTZ include: Cinram, Hyundai, LEGO, Motorola, GENCO ATC, Callaway Golf and Alliance Operating Services. According to an Alliance news release, about 80 percent of the product received into the Alliance FTZ in 2010 arrived from China, with 12 percent coming from South Korea and 8 percent from Denmark. Additional countries of origin included Mexico, Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand.

“The Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone continues to experience tremendous growth because of the substantial, and increasing, presence of global companies at AllianceTexas and in the surrounding region,” said Steve Boecking, vice president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas. “Regional efforts to strengthen international relationships and to build new global trade partnerships have also resulted in an increased volume of foreign goods being shipped through North Texas.”

ALLIANCE FOREIGN-TRADE ZONE RANKS AS TOP GENERAL PURPOSE FOREIGN-TRADE ZONE IN THE U.S.

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT WORTH, Texas (February 28, 2012) – The Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) #196 has been ranked as the top General Purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the United States, in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted, according to the recently released Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to the U.S. Congress. In the fiscal year 2010, the timeframe during which the report is based and the most recent data available, the Alliance FTZ admitted over $4 billion in foreign products, a 36 percent increase over 2009. This is the fourth time in five years the Alliance FTZ has received the top U.S. ranking.

Companies at the Alliance Logistics Hub that primarily utilize the Alliance FTZ include Cinram, Hyundai, LEGO, Motorola, GENCO ATC, Callaway Golf and Alliance Operating Services. Approximately 80 percent of the product received into the Alliance FTZ in 2010 arrived from China, plus 12 percent from South Korea and 8 percent from Denmark. Additional countries of origin included Mexico, Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand.

Much of the product is received into the West Coast ports of L.A./Long Beach and remains within U.S. Customs and Border Protection bonded status as it travels to BNSF Railway’s Alliance Intermodal Facility at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub. The materials are transported to an FTZ-designated facility, where they can be inventoried, assembled, labeled, kitted, exported or destroyed. Use of the Foreign-Trade Zone enables companies to reduce importing costs and improve supply chain efficiencies. By operating within an FTZ, companies can maintain their location and jobs in the United States while taking advantage of international economic benefits as if they were located off-shore.

Activity at the Alliance FTZ is a major contributor to AllianceTexas’ overall economic impact on the North Texas region. A study released last year by Insight Research Corporation estimated the development’s cumulative economic impact at $40 billion over the past 22 years. Moreover, economist Ray Perryman cited the development of Fort Worth Alliance Airport as one of the 10 most influential economic events in Texas over the last 50 years.

In addition to the Alliance FTZ, the top five U.S. General Purpose FTZs in the U.S. during the fiscal year 2010, based on the value of foreign goods admitted, are:

               Foreign-Trade Zone                             Value of Foreign Goods Admitted
1. Fort Worth/Alliance (Texas)                                $4.056 billion
2. Chicago (Ill.)                                                         $4.044 billion
3. Newark (N.J.)                                                       $3.285 billion
4. Houston (Texas)                                                   $2.971 billion
5. Charleston (S.C.)                                                 $2.055 billion

FTZs are secure areas under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment. Under zone procedures, the usual formal customs entry procedure and payment of duties are not required on the foreign merchandise unless, and until, it enters customs territory for domestic consumption, in which case the importer normally has a choice of paying duties on the original foreign materials or the finished product. FTZ sites and activities remain within the jurisdiction of federal, state and local governments and agencies.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (http://www.alliancetexas.com/) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 265 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes more than 7,600 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes. Since its inception, AllianceTexas has generated a $40.65 billion economic impact for the North Texas region.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

# # #

Alliance Ranks as Country’s Top Foreign-Trade Zone

Christine Perez — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to the value of foreign goods admitted, the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone (No. 196) in North Fort Worth sees more action than any other general purpose FTZ in the United States. In an annual report to Congress, the country’s Foreign-Trade Zone board found that Alliance admitted more than $4 billion in foreign products in 2010—a 36 percent increase when compared to 2009. (2011 numbers will be released next year.)

This is the fourth time in five years that the Alliance FTZ has ranked No. 1.

About 80 percent of the product that flows into Alliance comes from China; another 12 percent comes from South Korea, and 8 percent from Denmark. Other countries of origin include Mexico, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Much product enters the country through ports in Los Angeles/Long Beach, and holds U.S. Customs bonded status as it travels to BNSF Railway’s Alliance intermodal facility at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub. They’re then transported to a FTZ-designated facility, and inventoried, assembled, labeled, kitted, exported, or destroyed, according to Hillwood, the developer behind Alliance.

Alliance tenants that use the FTZ include Cinram, Hyundai, LEGO, Motorola, GENCO ATC, Callaway Golf, and Alliance Operating Services. The foreign trade zone is experiencing strong growth due to the substantial, and increasing, presence of global companies in the region, said Steve Boecking, vice president of Hillwood Properties. “Regional efforts to strengthen international relationships and to build new global trade partnerships have also resulted in an increased volume of foreign goods being shipped through North Texas,” he said in a statement.

Here are the top five U.S. general purpose U.S. Foreign Trade Zones for 2010 (most recent timeframe for which data is available):

Foreign-Trade Zone                       Value of Foreign Goods Admitted
1. Fort Worth/Alliance (Texas)      $4.056 billion
2. Chicago (Ill.)                                $4.044 billion
3. Newark (N.J.)                              $3.285 billion
4. Houston (Texas)                          $2.971 billion
5. Charleston (S.C.)                        $2.055 billion

Here is additional information from a Hillwood press release:

About Foreign Trade Zones: FTZs are secure areas under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment. Under zone procedures, the usual formal customs entry procedure and payment of duties are not required on the foreign merchandise unless, and until, it enters customs territory for domestic consumption, in which case the importer normally has a choice of paying duties on the original foreign materials or the finished product. FTZ sites and activities remain within the jurisdiction of federal, state and local governments and agencies.

About AllianceTexas: AllianceTexas is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 265 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes more than 7,600 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes. Since its inception, AllianceTexas has generated a $40.65 billion economic impact for the North Texas region.

About Hillwood: Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company’s developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes list of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments.

HILLWOOD MULTIFAMILY BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF MONTERRA VILLAGE PHASE II

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT WORTH, Texas (February 8, 2012) – Hillwood Multifamily, a subsidiary of Hillwood Properties that focuses on multifamily development and investment opportunities, has begun construction on Phase II of Monterra Village. Monterra Village is a 130-acre mixed-use community located within Hillwood’s 900-acre Alliance Town Center development.

The new phase of Monterra Village will include 262 one, two and three-bedroom apartment homes with floorplans and amenities that are complementary to the existing townhome-style apartments in the initial phase of the development. Pre-leasing is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2012, and the apartments are anticipated to be ready for occupancy in September 2012.

“Now is the ideal time to bring additional multifamily units to this market,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Rapid growth in north Fort Worth, demand for greater housing diversity, and lifestyle and demographic shifts are driving demand for high-quality multifamily developments within the AllianceTexas submarket. Forecasts indicate this demand will remain strong for some time to come, since there is a limited supply of multifamily product to meet the population explosion in the region.”

Monterra Village is the first multifamily project that was completed within AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned community. The luxury townhome and apartment home community was the first 100 percent smoke-free property in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. The high-performing project opened in 2008 with 288 units and has maintained 95 percent occupancy during the past year.

Monterra Village is already known for its upscale amenities, including a lagoon-style resort pool, fire pit, state-of-the art fitness center with stand-up tanning bed, pet park, business center and social room with gaming center. Phase II will include a second pool with lap lanes, additional fitness center, new pet wash and an additional pet park.

Hillwood secured construction financing for Phase II of Monterra Village from Texas Capital Bank. In addition, Hillwood closed on refinancing for Phase I of the project with Prudential Mortgage Capital. The refinancing agreement is part of Hillwood’s long-term strategy to concentrate on delivering more high-quality multifamily units.

“We are excited about these two new lender relationships and the opportunities they provide for us to implement our multifamily growth strategy,” said Mark McHenry, vice president of Hillwood Multifamily. “Hillwood’s ability to establish long-term relationships with reputable lenders, such as Texas Capital Bank and Prudential Mortgage Capital, for interim and permanent financing is a key element to the success of our overall multifamily investment.”

Monterra Village is zoned for an additional 476 units, which may be developed in future phases of the project. The property is also zoned for retail and commercial uses.

This is a confirmation of Hillwood’s multifamily growth strategy within the Alliance corridor, which involves the construction of over 3,000 multifamily units over the next 10 years with the potential to eventually build more than 5,000 multifamily units. In total, Hillwood controls over 50 percent of the multifamily entitlements in the competitive submarket. The pace of new development activity, as well as specific product types and amenities, will be market-driven and designed to appeal to a wide audience. Based on the rate of growth in the region and limited availability of competitive sites, the company anticipates the potential to deliver a new phase of multifamily development every 12-to-18 months.

For more information about leasing at Monterra Village, visit http://www.monterrabyhillwood.com/, or visit the leasing office at 8301 Monterra Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76177.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

# # #

Hillwood starts North Fort Worth apartments

Steve Brown — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Multifamily said Wednesday that it has broken ground on a 262-unit apartment project – the first of almost 3,000 units the developer plans in North Fort Worth.

The second phase of Hillwood's Monterra Village apartments is in the 900-acre Alliance Town Center development development in North Fort Worth.

The first apartments in the project will be ready in September.

“Now is the ideal time to bring additional multifamily units to this market,” Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, said in a statement. “Forecasts indicate this demand will remain strong for some time to come, since there is a limited supply of multifamily product to meet the population explosion in the region.”

Hillwood recently said it plans to build 3,000 apartments over the next decade. Most of them will be located in its 17,000-acre AllianceTexas community in north Tarrant and Denton counties.

Hillwood built the 288-unit first phase of its Monterra Village apartments in 2008 and it is 95 percent occupied.

Hillwood starts second phase of Monterra Village in north Fort Worth

Sandra Baker — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties multifamily subsidiary has broken ground on the second phase of Monterra Village at its Alliance development in north Fort Worth.

The new phase will include 262 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Pre-leasing is expected to begin in the second quarter with apartments ready in September.

"Now is the ideal time to bring additional multifamily units to this market," said Mike Berry, Hillwood’s president.

Monterra Village, a 130-acre luxury apartment community near Alliance Town Center off Interstate 35W and North Tarrant Parkway, was built in 2008. It is 95 percent occupied, Hillwood said.

Hillwood recently announced plans to build as many as 3,000 apartments at Alliance during the next decade.

Monterra Village is zoned for an additional 476 units, which may be developed in future phases of the project.

North Texas Multifamily Projects Break Ground

Christine Perez — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, Behringer Harvard kicked off construction of Allegro II, a second phase of an Addison apartment community it acquired in late 2010. Now comes word that Hillwood has broken ground on a second phase of its Monterra Village, a 130-acre project within its 900-acre Alliance Town Center development.

The expansion will add 262 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The units should be ready for move-in this September; pre-leasing will begin in the second quarter of 2012.

It’s the ideal time to bring additional multifamily units to this market, said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, in a statement. “Rapid growth in north Fort Worth, demand for greater housing diversity, and lifestyle and demographic shifts are driving demand,” he said. “Forecasts indicate this demand will remain strong for some time to come, since there is a limited supply of multifamily product to meet the population explosion in the region.”

Built in 2008, Monterra Village was the first multifamily project completed within Hillwood’s 17,000-acre AllianceTexas. It also was the first smoke-free property in North Texas. The 288-unit community has maintained an occupancy rate of 95 percent during the past year.

Texas Capital Bank is providing construction financing for the second phase. Hillwood also refinanced Phase I of the project with Prudential Mortgage Capital. Monterra Village is zoned for an additional 476 apartment units, which may be developed in the future. The project is also zoned for retail and commercial uses.

Last month, Hillwood, the real estate investment and development company led by Ross Perot Jr., announced plans to add as many as 3,000 apartment units within Alliance during the next 10 years—with the potential to take that number up to 5,000.

Behringer Harvard, meanwhile, is adding 121 units at Allegro, bringing the total number of apartments within the community to 393. Located on Spectrum Drive, it’s part of the 70-acre Addison Circle mixed-use development off the Dallas North Tollway.

“Allegro I has been popular with young professionals who appreciate its proximity to major Dallas employment centers, world-class retail centers, and numerous dining and entertainment venues,” said Mark T. Alfieri, chief operating officer of Behringer Harvard, in a statement.

The company’s Multifamily REIT I Inc. portfolio includes investments in 43 multifamily projects in 13 states, for a total of 11,295 apartment units.

HILLWOOD PROPERTIES EXPANDS MULTIFAMILY DIVISION

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3,000 multifamily units planned over next 10 years; Industry veteran Mark McHenry to lead effort

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 31, 2012) – Hillwood Properties, developer of AllianceTexas, announced today a long-term business strategy for the expansion of Hillwood Multifamily, a subsidiary that focuses on multifamily investment and development opportunities. Hillwood Multifamily will initially concentrate on delivering more than 3,000 units of multifamily product over the next 10 years within the company’s 17,000-acre AllianceTexas master-planned development. The additional units will meet the increasing housing demand driven by a sizeable and growing employment and population base at AllianceTexas and throughout the surrounding region.

For the effort, Hillwood has hired multifamily industry veteran Mark McHenry to lead the company’s multifamily division. Prior to joining Hillwood, McHenry led the southwest regional multifamily development operations for Atlanta-based Lane Company, as well as leading regional multifamily development operations for public and private firms including JPI and United Dominion Realty Trust.

Though the division’s 10-year business plan for the AllianceTexas region involves the construction of over 3,000 multifamily units, the company’s current land holdings at AllianceTexas include zoning for more than 5,000 multifamily units. In total, Hillwood controls over 50 percent of the multifamily entitlements in the competitive submarket. The pace of new development activity, as well as specific product types and amenities, will be market-driven and designed to appeal to a wide audience. Based on the rate of growth in the region and limited availability of competitive sites, the company anticipates the potential to deliver a new phase of multifamily development every 12-to-18 months.

The majority of the planned multifamily units will be concentrated in the 900-acre Alliance Town Center mixed-use development, which stretches along Interstate 35W from North Tarrant Parkway to Golden Triangle Boulevard. Best known for the retail center, a joint venture with Trademark Property Company, Alliance Town Center is home to some of the country’s leading brands, including JCPenney, Kroger Marketplace, Rooms to Go, BJ’s Brewhouse, Mi Cocina, Best Buy, Cinemark, Sam Moon and Belk, among others. In addition to more than 850,000 square feet of existing retail space, Alliance Town Center will integrate office, medical and commercial uses, including the now open ER at Alliance and Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, scheduled to open in fall 2012. Incorporating the additional 3,000 multifamily units with this strong commercial base will create a true, mixed-use experience for the growing employee and resident population.

Hillwood Properties’ residential experience in the market includes Monterra Village, the first multifamily project that was completed within AllianceTexas in 2008. The luxury townhome and apartment home community was the first 100 percent smoke free property in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. The high performing project has stabilized, maintaining 95 percent occupancy for the last year. In addition, nearly 8,000 single family homes have been delivered in the Alliance/north Fort Worth market through the company’s Hillwood Communities division.

“We are committed to the multifamily product sector as a key component of our business strategy going forward,” said Ross Perot, Jr., chairman of Hillwood Development Company. “The multifamily strategy complements our other core business lines at AllianceTexas. In addition, the ability to deliver quality multifamily housing as a residential option serves to enhance the appeal of the region for corporate employers, and retail and service companies evaluating the location or expansion of their business operations in the AllianceTexas region.”

“The AllianceTexas region has a significant and growing employment base, a rapidly increasing population and a wide range of existing and expanding services in and around Alliance Town Center,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “This is why Hillwood has chosen AllianceTexas to expand its long-term multifamily investment strategy and create a diverse, branded portfolio of multifamily product in a unique, master-planned environment serving the AllianceTexas region.”

Longer term, Hillwood may expand its multifamily initiatives in other markets.

“Hillwood has a concentration of multifamily entitlements in the heart of a premier master-planned development that will continue to grow as the economy recovers,” McHenry said. “The development of quality multifamily housing at an appropriate pace of delivery is a natural extension of the AllianceTexas business strategy and enables us to develop a portfolio of over 3,000 units in the next 10-year cycle. We hope to replicate this strategy, expanding our portfolio with high-quality, Hillwood-branded multifamily developments in select target markets.”

Hillwood also has formalized its multifamily management platform and added key staff to its multifamily management team at AllianceTexas. Stephanie Isham has joined the team as property manager for Monterra Village. Isham previously served in senior property manager roles with Lincoln Property Company and Riverstone Residential Group, where she has been responsible for the lease up of multiple Class A apartment communities. Additionally, Christine Adeeb and Amy Perez, who have served as leasing consultants at Monterra Village for three years, have been hired as full-time Hillwood associates. McHenry and the team will lead the expansion of the Hillwood Multifamily management company as the portfolio grows.

“The internal management team is an integral component of our long-term multifamily investment strategy,” Berry said. “We believe keeping management in-house gives us the best opportunity to control the operating expenses at our properties, while maintaining a consistent level of product quality and resident services that will lead to higher resident retention rates.”

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

# # #

Hillwood Amps Up Multifamily Division; 3,000 Units Planned

Christine Perez — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

To help meet housing demand driven by a growing population, Hillwood Properties is expanding its multifamily division. The group will initially focus on developing more than 3,000 apartment units within Hillwood’s massive AllianceTexas project in North Fort Worth and surrounding communities.

Mark McHenry has been hired to lead the charge. He previously oversaw Southwest regional operations for Atlanta-based multifamily developer Lane Co. Prior to that he worked for both JPI and United Dominion Realty Trust.

Zoning at AllianceTexas allows for more than 5,000 multifamily units. Hillwood says the majority of the planned apartments will be located within the 900-acre Alliance Town Center, which is situated along Interstate 35-W from North Tarrant Parkway to Golden Triangle Boulevard. The center already is home to 850,000 square feet of retail space, along with a Texas Health Resources hospital that’s slated to open this year.

Hillwood’s first multifamily project at AllianceTexas, Monterra Village, opened in 2008. The smoke-free development is 95 percent occupied. The company also has delivered more than 8,000 single family homes through its Hillwood Communities division.

To help round out McHenry’s team, Hillwood hired Stephanie Isham as property manager for Monterra Village. She previously served in senior property manager roles with Lincoln Property Co. and Riverstone Residential Group. Additionally, Christine Adeeb and Amy Perez, who have served as leasing consultants at Monterra Village, have been hired as full-time Hillwood associates.

As things progress, the company says it also will consider similar ventures in other U.S. markets.

Here are press statements on the multifamily initiative from Hillwood execs:

Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood Development Co.: “We are committed to the multifamily product sector as a key component of our business strategy going forward. The multifamily strategy complements our other core business lines at AllianceTexas. In addition, the ability to deliver quality multifamily housing as a residential option serves to enhance the appeal of the region for corporate employers, and retail and service companies evaluating the location or expansion of their business operations in the AllianceTexas region.”

Mike Berry, president, Hillwood Properties: “The AllianceTexas region has a significant and growing employment base, a rapidly increasing population and a wide range of existing and expanding services in and around Alliance Town Center. This is why Hillwood has chosen AllianceTexas to expand its long-term multifamily investment strategy and create a diverse, branded portfolio of multifamily product in a unique, master-planned environment serving the AllianceTexas region.”

Mark McHenry: “Hillwood has a concentration of multifamily entitlements in the heart of a premier master-planned development that will continue to grow as the economy recovers. The development of quality multifamily housing at an appropriate pace of delivery is a natural extension of the AllianceTexas business strategy and enables us to develop a portfolio of over 3,000 units in the next 10-year cycle. We hope to replicate this strategy, expanding our portfolio with high-quality, Hillwood-branded multifamily developments in select target markets.”

Hillwood ramps up apartment division

Steve Brown — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood is expanding its operations with plans to build more than 3,000 apartments during the next decade.

The rental units will be constructed in Hillwood's flagship AllianceTexas community in North Fort Worth.

Hillwood said Tuesday that it has hired veteran apartment industry executive Mark McHenry to head up its multifamily development division. McHenry has previously worked with apartment developers Lane Co., JPI and United Dominion Realty Trust.

Hillwood said most of its new apartments will be located in the 900-acre Alliance Town Center project on Interstate 35W

The developer said it wants to open a new apartment development every 12 to 18 months.

Hillwood chairman Ross Perot Jr. said the development of apartments will add to the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas' appeal. The project is already one of the state's largest commercial and residential developments.

"In addition, the ability to deliver quality multifamily housing as a residential option serves to enhance the appeal of the region for corporate employers, and retail and service companies evaluating the location or expansion of their business operations in the AllianceTexas region," Perot said in a statement. “We are committed to the multifamily product sector as a key component of our business strategy going forward."

Hillwood has already built the Monterra Village apartments at AllianceTexas. The 288-unit development opened in 2008 and is 95 percent occupied.

Hillwood has been working on plans for a 262-unit rental home project adjacent to Monterra Village.

Hillwood said it also might expand its apartment development program to other markets in North Texas and elsewhere.

"We hope to replicate this strategy, expanding our portfolio with high-quality, Hillwood-branded multifamily developments in select target markets," McHenry said.

Hillwood plans new focus, strategy on multifamily market

Robert Francis — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas developer Hillwood Properties announced today its plans to expand its Hillwood Multifamily subsidiary.

Hillwood Multifamily will initially concentrate on delivering more than 3,000 units of multifamily product over the next 10 years within the company’s 17,000-acre AllianceTexas master-planned development.

Leading the effort will be multifamily industry veteran Mark McHenry, who, prior to joining Hillwood, led the southwest regional multifamily development operations for Atlanta-based Lane Company, as well as leading regional multifamily development operations for public and private firms including JPI and United Dominion Realty Trust.

“We are committed to the multifamily product sector as a key component of our business strategy going forward,” said Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood Development Co. in a news release. “The multifamily strategy complements our other core business lines at AllianceTexas. In addition, the ability to deliver quality multifamily housing as a residential option serves to enhance the appeal of the region for corporate employers, and retail and service companies evaluating the location or expansion of their business operations in the AllianceTexas region.”

The division’s 10-year business plan for the AllianceTexas region involves the construction of over 3,000 multifamily units, the company’s current land holdings at AllianceTexas include zoning for more than 5,000 multifamily units. In total, Hillwood controls over 50 percent of the multifamily entitlements in the competitive submarket. The pace of new development activity, as well as specific product types and amenities, will be market-driven and designed to appeal to a wide audience. Based on the rate of growth in the region and limited availability of competitive sites, the company anticipates the potential to deliver a new phase of multifamily development every 12-to-18 months. Hillwood Properties’ residential experience in the market includes Monterra Village, the first multifamily project that was completed within AllianceTexas in 2008.

But Hillwood has set its sights beyond AllianceTexas, said McHenry.

Hillwood also has formalized its multifamily management platform and added key staff to its multifamily management team at AllianceTexas. Stephanie Isham has joined the team as property manager for Monterra Village. Isham previously served in senior property manager roles with Lincoln Property Co. and Riverstone Residential Group, where she has been responsible for the lease up of multiple Class A apartment communities. Additionally, Christine Adeeb and Amy Perez, who have served as leasing consultants at Monterra Village for three years, have been hired as full-time Hillwood associates. McHenry and the team will lead the expansion of the Hillwood Multifamily management company as the portfolio grows.

Hillwood is announcing its focus on multifamily at a key time in that market, as apartments rents in the area are at an all time high, according to a recent presentation at the Real Estate Forecast 2012 program by Ben Loughry, managing partner at Integra Realty Resources DFW.

According to Loughry, apartments rents averaged a little more than $800 in 2011, with most new units above $1,000.

Shlachter & Co.: AllianceTexas

Shlachter, Nishimura & Baker — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In 2011, Hillwood Properties, developer of AllianceTexas, the 17,000-acre master-planned community in far north Fort Worth, sold 14 acres to retailers and signed new leases and renewed others at the development, totaling about 2.7 million square feet of industrial, office and retail space.

Click here to read the full article.

LEASING DEMAND AT ALLIANCETEXAS REMAINS STRONG

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hillwood Properties leases 2.67 million square feet in 2011

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 25, 2012) – Despite ongoing challenges facing the commercial real estate industry, Hillwood Properties continues bucking national trends by leasing space within its 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development at a brisk pace. In 2011, Hillwood Properties, developer of the AllianceTexas master-planned community, secured new leases and tenant renewals totaling nearly 2.7 million square feet of industrial, office, mixed-use and retail space. The company also sold approximately 14 acres of land to retailers.

“While the economy has proven difficult during the past few years, Hillwood has enjoyed a solid performance at AllianceTexas due to our long-term, strategic plan for the project,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Location, multi-modal transportation options and access to a rapidly growing population of employees and consumers have created a great demand for our office, industrial, multifamily, retail and mixed-use product, and these factors will continue to fuel AllianceTexas’ expansion for years to come.”

In 2011, Hillwood Properties leased a significant amount of industrial and office space to companies who wanted to benefit from the development’s wide range of amenities and growing labor force. Among these are the Alliance Global Logistics Hub - one of the nation’s largest inland ports, easy access to major national interstates and close proximity to the development’s existing base of high-profile, global corporations. As a result, AllianceTexas secured tenants to occupy over 2.6 million square feet of space within Alliance Gateway, Westport at Alliance, Alliance Center and Alliance Crossing. Representative tenants included LG Electronics, DSC Logistics, Ryder, Exel, Bridgestone, Staffmark, Trican Well Service, Performance Team, IMDS, DynCorp International, RECARO Aircraft Seating and Equify Financial.

Growth was especially strong at Alliance Town Center in 2011 as retailers continue to be drawn to AllianceTexas’ location in the fastest-growing section of the fastest-growing major metropolitan area in the nation. Alliance Town Center is home to some of the nation’s leading retail brands and welcomed a plethora of new lifestyle-oriented tenants occupying more than 22,000 square feet. These new retail residents include Deluxe Nails, Great Clips, Cinch Cleaners, Baker Bros. American Deli, Pacific Dental, Green Tea House, Koko Fit Club, Palm Beach Tan, Pediatric Urgent Care and Starbucks Coffee. Alliance Crossing experienced similar success with leases or renewals totaling 20,840 square feet of space to Onsite Occupational Health & Safety, Texas Health Resources, Wendy’s, Snooty Pig, Logi-Trans, the Fort Worth Police Association, Dr. James Wharry, DDS, Fast Signs and Pro Cuts.

In addition to leasing retail space, Hillwood Properties sold over 9 acres of land at Alliance Town Center to Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), one of the world's largest motion picture exhibitors, to construct a 14-screen, all-digital movie theatre featuring the company's new Cinemark NextGen design concept. The theatre complex will contain an extremely popular Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium. Hillwood also sold over 4 acres of land at Westlake Corners to Centennial Fine Wine & Spirits and to QuikTrip.

The solid leasing activity at AllianceTexas in 2011 supports the results of a study released last year by Insight Research Corporation, which showed extraordinary growth in the retail and Class A office sectors in 2010. The study also estimated the development’s total regional economic impact over the past 20 years at $40 billion.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

# # #

EQUIFY FINANCIAL SIGNS LEASE AT ALLIANCETEXAS

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Company joins growing list of Class A office tenants; will occupy space at Heritage Commons I

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 17, 2012) – Hillwood Properties, one of the leading real estate investors and developers in the U.S., announced today that it has signed a lease with Equify Financial, LLC for 4,490 square feet of Class A space at AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre, master-planned community in North Texas. The financial services company will be located in Heritage Commons I, which also includes Hillwood Properties’ headquarters, IMDS and TCC Corporate Services. The Heritage Commons complex includes four office buildings also home to Mercedes Benz Financial Services, DynCorp International and the FAA.

Marketing Manager Reid Goetz with Hillwood Properties managed the transaction with Curtis Shore representing Equify Finanical.

“We’re excited to have Equify Financial join our expanding roster of first-class corporate residents,” said Goetz. “Equify Financial represents an increasing segment of office professionals, who are drawn to the significant benefits and amenities at AllianceTexas. The company is a great example of the growth of financial and professional services firms within the development.”

“With the completed lease to Equify Financial, our office product within AllianceTexas is now 100 percent leased,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “We anticipate future office development in the coming year to meet the increased demand for office within the AllianceTexas corridor.”

Equify Financial, LLC is a new independent, middle market, equipment finance company with a unique perspective and culture. Equify provides financial services to customers and equipment providers at all levels of the construction, transportation, gas and oilfield services, and related industries.

“We have put together a strong team of people to be part of this incredible company,” said Pat Hoiby, president of Equify Financial. “We’re excited to join the AllianceTexas roster of tenants as we launch into 2012, and we are looking forward to building many great customer partnerships and growing our dynamic organization.”

Other major activity taking place at AllianceTexas includes the 262,000-square-foot Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance currently under construction; the recently opened 10,500-square-foot ER at Alliance emergency treatment facility; and the $312-million, 712,000-square-foot Deloitte University, which opened last fall in the Circle T Ranch. Alliance Town Center also continues to be a major retail draw in the development, with recent announcements by Mi Cocina and Cinemark.

An economic impact report recently released by Hillwood revealed that the AllianceTexas master-planned development continues to be one of the nation’s leading models for successful public-private partnerships, providing more than $2.1 billion in economic impact to the Fort Worth region in 2010, the most recent year for which data are available. Anchored by the world’s first industrial airport, and serving as a key economic driver for the North Texas region, AllianceTexas’ cumulative economic impact on the surrounding area has surpassed $40 billion and has created more than 30,000 jobs during the 20-plus years of the project.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (http://www.alliancetexas.com/) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes Alliance, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 265 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes more than 7,600 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for nearly 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. http://www.hillwood.com/.

ABOUT EQUIFY FINANCIAL
Equify Financial, LLC is a new independent, middle market, equipment finance company with a unique perspective and culture. Their mission is to become the premier finance and lease provider in the industry. Their purpose is to provide financial services to customers and equipment providers at all levels of the construction, transportation, gas and oilfield services, and related industries.

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Equify Financial has a seasoned, professional sales team in place that covers Texas and surrounding states. With time, their servicing area will expand to cover the entire U.S. The Equify team, which offers more than 125 years of combined lending experience, utilizes an innovative concept of offering creative solutions for customers while maintaining sound lending practice. This approach provides the ability to lend without restrictions that limit bank affiliated lenders.

# # #

Hillwood in JV to Develop Master Planned Community

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Hillwood Communities has entered into a joint venture with Dallas-based Realty Capital Management to develop approximately 1,000 acres of land, located at the northwest corner of Interstate 35 West and FM 407 between Fort Worth and Denton, for a new master planned community known as Belmont. The project will feature 130 acres for mixed-use developments and 2,500 residential homes. The joint venture is expecting to break ground on the development in the summer of 2012.

Hillwood announces partner for Denton County development

Sandra Baker — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities said Friday that it will partner with Realty Capital Management in Dallas to provide new capital and jump-start the planned 1,000-acre Belmont project in Northlake and Argyle, several miles north of Hillwood's Alliance development.

Click here to read the full article.

Partnership spurs $1B Denton County development

Candace Carlisle — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Realty Capital, Hillwood partnership readies 1,000-acre development

A $1 billion mixed-use master-planned development in Denton County — one of the largest residential projects to get under way in four years — is scheduled to start this summer.

The 1,000-acre development called Belmont would bring up to 3,500 homes to the northwest corner of FM 407 and Interstate 35W in Argyle and Northlake, as well as over 100 acres of mixed-use development including retail, restaurants and office buildings.

The catalyst for the project: A partnership between Dallas-based Realty Capital Management, and new partner Dallas-based Hillwood Communities, a residential land developer and subsidiary of Ross Perot’s Hillwood Properties. It closed on Dec. 28.

“This is a natural extension of Alliance-Texas,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities. “It was a strategic decision to get involved because we know the area.

This will be the next big master-planned development.” Balda worked with Hillwood Communities’ Angie Mastrocola and Tim Woliver on the partnership.

Hillwood Communities and Realty Capital went through a yearlong courtship before deciding to partner on the joint venture.

The project was compelling for a partnership, Balda said, because Realty Capital, which has worked on the site for six years, has had the site zoned and prepared the land’s utilities.

The $22 million sewer line — paid for by Realty Capital, the developers of Canyon Falls, along with the Flower Mound, Northlake, Argyle and Corral City municipalities — is scheduled for completion by Trinity River Authority in April. That sewer line will allow developers to tap into a desirable submarket.

“We’ve already got some of the top home builders interested,” said Richard Myers, managing director of Realty Capital. “There’s a great amount of demand from families with kids in the submarket because of the Argyle school district.”

The venture has given Argyle Independent School District property to develop an elementary school on 12 acres and a middle school on 24 acres. The school district would be responsible for developing the schools.

Myers’ worked with Tim Coltart, managing director of Realty Capital, on the partnership.

“The beauty of developing an area that’s been without utilities is that there is significantly less than a two-year supply of lots,” Coltart said. “It’s an untapped market.”

Belmont’s initial phase will include about 250 homes and potentially a small retail center. The homes will be moderately priced in the $200,000 to $400,000 range.

The developers will begin horizontal development on Belmont following the completion of the sewer line this summer. Subcontractors for the horizontal development, such as earthwork, sewer and water lines, street work, light poles and landscape installers will be needed for the project.

Hillwood Communities plans to contract with home builders for the development in the next 60 days. Lots are scheduled to be delivered to home builders by early 2013.

Belmont’s first phase could begin housing residents by spring 2013. The entire development is expected to take 10 to 15 years to finish.

“We want to fast track it,” Balda said. “The market is ready for the community.”

A long road
The economic downturn hindered Belmont’s development, as it did other residential projects in North Texas, Myers said.

Myers and his team at Realty Capital spent more than $25 million on the project during the six years of readying the 1,000-acre tract.

The Belmont project is one of the few significant residential projects announced in the past four years, said Ted Wilson, principal at Dallas-based Residential Strategies Inc.

“The lot supply in north Fort Worth is really tight today, and residential development moving up the Interstate 35W corridor is attractive,” Wilson said.

“The development will capture some Flower Mound buyers and compete for buyers with other master-planned communities, such as Lantana and Trophy Club (developments).”

The development options are limited in north Fort Worth, with a flood plain area north of Grapevine and little access to utilities, he said. The Belmont site is one of the last large tracts of developable land in the upper Interstate 35W corridor, he said.

“There are only a handful of developers that have the wherewithal to do these kind of developments,” Wilson said. “This was a deal worked out in the last cycle that was waiting for new sponsorship to go forward.”

A new deal
Hillwood Communities is finishing building home lots for its Heritage project, a 2,300-acre master-planned community in north Fort Worth.

Balda says the partnership will review Belmont’s community design, branding, land plan and landscaping to put Hillwood’s design on Realty Capital’s master plan.

“Realty Capital has done a wonderful job, and we want to take what they’ve done and enhance and refine it further and put the Hillwood stamp on it before we take it to the marketplace,” he said.

“The last few years have been strained, and we’re excited to start a new deal.”

Realty Capital, Hillwood partnership readies 1,000-acre development

Steve Brown — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Residential developer Hillwood Communities said Friday that its starting work soon on its next project in the Interstate 35W corridor.

Hillwood is teaming up with Dallas' Realty Capital Management to develop 1,000 acres between Fort Worth and Denton on F.M. 407

The new master-planned residential community will be called Belmont and will have homes priced from near $200,000 to more than $400,000, according to Hillwood.

About 2,500 homebuilding lots and 130 acres of supporting mixed-use construction are planned over time for the Belmont project.

Hillwood has already built large residential projects and commercial developments in the area along I-35W north of Fort Worth.

”Hillwood is proud to continue the AllianceTexas legacy of success with a new master-planned community in the expanding north Fort Worth area,” Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities, said in a statement. “Hillwood has seen tremendous success in this popular area and we are excited to begin improvements that will greatly enhance the area for new businesses and residents."

Hillwood plans to start work on the Belmont project this summer.

Founded by Dallas' Perot family in the late 1980s, Hillwood Communities has built 70 residential communities across the United States including several large projects in North Texas.

Alliance Town Center gets LEED certification

Sandra Baker — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood's Alliance Town Center has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council with its LEED for Neighborhood Development certification, becoming one of only two projects in Texas to receive the designation.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance Town Center earns LEED honor

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Green Building Council has recognized the Alliance Town Center with its LEED for Neighborhood Development certification. The Fort Worth development is one of only two such projects in Texas to earn the designation.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system for construction projects, such as buildings, equivalent to a gas mileage rating for cars. Under LEED, projects are rated on things such as energy efficiency, environmental impact and sustainability.

LEED ND recognizes larger development projects that successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life in communities.

“Alliance Town Center is one of the most carefully designed and developed master-planned projects in Texas,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties – developer of AllianceTexas – in a news release. “We are proud to receive this certification and to be recognized for the strategic focus we bring to building high quality, sustainable programs in all of our developments.”

Alliance Town Center is located along Interstate 35W and stretches from North Tarrant Parkway to Golden Triangle Boulevard. The LEED ND certification area includes 155 acres located south of Heritage Trace Parkway and west of North Riverside Drive, master-planned for a mix of residential and commercial uses.

Hillwood Properties has incorporated environmentally friendly aspects throughout the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project since its inception in the late 1980s. Features and processes have included the utilization of white roofs on industrial buildings to reflect heat, skylights and other daylighting options, extensive native landscaping, groundwater management systems, storm water detention ponds, updated irrigation systems and the use of recycled materials for construction.

ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER ACHIEVES PRESTIGIOUS LEED® FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION FROM U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Certification validates efforts to build sustainable community

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 10, 2012) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has recognized Hillwood’s Alliance Town Center with its LEED® for Neighborhood Development certification. The prestigious designation is one of the most difficult sustainable development certifications to obtain, with Alliance Town Center ranked as one of only two such projects in the State of Texas and as one of the largest in the nation, out of 80 total projects in the United States. The announcement of the certification represents the culmination of Hillwood’s ongoing efforts to build and develop a sustainable community in north Fort Worth.

Alliance Town Center is located along Interstate 35W and stretches from North Tarrant Parkway to Golden Triangle Boulevard. The LEED certification area includes 155 acres located south of Heritage Trace Parkway and west of North Riverside Drive, master-planned for a mix of residential and commercial uses.

LEED for Neighborhood Development recognizes exemplary development projects that successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life in communities. The rating system encourages smart growth practices by promoting the location and design of neighborhoods that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and creating developments where jobs and services are well integrated with residential. It also promotes an array of green building and green infrastructure practices, particularly more efficient energy and water use – especially important in urban areas where infrastructure is often overtaxed.

“In addition to being one of the leading retail destinations in North Texas, Alliance Town Center is one of the most carefully designed and developed master-planned projects in Texas,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties – developer of AllianceTexas. “We are proud to receive this certification and to be recognized for the strategic focus we bring to building high quality, sustainable programs in all of our developments.”

Hillwood Properties has incorporated environmentally friendly aspects throughout the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project since its inception in the late 1980s. Features and processes have included the utilization of white roofs on industrial buildings to reflect heat, skylights and other daylighting options, extensive native landscaping, groundwater management systems, storm water detention ponds, updated irrigation systems, the use of recycled materials for construction, construction waste recycling, energy efficient HVAC systems, and the use of construction materials from local sources to reduce transportation costs. In addition, more than 36,000 trees have been planted within the development.

One of the key features of the Alliance Town Center development is its proximity to Hillwood’s existing residential communities of Heritage, Park Glen and Monterra Village, which have connecting walking and bike trails interspersed throughout. Within the development and connecting trails, Hillwood has taken special consideration to enhance the natural landscape, which also provides numerous sustainable design advantages, as well as a key amenity for the community.

Compared to other commercial and residential LEED rating systems, LEED for Neighborhood Development differs because it has three stages of certification that relate to the actual phases of the real estate development process:

• Stage 1 – Conditionally Approved Plan. This stage provides the conditional approval of a LEED for Neighborhood Development plan available for projects before they have completed the entitlements, or public review, process. This stage is designed to help projects obtain support from local government and the community.

• Stage 2 – Pre-Certified Plan. This stage pre-certifies a LEED for Neighborhood Development plan and is applicable for fully entitled projects or projects under construction. Completing this review can help projects secure financing, expedite permits or attract tenants.

• Stage 3 – Certified Neighborhood Development. At this stage, completed projects formally apply for LEED certification to recognize that the project has achieved all the prerequisites and credits attempted.

In addition, all projects are rated in the following five credit categories:

• Smart Location and Linkage encourages communities to consider location, transportation alternatives and preservation of sensitive lands while also discouraging sprawl.

• Neighborhood Pattern and Design emphasizes vibrant, equitable communities that are healthy, walkable and mixed-use.

• Green Infrastructure and Buildings promotes the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure that reduces energy and water use, while promoting more sustainable use of materials, reuse of existing and historic structures, and other sustainable best practices.

• Innovation and Design Process recognizes exemplary and innovative performance reaching beyond the existing credits in the rating system, as well as the value of including an accredited professional on the design team.

• Regional Priority Credit encourages projects to focus on earning credits of significance to the project’s local environment.

ABOUT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER
Alliance Town Center (http://www.alliancetowncenter.com/) is located in north Fort Worth and stretches from North Tarrant Parkway to Golden Triangle Boulevard. Best known for its retail center, a joint venture with Trademark Property Company, Alliance Town Center is home to some of the country’s leading brands, including JCPenney, Kroger Marketplace, Rooms to Go, BJ’s Brewhouse, Mi Cocina, Best Buy, Cinemark, Sam Moon and Belk, among others. Alliance Town Center is also home to growing medical services, including ER at Alliance and Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, as well as a multi-family component with Monterra Village (http://www.monterrabyhillwood.com/).

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for nearly 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

ABOUT U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
The U.S. Green Building Council (JSGBC) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC administers the LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For additional information about the organization, please visit: http://www.usgbc.org/.

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Hillwood's Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth gets LEED rating

Sandra Baker — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood’s Alliance Town Center has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council with its LEED for Neighborhood Development certification, becoming one of only two projects in Texas, and among only 80 in the U.S., to receive the top designation.

The designation is one of the most difficult sustainable development certifications to obtain, Hillwood said. It is the third and final step in an extensive certification process.

"Alliance Town Center is one of the most carefully designed and developed master-planned projects in Texas," said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, developer of AllianceTexas. "We are proud to receive this certification and to be recognized for the strategic focus we bring to building high quality, sustainable programs in all of our developments."

Alliance Town Center is located on the east side of Interstate 35W and North Tarrant Parkway. The LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certification area includes a 155-acre area at Heritage Trace Parkway and North Riverside Drive, Hillwood said.

LEED for Neighborhood Development recognizes exemplary development projects that successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life in communities, Hillwood said. It also promotes green building and green infrastructure practices, particularly efficient energy and water use.

Alliance Town Center is a joint venture with Trademark Property Cos. in Fort Worth.

2011 BROUGHT HILLWOOD PROPERTIES AND ITS STAFF NUMEROUS HONORS

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 9, 2012) – Building upon a year that saw AllianceTexas complete some of its biggest projects to date and exceed $40 billion in economic impact over the project’s history, Hillwood Properties also made 2011 memorable by earning prominent recognition for its outstanding organizational and personnel achievements.

From honors at the 2011 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, to milestones in the organization’s sustainable design and human resources programs, the company received accolades that touched nearly every area of its business. “I couldn’t be more proud of the achievements that we made, both as a company and as individual professionals, during 2011,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “The Hillwood team represents the finest group of professionals working in our community and in the commercial real estate industry, and it’s wonderful that our team is getting the recognition that they deserve.”

During 2011, Hillwood Properties and its personnel received the following awards and honors:

• 2011 Corporation of the Year – Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• 2011 Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Award

• Winner – 2011 Top Places for Women to Work – Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

• Ross Perot, Jr. – Industry Legend – Real Estate Forum’s 65th Anniversary Issue

• Texas Business Hall of Fame: Ross Perot, Jr. – Class of 2011

• Dallas Business Journal’s “2011 Heavy Hitters” – Tony Creme and Steve Aldrich

• International Council of Air Shows – 3rd Place “Best Overall Marketing Plan” for Fort Worth Alliance Air Show

• Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo: 1st Place – All Black Brahman Crosses; 3rd Place – All Black Brahman Crosses Bred Heffers; Champion – Brahman Crosses; Champion – Overall Brahman Crosses; 2nd Place – Herdsmen Award

• Dallas Business Journal’s “2011 Heavy Hitters” – Tony Creme and Steve Aldrich

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

# # #

Texas is tops in population growth

Steve Campbell — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Texas has once again topped the national growth chart, adding 529,000 people since the 2010 Census, though its rate of growth has slowed slightly.

The U.S. growth rate from April 2010 to July 2011 also slowed, falling to 0.92 percent, the lowest since the mid-1940s, according to census estimates released Wednesday.

Click here to read the full article.

Three companies honored as top workplaces for women in Fort Worth

Sandra Baker — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- A downtown accounting firm, the development company behind the 17,000-acre Alliance development, and a large natural gas producer were recognized Thursday for being top-notch workplaces for women in Fort Worth.

Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier, Hillwood and Chesapeake Energy Corp. were winners in the inaugural Best Workplaces for Women awards, a part of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's Women Influencing Business program.

Click here to read the full article.

FW Chamber names top woman-friendly workplaces

Betty Dillard — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An accounting firm, a real estate development company and an oil and gas producer were named winners in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Best Workplaces for Women Awards.

The awards, part of the chamber’s Women Influencing Business program, were announced during a luncheon Dec. 8 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The award was developed this year to recognize best practices by local businesses in recruiting and retaining women employees.

Recipients of the award are: Small Business – Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier PLLC, a full-service accounting firm; Medium Business – Hillwood, a full-service industrial and office real estate development company; and Large Business – Chesapeake Energy Corp., an onshore, unconventional natural gas and oil producer.

Keynote speaker Barbara Pierce Bush, co-founder and president of Global Health Corps and daughter of former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, told the audience how she became a social entrepreneur in global health.

Inspired from travels to Africa with her parents when she was younger, Bush, 30, worked for Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Capetown, South Africa, after graduating from Yale University with a humanities degree in 2004. She started her nonprofit three years ago. She said the organization works on providing health equity to the United States and Africa and is composed mainly of young professionals under the age of 30 all aiming to promote global health equity.

“Bright and motivated young people can make a profound impact working in the field of global health,” Bush said.

Bush said to date Global Health Corps has 68 fellows in 10 countries. The group recently opened applications for 90 new fellowships.

“We intend to keep doubling over the next few years because we realize how big of a difference young people can make,” she said. “The more talented people we have working on these issues the more lives we can save.”

Bush said her organization is working to change the perception that only doctors and nurses can work on global health challenges. She urged the audience to become change makers in the field of health, regardless of their age or skill sets they have.

“Increasingly, older Americans are deciding to spice up their retirement by volunteering in health issues in their own communities,” she said, citing an 85-year-old woman volunteering in her community.

“No matter what you’re doing or where you are in life, your talents can make a huge difference,” Bush said.

The Fort Worth Chamber developed the workplace award with help from Texas Woman’s University and in collaboration with the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber and Metropolitan Black Chamber.

The ER at Alliance opens to serve a fast-growing suburban market

Jim Fuquay — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In the trauma room of North Hills Hospital's new emergency facility is a raft of equipment to help a doctor handle a medical crisis, backed by an on-site blood bank, imaging center and laboratory.

Click here to read the full article.

New emergency room aims to speed critical care in North Fort Worth

Casey Norton — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Video: New emergency room aims to speed critical care in North Fort Worth
http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/New-Alliance-emergency-room-aims-to-speed-critical-care-134633773.html

FORT WORTH — MedStar ambulances know the fastest route anywhere in Fort Worth, but getting to a hospital from the north side can be tricky.

"When it's close to rush hour, it can be fairly bad," said paramedic Grant Leiter.

Last year, MedStar answered more than 5,000 service calls in North Fort Worth. More than 80 percent of those patients had to be transported to hospitals downtown or outside the area, delaying critical care.

"The quicker we can get someone to a professional medical center, the better their chances at recovery," Leiter said.

On November 30, the drive to the emergency room gets shorter. North Hills Hospital is opening The ER at Alliance.

"We are not an urgent care center or a doc-in-the-box," said executive director Michelle Underwood. "We are a full service emergency room department."

The ER will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the northeast corner of North Tarrant Parkway and Interstate 35W. It has a full staff of nurses and at least one board-certified emergency physician on duty at all times. There are also independent labs and imaging rooms for on-site diagnosis.

It fills a void outside Loop 820 where families have grown, and facilities have fallen behind. The hospital expects a good portion of its patients to be pediatric cases.

Mary Ellen Strickland is a nurse who lives nearby. She has been waiting for emergency options for years.

"As a parent, if I am not sure what to do, now I have someplace safe to get answers and provide good quality care for my family," she said.

The ER at Alliance anticipates close to 1,500 visits per month, and is striving for an average wait time of less than eight minutes to see a doctor.

MedStar also expects to cut its service cycle times, which have increased as the area has grown and traffic has worsened. Last year, it averaged 65 minutes per call — that's the time from dispatch to drop off for each patient. The average in 2009 was 63 minutes.

Five inducted into Texas Business Hall of Fame

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Five Texas business leaders were honored Thursday night by being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame. The event was held in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

Honored were:

Lee Roy Mitchell, founder of Plano-based Cinemark USA Inc. and chairman of the board for Cinemark Holdings Inc.

Ross Perot Jr., chairman of The Perot Group and chairman of Hillwood, developer of the AllianceTexas project.

Colleen Barrett, president emeritus of Southwest Airlines.

Barry G. Andrews, owner and CEO of Andrews Distributing Co. and Andrews Distributing of North Texas.

Welcome Wilson Sr., chairman of GSI Welcome Group LLC and former chairman of board at the University of Houston.

Bill Boyar, business group shareholder at the Boyar Miller law firm in Houston, also was introduced as the new director of the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation at the event.

The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation was created to focus awareness on the achievements made by outstanding business leaders and to honor their contributions to their community and their state.

Past legends who are in the Hall of Fame include President George H.W. Bush, Overta Culp Hobby, Ross Perot, Ben Taub, Lloyd Bentsen Sr., T. Boone Pickens, Drayton McLane, Jr., Roger Staubach, Hugh Roy Cullen, and Jesse Jones.

The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation also gave $10,000 scholarships to 19 Texas college students.

Hillwood: Alliance economic impact over $40 billion since 1990

Sandra Baker — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas, the sprawling Hillwood Properties development in far north Fort Worth, boosted its economic impact in the city in 2010, pushing the overall figure past $40 billion for the first time, executives said Tuesday.

Click here to read the full article.

AllianceTexas economic impact: $40 billion

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With an economic impact of $2.14 billion in 2010, the AllianceTexas development in far north Fort Worth has had an overall economic impact of more than $40 billion, according to a new report.

In its annual update to the Fort Worth City Council, presented Nov. 15, Hillwood President Mike Berry said the 17,000-acre development has been a catalyst for the city’s explosive growth and now is home to 265 companies and more than 30,000 employees.

“There is no better way to illustrate the overall economic impact of the AllianceTexas project than to witness the vibrancy and activity taking place at Alliance Town Center,” said Berry. “Just seven years ago, Alliance Town Center was nothing more than an empty field. Today, it represents one of the fastest growing retail centers in North Texas, serving the fastest growing large city in America.”

According to the report, prepared by AllianceTexas developer Hillwood and based on a study conducted by Insight Research Corp., cumulative taxes paid to local entities since 1990 are $184 million to the city of Fort Worth; $163 million to Tarrant County and a combined $544 million to the Northwest and Keller Independent School Districts.

In total, the AllianceTexas project has generated more than $948 million in property taxes to the eight taxing entities spanning the development.

Retail activity at Alliance Town Center during the current year includes the opening of the 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace in January, and the August announcement of plans for a 14-screen Cinemark movie theater to be constructed in Phase 2 of the project.

Several Phase 2 projects currently under construction at Alliance Town Center and expected to open in 2012, include the 189,000-square-foot Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, and its 73,000-square-foot adjoining office complex, as well as North Hills Hospital’s 10,500-square-foot emergency room.

By the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, Hillwood Properties expects Alliance Town Center to have a total value of $344 million, with annual sales tax revenue of $3.15 million.

In addition to the activity at Alliance Town Center, October saw the opening of the $300-million, 712,000-square-foot Deloitte University at Circle T Ranch in Westlake. Deloitte University serves as the company’s international training center.

FedEx Freight also announced in October it would be opening a 40,000-square-foot heavy-cargo hauling facility at AllianceTexas, providing the development with an additional 115 new jobs.

AllianceTexas generates $40B in economic activity

Matt Joyce — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas has generated $40 billion in economic activity and paid more than $948 million in property taxes since 1990, project developers told the Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday.

Hillwood Properties, developer of the 17,000-acre project, presented the findings of research conducted by Insight Research Corp.

AllianceTexas is a master-planned development anchored by an industrial airport and home to the operations of 265 companies.

Developers pointed to several highlights of ongoing activity at Alliance including:

The October opening of the $300-million, 712,000-square-foot Deloitte University at Circle T Ranch in Westlake.

Opening of the 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace in January at Alliance Town Center.

The August announcement of plans for a 14-screen, Cinemark movie theater to be constructed in Phase 2 of Alliance Town Center.

The planned 2012 opening of the 189,000-square-foot Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and North Hills Hospital’s 10,500-square-foot ER at Alliance.

Fort Worth’s Alliance Town Center Continues Ascent

Melissa Newton — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Video: Fort Worth’s Alliance Town Center Continues Ascent http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/11/15/alliance-town-center-continues-ascent-but-owners-worry-about-infrastructure/

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – New businesses are moving into Alliance Town Center almost monthly, making it one of the fastest growing shopping centers in the region. But just seven years ago, the bustling retail area was an empty field.

“There was nothing here!” said Sharon Hutchens, who moved to the Alliance area six years ago.

“Little by little they’ve just been adding these great shops and great restaurants and stuff,” said Hutchen’s daughter Heather Snyder.

The shopping area is just a small part of the 17,000-acre development spread across North Fort Worth. It’s called AllianceTexas and developers believe they’re sitting on an economic gold mine.

“It’s exciting; the area needed it.” said Mike Berry, President of Hillwood Properties, the development company for Alliance. ”You had thousands of rooftops here and no real retail center.”

The planned community started with the nation’s first industrial airport, and will soon include two hospitals, new housing and a 14-screen movie theater that is currently under construction.

“You’ve got a vibrant, integrated economy in place,” Berry added, ”it’s no longer just corporate, industrial users or office or residential, it’s now everything.”

The AllianceTexas project has already brought more than 30,000 jobs to North Texas and contributed more than $40 billion to the economy. It’s also only 40 percent finished.

“Hopefully when we’re built out in the next 10 to 15 years it will be closer to 100 billion,” Berry projected.

When the project is complete there could be a total of 80,000 people working in the Alliance area. But to sustain that type of growth, developers say they desperately need infrastructure and more roads.

Currently, I-35W, the main corridor to Alliance, is being widened and there has been some discussion about adding a rail line, but nothing has been approved.

ALLIANCETEXAS EXCEEDS $40 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

ALLIANCETEXAS EXCEEDS $40 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT
Milestone coincides with 2010 U.S. Census numbers showing the development to be the growth epicenter of the nation’s fastest growing large city

FORT WORTH, Texas (November 15, 2011) – With public investment of only $417 million over the life of the project, AllianceTexas has surpassed $40 billion in total economic impact to the North Texas region. The cumulative milestone, revealed in a 2010 economic impact report released by Hillwood Properties today, is highlighted by nearly $7 billion in total private investment over the two-decade period, and $2.14 billion in economic impact in 2010 alone. Moreover, 2010 U.S. Census numbers point to the 17,000-acre, master-planned development as a catalyst for the City of Fort Worth’s exponential growth during the past decade.

Anchored by the world’s first industrial airport and one of the world’s busiest inland ports, AllianceTexas is now home to 265 of the world’s leading companies, and more than 30,000 employees. The development also serves as a key economic driver for the entire North Texas region. Jones Lang LaSalle earlier this year described the Alliance Global Logistics Hub as the “grandfather of U.S. inland ports.” Last month at the Texas Economic Development Council’s annual conference, Fort Worth Alliance Airport was cited as one of the 10 most influential economic events in Texas over the last 50 years.

In the report presented today to the City of Fort Worth, prepared by Hillwood and based on a study conducted by Insight Research Corporation, AllianceTexas continued to show extraordinary growth in the retail and Class A office sectors, particularly. Significant retail activity at Alliance Town Center during the current year alone included the opening of the 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace in January, and the August announcement of plans for a 14-screen, state-of-the-art Cinemark movie theater to be constructed in Phase 2 of the project. Several Phase 2 projects currently under construction at Alliance Town Center and expected to open in 2012, include the 189,000-square-foot Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, and its 73,000-square-foot adjoining office complex, as well as North Hills Hospital’s 10,500-square-foot ER at Alliance. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, Hillwood Properties expects Alliance Town Center to have a total value of $344 million, with annual sales tax revenue of $3.15 million.

“There is no better way to illustrate the overall economic impact of the AllianceTexas project than to witness the vibrancy and activity taking place at Alliance Town Center,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Just seven years ago, Alliance Town Center was nothing more than an empty field. And, today, it represents one of the fastest growing retail centers in North Texas, serving the fastest growing large city in America. Alliance Town Center is the culmination of each important stage at AllianceTexas that came before it.”

In addition to the activity at Alliance Town Center, 2011 has also seen the completion of one of AllianceTexas’ most significant projects to date, with the October opening of the $300-million, 712,000-square-foot Deloitte University at Circle T Ranch in Westlake. Already hosting Deloitte employees from around the globe, Deloitte University serves as the company’s international training center, and features 35 classroom and informal learning spaces, a variety of conference and meeting rooms, and spectacular guest accommodations for 800.

The October opening of Deloitte University coincided with an announcement from FedEx Freight that it would be opening a new, 40,000-square-foot heavy-cargo hauling facility at AllianceTexas, providing the development with an additional 115 new jobs (in addition to the more than 700 employees at the company’s Southwest Sort Hub at Fort Worth Alliance Airport). The announcement represents a continued commitment from one of AllianceTexas’ leading employers.

Beyond each individual project, the overall impact of AllianceTexas can be evaluated by the cumulative taxes paid to local entities since 1990, including $184 million to the City of Fort Worth, $163 million to Tarrant County and a combined $544 million to the Northwest and Keller ISDs. In total, the AllianceTexas project has generated more than $948 million in property taxes to the eight taxing entities spanning the development, making it one of the nation’s most successful public-private partnerships.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 265 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes more than 7,600 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

ABOUT INSIGHT RESEARCH CORPORATION
Insight Research Corporation performed the original economic impact report in 2000 and reviews it annually based on new data. Since its founding in 1981, Insight Research Corporation has become nationally known for its pacesetting analytical approaches in providing economic, employment, tax revenue impact and cost/benefits analysis. The company’s client list includes the UP, CSX and NS Railroads, the U.S. Department of Energy, several state Departments of Transportation, many cities including Fort Worth, New York and Chicago, as well as Fortune 500 companies, including 3-M, PepsiCo, American Express, AT&T and Dell.

# # #

HILLWOOD PROPERTIES NAMED A FINALIST IN FORT WORTH CHAMBER’S INAUGURAL BEST WORKPLACES FOR WOMEN AWARD

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (November 10, 2011) – Hillwood Properties has been named a finalist in the medium-sized business category (51-199 employees) of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Best Workplaces For Women Award. The award was developed this year to recognize best practices by local businesses in recruiting and retaining women employees.
     Hillwood Properties’ core values of Integrity, Respect, Excellence and Teamwork provide the foundation for associates to excel. Team members benefit from the company’s focus on ethics, fairness, education, health & wellness and the ability to balance work and family life. Other factors such as workplace safety, exercise facilities and community involvement also provide a well-rounded work environment for associates.
    According to federal projections, women are forecast to make up 51 percent of the United States workforce by 2018. On the basis of that outlook, the Chamber developed the workplace award with help from Texas Woman’s University’s Small Business Institute (SBI) research, and in collaboration with the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber and Metropolitan Black Chamber.
     The award will be given to three companies, selected from three categories of finalists (small, medium, large), at a Dec. 8 luncheon hosted by the Chamber’s Women Influencing Business program and presented by Plains Capital Bank. The program will feature Barbara Pierce Bush, co-founder and president of Global Health Corps, and daughter of former President George W. Bush.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
    AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to more than 265 companies, which have built nearly 32 million square feet and created more than 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes nearly 7,500 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

# # #

Fort Worth Alliance Air Show wows crowd

Andrea Ahles — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As a World War II-era warbird taxied around Alliance Airport's runway Saturday, 3-year-old Isaiah Benitez's eyes widened.

"Cool!" Isaiah told his father, José.

Click here to read the full article.

Several on Thunderbirds team call Texas home

Chris Vaughn — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- The Air Force's high-performance demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, arrives in town this week for the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show with a group that needs no introduction to chicken-fried steak, Friday night football and Willie.

Click here to read the full article.

Video: Some aerobatic fun

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sean D. Tucker and Mike Goulian have some fun over downtown Fort Worth and Eagle Mountain Lake as they get ready for the Alliance Air Show this weekend.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10/20/3460893/several-on-thunderbirds-team-call.html

Video: Flying fast and upside down

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker talks about flying fast, upside down and close to the ground.

http://www.star-telegram.com/videos/#vmix_media_id=116838571

Texas Economist Ray Perryman Cites Alliance Airport in His List of the Top 10 Economic Events of the Past 50 Years

Jim Fuquay — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Economist Ray Perryman this morning at a Fort Worth meeting of economic development officials offered his version of a Top 10 list: the state's most influential events since 1961. Perryman is a Texas native whose professional life has revolved around regional economics and forecasting, so he's probably as qualified as any to expound on the topic.

Hillwood signals possible resumption of speculative building

Sandra Baker — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties, developer of the sprawling Alliance development in far north Fort Worth, may begin building warehouses after a more than two-year construction hiatus prompted by the recession.

Click here to read the full article.

HILLWOOD PROPERTIES WINS PRESTIGIOUS GREATER TARRANT BUSINESS ETHICS AWARD

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Seventh annual awards honor companies committed to ethical business practices

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 6, 2011) – Hillwood Properties has been named one of two 2011 winners of the Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Award. The award, which recognizes Greater Tarrant companies that uphold high standards of business ethics, is presented by the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, in conjunction with the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University and the Financial Planning Association.

Also winning a 2011 award was Integra Realty Resources. Finalists for the award were American Airlines, Calloway’s Nurseries, F1 Information Technologies and Williams Trew.

“We are honored to be among the companies nominated for this award, and we thank the presenters for recognizing our efforts,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties.

Berry continued, “Hillwood Properties is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in our operations, management, employee relations and dealings with customers. This award is a great testament to the culture we have worked diligently to create at Hillwood.”

In addition to the Neeley School of Business, the awards were sponsored by BBVA Compass, Bourland Wall & Wenzel, P.C., Fort Worth Business Press and the Fort Worth Chamber.

Previous award winners include Kubes Jewelers, Innovative Developers Inc., Sanders Travel Centre, Renfro Foods Inc., Thos. S. Byrne, LTD, Freese and Nichols Inc., S&J Electric, Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and Branch Smith Printing, LTD.

ABOUT HILLWOOD PROPERTIES
Hillwood Properties is the developer of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development, one of the most unique large-scale, master-planned developments in North America. Known for building successful public-private partnerships, Hillwood Properties provides an array of expertise, including site selection, land development, master-planning, construction, property management, landscape services, airport management and aviation services.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS

AllianceTexas (http://www.alliancetexas.com/) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 265 companies, including 51 from the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes lists of Top Private Firms. Together, these companies have built more than 31.8 million square feet and created 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes nearly 7,500 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

# # #

Hillwood and Integra Realty Resources win business award

Sandra Baker — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties and Integra Realty Resources have been named the 2011 winners of the Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Award.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood, Integra receive ethics awards

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Two companies that have had a major impact on development in Tarrant County received the 2011 Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Award at an Oct. 5 luncheon at Texas Christian University.

Integra Realty Resources DFW LLP, a commercial real estate valuation and consulting firm with offices in Fort Worth and Dallas, and Hillwood Properties, developer for the 17,000 AllianceTexas area in north Fort Worth, each received the annual award.

“Teamwork, integrity and respect are among the core values of our company,” said Tom Harris, senior vice president at Hillwood.

Integra Realty Resources Managing Director Donald Sherwood said during the recession the company has been underbid on some contracts, but has resolved that “if we’re going to get the job, we’re going to do it right.”

Sherwood also noted that the process of entering the Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Award was worthwhile for the firm.

“It helped us to stop and think about these [ethics] issues,” he said.

Ben Loughry, principal at Integra, noted that the honor belonged to all employees.

“It is a great honor for our company,” he said. “This recognition really goes to our employees and staff. They strive everyday to be the leaders in their field while upholding the high ethical standards of our profession.”

Keynote speaker for the event was Frederick G. Slabach, recently appointed president of Texas Wesleyan University and former Dean of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Slabach said businesspeople and the legal profession often have different goals and must work at communication to have an effective relationship.

Presenting sponsor for the event was BBVA Compass.

Hillwood to build apartments at AllianceTexas

Steve Brown — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

North Fort Worth's huge AllianceTexas community is about to get a new apartment community.

Developer Hillwood Properties plans to start work soon on a second rental home project in its successful Monterra Village development on North Tarrant Parkway at Interstate 35W.

"It's a good time for us to get another project going," said Hillwood Properties president Mike Berry. "We are going to be aggressive on the retail and apartment projects at Alliance."

Berry said the 262-unit project will be adjacent to the original Monterra Village apartment complex. That 288-unit development opened in 2008.

"We've been full for four or five months now and we've been able to push up our rents," he said.

The new apartment development will be located just south of the growing Alliance Town Center retail and commercial project.

Hillwood recently announced that movie theater operator Cinemark will build a 14-screen cinema in the project.

Ross Perot Jr. named to prestigious real estate list

Sandra Baker — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ross Perot, Jr., chairman of Hillwood Properties, developer of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas in north Fort Worth, has been selected by Real Estate Forum magazine as one of the 65 "Industry Legends and Icons."

The magazine published the list in its 65th anniversary issue. The list recognizes figures and events that have had a significant impact on commercial real estate during the past 65 years.

Industry icons Trammell Crow, David Rockefeller, John Cushman III and Roger Staubach are on the list.

Perot was selected for his leadership in establishing Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the world’s first industrial airport, and in creating the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, one of the nation’s first and largest inland ports. The airport and the logistics hub are two key components of Hillwood’s AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use community that Perot envisioned and developed in north Fort Worth, beginning more than 20 years ago.

To date, Alliance has had a cumulative economic impact of nearly $40 billion on the North Texas economy, creating more than 30,000 jobs. The project is 40 percent developed.

Hillwood President Mike Berry said Perot "thinks in terms of what is going to happen in the coming decades, and frames his strategy accordingly. As a result of this visionary approach, he is constantly out in front of the market, creating valued developments that have a lasting impact."

Hillwood buys North Fort Worth land

Steve Brown — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Residential land developer Hillwood Communities said Monday that it has added to the company's holdings in North Fort Worth.

The real estate company has purchased 52 acre of residential and commercial at the northeast corner of Golden Triangle Boulevard and Beach Street.

Hillwood said it will market the property for commercial uses including gas stations, grocers, medical offices and restaurants.

The company said it will begin work late this year to improve the adjoining intersection.

Ken Reimer and David Davidson Jr. of Venture Commercial Real Estate brokers the transaction for Hillwood with seller Realty Capital Golden Beach.

Just last week, Hillwood said it was starting an additional 30 home lots in the Twin Creeks community in Allen north of Dallas.

Hillwood Communities was founded by businessman Ross Perot Jr. and has built more than 22,000 home lots in more than 60 communities around the country.

Beach Street work part of land buy

Sandra Baker — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities, part of the Perot company that developed Alliance, has bought 52 acres at the northeast corner of Golden Triangle Boulevard and Beach Street in far north Fort Worth where it plans to complete Beach Street to Keller Hicks Road.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood Communities buys 52 acres in North Fort Worth for development

Candace Carlisle — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities, a Perot company, has acquired 52 acres of residential and commercial land at the northeast corner of F.M. 1709 and Golden Triangle Boulevard and Beach Street in North Fort Worth for future development.

The development will bring a community to the area, said Brian Carlock, senior vice president for acquisitions for Hillwood Communities.

Hillwood will begin construction late this year to improve the Beach Street intersection and will widen it for nearly a mile. The crossroad will improve mobility in the area and add to access to Alliance Town Center, officials said.

Ken Reimer and David Davidson Jr. of Venture Commercial Real Estate represented Hillwood Communities, and the seller of the land, Realty Capital Golden Beach. The team will continue to assist Hillwood in securing retail tenants for the commercial portion of the project.

Hillwood is planning to market the property for commercial use, such as a gas station, grocery, medical office and restaurants.

The financial details of the acquisition were not released.

Crow, Perot Jr., Staubach named as real estate 'industry legends'

Candace Carlisle — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Trammell Crow, Ross Perot Jr. and Roger Staubach were among 65 "Industry Legends and Icons" in Real Estate Forum's magazine.

The magazine recognized the figures and events that had the most significant impact in the commercial real estate industry in the past 65 years.

Crow was chosen for transforming the Dallas skyline with his two companies, Trammell Crow Co. and the Wyndham Hotel brand.

Perot, Hillwood's chairman, was selected as a leader for establishing the Fort Worth Alliance Airport and creating the Alliance Global Logistics Hub.

Staubach was chosen for bringing his leadership as quarterback for a decade with the Dallas Cowboys into the commercial real estate world. Staubach Co. ultimately merged with Jones Lang LaSalle in 2008 for $613 million.

Hillwood starts Allen development

Steve Brown — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Communities has broken ground on a residential development in Allen.

Hillwood is building 30 new home lots in the last phase of its Lexington Village community. It's part of the 2,400-acre Twin Creeks development.

“Twin Creeks has been one of Hillwood’s most successful master-planned communities,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities. “With Allen’s job and population growth, we expect these lots to go quickly because they are some of the last in the city.”

Sanders and Associates Custom Homes will build houses priced from $590,000 on Hillwood's new Allen lots.

Twin Creeks is the largest residential project in Allen with more than 2,000 homes.

Hillwood Communities was founded by Dallas businessman Ross Perot Jr. and has built more than 22,000 home lots in more than 60 communities around the country.

Ross Perot, Jr. Named One of Real Estate Forum’s “65 Industry Legends And Icons”

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Selection Recognizes Perot for Leadership of Hillwood, Development of Transformative AllianceTexas Project in North Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas (September 30, 2011) – Joining some of the biggest names in commercial real estate, Hillwood Chairman Ross Perot, Jr. has been selected by Real Estate Forum magazine as one of 65 “Industry Legends and Icons” honored in the publication’s 65th anniversary commemorative issue. The special anniversary edition of the magazine was published today and recognizes the figures and events having the most significant impact on the commercial real estate industry over the past 65 years.

In the issue, Perot is joined by other notable industry icons such as Trammell Crow, David Rockefeller, John Cushman III and Roger Staubach among others. The magazine selected Perot for his leadership in establishing Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the world’s first industrial airport, and in creating the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, one of the nation’s first and largest inland ports. In a Spring 2011 supply chain report, industry leader Jones Lang LaSalle stated that the Alliance Global Logistics Hub is “considered the grandfather of U.S. inland ports.” Both the airport and the Alliance Global Logistics Hub are two key components of Hillwood’s AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use community that Perot envisioned and developed in north Fort Worth, beginning more than 20 years ago.

To date, AllianceTexas has had a cumulative economic impact of nearly $40 billion on the North Texas economy, creating more than 30,000 jobs and becoming a driving force in the sustained success of the Texas economy. AllianceTexas is home to leading corporate facilities and industrial operations, in addition to Alliance Town Center, one of the nation’s most successful retail projects in recent years, and both single-family and multi-family residential communities. The project is only 40 percent developed to-date.

“This ‘65 Industry Legends and Icons’ honor is a testament to Ross’ pioneering spirit and his vision for AllianceTexas,” said Mike Berry, president, Hillwood Properties. “He thinks in terms of what is going to happen in the coming decades, and frames his strategy accordingly. As a result of this visionary approach, he is constantly out in front of the market, creating valued developments that have a lasting impact. It is truly appropriate for Real Estate Forum to honor him as an industry legend.”

A native of Dallas, Perot also has strong ties to the aviation industry. He completed the first helicopter flight around the world in 1982. The 26,000-mile trip was completed in less than 30 days, crossing 26 countries and 17 seas and oceans. His helicopter, The Spirit of Texas, is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Perot served in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for eight and one-half years. He became chairman of the Air Force Memorial Foundation, leading a 14-year effort to build the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Memorial, honoring the men and women of the U.S. Air Force, was dedicated to the nation in October 2006.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (http://www.alliancetexas.com/) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 265 companies, including 51 from the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes lists of Top Private Firms. Together, these companies have built more than 31.8 million square feet and created 30,000 jobs. The community also now includes nearly 7,500 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

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Commercial real estate’s past, present and future

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Legends & Icons: People who have helped to shape the commercial real estate industry

Ross Perot, Jr. – page 66

http://www.reforum-digital.com/reforum/201109#pg1

Hillwood breaks ground on final phase of Lexington Village in Allen

Candace Carlisle — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities broke ground Thursday on its final phase of Lexington Village, which is part of the 2,400-acre Twin Creeks residential community in Allen.

The final phase includes 30 homes built by Sanders and Associates Custom Homes. The homes are priced from $590,000.

The project has been one of Hillwood Communities' most successful projects, said Fred Balda, president of the Dallas-based company.

The community has an 18-hole golf course, two amenity centers, two pools, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts and hike and bike trails. Twin Creeks is the largest residential project in Allen.

Hillwood Breaks Ground on Final Phase of Lexington Village in Allen

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Communities has broken ground on the final phase of Lexington Village in the 2,400 acre Twin Creeks residential community in Allen, TX. The last phase of the project provides 30 new lots with homes to be built by Sanders and Associates Custom Homes and priced from the $590's.

Bordered by an Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole Championship Golf Course, Lexington Village is near the 121 Tollway and shopping, entertainment and dining opportunities.

In addition to the golf course, Lexington offers two amenity centers, two pools, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts and hike and bike trails. Residents have an on-site restaurant with covered patio and an athletic pro shop. Students living in Lexington Village are served by the Allen Independent School District, which maintains three "Exemplary" accredited elementary schools.

Twin Creeks is the largest residential project in Allen and one of the largest master-planned communities in North Texas. With more than 2,000 homes, construction on the project began in 1993. Twin Creeks has accounted for approximately 25% of the area's new home closings over the past decade.

Perot Rolls the Dice on Las Vegas Rebound

Kris Hudson and Robbie Whelan — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ambitious Texas developer H. Ross Perot Jr., son of the computer billionaire and erstwhile third-party presidential candidate, is betting on an eventual rebound of the Las Vegas housing market by angling for control of a huge swath of land north of the city.

Mr. Perot's Hillwood Communities bought 400 acres of the so-called Park Highlands development in 2008 at a steep discount, and late last year, Hillwood bought the remaining 1,000 developable acres for an undisclosed "nominal amount."

But the larger parcel is saddled with $179 million in debt, far more than the land's estimated value, which has tumbled to just $19 million. Unable to reach a workout with lenders, Hillwood put the parcel into bankruptcy in July and now is hoping to buy back the land in an auction later this year.

"No other bidder sits in our unique position," says Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities.

Hillwood's strategy for the land that is home to little more than desert scrub and jackrabbits speaks volumes about how the housing bust has transformed the land business in Las Vegas. Back in the go-go days, developers used enormous leverage to buy big swaths of land at federal auctions, then spent hundreds of millions more to build roads, sewers and power lines in the hopes of selling thousands of houses to the city's booming population.

Mr. Perot and others are trying to take control of large parcels at distressed prices with plans to hold onto them until new housing demand eventually returns. The price for an acre of raw land in the Las Vegas valley peaked in late 2007 at more than $900,000, according to Applied Analysis, a Las Vegas-based research firm. Now, the average is roughly $138,000, excluding a single pricey second-quarter deal that skewed the numbers.

"Back then, it was business as usual" to buy huge tracts for thousands of homes, says Dennis Smith, president of Home Builders Research Inc., a Las Vegas area market-analysis firm. "There was demand for 35,000 homes a year. Now there's demand for 3,500 homes a year."

There are plenty of busted deals around Las Vegas for the new breed of land buyer to pursue. Inspirada, a 1,900-acre tract in nearby Henderson, was forced into bankruptcy court by its lenders after several builders, including KB Home and Toll Brothers Inc., defaulted on a $585 million loan. Some of the builders agreed to pay lenders $340 million in a settlement reached in June.

Northwest of Las Vegas, developers behind the 1,700-acre Kyle Canyon Gateway project defaulted in 2008 on a $435 million loan, resulting in lead lender Wachovia Corp. foreclosing on the land. The lenders are negotiating with city officials for a new, smaller development agreement in the hopes of selling the property, according to a spokeswoman for Wells Fargo & Co., which bought Wachovia in 2008.

Investors buying land in the Southwest and California include hedge-fund firms Paulson & Co. and D.E. Shaw & Co., as well as private-equity fund manager Angelo, Gordon & Co . But these deals are often tricky because picking up the pieces of busted deals typically involves dealing with unhappy lenders trying to cope with big losses.

Hillwood's gamble on Park Highlands fits Mr. Perot's Texas-sized appetite for complex, high-profile projects that take years, even decades, to complete. His family made its fortune from founding and eventually selling technology companies Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems.

Mr. Perot's biggest real-estate project, Hillwood's 17,000-acre Alliance industrial hub north of Fort Worth, Texas, is 40% developed with an airport, warehouses, homes and offices. Mr. Perot, 52 years old, sometimes pilots his helicopter over Alliance to allow guests to take in its scope from above.

Less of a success is Mr. Perot's Victory Park project of offices, stores, hotels and condominiums surrounding the American Airlines Center arena adjacent to downtown Dallas. Victory Park has struggled to attract condo buyers and retain restaurants and stores since opening in 2006. In 2009, Hillwood, facing a pricey overhaul of the project, handed over Victory Park to equity partner U.S. Treuhand, a German investment fund.

The Park Highlands land was purchased for $639 million in 2005 by five home builders, led by D.R. Horton Inc. and Standard Pacific Homes. The deal was financed partly with a loan of $360 million originated by Credit Suisse and syndicated to roughly 60 lenders.

Park Highlands quickly ran into difficulty, as the Las Vegas market cratered. Hillwood purchased 400 acres at Park Highlands from D.R. Horton in 2008 for a mere $2 million. The developers holding the other 1,000-acre tract put it into bankruptcy in 2009.

Park Highlands emerged from Chapter 11 later that year with only $179 million in debt, but within four months it defaulted again. Hillwood stepped in late last year by acquiring the 1,000 acres for an undisclosed "nominal amount" and entering talks to restructure the parcel's debt. Unable to reach a consensus with Park Highlands' many lenders, Hillwood returned the project to bankruptcy protection last July.

A resolution likely is near. A bankruptcy judge in Las Vegas is expected to rule Thursday on a proposal to auction the parcel by year end. A lawyer representing five of the lenders said the entire lender group endorses the auction as its best option.

Hillwood earlier this month said it would offer $15 million for the land. But there may be competition: The chief restructuring officer in the bankruptcy case says seven potential bidders have shown interest so far.

Hillwood says if it loses the auction, it will simply mothball its 400 acres, leaving the winning bidder to handle the onerous cost of installing roads, utilities and other infrastructure on the 1,000-acre tract. "If we are unsuccessful, we will just sit back and let someone else take the lead," Mr. Balda said. "We are patient."

ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER ANNOUNCES PLANNED ADDITION OF 14-SCREEN CINEMARK THEATRE

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Theatre to Open in 2012, Adding to Lifestyle Amenities as Tremendous Growth Continues Around Hillwood’s 17,000-Acre Master-Planned Community

FORT WORTH, Texas (August 31, 2011) – Hillwood announced today that Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), one of the world's largest motion picture exhibitors, has purchased land at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth to construct a 14-screen, all-digital movie theatre featuring the company's new Cinemark NextGen design concept. The theatre will be located along I-35W north of Sam Moon and will provide yet another new lifestyle amenity for the rapidly growing area in and around AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned community.

“We’re excited about the addition of Cinemark’s state-of-the-art theatre to the great mix of retail and entertainment offerings at Alliance Town Center,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “With 800,000 square feet of retail now on the ground, and with some of the top-performing locations in the U.S. for leading national retailers, Alliance Town Center has become a destination of choice for the phenomenally successful AllianceTexas community. Cinemark’s new theatre will further reinforce the desirability of living and working in the fast-growing north Fort Worth area.”

Long recognized as a pioneer in the theatrical exhibition industry, Cinemark is taking the cinema entertainment experience to the next level. Slated to open just in time for the 2012 summer blockbuster season, the new Cinemark NextGen theatre will offer the latest technology, cutting-edge amenities and customer-preferred options all under one roof. All of the stadium-seated auditoriums will offer a state-of-the-art viewing environment with wall-to-wall screens, 100 percent digital projection and enhanced sound systems equipped with higher quality speakers and 7.1-capable digital surround sound. Additionally, the theatre complex will contain an extremely popular Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium. The lobby will be designed around one of Cinemark's innovative self-serve concession stands offering freshly popped popcorn, Coca-Cola fountain beverages and favorite candy brands.

The new Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium will be the fourth in the Dallas area. The XD auditorium is the largest in the theatre complex and offers a complete entertainment environment featuring a wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor screen, plush seating and a custom JBL sound system with higher-end components and 7.1-capable digital surround sound. The digital images will be delivered by a Doremi server and a Barco DLP digital projector. The XD auditorium will exhibit the newest movies every week, including 2D and Real D-3D pictures.

“This Cinemark NextGen movie theatre will be a flagship location for our customers to enjoy in north Fort Worth,” states Alan Stock, Cinemark’s Chief Executive Officer. “The new complex will provide the best movie-going experience available and will be the perfect complement to the 19 theatres that Cinemark currently operates in our home town of Dallas-Ft.Worth.”

Other amenities coming soon to AllianceTexas to serve residents of the nearby area include:

• New Shopping and Dining – Bucking a national trend in declining retail site selection, Alliance Town Center became home last year to some of the country’s leading retail brands, including Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace and Chick-fil-A. On the near-term horizon for the center are the opening of a 7,500-square-foot Mi Cocina Mexican restaurant by year end, a 2,735-square-foot restaurant for Baker Bros., and storefronts for Cinch Cleaners, Great Clips, Pacific Dental and Green Tea House to be located within 17,000 square feet of retail space currently under construction next to the recently opened Kroger Marketplace.

• Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance – Currently under construction and scheduled to open in the Fall of 2012, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance will be a 262,000-square-foot facility and will be the first hospital in the AllianceTexas area. Upon completion, the facility will offer traditional hospital services including: general medicine, in and outpatient surgery, emergency services, imaging services, rehabilitation, women and infant services, physician offices as well as wellness and prevention education. Located on more than 40 acres at the corner of Golden Triangle Blvd. and I-35W, Texas Health Alliance will offer a personalized health care experience to meet the needs of this evolving community.

• HCA’s E+R at Alliance – The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) is under construction with its 10,500-square-foot emergency care facility located at the southern end of Alliance Town Center, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2011. The 24-hour-a-day, emergency room will have 12 exam rooms and will be staffed with hospital trained Emergency Board Certified Physicians and Registered Nurses. The Emergency Room will also provide laboratory and radiology services including CT Scanner.

Anchored by the world’s first industrial airport and the largest inland port in the U.S., AllianceTexas continues to thrive despite national declines in commercial real estate growth in recent years. AllianceTexas’ cumulative economic impact has now reached nearly $40 billion since its creation more than 20 years ago, making the master-planned development one of the nation’s leading models for successful public-private partnerships.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 58 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

ABOUT CINEMARK HOLDINGS, INC
Cinemark Holdings, Inc. is a leading domestic and international motion picture exhibitor, operating 436 theatres with 4,983 screens in 39 U.S. states, Brazil, Mexico and 11 other Latin American countries as of June 30, 2011. For more information go to http://www.cinemark.com/.

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North Fort Worth theater complex planned by Hillwood

Steve Brown — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Properties has landed a major entertainment venue for its AllianceTexas community in North Fort Worth.

Cinema operator Cinemark Holdings Inc. will locate a 14-screen theater in the Alliance Town Center retail complex on Interstate 35W.

Cinemark has purchased land for the new movie house that will open in summer 2012. The planned Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema will be the fourth in the Dallas area.

Back in March Cinemark announced that it would construct the multi-screen cinema in a competing North Fort Worth development. But Hillwood was able to convince the Plano-based company to shift its plans to Alliance Town Center.

The project is at I-35W and Heritage Trace Parkway and is anchored by retailers including Best Buy , J.C. Penney, Belk and Sam Moon.

The regional retail center is a project of Hillwood and Trademark Property Co.

Cinemark buys land in Alliance for 14-screen theater

Sandra Baker — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Cinemark has bought land at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth for a 14-screen, all-digital movie theater, Alliance developer Hillwood Properties said Wednesday.

Click here to read the full article.

Cinemark buys land for 14-screen theater in North Fort Worth

Aleshia Howe — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Cinemark Holdings Inc. has purchased land for a new showing at Alliance Town Center.
Cinemark will construct a 14-screen, all-digital movie theater featuring the company's new Cinemark NextGen design concept. The theatre will be located along I-35W north of Sam Moon at Alliance Town Center, which is the retail hot bed of North Fort Worth’s AllianceTexas, Hillwood Properties’ 17,000-acre master-planned community.

“We’re excited about the addition of Cinemark’s state-of-the-art theatre to the great mix of retail and entertainment offerings at Alliance Town Center,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood, in the announcement. “With 800,000 square feet of retail now on the ground, and with some of the top-performing locations in the U.S. for leading national retailers, Alliance Town Center has become a destination of choice for the phenomenally successful AllianceTexas community.”

Cinemark’s new NexGen concept is slated to open in early summer 2012 and will offer stadium-seated auditoriums with wall-to-wall screens, 100 percent digital projection and enhanced sound systems equipped with higher quality speakers and 7.1-capable digital surround sound.

According to the announcement, the theatre complex also will contain a Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium. The Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium will be the fourth in the Metroplex and will serve as the largest auditorium in the theatre complex, offering a wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor screen, plush seating and a custom JBL sound system with higher-end components and 7.1-capable digital surround sound. The digital images will be delivered by a Doremi server and a Barco DLP digital projector. The XD auditorium will exhibit the newest movies every week, including 2D and Real D-3D pictures.

“This Cinemark NextGen movie theatre will be a flagship location for our customers to enjoy in north Fort Worth,” said Alan Stock, Cinemark’s CEO, in the announcement. “The new complex will provide the best movie-going experience available and will be the perfect complement to the 19 theatres that Cinemark currently operates in our home town of Dallas-Fort Worth.”

Hillwood Communities Wimberley Place Named Community of the Year

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

(AUGUST 31, 2011-- Allen, TX) Hillwood Communities announced today that Wimberley Place, its premier gated, custom development in West Allen, Texas, received the prestigious Community of the Year designation awarded by the Homebuilders Association of Greater Dallas 2011 ARC Awards.

“We are thrilled to receive this coveted honor,” said Fred Balda, President of Hillwood Communities. “Wimberley Place is a crown jewel within our Twin Creeks development and offers all of the elements that define an award-winning luxury community: golf-course views, oversized lots, lavish amenities, custom homebuilders, stunning landscape, quality education and great access.

The ¾ to 1-acre homesites in Wimberley Place range from $350,000 to $500,000 with homes from $1 million to $3 million. Sites feature views of the Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole Championship Golf Course, wooded creek lots, unique topography and mature trees.

Wimberley Place homeowners also enjoy two private swim clubs, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, two pavilions and more than three miles of hike and bike trails.

Students living in Wimberley Place are served by the Exemplary Allen Independent School District. Three “exemplary” accredited elementary schools are within the community.

Wimberley Place offers easy access to Highway 75, President George Bush Turnpike, Highway121 and the Dallas North Tollway.

The Homebuilders Association of Greater Dallas created the ARC Awards for Associates, Remodelers and Custom Builders in the homebuilding industry and recognizes areas of unique achievement in both custom building and renovation in approximately 60 different categories.

Hillwood Communities is a multifaceted residential development company committed to building world-class communities for families since 1988. Hillwood has also built a powerful reputation as one of the most highly-regarded and well-known developers in the business. The company has delivered more than 22,000 single-family lots in more than 60 communities with 35 active communities. What began in its home market of Dallas-Fort Worth has now expanded into other Texas markets—Austin, San Antonio and Houston and major markets, including Wyoming, Florida, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Costa Rica. More information can be found at hillwoodcommunities.com.

Hillwood, (http://www.hillwood.com/) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center near downtown Dallas.

Rick Perry's economy: Texas miracle or Texas curse?

Mark Mardell, North America editor — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Down below me, the Texas miracle is made manifest.

The helicopter swoops over the many sights that make up Alliance Texas, outside Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a project that has created 30,000 new jobs - 2,400 of them last year.

Some say that's down to the low-tax, low-regulation policy of the governor who would be president, Rick Perry. (Read Eight Things You Should Know about the Governor in Texas Monthly.)

From my bird's eye view I can see hotels and homes, roads, railway, and planes.

They say everything is bigger down here in Texas, and this is a business park the size of a town, larger than Manhattan.

It started life as transport hub. There is the airport, the biggest cargo-only airport in the USA.

Then we swoop over brightly coloured shipping containers, most of them from Asia via California. Next, we're on to rail and road links. An estate for billionaires is nestled next to two golf courses. Some of the identical luxury homes were recently snapped up by pop stars and TV celebrities I am asked not to name.

The wide open spaces between the developments is for ranching, but could also be built on.

That is because Alliance, Texas, like the state itself, is growing. In a nearly stagnant national economy Texas seems to be racing ahead. More than 260 companies are settled below me and more want to come here.

'Ship's captain'

The man behind Alliance, Texas knows a thing or two about presidential elections. Ross Perot Jr watched his dad make two unsuccessful stabs at becoming president in the '90s as an independent.

A billionaire in his own right, he says Mr Perry deserves the credit for what has happened in Texas.

"He's our governor so he's the captain of the ship," Mr Perot says. "It's his attitude and his vision that put in place the framework we have all enjoyed in this state in the past decade."

I point out that Texas enjoys many advantages that are nothing to do with the governor: its oil and gas, its high population growth, its climate (although I am less convinced of the benefit of this, sweltering in the 40.5C heat).

Mr Perot demurs.

"Look at California," Mr Perot urges. "Look at all the great natural resources. California: unbelievable people, unbelievable weather, fabulous ocean, look how the political leaders have screwed up that state. We don't have that in Texas we have great political leadership."

What is so great about it?

"It's pro-business, pro-growth, pro-jobs," he said. "They allow businessmen and women to do their job. They stay out the way. They give you a very good environment where you can grow and invest your capital. You know with certainly that the government will not try to interfere with your business or the return on that capital.

It's very low tax, low regulation and that ensures economic freedom. That is what makes this state special."

Chatting with Mr Perot after the interview he fondly mentions Lady Thatcher. She is often invoked here, and not just to me because I am British.

Texas is a Thatcherite dream incarnate, an experiment in the almost unbridled free market in a highly advanced society, with no state income tax and all other taxes kept down.

And the businessmen and women who grow rich here say it is a model the whole US should follow.

The Texas model

At the heart of the miracle is a city with an amazing story: Dallas.

Standing on the balcony of the 14th floor of the Dallas Federal Reserve, chairman and CEO Richard Fisher points out a modestly sized building.

"That was the tallest building in Dallas until 40 years ago," he says.

"The city has put on a remarkable growth spurt since then, and indeed one of its advantages is an infrastructure more up-to-date than LA, New York or Chicago."

Thirty-five major corporations are headquartered here. Mr Fisher says that whether you call it a miracle or not, something remarkable has happened in Texas.

"We went in to the recession last and came out first," he says.

"Depending how you calculate it, since the recovery began, 49.9% all the jobs created in America have been created in Texas [A different measure makes it 29.2%]. And we only have 10% of the people."

You can read his detailed dissection of the figures and a trenchant take on America's future in a recent speech that manages to include a reference to Bertie Wooster's aunts as well as Lady Thatcher.

It is well worth a read, and explains why some see the Texas model as important not just for the US but for the world.

Mr Fisher points out that only around 2% of people work in oil or gas, and even though Texas is the biggest cotton producer in the world and has a huge cattle industry, it is not agriculture that accounts for its success.

Healthcare services have shown the biggest growth. Less in line with the ideology, government is not far behind.

Mr Fisher has no doubt that it is down to culture, and a choice.

"People here are not very pro-government," he says. "The legislature meets 140 days every two years. We pay them only $600 a month... [and that's] probably too much. We have a different attitude here to the role of government."

Trade-off

There's no doubt which political side Mr Fisher is on. But he is not a politician and can be honest that there is a price.

"We have very low taxes and as a result of that very low services," he acknowledges.

"Those that are doled out in modern societies to a greater or lesser degree don't exist much here. We also have an education system that is severely challenged. The nice thing with the US is that you don't have to be here [in Texas] - you can vote with your feet, you can go somewhere else.

“This is what I have to deal with when I come back to my neighbourhood: people struggling to eat, people struggling to get a job, kids put out of school and an education system that is failing”
Pastor Gerlad Taylor

Texas Organizing Project
"The numbers show that people are coming here in droves. Business are relocating here. Jobs are being created here. I think there is a trade-off."

Pastor Gerald Taylor of the Texas Organizing Project, which is aimed at helping low- and middle-income families, would say the trade-off is rather one-sided. The unemployment rate is a little below the national average at around 8% but well short of a miracle.

In conjunction with weak unions, the state's high unemployment rate enables employers to keep down wages. Some 9.5% of Texas workers earn the minimum wage or less.

Under a current round of budget cuts totalling $31bn (£19bn), education will receive 13% less than the previous year.

The pastor takes me to a poor area of Dallas called Oak Cliff, where he has been providing free food for the children while they are on holiday over the summer and missing school meals.

He drives me around the area, rows of single-story shotgun houses, some smartly painted with ornate fences and warnings to less diligent neighbours ("Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot twice") others are dilapidated, falling apart.

There are many somewhere in between. The pastor points out the numerous drug houses. There is no doubt the area has been blighted for 20 years by crack and heroin and no one would claim these problems are of the governor's making.

But Pastor Taylor says Mr Perry's policies have crushed hopes and opportunity.

'Failing' education system

He tell a group of men: "It's easy to say it's a miracle when everyone you deal with living in million-dollar homes, driving hundred thousand-dollar cars, wearing thousand-dollar suits.

"If everyone around me was like that then I would be at ease. But this is what I have to deal with when I come back to my neighbourhood: people struggling to eat, people struggling to get a job, kids put out of school and an education system that is failing.

"If there's a miracle I really wish it would make way to our community because I don't see it."

He says to me: "I am scared for the country. If this is Rick Perry's mindset concerning Texas, what would happen if a person like that became president of the United States? He would duplicate this across the country. We're devastated. We need a miracle.

"The low taxes is good for the wealthy. No one really likes paying taxes. But if you lower the taxes it makes it easier for the haves to keep what they have and harder for the have-nots to get anything. Its not good for us."

He says the low taxes have made for a bad education system and that balancing the books and making further cutbacks will make that even worse.

"Education is power," he says.

"If the kids don't get educated then they're destined to duplicate what they've seen. If we don't teach them and take them to a place where they can begin to dream and think better what else can they do?"

The men he's taking to are sat outside a run-down house on office chairs that have seen better days, around a rusty table, drinking water and Gatorade.

This is the home of a mechanic, but there's no work going on. I see the ripped-out backseat of a car to provide extra seating, and mechanical and electrical parts scattered on a table next to a totally empty and dusty tool box.

One man, Edward Atkins, tells me: "I am a certified electrician, I don't have no tickets, no warrants or anything, I have put out more than 100 applications and have nobody called me for a job."

Standard Republican policies

But James Piper surprises me a little:

"It's really rough right now, but I mean it's not [as] bad as a whole load of other states, there are a whole load of other states in a worse shape than we're in right now. Texas is prospering economically right now".

Has he got a job? "I'm sure I could get one if I applied myself."

There has been endless debate about the Texas miracle in American newspapers, of course viewed from Washington or New York, untainted by any visit to the state, most driven by partisan desire.

It seems to me it is about a choice. There's little doubt that employers and companies from outside the state are attracted by the low taxes and the light regulation, and certainly this is not going to change.

But this has consequences for healthcare, for education. Texas is not a good place to be poor, and may be not a good place for those who would like to climb out of poverty.

Whether or not Mr Perry wins the Republican nomination, Texas is still important.

It currently follows policies advocated by all of the Republican candidates for all of the states.

In some ways it is a mirror image of the America President Barack Obama vowed to create.

The Texas economy may feel like a miracle to some, but to others it is more like a diabolical torment.

Next year Americans will get a chance to choose whether it is a blessing or a curse.

New jewelry store comes to Alliance shopping center

Barry Shlachter, Scott Nishimura and Sandra Baker — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A James Avery jewelry store is the newest retailer at Alliance Town Center in far north Fort Worth, becoming the company's 11th Dallas-Fort Worth location.

Click here to read the full article.

Keller makes CNN Money'sTop 100 list of small towns

Adrian McCandless — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

KELLER -- City officials were thrilled to find out last week that Keller made CNN Money Magazine's top 100 list for best small towns to live in America.

"We are excited that we still made the top 100 list.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance development brings hundreds of jobs to Tarrant County

Jim Douglas — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance development brings hundreds of jobs to Tarrant County

Click to view WFAA.com news clip: Alliance development brings hundreds of jobs to Tarrant County

Perot makes development play on Turtle Creek

Steve Brown — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ross Perot Jr.’s Hillwood real estate company has just bought the largest development site in Dallas’ exclusive Turtle Creek neighborhood.

The 6-acre vacant tract is between Turtle Creek and the Katy Trail at Bowen Street.

Hillwood bought the building site, which is large enough for two or three towers, from Classic Residence by Hyatt. Hyatt had planned to build a luxury retirement high-rise on the property but tabled those plans in 2008 because of economic conditions. Hyatt bought the property in 2004 and planned to build two residential towers of about 20 stories each.

The Turtle Creek tract is about a mile from Hillwood’s Victory Park development in Uptown.

Officials with Hillwood Investment Properties confirmed the purchase on Friday but said there are “no immediate plans” to develop the tract.

“The parcel is one of the few large undeveloped sites in the Turtle Creek-Uptown area and is zoned for building rights of approximately 1 million square feet,” a company spokesman said in a prepared statement.

The Oak Lawn property would accommodate some of the same kinds of office and residential tower developments that Hillwood has done at Victory.

The just-acquired property is across the creek from the Mansion on Turtle Creek hotel and condominium tower.

Dallas real estate broker Newt Walker, who sold the land to Hyatt and represented Hillwood in the latest purchase, was out of the country this week and could not be reached for details.

Other real estate brokers say that Hillwood looked at several potential sites in the Turtle Creek corridor before settling on the Bowen Street tract.

Terms of the Hillwood purchase were not disclosed in legal records. The land is valued for taxes at $9.25 million.

At one time the vacant block was home to several low- and mid-rise office buildings that were demolished more than 10 years ago.

As a part of zoning for the tract, the city of Dallas has authorized an extension of Gillespie Street with a new bridge to give direct access to the property from Turtle Creek Boulevard and the Mansion hotel.

Hillwood still owns several large development sites in Victory Park. But the commercial builder and developer gave up its ownership stake in the buildings in the project to German investors who financed the deal.

While the office projects at Victory have done well, the condominium buildings have not met expectations, and much of the retail space is still vacant.

GREEN TEA HOUSE JOINS ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Contact: Providia Commercial Real Estate, LLC — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Restaurant will bring healthy, unique Asian fusion/sushi concept to north Fort Worth’s leading retail center

PLANO, Texas (August 5, 2011) – Green Tea House, an Asian fusion & Sushi restaurant, is coming to Alliance Town Center. A new concept by an experienced Fort Worth-based operator, Green Tea House will be serving up sushi and other Asian cuisine, while featuring a full beer & wine bar. True to its name, Green Tea House will provide healthy food options, backed to an engaging atmosphere, for north Fort Worth residents. Featuring dishes low in sodium, without MSG, and prepared using healthy cooking oil, the open kitchen service concept promises a truly unique dining experience.

Rooted in the exotic and fascinating cuisines of Asia, Green Tea House features a menu based on fresh, flavorful, and familiar ingredients, transformed into food that is intended to be shared and enjoyed. Executive Chef William Liang has more than 15 years of cooking experience, and is skilled at presenting Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisines. Liang combines the freshest ingredients, with the unique cooking techniques of his Asian homeland to create succulent, healthy dishes, at a reasonable price point.

The new 2,185 square foot restaurant will be located at the Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center. Mark Miller of Hillwood and Kiew Kam of Providia Commercial Real Estate negotiated the lease.

“Hillwood Properties is excited to add an Asian fusion restaurant to an already wide selection of dining establishments at Alliance Town Center,” said Mark Miller, vice president of Hillwood Properties. “Green Tea House will provide north Fort Worth residents with menu options not yet available in the area, and I believe it will prove to be a successful concept.”

ABOUT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER
Alliance Town Center is located in north Fort Worth and is the largest retail component of AllianceTexas, Hillwood Properties’ 17,000-acre master-planned development. The retail center is home to some of the country’s leading brands, including JC Penney, Kroger Marketplace, Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, Best Buy, JoS. A. Bank and Chick-fil-A, among others. With more than 800,000 square feet of retail now on the ground, and boasting some of the top-performing locations in the U.S. for leading national retailers, Alliance Town Center has become a destination of choice for the phenomenally successful AllianceTexas community.

Providia Commercial Real Estate, LLC is a boutique commercial real estate brokerage firm providing leasing and brokerage services with a focus on the Dallas-Fort Worth marketplace.

ALLIANCETEXAS ADDS 2,400 JOBS TO THE NORTH TEXAS ECONOMY DURING LAST 12 MONTHS

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Strong gains in hospitality, healthcare highlight a remarkable year of growth

FORT WORTH, Texas (August 3, 2011) – AllianceTexas showed remarkable employment growth during the past 12 months, with more than 2,400 jobs being added. The figure represents one of the biggest year-to-year increases in the project’s two-decade history, and confirms underlying reasons for the surrounding area’s significant population growth. Today, AllianceTexas is home to more than 30,000 employees at 265 of the nation’s leading employers, including 58 of the Fortune 500, Global 500 and Forbes List of Top Private Firms, making it one of the leading employment centers in the state of Texas.

Spread across each area of the AllianceTexas development, including the Circle T Ranch, Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Alliance Town Center and Alliance Airport, job gains from corporate, industrial and retail residents were reported to Hillwood Properties by its resident companies. Publicly released totals from new residents represented more than a third of the additions, with the rest coming from a mix of established office, industrial, aviation, retail and healthcare residents.

The announcement comes on the heels of the development’s first hiring fair in three years, in which nearly 40 companies offered positions within their AllianceTexas facilities. In total, more than 1,800 job applicants participated in the event, which boasted several hundred open positions.

“The last 12 months have been an extraordinary period for job growth at AllianceTexas,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, the master developer of AllianceTexas. “These numbers demonstrate that the development has matured into a world-class job center and self-sustaining community, while also serving as a shining example of the much-publicized ‘Texas Miracle’ that has recently been making national headlines.”

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas is responsible for 237,000 of the nation’s 496,000 new jobs created since 2009. Recently, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, U.S. News and World Report and several other national news outlets have devoted significant space and time to the Texas economic development story (dubbed the “Texas Miracle”). As one of the fastest-growing areas, in one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, AllianceTexas has generated a significant portion of Texas’ newly created jobs.

Other new companies coming to AllianceTexas that brought jobs to the development include:

• Alliance Landscape Company
• Chick-fil-A
• Cousin’s BBQ
• Hollywood Spa & Nails
• Kroger Marketplace
• Llano Logistics/United Supermarkets
• L’Patricia
• Logi-Trans, Inc.
• MCNT Medical Clinic of North Texas
• Nokia Siemens Networks
• Olive Garden
• Onsite Occupational Health and Safety
• Rooms to Go
• Texas Health Convenient Care Alliance
• The Sweet Spot Bakery
• Trican Well Service
• Tuesday Morning
• Zoe’s Kitchen

“What is most impressive about these numbers is that they run across nearly every industry sector in our portfolio,” added Berry. “Moreover, it’s great to see underrepresented industries in the area, like healthcare, making a strong push. With Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and HCA’s Emergency Medical Center at Alliance coming on line within the next year, AllianceTexas will also become an important healthcare center in the North Texas region. There’s no doubt that the high-paying industry will play a huge role in the number of new jobs we see in the future.”

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

# # #

Alliance adds 2,400 jobs in last year

Sandra Baker — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- The AllianceTexas development in far north Fort Worth added more than 2,400 jobs in the past 12 months, one of its largest increases since the recession, said the developer, Hillwood Properties.

Employment at the 17,000-acre development, which includes the huge logistics park, subdivisions, shopping centers and the Circle T Ranch, has hovered around 28,000 for a couple of years.

Click here to read the full article.

Deloitte U. bringing jobs, visitors

Bill Hethcock — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

At a time when many corporations are cutting their training budgets or moving training online, professional services firm Deloitte is preparing to open a $300 million learning and leadership development center in Westlake.

The facility will be a meeting place for Deloitte employees ranging from new hires to senior executives.

The 750,000-square-foot center, called Deloitte University, will help the company produce its next generation of leaders and attract and retain top talent, said Blaine Nelson, managing partner of Deloitte’s North Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas practice, headquartered in Dallas. It will have 800 guest rooms and is expected to attract 40,000 to 45,000 visitors a year.

“This differentiates us from our competitors because none of our competitors have a facility like this,” Nelson said. “Even in a soft economy, there is a war for talent.”

Deloitte plans a ribbon-cutting in mid-October and will open the facility shortly after that. Later this month, about 800 people from Deloitte’s Dallas office will spend the night at Deloitte University for a conference and hard test of the facility, Nelson said.

“We’ll be turning on the showers, flushing the toilets, connecting to the Wi-Fi, turning on the TVs,” he said. “The expectation is that the facility will work just fine, but we want to know for sure.”

Deloitte selected the Westlake site after a national search. The climate, central location and quality of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport factored into the selection, as did amenities in the area such as shopping, sports and entertainment venues, Nelson said. Gensler is the project architect and Turner Construction Co. is the general contractor. Benchmark Hospitality International, based in The Woodlands, will handle hotel operations and food service.

Jim Faulkner, an American Airlines spokesman, said the airline is excited about the opening, but it’s too soon to say how much traffic it might drive.

“It will be great to actually go after some of those numbers,” he said.

Deloitte employees will conduct more than 90 percent of the instruction, said Bill Pelster, Deloitte’s managing principal of talent development. About 35,000 Deloitte employees will go through Deloitte University each year, spending three to five days at the facility per trip.

They will take part in classes such as “Mastery of the C-Suite,” and bond through activities, such as cooking classes, building bicycles for charity and learning from an Indy 500 pit crew how to work as a team to change tires, Pelster said. The Westlake facility will have a replica of Deloitte’s board room at its headquarters in New York, he said.

“A lot of the activity you’re going to see at Deloitte University is really blending the technical skills that our professionals need to be successful in the marketplace and also taking them through very intensive simulation and case-based scenarios,” Pelster said. “They’ll really get to flex their intellectual muscles to understand what it means to be a business leader.”

Deloitte expects to conduct 4 million hours of training throughout the firm next year, including about 1 million hours at Deloitte University, Pelster said. Very little of the training, if any, will consist of PowerPoint presentations and the like, Pelster said.

“Instead, you’ll see teams of five or six working on problems — in some cases competing against each other — being coached and mentored by more senior Deloitte professionals,” he said. “Deloitte University will be a high-touch, experiential place for learning.”

Much of the learning will take place at ice cream socials or sitting around a fire pit, said Diana O’Brien, managing partner for Deloitte University. The goal is to build the kind of connections that can’t be built online, she said.

“To be competitive in the marketplace and give the next generation of leaders and what they need, we felt strongly that we needed a physical place,” she said.

Deloitte University is evaluating ways in which its employees can work with North Texas charities on team-building activities, O’Brien said. As an example, employees who visit for training, led by professional bicycle builders, will turn out several hundred bikes each year and donate them.

Massive executive training center set to open in Westlake

Casey Norton — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

WESTLAKE — The biggest private development in North Texas is just months away from opening its doors.

Deloitte University is a training base, conference center and world-class hotel — all in one.

The project promises to put the town of Westlake on the map for international business.

Deloitte University stretches one-third of a mile, covering more than 750,000 square feet.

Westlake beat out cities across the country competing for the campus.

"Largely due to the central location, the climate and all the amenities that D-FW offers," said Blaine Nelson, a managing partner for Deloitte, the the world's biggest firm for accounting, and professional services.

He was on the team that selected North Texas for the training base for every one of its 45,000 U.S. employees.

A few years ago, Deloitte had to decide the best way to train its employees — mouse clicks or bricks? It chose $300 million in bricks.

"This is an investment... a $300 million investment in our people," Nelson said. "Ultimately, we think that translates into value for our clients."

The University offers a few perks for the employees. Its 800 hotel rooms are small, but comfortable.

There are large lecture halls and smaller team rooms for meetings.

And when the work is done, full-service dining halls and an after-hours social space known as "the barn" beckon students.

When it's complete, there will be open bars and game systems so employees can decompress and interact.

"This facility will allow our people to network to a great degree," Nelson said. "We think that networking will cause greater teamwork, and greater teaming that ultimately brings value to our clients."

The facility also brings value to North Texas.

In addition to the 500 full-time jobs for hotel staff and corporate trainers, Deloitte has already spent $36 million on construction payroll.

"We're at peak; have been for the last couple of months," said Dave Welber of Turner Construction. "Seven-hundred-and-50 workers on site."

Westlake expects the 45,000 annual visitors will spend millions off-campus each year, and those future executives will bring their Texas experience to the rest of the world.

That's why Hillwood Properties sold Deloitte more than 100 acres on its Circle T Ranch.

"By having it here, you'll get exposure to a whole new set of corporate players that we don't see today," said Hillwood Properties spokesman Mike Berry. "And who knows what may come out of that?"

Construction should wrap up in the next couple of months, and the grand entrance will open this fall.

At a time when other companies are downsizing and relocating, Deloitte says its committed to expanding its university, putting down roots, and leaving its mark on North Texas.

Video: Massive executive training center set to open in Westlake - http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Massive-executive-training-center-set-to-open-in-Westlake-125053339.html

Mi Cocina headed to Alliance Town Center in 2012

Adrian McCandless — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Plans are in the works to break ground on the first free-standing Mi Cocina restaurant at Alliance Town Center by the end of the summer.

With construction planned to start in a matter of months, the restaurant is anticipated to be up and running in the first quarter of 2012.

Plans have been in the works for more than a year to bring Mi Cocina, which is part of MCrowd Restaurants Groups, to Alliance, said Michael Cox, MCrowd chief executive officer.

"It is one of the fastest growing areas of the DFW market," Cox said. "It is amazing all of the things going on out there."

The restaurant is going to be special, Cox said.

"We are just really excited about getting to build our first free-standing restaurant and to get the opportunity to really express ourselves," Cox said. "It will be a very unique location, like all of our restaurants are."

MCrowd officials don't believe the new restaurant opening at Alliance will compete with the chain's other 15 stores within the Metroplex.

Mi Cocina will add to the growing variety of restaurants in the Alliance Town Center, said Mark Miller, vice president of retail for Hillwood.

"I think we have done a really good job diversifying the different brands and different kinds of foods and then getting some of the better class of restaurants in there," Miller said.

Some of the restaurants include BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Freebirds World Burrito, Cheddar's Casual Cafe, Ha-Na-Bi Hibachi & Sushi, Kincaid's Hamburgers, Olive Garden and Zoe's Kitchen.

"They have all done very well out there," Miller said.

But restaurants aren't the only type of business to soon call Alliance home, Miller said.

"James Avery is building out their space right now ... they're under construction now and will probably take them until late summer to open," he said.

The jewelry store will be located near the Mattress Firm and Jason's Deli, Miller said.

The shopping center near the newly opened Kroger Market Place is also attracting new business and will soon include a nail salon, Great Clips, a dry cleaners and a dental office, Miller said.

"We are trying to provide everybody everything they need, from daily needs to the destination things that they go for once a week to once a month even," he said

Beneficial Alliance

Christine Perez — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Mike Berry walks over to a shelf holding a row of large hardcover books, pulls one out, and starts paging through it. We’ve just spent an hour-and-a-half talking about his career—the first of two long interviews—and he’s in a melancholy mood.

The scrapbooks are filled with newspaper articles about AllianceTexas, the massive development in North Fort Worth that he, as president of Hillwood Properties, has long overseen.

“Here’s one about the airport’s groundbreaking in 1988,” he shows me, pointing out that the article is just a few paragraphs long and buried on an inside page. “They had no idea what it would become,” he says, reflecting for a bit before adding, “We had no idea what it would become.”

And really, who would have thought that what started as an industrial airport would evolve into a 17,000-acre masterplanned development that’s home to 31 million square feet of commercial space, several large retail centers, 7,400 single-family residences, and hundreds of apartments?

Certainly not Berry, who says he was a bit skeptical when Ross Perot Jr. first approached him in the mid-1980s about doing an airport-anchored project on land he had assembled in North Fort Worth. At the time, Berry had a good gig going at Ray Hunt’s Woodbine Development Corp., and he had no desire to leave it.

He met Perot at Vanderbilt University when Perot, who’s a year younger, rushed Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The two Sig Eps ended up living on the same floor in the frat house, sharing a bathroom. By the time they were upper-classmen, Perot was elected president of the fraternity and Berry was named vice president and social chairman.

“Isn’t it ironic?” Berry says. “If you would have told me back in college that I’d be working with Ross for the majority of my career, doing real estate development, at this scale, I wouldn’t have been able to conceive of that. But Ross was a clear leader even back then. He earned immediate respect.”

Rich Fort Worth Roots
Perot, the son of EDS founder Ross Perot Sr., was born and reared in Dallas. Berry has rich Fort Worth roots. His grandfather, Clay J. Berry Sr., was an influential city leader who represented the Fort Worth real estate interests of legendary Texas businessman Jesse Jones—landmarks such as the Oil & Gas Commerce Building, the Medical Arts Building, and the Worth Hotel. Berry often spent Saturdays with his grandfather, opening his mail and walking with him around downtown Fort Worth—but he never thought he’d follow him into the real estate business.

Berry’s goal all along was to become a doctor. He even got a weekend job at an emergency room before college, to give himself a head start. Struggles with freshman chemistry at Vanderbilt, however, made him rethink medical school. After graduating with a liberal arts degree, Berry enrolled in the MBA program at Texas Christian University to beef up his business credentials.

He landed an internship at Woodbine Development in the spring of 1981. Those were heady times in North Texas, which was seeing explosive commercial development across multiple submarkets. “It was crane central, and that’s what got me intrigued about real estate,” Berry says.

He continued with Woodbine after graduating from TCU, working in Dallas then in Fort Worth, gaining valuable experience in complex public-private partnerships. A few years later, his former frat brother came calling.

Convincing Berry to join him wasn’t easy, Perot recalls.

“Mike was one of the few guys I had to have on board,” he says. “He was Mr. Fort Worth, and I knew him and could trust him. It was quite a sales job; it took me a year or two to convince him.”

By that time, the S&L crisis was in full bloom.

“Anytime you think about making a career change at the bottom of the market, you’re going to be hesitant—particularly when the project is untested, unproven, there are no prototypes for it, and it’s in a big wheat field miles away from everything,” Berry says. “But even at a young age, Ross was extremely visionary. It was easy to get excited about what he was thinking—and there was no doubt that he had the capability to do it, with his family involved.”

Berry joined what was then the Perot Group on July 9, 1988—groundbreaking day for Alliance Airport.

The original vision was to build the airport and develop space for some aviation companies off the runway. Once that took off, maybe do some warehousing off to the side and perhaps some office and retail. Berry starting working his way through the World Aviation Directory, cold-calling on potential clients and giving countless tours using Perot’s helicopter.

But the first Alliance deal wasn’t an aviation deal, it was a rail deal with what’s now BNSF Railroad Co.

“It opened our eyes to the bigger idea: If you have rail and air and highway all linked together, it creates a very unique package of transportation infrastructure,” Berry says. “So we decided to do a more multimodal type of project. It was a big hook and opened up the door to a whole new host of companies.”

Today AllianceTexas is anchored by an inland port known as Alliance Global Logistics hub. It has more than 260 tenants—including many of the world’s largest companies—that employ about 28,000 people.

Beyond Real Estate
Despite his 23-year tenure with Hillwood, Berry says he has never gotten bored. The complexity, scale, and diversity of AllianceTexas—along with the opportunity to launch numerous ancillary businesses—have kept his interest. “Within this real estate platform, we have been able to create many different service companies,” Berry says. “We decided, rather than contract things out to others, why not do it ourselves?”

Those spinoffs include Aviation Services (which manages airports); Air Services (a fixed base operator, or FBO, which sells fuel, hangars aircraft, and provides other services); Independence Water LP (irrigation and water for fracking operations); Hillwood Land & Cattle; Alliance Corridor Inc. (foreign trade zone management company); and Alliance Landscape Co., which created 30 jobs when it was launched a couple of months ago.

Berry also was instrumental in forming Hillwood Energy, which, in collaboration with oil and gas executive Trevor Rees-Jones, initially focused on developing Hillwood’s Barnett Shale resources. The partners sold those assets in a lucrative deal with Quicksilver Resources in 2008, but Hillwood Energy remains active in other projects, both here and internationally.

Two new enterprises for Berry are Hillwood Multifamily—the company is looking at developing 4,000 to 5,000 apartment units during the next 10 years—and a yet-to-be-named retail franchising concern.

There’s still plenty to be done on the office and industrial side, too. Overall, just 40 percent of AllianceTexas has been developed so far—and Perot is still making land buys.

Last year, Hillwood sold off 47 industrial buildings totaling 13.4 million square feet to JPMorgan Chase. Berry says he’s eager to get into “building mode” again.

During the next 10 years, he aims to develop about 13 million square feet—close to what Hillwood built between 1993 and 2005. “I want to do the equivalent in scale, but it will be a broader mix of industrial, office, retail, and multifamily,” he says. “That way you can roll it up and sell it off in pieces or all at once to a large institutional investor.”

Berry says he’s grateful to have a boss like Perot, who gives him free rein and from whom he has learned so much.

“Most people get up in the morning and think about what’s going to happen this week. Some will think about what’s going to happen in the coming months or even the next couple of years. Ross thinks about what’s going to happen 10 or 20 years from now, and he frames his strategy around that,” Berry says. “He is constantly out in front and forces you to think the way he does and to do things that have a lasting impact.”

Mayor Mike Moncrief And Miss Rodeo Texas To Lead The Parade And Participate In The Key Presentation Ceremony For Double Amputee, Marine Cpl Zach Briseno

Media Contact: Meredith Iler, HelpingaHero.org (832-647-8683) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Mayor Mike Moncrief And Miss Rodeo Texas To Lead The Parade And Participate In The Key Presentation Ceremony For Double Amputee, Marine Cpl Zach Briseno For 25th Completed Home Through Helpingahero.Org And The 1st Home In Ft Worth

WHEN: Wednesday, June 29, 2011
11:00 a.m.- Parade led by Miss Rodeo Texas with hundreds of Cheering Supporters
11:20 a.m.—Formal Key Presentation Ceremony

WHERE: 8125 Mountain Cedar Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76131

Creekwood Subdivision: (I-35W N to exit 57B (left exit) I-820W, exit 15 FM156/Blue Mound Rd., Right on Blue Mound Road, Left on E. Bailey Boswell, Right on Ash Meadow, Left on Sequoia Way, Right on Rock Elm, Left on Darlington Trail, Right on Mountain Cedar Drive….follow signs)

WHO: Cpl Zach Briseno, USMC (Ret.)
            Mayor Mike Moncrief
            Special Guests TBA
            SGT Eddie Wright, USMC (20th HAH home recipient and double arm amputee)
            Meredith Iler, Chairman, HelpingaHero.org
            Fred Balda, President, Hillwood Development
            Chris Matzke, President, Standard Pacific Homes, Dallas
            Karen Guenther, Founder, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
            150 Southwest Airlines Employee Volunteers

On Weds., June 29th, HelpingaHero.org will award its 25th completed home to Corporal Zach Briseno, USMC (Ret.) while hundreds of community supporters cheer him on. Thanks to HelpingaHero.org, Mayor Mike Moncrief officially welcome Cpl Zach Briseno and other special guests to Zach’s new handicapped accessible home.

The morning will kick off with a mini parade that will bring Cpl Zach Briseno and his son to the home. The parade will be led by Miss Rodeo Texas Celesta Harvey. Lots of community supporters, active duty and retired military, Boy Scouts, Southwest Airlines volunteers, will all line the streets with homemade signs and flags and cheer on Zach and Eli as they are ushered to their new home. A brief ceremony will ensue followed by a ribbon cutting and exclusive media tour of the home pointing out all the adapted features of the home.

A Community Bar B Que and fun family activities like Moonwalks, face painting, and sno cones will all be provided and manned by Southwest Airlines employees.

Zach grew up in Fort Worth and played baseball, basketball and football. Both of Zach’s
grandfathers served in the Marine Corp and Zach knew he wanted to be a Marine when he was only 9 years old. In 2005, Zach joined the Marines and did his first tour in Iraq in 2006. His father died one week before his second deployment in 2007. On November 29, 2007, Zach and his convoy were hit by an IED and an anti tank mine exploded under his Humvee. Both of Zach’s legs were blown off below the knee and he also broke his arm and has a plate in his wrist. For his service in Iraq, Cpl Briseno was awarded the Purple Heart for his sacrifice for our freedom and numerous other medals and awards.

Now he is faced with the daily challenges that result from the loss of both of his lower legs. Unfortunately he isn’t able to wear his prosthetics 24 hrs a day. Thus, he has to spend time at home in a wheelchair so he can get around and not overuse his prosthetic legs. He is a leader and is committed to giving back and helping other wounded heroes as they embark on their road to recovery.

“All of us at Standard Pacific Homes are proud to be a part of this project with the Helping a Hero organization. We have worked hard to make sure that every detail in his home will make Zach’s life easier. It is an honor and a privilege for us to have built this new home for Zach and his son, Eli” Chris Matzke, President, Standard Pacific Homes, Dallas

This 4 bedroom, 3 bath home features wider doors, a roll in shower, a roll under sink, flush thresholds, lower counters, wheelchair accessible appliances, and many other safety features that will enable Zach to have a firm foundation as he rebuilds his life. He is a single Dad with a 5 year old son, Eli. Zach dreams of being married one day and perhaps having more children.

Creekwood is a 260-acre master-planned community developed by Hillwood Communities, located where Fort Worth meets Saginaw, in between downtown Fort Worth and Alliance, Texas. From the private swim club, to the large greenbelts, complete with two miles of hike and bike trails, to large home sites and the acclaimed Eagle Mountain/Saginaw ISD, Creekwood is a perfect place to call home.

“Corporal Zach Briseno is a true American hero. He has battled back from a near fatal injury and has endured so much on his road to recovery. We count it an honor to help this young hero begin a new life in a brand new home where his ability to live independently is maximized.” Meredith Iler, National Chairman, HelpingaHero.org.

HelpingaHero.org is also pleased to welcome our newest National Sponsor, Southwest Airlines. We are thrilled that Southwest Airlines has joined the HelpingaHero.org family as our official airline partner and we know that with their support, we will be able to meet the needs of even more wounded heroes. “Southwest Airlines is committed to our country’s military families,” said Megan Wood Southwest Airlines Manager of Community Relations and Giving. “We recognize the challenges that many Veterans face when they’re transitioning back to their everyday lives, and we’re proud to work with HelpingAHero.org to make this transition a time of healing and hope. We wish the Briseno family many years of happiness in their new home.”

The Semper Fi Fund has donated $25,000 towards this home and this is the 4th home the Semper Fi Fund has partnered with HelpingaHero.org to build for a severely wounded Marine. “We are very proud to partner with HelpingaHero.org on Corporal Briseno’s home. Watching Zach throughout his recovery and seeing him now is an inspiration to everyone who knows him. He has that can do attitude and doesn’t let anything deter him from forging ahead.” Karen Guenther, Founder, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

Texas based, Helping a Hero is a 501(c)(3) non profit, non-partisan organization providing support for military personnel, severely injured in the war on terror. Our principal activity is to provide specially adapted homes for qualifying service members as well as engaging the community to provide services and resources for our wounded heroes and their families. HelpingaHero.org is the 2nd largest homebuilding organization in the nation for OEF/OIF wounded veterans and has completed 25 homes to date and have another 7 under construction, including one in Frisco, TX. The Frisco home is being built for a Green Beret who received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his valor in combat after losing his leg to enemy sniper fire in Afghanistan. We expect to present this home to SFC John Wayne Walding, USA, in August 2011. He is married and has 3 children.

An additional 15 homes will be awarded to severely wounded heroes in need of adaptive housing on August 30th at our National Gala with Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States, including three heroes who are triple amputees. Applications are available online and are still being accepted from severely wounded heroes for these 2011 homes to be awarded at our Gala.

For more information on HelpingaHero.org , visit the website at www.helpingahero.org.

# # # #

CNBC EXCERPTS: RICHARD FISHER, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS PRESIDENT AND CEO ON CNBC’S “SQUAWK BOX” TODAY

Jennifer Dauble — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

CNBC EXCERPTS: RICHARD FISHER, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS PRESIDENT AND CEO ON CNBC’S “SQUAWK BOX” TODAY

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

WHEN: TODAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 7TH

WHERE: CNBC’S “SQUAWK BOX”

Following are excerpts from the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with Richard Fisher, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President and CEO on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” today. All references must be sourced to CNBC.

FISHER ON THE FED:

"THE FED HAS PUT A LOT OF LIQUIDITY IN THE SYSTEM, YOU CAN ARGUE THAT WE'VE PUT TOO MUVCH, I'VE EVEN ARGUED THAT INTERNALLY, BUT YOU CAN NOT ARGUE THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH."

FISHER ON US BUSINESSES:

"AMERICAN BUSINESSES ARE AS LEAN AND EFFICIENT AS IMAGINABLE, I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN BEAT US RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HIRE- AND HIRING SOMEONE IS A LONGTERM COMMITMENT, THIS IDEA THAT CAPITALISTS JUST DISPENSE WITH PEOPLE WILLY-NILLY, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE PAIN OF LAYING PEOPLE OFF AS YOU'VE DONE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS HERE. "

FISHER ON TEXAS:

"WE HAVE THE SAME INTEREST RATE STRUCTURE IN TEXAS AS THE REST OF THE US, LOW INTEREST RATES, SAME AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL, BUT MONEY AND PEOPLE AND PRODUCTION IS MOVING TO OUR STATE, SO ITS GOING TO GO WHERE IT HAS THE BEST FISCAL POLICY AS LONG AS MONETARY POLICY DOESN'T GET IN THE WAY AND I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB."

FISHER ON CREATING RULES:

"WE'VE GOT TO CREATE RULES AND REGULATIONS HERE THAT ATTRACT CAPITAL AS WELL AS DEAL WITH OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES OUR DEFICIT PROBLEMS AND SO ON, JUST AS TEXAS HAS MANAGED TO DO SO RELATIVE TO OTHER STATES IN THE UNITED STATES."

FISHER ON ACCELERATING THE ECONOMY:

"I'D LIKE TO SAY THE GAS TANK IS FULL, WE'VE MADE THAT POSSIBLE, THE FEDERAL RESERVE, THE OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE, HAS PUT LIQUIDITY OUT THERE IN THE SYSTEM THE QUESTIONS IS, WHO GETS IN THERE TO STEP ON THE PEDAL AND ACCELERATE THE CAR, TO CREATE JOBS FOR AMERICANS AND THAT I THINK IS NOT IN OUR HANDS ANYMORE."

FISHER ON TEXAS JOBS:

"SINCE THE RECOVERY BEGAN, 38 PERCENT OF ALL JOBS CREATED IN AMERICA HAVE BEEN CREATED IN TEXAS, AND TEXAS IS BACK UP, IN FACT MY 11TH FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICT OF TEXAS, PARTS OF LOUISIANA, PARTS OF NEW MEXICO; OBVIOUSLY 96 PERCENT OF THAT PRODUCTION AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE IN TEXAS OF MY DISTRICT- HAS MORE EMPLOYMENT NOW THAN IT HAD WHEN THE CRISIS BEGAN."

FISHER ON US BUSINESSES:

"WE'RE HYPER-PRODUCTIVE- OUR BUSINESSES HAVE CUT THEIR COSTS TO THE BONE, THEY'VE DRIVEN UP PRODUCTIVITY, THEY ARE READY TO HIRE IF THEY CAN SEE THE WHITES OF THE EYES OF A COUPLE THINGS, EXPANSION OF DEMAND, BY THE WAY IT HAS TO BE GLOBAL WE LIVE IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD, SECONDLY A LIFTING OF THE FOG, DEALING W/ RULES REGULATION TAXATION ALL THE THINGS THAT FISCAL AUTHORITIES DEAL WITH STATE AND LOCAL AS WELL AS FEDERAL, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL WHICH THE FED HAS PROVIDED WHICH IS LIQUIDITY."

FISHER ON HIGH PRICES:

“HIGH ENERGY PRICES, HIGH FOOD PRICES, UNCERTAINTY AMONGST CONSUMERS AS TO WHERE WE'RE GOING. LOOK, THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. THEY'RE GOING TO REACT TO RETARDANTS IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR ABILITY TO SPEND. AND THEY ARE COMING OUT OF A SHOCK PERIOD. SO TO ME, I'M NOT SURPRISED. I'M -- I WAS SURPRISED. I OVERESTIMATED THE KIND OF GROWTH I THOUGHT WE WOULD SEE IN THIS QUARTER. I THINK THOSE ARE THE RETARDING FACTORS. THEY'RE BEING SOMEWHAT ALLEVIATED."

FISHER ON PRICING:

“I THINK BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME PRICING WHAT GOES OUT THE DOOR TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT COMES IN THE DOOR. WE KNOW THAT PRESSURE IS THERE. WE SAW A LOT OF CHEST BEATING AND BRAVADO FROM CORPORATIONS SAYING IN JUNE, WE'RE GOING TO BE RAISING PRICES, SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS BIG COMPANIES LIKE P & G AND OTHERS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THE CONSUMER WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET AWAY WITH IT."

FISHER ON QE ENDING:

“I AM PERSONALLY JUST PLEASED THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THIS LARGE SCALE ASSET PURCHASE PROGRAM. IT ENDS IN JUNE. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP. I AM PERSONALLY NOT ABLE TO ENVISION A SCENARIO WHERE WE WOULD DO MORE BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF LIQUIDITY IN THE SYSTEM. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO GO FROM THERE. I THINK THERE'S AN ARTIFICIAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN HAWKS AND DOVES HERE AND THAT ALL OF US AGREED THAT THE PROGRAM ENDS IN JUNE."

FISHER ON AMERICA BEING LEAN AND MEAN:

“WE ARE LEAN AND MEAN. OUR BALANCE SHEETS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE IN AMERICA. THERE IS A LOT OF LIQUIDITY OUT THERE. I AM EAGER TO SEE THE TRIGGER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT PUTTING AMERICANS BACK TO WORK, COMMITTING TO CAPITAL EXPANSION. IT'S JOBS AND UNEMPLOYMENT. AMERICAN BUSINESSES ARE IN VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD SHAPE.”

Roanoke quickly gathering economic steam

By Terry Evans — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

THE FORT WORTH STAR – TELEGRAM

TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011

FRONT PAGE, 1A

Roanoke quickly gathering economic steam

By Terry Evans

ROANOKE -- Downtown Roanoke resembled a 19th-century frontier town -- at least at street level -- the first time Jared Matthew saw it.

"When we opened, the street out front was nothing but mud," said the manager of Cowboy Chow and Twisted Root Burger Co., restaurants within spitting distance of each other on South Oak Street.

That was September 2009, when Roanoke was just getting its feet wet in the world of economic development with the hope of becoming a destination, like Grapevine's Main Street and Southlake Town Square.

Now, with the opening of Hawaiian Falls water park, Roanoke believes it has arrived.

Because the water park's main attraction, the six-story-tall Mega Water World and its dozen slides, isn't fully operational, officials aren't expecting huge crowds just yet. But City Manager Jimmy Stathatos said the water park could eventually attract 2,000 people a day, and he's eager to see just how much busier the town can get.

Hawaiian Falls representatives told Roanoke in early 2010 that the company was looking for a location, and Stathatos said the city immediately started selling itself.

"It didn't take much to convince them," Stathatos said. "We told them about the restaurants and the growth and all the rooftops in the vicinity and that the area was underserved in terms of water parks and recreation."

Stathatos said the park will draw from about 150,000 people living within 10 miles of Roanoke. Monday afternoon about 700 visited Hawaiian Falls.

Jack Heikkila, 11, of Southlake, said he spent two hours in and around the wave pool. "This is the best wave pool around, because the waves are bigger," he said.

Sara Buchholz, of the Keller area, said she got season passes for her family, "because this will be our summer thing."

Hawaiian Falls CEO David Busch said the water park -- he calls it "the world's largest tinker toy" -- should be finished by the end of next week.

More going for it

While the water park is Roanoke's first entertainment-related attraction, the city's restaurants, most of them on Oak Street, U.S. 377 and Byron Nelson Boulevard, have their own pull.

The city has made $8.5 million in capital improvements since 2008, including brick accents on streets, wrought-iron rails on sidewalks, period street lights and landscaping. Oak Street now resembles a theme-park street.

"We were shooting for the 'wow' effect," Stathatos said.

City officials also came up with the tagline Unique Dining Capital of Texas.

Stathatos said the city is working to make the title official via legislation or trademark.

Babe's Chicken Dinner House opened in 1993 on Oak Street and is still the city's signature restaurant ( Southern Living magazine says it has the best fried chicken in the South).

By 2004, about 35 restaurants were operating in Roanoke, and now there are more than 50, Stathatos said. Of those, more than a dozen are considered unique, such as Gerhard's German Restaurant and Granny's Cupboard, a sandwich and dessert shop.

"Unique is more a group of restaurants not commonly found in a lot of cities," he said. "We've got Chili's, but we also have Twisted Root, which was featured on Food Network. We have Pizza Hut, but we also have Brix. They have pizza and a wine bar."

Weekend crowds

Visitors come from every compass point, Stathatos said, and restaurant row is especially popular among residents of Northeast Tarrant County and southern Denton County.

"At night you'll see cars with bumper stickers showing Carroll Dragons, Grapevine Mustangs and Burleson Elks," he said.

The 2010 Census lists Roanoke's population at just under 6,000. Stathatos thinks that it's closer to 8,000, and that lunch and dinner crowds run the number up into the tens of thousands on weekends.

Success shows in sales tax revenue. Roanoke's has more than doubled in eight years, from $3.4 million to $8.5 million.

First-quarter sales tax revenue -- $2.24 million -- exceeds the city's overall budget for 1998.

"We've been here 21/2 years and it's been fantastic," said Peter Dawson, manager of Mi Familia. "We're growing as the area grows, by leaps and bounds."

Popularity has its drawbacks. Roanoke has a parking problem. Developers must include a specific number of spaces in their plans, or pay the city $5,000 for each space short of the mandated number.

And although the city proudly exudes a family atmosphere, Roanoke also is, to a degree, a party town.

Cowboy Chow makes its own bourbon, tequila and vodka, and Mi Familia has a Beer/Rita: a margarita with a 7-ounce beer inverted into it.

Danielle Cocanougher sipped a Beer/Rita on a recent afternoon. In town with friends to celebrate her graduation from New York University, the Justin native was stunned by downtown Roanoke.

"This area wasn't here when I was growing up," she said. "There are a lot of options. If you're looking for a real good time, come here."

AllianceTexas is hosting a job fair Thursday

Martha Deller — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas, Hillwood's master-planned, mixed-use community, will host a hiring fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Texas Motor Speedway's Club at 3545 Lone Star Circle in Fort Worth.

Nearly 40 companies will participate in the fair, the first hiring fair at AllianceTexas in three years. Industries represented include aviation/aerospace, logistics, financial services, hospitality and retail. Available jobs include aviation mechanics, bank tellers, customer service representatives and warehouse positions.

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority - the T - will distribute carpool and vanpool information.

For more information, call the Alliance Opportunity Center, 817-548-5274, or check AllianceOpportunityCenter.com.

Alliance job fair

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

More than 40 companies in the Alliance development in far north Fort Worth will participate in a job fair Thursday.The fair is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Texas Motor Speedway's Speedway Club, 3545 Lone Star Circle. It's hosted by Hillwood Properties, the Alliance Opportunity Center and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County.

Click here to read the full article.

Job fair may be sign of recovery

Robert Francis — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In a move that may indicate more proof that the local economy is recovering, AllianceTexas will host a hiring fair on Thursday, May 19, its first in three years.

The hiring fair will include about 40 companies located within the AllianceTexas development and is sponsored by Hillwood, the Alliance Opportunity Center and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County.

Past hiring fairs have attracted 1,500 job seekers as well as a diverse group of employers from industries such as aviation/aerospace, logistics, financial services, hospitality and retail. Jobs available include positions such as aviation mechanics, warehouse/manufacturing/distribution positions, forklift operators, logistics professionals, financial service professionals, administrative, call center operators, hospitality staff, bank tellers and customer service representatives.

Participating organizations include American Airlines, Axcess/CoWorks (for Cinram Wireless), BBVA Compass Bank, Belk, Benchmark Staffing (for Deloitte University), DynCorp International, Fidelity Investments, Grainger, JCPenney (retail), JCPenney Logistics, Kroger, Llano Logistics, Lockheed Martin, Mercedes Benz Financial Services, Michael’s Stores, Oxford Global Resources, Recaro Aircraft Seating, rue21, Ryder, Staffmark, TD Ameritrade, Tech Data, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Wells Fargo and others.

The hiring fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Texas Motor Speedway’s Speedway Club located at 3545 Lone Star Circle.

For information on current job openings or the AllianceTexas Hiring Fair visit www.AllianceOpportunityCenter.com or call the Alliance Opportunity Center at 817.548.5274.

Texas Sentinels Foundation To Announce New Home Recipient In Collin County

Media Contact: Amanda Howe, Texas Sentinels Foundation (Amanda@remaxtexas.com) — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Texas Sentinels Foundation To Announce New Home Recipient In Collin County

Wounded Veteran to be Honored for Service, Awarded Debt-Free Home

Plano, TX – May 12, 2011 - The Houston-based 501 (c) (3) non profit Texas Sentinels Foundation, which provides debt-free custom homes for disabled veterans in Texas, is starting a new project in Collin County. The announcement follows the completion and presentation of custom homes to two disabled veterans in Arlington and the San Antonio area in the last six months. An official Collin County Team was formed last week during an organizational meeting hosted by the Collin County Association of REALTORS®. The team will oversee building of a home in Melissa, Texas for an area resident and selected disabled veteran Justin Feagin.

The team will be led by Collin County Association of REALTORS® Board President Mal Smith, agent with RE/MAX Premier Group. Smith emphasized at the meeting held in Plano on May 5th that the Texas Sentinels Foundation is not a RE/MAX specific project, but a community project that reaches out to anyone who wants to contribute, regardless of what company they work for or what they do for a living.

“This is about our community supporting and caring for one of its own,” said Smith. “REALTORS® are in one of the best positions to further this project along, because community building is really part of their job description. We are reaching out to all real estate professionals, and all community members in Collin County and adjacent counties to lend their support as we give back to a soldier who has sacrificed so much for our freedom.”

Feagin, a native of Collin County was wounded in 2010 while serving as the head of an Afghan Border Police unit when he was hit with by an IED that cost him his left foot, a ruptured ear drum, several broken bones and numerous deep shrapnel lacerations, including one to his femoral artery. His inspiration to join the Army originated when, as a 13-year-old, he witnessed the terrorist attacks of September 11th unfold on television. He has been awarded over 16 medals and accommodations for his service and sacrifice, including the Purple Heart. Feagin learned he would be a Texas Sentinel recipient while attending the RE/MAX of Texas Statewide Convention as a special guest in February. Medically retiring from the Military within the next year, Feagin intends to enroll in college.

Justin Feagin will be officially introduced as the newest Texas Sentinel at a special KICK-OFF Luncheon and Fundraiser on June 16th, at Harry McKillop Elementary School in Melissa. “We are hoping to raise the remaining funds needed to start building by the close of the luncheon,” adds Smith. The Team is tasked with raising $76,000 in order to break ground on the home in August/September. “We invite the Collin County community to join us in Melissa on June 16th, to visit our website to make a donation to the Texas Sentinels Foundation, and bring us closer to our goal of seeing this young American Hero and his family receive a piece of the American Dream.”

For more information on the Texas Sentinels Foundation and to make a donation to the Collin County Texas Sentinels Team, visit www.TexasSentinels.org.

ALLIANCETEXAS TO HOLD HIRING FAIR ON MAY 19

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

ALLIANCETEXAS TO HOLD HIRING FAIR ON MAY 19

Hundreds of Part- And Full-Time Jobs Available

FORT WORTH, Texas (May 11, 2011) – AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use community in North Texas, will host a hiring fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Texas Motor Speedway’s Speedway Club located at 3545 Lone Star Circle in Fort Worth. This will be the first hiring fair at AllianceTexas in three years, and signals that the North Texas economy is emerging from the economic recession. Moreover, it underscores AllianceTexas’ role in driving substantial, regional growth.

The hiring fair features nearly 40 companies located within the AllianceTexas development and is sponsored by Hillwood, the Alliance Opportunity Center and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County. Past hiring fairs have attracted 1,500 job seekers, and through the years, it has become one of the premier job fairs in North Texas. The AllianceTexas Hiring Fair is unique in its diversity of employers from industries such as aviation/aerospace, logistics, financial services, hospitality and retail as well as its variety of job types, including positions as aviation mechanics, warehouse/manufacturing/distribution positions, forklift operators, logistics professionals, financial service professionals, administrative, call center operators, hospitality staff, bank tellers, customer service representatives and more.

Participating organizations include American Airlines, Axcess/CoWorks (for Cinram Wireless), BBVA Compass Bank, Belk, Benchmark Staffing (for Deloitte University), DynCorp International, Fidelity Investments, Grainger, JCPenney (retail), JCPenney Logistics, Kroger, Llano Logistics, Lockheed Martin, Mercedes Benz Financial Services, Michael’s Stores, Oxford Global Resources, Recaro Aircraft Seating, rue21, Ryder, Staffmark, TD Ameritrade, Tech Data, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Wells Fargo and more.

In addition, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) will be on-site providing applicants with carpool and vanpool information. “Providing incoming applicants with affordable and reliable transportation is a key to building and enhancing the labor pool in North Texas,” said Nancy Amos, senior vice president with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority. “We currently have vans traveling to and from AllianceTexas-based companies, and there are more vans ready for new drivers and passengers. We’re excited to help these applicants get to work and help keep more of their paycheck in their pocket.”

Response from the community has been positive as applicants learn of the numerous opportunities available at the hiring fair. “As the complete vision of the AllianceTexas development comes into focus, we see a burgeoning community that is fueling the North Texas economy, but we need a talented workforce to sustain this growth,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Among our corporate residents are some of our nation’s and world’s top companies that will provide ample and stable opportunities for North Texas families. This annual hiring fair is just one of the ways jobseekers can discover all that AllianceTexas has to offer.”

For information on current job openings or the AllianceTexas Hiring Fair visit www.AllianceOpportunityCenter.com or call the Alliance Opportunity Center at 817.548.5274.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS

AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to more than 260 companies, including 50 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes lists of Top Private Firms. Together, these companies have built over 30 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs. The community also now includes nearly 7,500 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

ABOUT HILLWOOD

Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

# # #

Mike Berry: What’s Driving the Growth in North Texas?

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Recently released U.S. Census data revealed what many of us have known for quite a while: the Dallas-Fort Worth region has been the lead driver of the incredible growth that Texas has seen during the past decade. Although the growth has been widespread throughout North Texas, much of the concentration has been within Fort Worth’s city limits. Since 2000, the City of Fort Worth has grown by more than 38 percent, adding more than 200,000 new residents to achieve a total population of 741,000. Most of that population expansion is taking place in the north Fort Worth corridor around AllianceTexas, where available jobs are driving rooftops and residential growth.

Moreover, the census ranked Fort Worth as the fastest-growing large city (those with a population greater than 500,000) in the entire United States for the past decade, and Tarrant County, in which Fort Worth is located, grew by more than 25 percent during the period, adding more than 350,000 new residents. With numbers like these, it is factually correct to say that North Fort Worth is now the fastest growing area in the nation. Although this kind of growth would be incredible at any time, what is even more remarkable is that much of it happened during the recent economic downturn.

W. Michael Cox, director of the William J. O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at SMU’s Cox School of Business, recently gave a presentation to the North Texas Commission regarding the changing demographics of Texas. The presentation, “Looking for the New New World,” was a follow-up to his (and Richard Alm’s) much discussed (in real estate and economic development circles) 2009 essay, “The Ascension of DFW: How to Keep a Good Thing Going.”

Both reports offer a glimpse into the individual components that have spurred this extraordinary migration to Texas, while analyzing cities that have seen a rapidly declining tax base and population, coupled with severe unemployment. Using empirical data to analyze net migrations from state to state, “Looking for the New New World” illustrates what Texas is doing right.

So what did Cox and Alm discover? Essentially, they find that there are just six factors that are driving net migrations throughout the nation, and all but one of them can be attributed to a state’s economic philosophy and policies. At this point, I probably don’t need to tell you who the big winner is, and rather than re-write the essay myself, I’m just going to provide a link to it here. I know you’ll find the essay to be a fascinating look at our national economic picture. Moreover, it makes a strong case for other states to embrace the free market economic policies that have contributed to our success here in Texas.

Hillwood planning next development phase

Sandra Baker — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties, owner of the huge Alliance development in far north Fort Worth, is poised to start its next growth stage, this time heading north along Interstate 35W.

The bookends for Hillwood's development push will be its 3,300-acre Hunter Ranch property on the southern edge of Denton and 158 acres it acquired a few months ago at the north edge of Alliance.

Hillwood has had the move mapped out since it bought into Hunter Ranch about 25 years ago, Chairman Ross Perot Jr. said last month.

The ranch land will mostly be used for single-family homes but could also include corporate campuses and other commercial projects, Perot said.

"Our residential team is putting together plans and lining up home builders," he said.

Perot said Alliance, which straddles I-35W in Tarrant and Denton counties, is about 40 percent developed by the airport, industrial facilities, Alliance Town Center, office buildings and houses.

"It's kind of hard to say for an 18,000-acre program we're running out of land," Perot said. "So we're now starting our next land acquisition programs in the area. We're pretty bullish on the 35W corridor."

The area north and east of Alliance, encompassing parts of southern Denton County, will likely be the focus of additional population growth in North Texas in the next decade, said Mike Berry, Hillwood president.

Alliance has 1 million square feet under construction, primarily at the Deloitte University facility in Circle T Ranch in Westlake, scheduled to open this year.

Hillwood starting buying land in far north Fort Worth in the mid-1980s, and Alliance Airport opened in 1989.

Today, Alliance has about 7,500 homes in its Heritage and Park Glen neighborhoods and the largest foreign trade zone in the U.S.

"Any kind of real estate you can develop in this part of the country, we either have developed or are in the process of developing," Perot said. "The Deloitte campus alone is extraordinarily unique.

"It's probably the first global competition we have. We competed against cites around the world."

Heavy Hitters: Winners Industrial Project Leasing Tony Creme & Steve Aldrich Hillwood Properties

Steve Litterski — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Steve Aldrich and Tony Creme work as a team at Hillwood Properties, overseeing a portfolio of more than 16 million square feet of space at the company’s massive AllianceTexas master-planned business community.

The unique challenges they faced in 2010 made it clear that a team approach — from all stations — was needed to succeed in the recovering economy.

Creme, a marketing vice president for Hillwood, said, “We tightened up as a team, and by that I mean marketing, property management, construction — all the service departments. We worked together to retain customers … that was our big focus last year.”

Aldrich, also a marketing vice president for the firm, said he and Creme needed a heightened focus on existing tenants in the portfolios they oversee because many of their clients had growing needs.

“What we experienced last year was an unusual number of companies that were expanding in size,” he said. “We were a little surprised — pleased actually — that there was so much growth.”

In 2010, the two worked on 21 North Texas leases involving a gross space of 2,996,287 square feet.

“If you look at the 3 million feet we did last year, 2 million of that was in renewals that included expansions between 30 and 65 percent of their original space,” said Creme.

According to Aldrich, Hillwood’s ability to provide the space and the services at the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas to accommodate the tenants’ growth is a testament to the team approach the company took in the past year.

“We were able to be creative in our approach to make sure they were able to grow and to operate with as little disruption as possible,” he said.

The biggest 2010 deal handled by Aldrich and Creme was the renewal of a lease with General Mills (NYSE: GIS). The company, an Alliance tenant since 1997, needed more space to meet its needs. After General Mills considered several options, Creme said, including two out-of-state sites, he and Aldrich sat down with company officials to review their needs.

“They’re an ideal example of the relationship here between our team and our clients,” Creme said. “They had to grow, they needed to expand. We were able to meet with them and offer them a plan to meet their needs.”

By working closely with the General Mills representatives and the various Hillwood teams, he and Aldrich were able to put together a plan that allowed the company to expand its Alliance facility by 190,000 square feet with minimal disruption to its workforce and operations.

Aldrich and Creme also did a renewal that expanded the lease of LG Electronics in its Alliance facility by 65,000 square feet.

In the recovering economy, the two Hillwood vice presidents say they cashed in on their efforts spent over the 12 years each has been with the firm.

“We learned the value of our attention to customer service over the years and the relationships we built,” Aldrich says. “You kind of went back to the basics last year, and we had a good grounding.”

“We’re pretty excited about the way things turned out,” Creme said. “I think we did pretty well at leveraging our relationships with good customers.”

Transportation Projects Critical for Continued Growth

Mike Berry — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

During the past decade, our region has seen incredible and unprecedented growth, even during one of the most severe economic downturns in a generation. The business-friendly environment that our elected leaders have helped to create enabled North Texas to absorb the blow and benefit from poor regulatory environments elsewhere. Today, North Texas is well positioned to take advantage of an economic recovery that appears to be under way.

However, as we witness and celebrate our good fortune, I cannot stress enough that transportation and economic development are indelibly intertwined with one another. I believe it is critical that those of us in the commercial real estate industry highlight the linkage, and actively work to advance vital transportation projects that will keep people and goods moving across North Texas.

Although the growth in our region is a positive indicator for the economy, it has also placed a staggering burden on our transportation infrastructure. Nearly every major hub of economic activity in our region resides among the top 10 congested highway “hotspots” in the state; given the population projections for the next 25 years, this situation will only get worse.

If we want the state to continue to grow, it is incumbent upon our leadership to increase its investment in our transportation infrastructure. Just recently, the Legislature approved a budget that, for the first time ever, devotes more money to transportation debt service than to new construction.

Knowing that Texas is facing a multibillion-dollar deficit and an empty bank account when it comes to transportation, we must enable other revenue streams that will advance critical projects, such as the North Tarrant Express, DFW Connector, LBJ Express, and sections of State Highway 183 and Interstate-35E.

Public-private partnerships, (known as comprehensive development agreements, or CDAs), need to be at the top of our list. Without this innovative funding tool, we will place a chokehold on economic development in one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas. Stalling our regional economic engine—fueled by the thousands of businesses and millions of residents, will have lasting, negative repercussions on the North Texas region and the state of Texas.

In particular, we need the Legislature to authorize public-private partnerships for improvements to our most congested corridors in North Texas, so badly needed projects in our region can begin now—rather than decades in the future.

Serving as president of Hillwood Properties, Mike Berry leads development efforts the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development north of Fort Worth.

Alliance seeing new growth, expansion of existing tenants

Elizabeth Sehon — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas is seeing strong retail growth even as the development’s industrial core expands.

Ross Perot Jr., chairman of the Perot Group, said more than 1 million square feet of space is currently under construction at AllianceTexas. Perot spoke during a tour of the area on April 19.

Perot said the construction is a mixture of developments including medical, retail, educational facilities and corporate expansions.

Perot said, and never expected the growth that has occurred in the past 20 years, especially surrounding the Alliance region.

“You’ve known the industrial story because you’ve seen that for the past two decades,” he said. “Now, we’re seeing the retail story.”

On the list of expansion:

* Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance that is scheduled to open in fall of 2012.

* Deloitee University is a learning and leadership development that will employ 500 workers at Circle T Ranch and will provide guest accommodations for 800.

* THR Convenient Care Alliance will provide prevention and wellness education, screenings, occupational health services and primary care to the Alliance Community

* Emergency Medical Center at Alliance, The Hospital Corporation of America is 500-square-foot- emergency care facility scheduled to open in late 2011.

Also, several existing tenants are leasing about three million square feet, including:

* LG Electronics doubled its space to accommodate a consolidation of its cell phone repair business and just announced a new lease of additional 270,000 square feet.

* Trican Well Service, a company that provides products and equipment and services for the exploration and development of oil and gas reserves, leased 64,500 square feet.

* BNSF Railway began a hiring effort to meet customer demand and recently recalled 3,000 employees back who were furloughed during the peak of the recession.

New shopping and dining is also on the list of expansion:

* Mi Cocina, James Avery, Tuesday Morning, Baker Bros, Cinch Cleaners and great clips will soon open retail space. In addition, Quick Trip and Centennial Liquors have purchased land in Westlake Corners.

Alliance air cargo traffic up 24% from 2009

Matt Joyce — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Freight traffic is picking up at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub in North Fort Worth — a positive sign for the North Texas economy — and developers of the hub’s industrial airport are working to enhance its economic power by extending the runway.

Cargo traffic at Fort Worth Alliance Airport was about 110,400 metric tons last year, up 24 percent from 2009, but still not back to pre-recession levels. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.’s lifts — the number of units loaded or unloaded from trains — at its Alliance Intermodal Facility grew 5 percent last year to about 493,000, also below pre-recession levels.

“When you look back over the course of the cycles that we’ve been through, we’ve found that both FedEx and the railroads, as you would expect, are good leading indicators for us, because that indicates inventory replenishment,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas.

Vann Cunningham, assistant vice president of economic development for Fort Worth-based BNSF, said the increase in rail freight at Alliance translates into more related economic activity, such as warehouse distribution and manufacturing. BNSF’s Alliance station has a balanced inflow and outflow of cargo, he said.

“The fact that it’s balanced and both are growing is kind of an early indicator that we have a pretty healthy economy and an improving economy in North Texas,” Cunningham said.

Taking off
To expand Alliance’s draw as a logistics hub, Hillwood Properties and the City of Fort Worth, which owns the industrial airport, are spearheading the extension of the airport’s runway from 9,600 feet to 11,000 feet in length.

Tim Ward, president of Alliance air and aviation services, said the 15-year, $232 million project is scheduled to be complete by late 2014 or early 2015.

The airport can already accommodate any size plane, but the extension will enable jets like those operated by FedEx Corp. to take off with fully loaded, fully fueled planes in the heat of the summer, when the air is too thin to support full planes.

Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx (NYSE: FDX) has had a hub at Alliance since 1997 and accounts for about 95 percent of the airport’s freight activity.

“Today, in the summer months when it’s extremely warm, they have to compromise their payload to Anchorage, and they even have to compromise their payload to Fort Lauderdale, because of the heat and the existing runway length,” Ward said.

Anchorage is an important hub for FedEx, because it’s the company’s connection to Asia and other international markets.

Complicating the extension were the locations of Farm to Market Road 156 and the mainline of the BNSF railroad, both of which are in the path of the planned runway. The road has already been relocated, Ward said. Project developers have begun land acquisition for the new railroad line and expect to finish by October, when construction will begin.

Jacobs Engineering is the program manager for the project. Ward said $130 million in work has yet to be bid out, including the railroad relocation and runway construction.

New Deloitte complex is big, even by Texas standards

Steve Brown — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

To see the biggest commercial real estate project now being built in North Texas, it helps to have a helicopter.

International accounting giant Deloitte’s new Westlake campus is so large that the only way to take it all in is from the air.

The 750,000-square-foot corporate training facility sprawls across the rolling landscape of the Circle T Ranch northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Almost 500 permanent workers will be housed in Deloitte University when it opens late this year.

But the 35 classrooms and housing for “students” will accommodate tens of thousands of Deloitte professionals who’ll visit the facility each year.

The five-story building looks pretty much like a luxury resort as it curves along the shore of a man-made lake that’s still under construction.

The project is estimated to cost about $300 million, making it by far the largest and most expensive private-sector commercial building under way in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Visitors to the facility will need roller skates to get from one end of the long, narrow complex to the other — more than the length of two football fields.

The folks at Hillwood, developers of the Circle T Ranch and the AllianceTexas complex, let me hitch a ride on one of their helicopters this week to see the new Deloitte campus.

Even with all the large corporate facilities that Hillwood has had a hand in building in north Tarrant and Denton counties over the years, the Deloitte building is a standout.

“They expect 45,000 people a year will come through the facility,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “I don’t think we yet realize what the impact of this will be.”

To put it in perspective, 28,000 people work in the entire AllianceTexas project.

Although the Deloitte campus has been under constriction for almost two years, it’s pretty much invisible from nearby highways.

“You can’t see it from the road because it sits down in the valley behind trees and hills,” Berry said.

Along with 800 hotel rooms, the project will have “fitness, dining, outdoor jogging trails and a number of on-site recreation activities,” he said.

There’s an amphitheater, ballroom and dining facilities, too.

San Francisco-based Gensler is the architect on the project.

Hillwood won the Deloitte project after the company looked at multiple locations.

“It was the first such global competition we had with locations around the world,” company founder Ross Perot Jr. said.

Ross Perot Jr. Aims to Build Anew Near Fort Worth

Kris Hudson — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With most of the U.S. housing market still struggling to recover from its historic bust, Texas developer H. Ross Perot Jr. says now is the time to prepare to build again – at least in his section of the Fort Worth market.

Mr. Perot, 51-year-old son of the former presidential candidate and Electronic Data Systems Corp. founder, long has made a name for himself in the Dallas-Fort Worth market as a developer and onetime majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. His biggest project remains AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre development surrounding a bustling, industrial airport and railyard that he opened in 1989.

Alliance is roughly 40% built out, with 7,500 homes and 30 million square feet of commercial and industrial space. But Mr. Perot already is thinking of northward expansion, buying a 158-acre parcel north of Alliance along Interstate 35 from a bank last December. And a bit farther north from that, Mr. Perot’s Hillwood Co. development arm is preparing 3,300 acres that it has owned since the 1980s for residential building.

“We’re almost out of single-family land” at Alliance, Mr. Perot told Dallas-area reporters gathered for a tour of Alliance on Tuesday. “Our last lots are in the ground (in development). … Our residential guys are actively looking for projects all over North Texas.”

Indeed, Mr. Perot’s section of Tarrant County north of Fort Worth is in better shape than most U.S. housing markets. “The housing inventory in this region is well below the average for the metroplex and below what we consider to be equilibrium,” said David Brown of Metrostudy Inc., pegging equilibrium in Dallas-Fort Worth at a six-month supply of available homes. Alliance’s supply of available home lots “is more constrained than what we see in the metroplex,” he said.

Of home sales in the Alliance area last year, 79% were of houses priced under $200,000, according to Metrostudy. The area’s median price in the most recent 12 months was $167,000. On the commercial side, more than 1 million square feet of projects are under construction at Alliance, including Deloitte LLP’s sprawling Deloitte University campus slated to open this summer.

And the airport is in the midst of a multiyear expansion of its runways to lengths of 11,000 feet from 9,600 feet to allow planes to take off with more fuel for longer hauls. Not even the retail market, which is overbuilt nationally, can dent Mr. Perot’s optimism. Alliance’s 800,000-square-foot shopping center, the Alliance Town Center, is near capacity with plans to eventually double in size. “We’ll build as much as we can fill at reasonable rates,” he said.

For all of Mr. Perot’s Texas-sized ambition, he doesn’t always succeed. Hillwood’s Victory Park mixed-use development surrounding the American Airlines Center sports arena in downtown Dallas is a flop by many accounts. Hillwood forfeited its equity stake in Victory Park to its German partners in 2009, followed last December by its relinquishment of its management of the project to Cousins Properties. Hillwood and partners still own 27 acres of land at Victory Park, but Mr. Perot doesn’t foresee developing it soon.

In addition, some aspects of Alliance’s expansion are outside of Mr. Perot’s direct control. Specifically, state and federal officials control the expansion of I-35 that Mr. Perot’s Hillwood is banking on to further boost Alliance. “It’s the biggest challenge we have,” Hillwood President Michael Berry said. “That being expanding infrastructure in North Texas in the next 10 years.”

Perot’s Hillwood buying land for more development

Steve Brown — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ross Perot Jr .’s AllianceTexas project North of Fort Worth is already one of the state’s biggest developments.

But the project is about to grow even larger with more development along Interstate 35W.

“It’s hard to say for an 18,000-acre program we are running out of land,” Perot said Tuesday. “We are starting to look for land to grow our program north.”

Perot’s Hillwood development company recently acquired a 158-acre tract from lenders at I-35 and FM 1171.

“It has very good commercial zoning ready to go,” Perot said.

And Hillwood is about to begin work on a 3,300-acre former ranch it owns on I-35W in Denton County.

“It’s mostly going to be residential and commercial,” Perot said. “It’s a wonderful piece of property — it’s in the path of growth.”

AllianceTexas — which the Perot family started back in the 1980s — is now about 40 percent developed. More than 28,000 people work in the project, which is located in both Tarrant and Denton counties.

With the real estate market recovering, Hillwood is first concentrating on further residential and retail development at AllianceTexas.

“We have a couple hundred apartments that are up, but we have 10,000 on the drawing boards,” Perot said. “We should be starting Phase 2 this fall.”

Perot is also looking at more land buys for his residential development firm, Hillwood Communities.

“Our residential guys are looking for property all over North Texas.”

Conversation With: Mike Berry, Hillwood Properties

Christine Perez — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In the mid-1980s, Mike Berry was just starting his real estate career, working at Ray Hunt’s Woodbine Development Co., when he got a call from Ross Perot Jr., a former frat brother at Vanderbilt. Perot wanted to talk with Berry about working with him on an airport project in North Fort Worth. Despite Berry’s initial skepticism, he joined what was then the Perot Group on July 9, 1988—ground-breaking day for Alliance Airport.

Today that airport anchors AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre masterplanned community that includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga, and Monterra Village. It’s home to 257 companies who occupy 31.2 million square feet of commercial space and have created 28,000 jobs. The economic impact, so far, is estimated to be about $38.5 billion.

Overseeing it all is Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. I caught up with him recently at Hillwood’s Alliance office to get an update on activity, and to get his thoughts on what AllianceTexas has become.

RealPoints: So what are some of the current projects you’ve got under way out here?
Mike Berry: Well, Deloitte is working on its global training center, Deloitte University, at Circle T Ranch. It’s an 800,000-square-foot campus that will open this fall. The outside is finished; they’re doing interior work. We also have Texas Health Resources building a new hospital at Alliance Town Center. It’s going to be about 200,000 square feet, 90 beds. We’re doing some smaller retail space, about 20,000 square feet, around a Kroger store. And HCA is building a 12,000-square-foot medical office, the first piece of its new health care campus.

RP: So it’s a lot of user-driven activity.
Berry: Exactly. It may not get the big splash out in the market, because it’s not Hillwood stepping out and doing a 800,000-square-foot spec building. But when you add it all up, it’s more than 1 million square feet. And I’d almost rather it be two new hospitals, some retail, and a major Fortune 500 company building a global training center; when you’ve got users driving activity, it really begins to signal hiring, capital spending, and job growth—the kind of things you need before guys like us, who build spec space, start coming in to backfill.

RP: What was the original concept for Alliance?
Berry: Even at a young age, Ross was extremely visionary. It was very easy to get excited about what he was thinking and doing—and there was no doubt that he had the capability to do it, with the family involved. My responsibility was to go out and sell this idea to end users and try to recruit companies to locate there. We used to cold call aviation companies all over the country and all over the world. But the first deal we did wasn’t an aviation deal, it was a rail deal with Santa Fe Railroad. It opened our eyes to the bigger idea: If you have rail and air and highway all linked together, it creates a very unique package of transportation infrastructure. So we decided to do a more multimodal type of project. It was a big hook.

RP: What was it like in the early days?
Berry: Well, today, to try to do something like this from scratch, it would be difficult to just get off the starting blocks. From the day we decided on this approach, where we had to bring in FAA, the city, a design team, to try to do an airport, it was 18 months. From the day we broke down to the day we opened the airport, it was another 18 months. So in three years, we went from, “This is kind of cool idea,” to cutting the ribbon on the world’s first industrial airport. You could never do that today. Being in North Texas geographically, with a tremendous workforce … even back then this was one of the leading markets in the country. Today it’s even stronger.

RP: What was the impact of being in relative close proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport?
Berry: It was a huge advantage. Some people thought we were competing with D/FW when we started, but it was just the reverse; D/FW was one of our biggest selling points. We’d tell companies, you can locate at Alliance meet all of your industrial needs, with access to airport, rail, and highway; and all of your people can be at the airport for your worldwide travel needs in 15 minutes. Or, for your cargo needs, things that need to come in and belly freight in passenger planes, that could easily be trucked over. So it was a huge story.

RP: How does the original vision for Alliance match up with reality?
Berry: It’s much more than what we thought it would be. What drives the whole Alliance story today, air, highway, rail, and intermodal—which took us to a whole different level; it’s like bringing a seaport to the site—there is really nothing like it. My vision was we’d have air space and aviation companies lining the runway, maybe some warehousing off to the side, some office, retail. But I never saw the depth and breadth of industrial users that could benefit from this whole program. We weren’t thinking about the intermodal piece of it. Once we added the intermodal piece, it opened the door to a whole new host of companies. Today, we have 31 million square feet, 250 companies, 28,000 jobs, and $7.3 billion in total investment. And we’ve only developed about 40 percent of what we have; so we have a long way to go.

Alliance: the Sequel - Hillwood prepares for its next round of growth

Sandra Baker — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties, owner of the huge Alliance development in far north Fort Worth, is poised to start its next growth stage, this time heading north along Interstate 35W.

Click here to read the full article.

AllianceTexas job fair set for May 19

Matt Joyce, Staff Writer — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas will host a job fair on May 19, the first time in more than two years that there’s been enough demand among employers at the master-planned community for a hiring event.

Officials with Alliance developer Hillwood said Tuesday that the job fair will feature opportunities at Deloitte University, a $300 million facility scheduled to open later this year, and other corporate residents of Alliance.

There is more than 1 million square feet of projects under construction at Alliance, including corporate, medical and retail facilities.

Hillwood preps AllianceTexas for growth

Candace Carlisle, Staff Writer — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood is prepping its 17,000-acre AllianceTexas community for residential, commercial and retail growth — and is buying up other parcels of land to expand its footprint.

With the recent acquisition of 158 acres of land in Northlake — at the north end of Alliance — from a bank, it is likely Hillwood could purchase other land sites, said Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood.

"We've run out of land, and we are going to start land acquisitions," Perot said, adding Alliance's footprint is 40 percent developed.

The land plays will prepare Hillwood for a further industrial site, corporate campuses, office, medical, retail and residential development, Perot said.

Expansion plans include 7,500 residential homes and 10,000 multifamily units, Perot said. There are no deadlines or time lines set for construction, but several luxury homes at Alliance are currently under construction.

"If there's any kind of residential development in the country, it will be delivered here," he said.

Developers are finishing a $300 million, 700,000-square-foot learning and leadership development center for Deloitte University. It is scheduled to open the third quarter of 2011.

Other medical facilities, such as Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, are also under construction, and Perot said he projects Alliance's medical facilities will help spur growth.

Perot Prose

Tonie Auer — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With just about 2M SF of warehouse space left at AllianceTexas, Hillwood Development chairman Ross Perot Jr. tells us that new warehouse designs are ready and construction can begin as soon as existing space fills. “We build to demand,” he says.

Ross, whom we snapped at AllianceTexas during a media day event yesterday, says right now industrial companies are more likely to re-evaluate their needs and make do with an existing property rather than build new because of the high costs of construction. However, building is moving forward on Alliance’s multifamily and single-family projects (with residential guys even asking the industrial folks for some of their land, which we hear received a resounding "no"). On the flip side, in Southern California, industrial space is filled up and Hillwood has 2M SF of build-to-suit projects in the works there. Those folks will have to “pay the price”, Ross says.

Hillwood prez Mike Berry tells us they have more than 1M SF under construction at AllianceTexas. The new 700k SF Deloitte University campus (which we shot from the Hillwood helicopter Tuesday morning before the hail and thunderstorms roared through North Texas). Mike says Deloitte originally looked at 52 cities before settling on Circle T Ranch at Alliance. The $300M facility will open Q3 and be used as Deloitte’s training center; it includes an 800-room hotel, classroom and learning spaces, meeting and conference rooms, as well as dining and social venues like the party barn.

OVER ONE MILLION SQUARE FEET NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT ALLIANCETEXAS FOR CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

OVER ONE MILLION SQUARE FEET NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT ALLIANCETEXAS FOR CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

Highlights Include Deloitte University, Healthcare Facilities, Corporate Expansions and New Alliance Town Center Tenants

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 19, 2011) – As AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned community in North Texas, matures into a world-class development, significant construction and leasing activity is now underway or coming soon to the area. Over 1 million square feet is currently under construction within the development in a diverse mix of projects, including corporate, medical and retail facilities. The pace of activity signals that North Texas is emerging from the economic recession and demonstrates that AllianceTexas is continuing to contribute substantially to the region’s growth.

As evidence of the growth taking place at AllianceTexas, the community will host its first hiring fair in more than two years in May 2011, in order to fill hundreds of available positions at the currently-under-construction Deloitte University as well as for existing corporate residents. Further evidence can be found in the major construction and leasing activities at AllianceTexas, including:

• Deloitte University – Deloitte University is an over 700,000-square-foot learning and leadership development environment that will employ nearly 500 workers at Circle T Ranch and provide guest accommodations for 800. With construction well underway, Deloitte expects the $300-million facility to open in the third quarter of 2011 and be used to develop the organization’s next generation of leaders. Once open, Deloitte University will include 35 classroom and informal learning spaces, a variety of meeting and conference rooms, recreational activities and networking, dining and social venues.

• Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance – Currently under construction and scheduled to open in the Fall of 2012, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance will be a 262,000-square-foot facility and will be the first hospital in the AllianceTexas area. Upon completion, the facility will offer traditional hospital services including: general medicine, in and outpatient surgery, emergency services, imaging services, rehabilitation, women and infant services, physician offices as well as wellness and prevention education. Located on more than 40 acres at the corner of Golden Triangle Blvd. and I-35W, Texas Health Alliance will offer a personalized health care experience to meet the needs of this evolving community.

• THR Convenient Care Alliance – On July 1, Texas Health Resources will open Texas Health Convenient Care Alliance in Alliance Crossing, just north of its under-construction hospital. This new facility, located at 2401 Westport Parkway, Suite 140, will provide prevention and wellness education, screenings, occupational health services and primary care to the Alliance community.

• Emergency Medical Center at Alliance – The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) is under construction with its 10,500-square-foot emergency care facility located at the southern end of Alliance Town Center, which is scheduled to open in late 2011. The 24-hour-a-day, emergency room will have 12 exam rooms and will be staffed with hospital trained Emergency Board Certified Physicians and Registered Nurses. The Emergency Room will also provide laboratory and radiology services including CT Scanner.

• Corporate Growth – After completing nearly three million square feet in lease transactions in 2010, corporate retention and growth continue at AllianceTexas in 2011. LG Electronics, which nearly doubled its space at Alliance last year to accommodate a consolidation of its cellphone repair business, just announced a new lease for an additional 270,000 square feet of space in Alliance Gateway 53. Trican Well Service also leased 64,500 square feet in the Westport 3 building. The company provides a comprehensive array of specialized products, equipment and services that are used during the exploration and development of oil and gas reserves. Additionally, BNSF Railway, which operates a major intermodal facility at Alliance, experienced a record year in 2010, and has begun a robust hiring effort to meet customer demand, in addition to recently recalling about 3,000 employees who were furloughed during the peak of the recession.

• New Shopping and Dining – Bucking a national trend in declining retail site selection, Alliance Town Center, the community’s mixed-use center in north Fort Worth, became home last year to some of the country’s leading retail brands, including Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace and Chick-fil-A. On the near-term horizon for the center are the opening of a 7,500-square-foot Mi Cocina Mexican restaurant by year end, the imminent opening of fine jewelry retailer James Avery and the imminent opening of Tuesday Morning within the Sam Moon Center at Alliance Town Center. New retail announcements for Alliance Town Center include a 2,800-square-foot stand-alone restaurant for Baker Bros., and storefronts for Cinch Cleaners and Great Clips to be located within 17,000 square feet of retail space currently under construction next to the recently opened Kroger Marketplace. In addition, QuikTrip and Centennial Liquors have purchased land within Westlake Corners, a future retail center located at the southwest corner of U.S. Highway 377 and Texas Highway 170.

“The future is bright for the AllianceTexas development, thanks to the vision we have pursued over the last twenty-plus years and the exciting projects about to come on line,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Our success truly is a testament to the hard work of our valued partners – the corporations, retailers and residents who call AllianceTexas home, as well as the public entities who have helped us build a world-class community that delivers a strong return on investment. We continue to view AllianceTexas as a shining star among U.S. master-planned communities and a focal point for the North Texas region.”

Anchored by the world’s first industrial airport and the largest inland port in the U.S., AllianceTexas continues to thrive despite national declines in commercial real estate growth in recent years. According to a report recently conducted for Hillwood by Insight Research Corporation, the development provided $2.03 billion in economic impact to the Fort Worth region during the recession’s darkest days in 2009 alone. AllianceTexas’ cumulative economic impact has now reached $38.5 billion since its creation more than 20 years ago, making the master-planned development one of the nation’s leading models for successful public-private partnerships.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. AllianceTexas is now home to 262 companies, including 50 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes lists of Top Private Firms. Together, these companies have built over 30 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs. The community also now includes nearly 7,500 single-family homes and 288 luxury apartment homes.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.

# # #

Aggressive annexation paid off in north Fort Worth growth

John Henry — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Proponents of the construction of Alliance Airport more than 20 years ago touted its potential to spur economic growth.

So Fort Worth aggressively annexed land around the area to claim the growth for its own.

Click here to read the full article.

ALLIANCETEXAS BECOMES KEY ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR FASTEST-GROWING LARGE U.S. CITY, DYNAMIC REGION

Contact: Colby Walton (972-580-0662 x23, colby@cookseypr.com) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

ALLIANCETEXAS BECOMES KEY ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR FASTEST-GROWING LARGE U.S. CITY, DYNAMIC REGION

Census Data, Studies Reveal Communities Around AllianceTexas Growing Exponentially; Project’s Cumulative Regional Economic Impact at $38.5 Billion

FORT WORTH, Texas (March 16, 2011) – As AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s 17,000-acre master-planned community in North Texas, matures into a world-class development, it continues to drive tremendous growth in one of the fastest-growing areas of the country’s most vibrant state. Recently released U.S. Census data revealed that Fort Worth has grown by 38.6 percent since 2000, adding over 200,000 new residents, with much of that growth taking place in the north Fort Worth corridor around AllianceTexas. In fact, Fort Worth ranked as the fastest-growing large city (population over 500,000) in the entire U.S. for the past decade, and Tarrant County, in which Fort Worth is located, grew by over 25 percent during the period, adding more than 350,000 new residents.

According to a recent study by the Gadberry Group, an Arkansas-based intelligence service and data collection firm, the Haslet and north Fort Worth area surrounding AllianceTexas is now the second-fastest growing area in the nation, experiencing a 735-percent growth from 2000 to 2010. Keller, another city located in the AllianceTexas corridor, ranked as the third-fastest growing community in the national study – growing by more than 226 percent during the same period. Together, both areas brought more than 35,000 households to the AllianceTexas region from 2000-2010.

As further proof of this trend, the town of Westlake, also part of AllianceTexas, was recently identified by Forbes as the country’s most affluent neighborhood, with a median income of $250,000. Westlake adjoins AllianceTexas’ Circle T Ranch development, which includes corporate campuses for companies such as Fidelity Investments, Deloitte and Chrysler Financial Services.

Additionally, major AllianceTexas corporate residents such as BNSF Railways have become essential components in the global supply chain, and their facilities at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub are serving as an epicenter for major expansions at both companies. BNSF Railways, which operates a major intermodal facility at Alliance, experienced a record year in 2010, and Warren Buffett recently cited the company as Berkshire Hathaway’s most successful 2010 acquisition in his annual letter to shareholders. The company has recalled about 3,000 employees who were furloughed during the peak of the recession, and has begun a robust hiring effort to meet the demand of its customers.

“The area surrounding AllianceTexas has experienced a staggering amount of growth in recent years, and we are glad to have contributed significantly to the success of our nearby communities,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “We’re continuing to add to the regional tax base and add jobs, while other communities across the nation are grappling with a slowly recovering economy. This growth comes with challenges, such as the need to continue expanding transportation infrastructure along the I-35W Corridor, but we’re confident that Hillwood is well-positioned to continue building on this momentum and take AllianceTexas to an entirely new level.”

Anchored by the world’s first industrial airport and the pioneering inland port in the U.S., AllianceTexas continues to thrive despite national declines in commercial real estate growth in recent years. According to a report recently conducted for Hillwood by Insight Research Corporation, the development provided $2.03 billion in economic impact to the Fort Worth region during the recession’s darkest days in 2009 alone. AllianceTexas’ cumulative economic impact has now reached $38.5 billion since its creation more than 20 years ago, making the master-planned development one of the nation’s leading models for successful public-private partnerships.

AllianceTexas has experienced remarkable growth in retail and Class A office market segments over the past year. Bucking a national trend in declining retail site selection, Alliance Town Center, the community’s mixed-use growth center in north Fort Worth, became home to some of the country’s leading retail brands, including Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace and Chick-fil-A during the past year. This is in addition to an already impressive list that includes anchor stores like JCPenney, Best Buy, Belk and Sam Moon, among others, which count their Alliance Town Center locations as top national performers.

In addition to the success at Alliance Town Center, Hillwood completed nearly three million square feet in lease transactions during 2010, including a significant expansion by General Mills, renewals from anchor industrial tenants Texas Instruments/Exel Logistics and LG Electronics, and new leases from companies like Motorola.

A significant Class A office project currently underway at AllianceTexas is Deloitte University, a 750,000-square-foot training center that will employ nearly 500 workers at Circle T Ranch and provide guest accommodations for 800 (to be completed in 2011). Also under construction is the 262,000-square-foot Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and a 10,500-square-foot HCA Emergency Care Center.

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It consists of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village. AllianceTexas is now home to 257 companies, including 50 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes lists of Top Private Firms. Together, these companies have built 31.2 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and as the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia developments. For additional information about the company, please visit www.hillwood.com.
# # #

Live Smart

Tonie Auer — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Not content to rule the industrial and retail world around Alliance Airport, Hillwood’s residential arm, Hillwood Communities, hosted more than 400 Realtors recently at Arlington Hall at Lee Park to promote the housing division. The company debuted its new logo and tagline: Hillwood Communities, Live Smart. Hillwood also gave away a brand new Mercedes (alas, not to us.)

Hillwood has been building family communities since 1988 delivering more than 20,000 single-family lots in more than 60 cities, primarily in North Texas. What began in its home market of DFW has now expanded into other major markets including Wyoming, Florida, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Costa Rica.

Real Estate BisNow: Live Smart

468-acre housing development opens in March

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The residential division of Hillwood Development Co. will begin next month selling properties in the recently-acquired Rocky Creek Ranch off Hamilton Pool Road.

The company, Hillwood Communities, purchased the 468-acre property out of foreclosure last fall where Kerby Development LLC quit a $40 million plan for hundreds of homes. Hillwood is advertising less expensive homes than the last developer, according to its website. Units will range from $320,000 to $600,000, where Kerby planned $500,000 to $1 million properties, according to previous reports.

The property is adjacent to the 4,700-acre Shield Ranch Nature Conservancy and includes heavily-wooded home sites on cul-de-sac streets.

It is one of several projects Hillwood has developed in Central Texas, including the 900-plus-acre Spanish Oaks residential and golf community that was sold at auction the same time as Rocky Creek. Comerica Bank paid about $29 million for the property at Bee Caves Road developed by Hillwood, Discovery Land Co. and CCNG Realty Inc.

Developing innovation

Shlachter, Nishimura & Baker — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood wants to bring more innovation to the communities it develops.

The Alliance developer is forming InnovationHillwood Think Tank Co., a "task force created to cultivate forward-thinking initiatives" on community design, technology, conservation and education.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood changing its residential development business

Betty Dillard — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Development Co., one of the top commercial real estate and residential players in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and across the country, announced Feb. 18 it has established InnovationHillwood, a think tank task force made up of industry veterans and experts on community design, technology, conservation and education.

The inaugural members of the task force will be announced later this year, the developer said in a press release.

“For two decades Hillwood’s name has been synonymous with innovation and master planning excellence,” said Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood. “The goal for InnovationHillwood is to continue raising that bar and put a discipline around what we do. We are assembling the best in each of these fields to continually guide us to meet our objectives and become even smarter about how we plan our communities.”

The company also is making a subtle shift in its single-family residential development business. A new name, Hillwood Communities, reflects the company’s 22 years of developing master planned communities, and a new tag line called “Live Smart” better represents the developer’s principles of healthy living and environmentally-friendly communities, said Fred Balda, Hillwood Communities president.

Hillwood Communities also said it will announce in the near future several new master planned developments in Texas, the first being Rocky Creek, a 468-acre residential community in Austin, which will open in March.

The company has delivered more than 20,000 single-family lots in more than 60 cities, primarily in North Texas.

AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s major development in north Fort Worth, provided the area with a $2 billion economic impact in 2009, according to a report conducted by Insight Research Corp. and presented to the city of Fort Worth on Feb. 15.

The Alliance project’s overall economic impact to date is $38.5 billion.

According to the report, Alliance Town Center inside of Alliance Texas has grown from a taxable base of about $1.3 million in 2003 to a value of more than $162 million in 2010. The mixed-used growth center also has generated an estimated annual $2.9 million in sales tax revenues for the city of Fort Worth, and has funded regional transportation improvements through TIF 7, including North Tarrant Parkway and North Riverside Drive.

Current projects under way at Alliance include a 750,000-square-foot Class A training center at Deloitte University that will employ nearly 500 workers and the 262,000-square-foot Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and a 10,500-square-foot HCA Emergency Care Center.

Earlier this month, Hillwood Properties bought just under 156 acres at the northeast corner of Interstate 35W and Farm Road 1171 in Denton County, north of its Alliance development.

The company said much of the success of Alliance can be attributed to the exponential population growth of the surrounding residential area.

According to census figures released Feb. 17, Roanoke grew a whopping 112 percent from 2000 to 2010, and Saginaw 60 percent. Keller’s population increased 45 percent as it attracted more new people – 12,282 – more than any other Northeast Tarrant County city.

Real Estate Icon Revs Up Think Tank for Residential Sector

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

DALLAS - Real estate icon Ross Perot Jr. has launched a think tank, "InnovationHillwood," to develop forward-thinking initiatives for community design, technology, conservation and education.

The think tank will be comprised of industry veterans and experts, whose names will be announced later this year. The mission is "Live Smart," an affirmation of Hillwood's strong commitment to the industry, realtors and homebuyers.

"For two decades Hillwood's name has been synonymous with innovation and master planning excellence," said Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood. "The goal for InnovationHillwood is to continue raising that bar and put a discipline around what we do. We are assembling the best in each of these fields to continually guide us to meet our objectives and become even smarter about how we plan our communities."

As part of the plan, Perot is changing the name of its single-family residential development business to Hillwood Communities. Fred Balda remains president of the division.

Also coming soon will be details about the first Live Smart community, Rocky Creek, which is set on 486 acres in southwest Austin. It will open in March.

Since 1988, Hillwood has developed at least 20,000 single-family lots in more than 60 cities, focusing primarily on North Texas. In recent years, it's expanded to Wyoming, Florida, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Costa Rica.

Alliance resilient amid slowdown

Sandra Baker — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties' AllianceTexas in far north Fort Worth had an economic impact of $2.03 billion in 2009, the latest year available, even though property taxes paid by the development were flat.

Click here to read the full article

AllianceTexas impact: $38.5 billion in 20 years

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AllianceTexas has made a $38.5 billion cumulative economic impact on the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant and Denton counties since 1990, including a $2.03 billion impact in 2009, according to a presentation the project's developers made Wednesday to the Fort Worth City Council.

Capital investment through year-end 2009 totaled more than $7.25 billion, including 94.6 percent private money and 5.4 percent public money, according to the presentation by developer Hillwood.

The 17,000-acre AllianceTexas is a development about 20 miles north of downtown Fort Worth that stretches across the Tarrant/Denton County line, including several city jurisdictions. It includes the Fort Worth Alliance Airport, business and industrial parks, the 2,500-acre Circle T Ranch and the Heritage residential development. Hillwood, the company owned by Ross Perot Jr., oversees the development.

More than 31 million square feet of space has been developed in the project since 1990, including 7,484 homes, 200 hotel rooms and 288 apartments, according to the report.

The property tax impact during that time has totaled $839 million, with most of that revenue going to the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Keller ISD and Northwest ISD.

Almost 3 million square feet of real estate transactions were completed in AllianceTexas in 2010, according to the report.

Want tax dollars, retail and jobs? Build an airport

Eric Torbenson — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

So the folks who run the big Alliance project up in Tarrant County got to show off their progress in front of Fort Worth's city council, and the numbers -- while going through the typical adjustments that economic impact numbers do -- show the value of plunking an airport down and letting stuff grow around it.

Alliance Town Center has grown from a taxable base of approximately $1.28 million in 2003 to a value of more than $162 million in 2010. The mixed-use growth center also has generated an estimated annual $2.9 million in sales tax revenues for the City of Fort Worth and has funded regional transportation improvements through TIF 7, including North Tarrant Parkway and North Riverside Drive.

Not chopped liver, really, that kind of growth. The master-planned development has homes, the big retail side and of course Alliance, which is tied with the BNSF rail yard and other industrial drivers.

North Texas wouldn't be what it is today without D/FW International Airport, Dallas Love Field and places like Alliance and other "reliever" type airports. Aren't we still the world's largest city without a navigable waterway? We pull it off because of airports.

Read the full release after the click.

ALLIANCETEXAS SHINES BRIGHT DURING GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION

Economic Report Illustrates More than $2 Billion in Annual Economic Impact; Cumulative Economic Impact to North Texas Region Climbs to $38.5 Billion

FORT WORTH, Texas (February 15, 2011) - Despite national declines in commercial real estate growth during the past four years, the AllianceTexas master-planned development continues to be one of the nation's leading models for successful public-private partnerships, providing $2.03 billion in economic impact to the Fort Worth region during the recession's darkest days in 2009. Anchored by the world's first industrial airport, and serving as a key economic driver for the North Texas region, AllianceTexas' cumulative economic impact has now reached $38.5 billion.

In a report presented today to the City of Fort Worth, conducted by Insight Research Corporation, AllianceTexas showed remarkable growth in retail and Class A office market segments. Bucking a national trend in declining retail site selection, Alliance Town Center, in north Fort Worth, became home to some of the country's leading retail brands, including Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace and Chick-fil-A during the past year. This is in addition to an already impressive list that includes anchor stores like JCPenney, Best Buy, Belk and Sam Moon, among others, which count their Alliance Town Center locations as top national performers.

Much of the success at Alliance Town Center can be attributed to the exponential population growth of the surrounding residential area - a direct result of AllianceTexas maturing into a world-class community. According to the Gadberry Group, an Arkansas-based intelligence service and data collection firm, the Haslet and north Fort Worth area is now the second-fastest growing area in the nation, experiencing a 735-percent growth from 2000 to 2010. Keller, another city located in the AllianceTexas corridor, placed third in the study - growing by more than 226 percent during the same period. Together, both areas brought more than 35,000 households to the AllianceTexas region between 2000 and 2010.

In addition to the success at Alliance Town Center, Hillwood completed nearly three million square feet in lease transactions during 2010, including a significant expansion by General Mills, renewals from anchor industrial tenants Texas Instruments/Exel Logistics and LG Electronics, and new leases from companies like Motorola.

A significant Class A office project currently underway is Deloitte University, a 750,000-square-foot training center that will employ nearly 500 workers at Circle T Ranch and provide guest accommodations for 800 (to be completed in 2011). Also under construction is the 262,000-square-foot Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and a 10,500-square-foot HCA Emergency Care Center.

"In the midst of a historic recession, the momentum that we have built during the past two decades has made AllianceTexas' success an anomaly among the nation's leading master-planned real estate developments," said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. "There are many reasons why we've been successful during the worst economic times in a generation, but the single biggest factor is being located in the most business-friendly sector in the nation. Substantial credit goes to our public partners for creating this environment."

Indicators of this success, cited in the report, include exponential gains in commercial property tax revenues for both Tarrant County and the City of Fort Worth. In 2009, more than $20 million was contributed to Tarrant County, while the City of Fort Worth received more than $21 million. Moreover, total investment during the life of the project reached $7.2 billion, with more than 95 percent ($6.8 billion) coming from the private sector, and only $388 million coming from the public sector - a nearly 20-to-1 return on investment for area taxpayers.

"North Texas has weathered the economic storm fairly well over the past four years, and AllianceTexas has been an important part of that good fortune," said Berry. "We've continued to grow the regional tax base and add jobs, while other communities across the nation have encountered severe budget deficits and near bankruptcies. As the economy begins to recover, Hillwood is poised to capitalize on this continued momentum and take AllianceTexas to an entirely new level. We can't wait to see what the future brings."

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre master-planned community, anchored by the world's first industrial airport. It consists of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village. AllianceTexas is now home to 257 companies, including 50 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes list of Top Private Firms. These companies have built 31.2 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

ABOUT HILLWOOD
Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center near downtown Dallas.

ABOUT INSIGHT RESEARCH CORPORATION
Insight Research performed the original economic impact report in 2000 and reviews it annually based on new data. Since its founding in 1981, Insight Research has become nationally known for its pacesetting analytical approaches in providing economic, employment, tax revenue impact and cost/benefits analysis. The company's client list includes the FDIC, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Worth, New York and Chicago, as well as Fortune 500 companies, such as 3-M, American Express, AT&T and Dell.

AllianceTexas mounts $2B economic impact

Aleshia Howe — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

North Fort Worth’s AllianceTexas development provided the area with a $2 billion economic impact in 2009 according to a recent report, bringing the project’s overall economic impact to $38.5 billion to date.

The report was presented Feb. 15 to the City of Fort Worth and conducted by Insight Research Corp.

In the last year, AllianceTexas added several retailers to its line-up including Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace and Chick-fil-A.

According to the report, Alliance Town Center inside of AllianceTexas has grown from a taxable base of about $1.3 million in 2003 to a value of more than $162 million in 2010. The mixed-use growth center also has generated an estimated annual $2.9 million in sales tax revenues for the City of Fort Worth and has funded regional transportation improvements through TIF 7, including North Tarrant Parkway and North Riverside Drive.

ALLIANCETEXAS SHINES BRIGHT DURING GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION

Contact: Christina Weeks (817/224-6002, christina.weeks@hillwood.com) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLIANCETEXAS SHINES BRIGHT DURING GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION

Economic Report Illustrates More than $2 Billion in Annual Economic Impact; Cumulative Economic Impact to North Texas Region Climbs to $38.5 Billion

FORT WORTH, Texas (February 15, 2011) – Despite national declines in commercial real estate growth during the past four years, the AllianceTexas master-planned development continues to be one of the nation’s leading models for successful public-private partnerships, providing $2.03 billion in economic impact to the Fort Worth region during the recession’s darkest days in 2009. Anchored by the world’s first industrial airport, and serving as a key economic driver for the North Texas region, AllianceTexas’ cumulative economic impact has now reached $38.5 billion.

      In a report presented today to the City of Fort Worth, conducted by Insight Research Corporation, AllianceTexas showed remarkable growth in retail and Class A office market segments. Bucking a national trend in declining retail site selection, Alliance Town Center, in north Fort Worth, became home to some of the country’s leading retail brands, including Rooms to Go, Olive Garden, JoS. A. Bank, Kroger Marketplace and Chick-fil-A during the past year. This is in addition to an already impressive list that includes anchor stores like JCPenney, Best Buy, Belk and Sam Moon, among others, which count their Alliance Town Center locations as top national performers.

Alliance Town Center has grown from a taxable base of approximately $1.28 million in 2003 to a value of more than $162 million in 2010. The mixed-use growth center also has generated an estimated annual $2.9 million in sales tax revenues for the City of Fort Worth and has funded regional transportation improvements through TIF 7, including North Tarrant Parkway and North Riverside Drive.

        Much of the success at Alliance Town Center can be attributed to the exponential population growth of the surrounding residential area – a direct result of AllianceTexas maturing into a world-class community. According to the Gadberry Group, an Arkansas-based intelligence service and data collection firm, the Haslet and north Fort Worth area is now the second-fastest growing area in the nation, experiencing a 735-percent growth from 2000 to 2010. Keller, another city located in the AllianceTexas corridor, placed third in the study – growing by more than 226 percent during the same period. Together, both areas brought more than 35,000 households to the AllianceTexas region between 2000 and 2010.

         In addition to the success at Alliance Town Center, Hillwood completed nearly three million square feet in lease transactions during 2010, including a significant expansion by General Mills, renewals from anchor industrial tenants Texas Instruments/Exel Logistics and LG Electronics, and new leases from companies like Motorola.

      A significant Class A office project currently underway is Deloitte University, a 750,000-square-foot training center that will employ nearly 500 workers at Circle T Ranch and provide guest accommodations for 800 (to be completed in 2011). Also under construction is the 262,000-square-foot Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and a 10,500-square-foot HCA Emergency Care Center.

        “In the midst of a historic recession, the momentum that we have built during the past two decades has made AllianceTexas’ success an anomaly among the nation’s leading master-planned real estate developments,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “There are many reasons why we’ve been successful during the worst economic times in a generation, but the single biggest factor is being located in the most business-friendly sector in the nation. Substantial credit goes to our public partners for creating this environment.”

         Indicators of this success, cited in the report, include exponential gains in commercial property tax revenues for both Tarrant County and the City of Fort Worth. In 2009, more than $20 million was contributed to Tarrant County, while the City of Fort Worth received more than $21 million. Moreover, total investment during the life of the project reached $7.2 billion, with more than 95 percent ($6.8 billion) coming from the private sector, and only $388 million coming from the public sector – a nearly 20-to-1 return on investment for area taxpayers.

         “North Texas has weathered the economic storm fairly well over the past four years, and AllianceTexas has been an important part of that good fortune,” said Berry. “We’ve continued to grow the regional tax base and add jobs, while other communities across the nation have encountered severe budget deficits and near bankruptcies. As the economy begins to recover, Hillwood is poised to capitalize on this continued momentum and take AllianceTexas to an entirely new level. We can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

ABOUT ALLIANCETEXAS
AllianceTexas (www.alliancetexas.com) is a 17,000-acre master-planned community, anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. It consists of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village. AllianceTexas is now home to 257 companies, including 50 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes list of Top Private Firms. These companies have built 31.2 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

ABOUT INSIGHT RESEARCH CORPORATION
Insight Research performed the original economic impact report in 2000 and reviews it annually based on new data. Since its founding in 1981, Insight Research has become nationally known for its pacesetting analytical approaches in providing economic, employment, tax revenue impact and cost/benefits analysis. The company’s client list includes the FDIC, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Worth, New York and Chicago, as well as Fortune 500 companies, such as 3-M, American Express, AT&T and Dell.
# # #

Hillwood buys land just north of Alliance

Sandra Baker — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Properties bought just under 156 acres at the northeast corner of Interstate 35W and Farm Road 1171 in Denton County, north of its Alliance development in Fort Worth.

Click here to read the full article.

Kroger opening at Alliance Town Center

Susan McFarland — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A one-stop, one-of-a-kind shopping experience awaits customers Wednesday, Jan 12, in Alliance Town Center.

Shoppers can find carrots in produce and karats in jewelry at the new Kroger Marketplace, said Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger.

The 123,000 square-foot Marketplace will offer an expanded organic and natural produce section, bed and bath items, a Fred Meyer Jewelers story, a larger floral section, a fuel center and a selection of Ashley brand furniture, said Huddleston.

The Marketplace also will feature Baby World, with 2,048 square-feet of high chairs, strollers, cribs and bedding, diapers, formula, clothes and toys. "This is twice the size of a Signature store," said Huddleston. "We will have a lot of chef-prepared products ... It's a huge variety."

Signature stores have an expanded produce section but do not carry the home furnishings, Huddleston said. Kroger unveiled its first Marketplace store in Frisco nearly one year ago. Plans are in the works to open two more this year, in Mansfield and Little Elm. About 350 jobs will be created with each new Marketplace opening, according to a Kroger press release.

David Pelletier, director of communications for Hillwood, the company that master-planned the area, said the biggest request heard from area residents was they wanted a nearby grocery store.

At about the same time, Pelletier said, Kroger was rolling out its Marketplace concept. "We believe this will fit a great need not only for our residents but for all neighborhoods in north Fort Worth," Pelletier said. Pelletier said his company met with more than one grocery store but chose Kroger because they are well established and they liked the Marketplace concept.

"A perfect fit for Alliance Town Center and the Heritage community," Pelletier said. "Many of the items you can't find in a regular grocery store."

Store hours are daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Kroger Marketplace opens today in Alliance

Barry Shlachter — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Before there was a Walmart Supercenter or a SuperTarget, there was Fred Meyer -- a chain that built two-story hyper-marts in the Northwest offering not only wide selections of groceries but also furniture, apparel, gardening supplies and hunting licenses.

Kroger bought Fred Meyer in 1998 and today is bringing a modified version of the humongous stores to far north Fort Worth, where it will become the first major food retailer in the Alliance corridor.

Shoppers will find larger selections of produce, deli items, organic products, wine, beer and other foodstuffs at the 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace off Heritage Trail and Interstate 35W near Alliance Airport.

They will also find nontraditional goods like $2,500 loose diamonds, living room couches, bedding and such baby items as cribs, strollers and car seats. But there will be no clothes, shoes or electronics that a Fred Meyer store would carry.

The Alliance store won't home-deliver groceries, but it has arranged with a local service to transport sofas and other large furniture pieces, spokesman Gary Huddleston said.

"The margin is so high on general merchandise," noted Al Meyers, a Dallas-based consultant with Kantar Retail. "The challenge is to get the shopper for food to cross over and try some of the other merchandise. But it's a powerful combination."

The same Marketplace format is planned for Mansfield by year's end at Texas 360 and Main Street. Earlier, Kroger opened one in Frisco and another is planned for Little Elm. All of the sites are in high-growth corners of the Metroplex, which Kroger is trying to tap to outpace big-box rivals.

"With the Dallas-Fort Worth area topping the nation in population growth last year, the Marketplace format presents us with an opportunity to provide expanding neighborhoods with a unique store that meets their grocery needs and more," said Bill Breetz, Kroger's Houston-based division president who has been known to describe the selection as ranging from "carrots to karats."

The Alliance corridor continues to defy most parts of the U.S. with its rapid growth, said Charles Wetzel, chief executive of the Buxton Group, which advises retailers on site selection. "Depending on the actual drive time around the Heritage Trail corridor -- eight to 10 minutes -- the household growth rates range from 82 to 87 percent from 2007 to 2010."

This expansion puts nimble retailers in an envious spot due to a shortage of key stores in the locales, Wetzel added.

"There is a 'first mover' advantage to set up in a new area before a Walmart or Target supercenter gets there," Meyers said.

As big-box general merchandise retailers move more aggressively into groceries, Kroger is striking back.

"We are in a world where discount department stores like Target and Walmart add food as a way to drive greater traffic and attract more repeat visitors," said supermarket consultant Jim Hertel of Willard Bishop. "Here you've got a traditional food store going the other direction.

"It would not be the first move I would make if I were them," Hertel said. "But there must be something attractive about them because Kroger has taken this concept and moved it across different markets."

None of the Kroger officials interviewed would discuss the profitability of the format, which has been introduced in eight states.

When Gary Heintzman, a regional supervisor for Fred Meyer Jewelry, was asked, he replied by saying only, "They definitely want us here."

Fred Meyer Jewelry has 300 outlets, located both in supermarkets and malls, Heintzman said.

Huddleston said the new Alliance-area store is the 47th Marketplace nationwide and will employ 366 workers, 70 percent of whom will be part-time.

The spokesman would not address construction costs in the Alliance Town Center development. In 2009, Kroger said that a typical Marketplace store averaging 117,000 square feet required an investment of $18 million, compared with $30 million for a Fred Meyer.

First for a Kroger, but following a Tom Thumb store in Hurst, are three "TV Karts" -- shopping buggies with a locking bottom compartment in which a toddler can be seat-belted in front of a video screen displaying Disney programming. Another screen aimed at the shopper shows a paid advertisement, said Jake Dreyer, service manager for Cabco, which supplies the carts to Kroger.

The new format for the Fort Worth market adds a weapon to the chain's arsenal as it confronts new rivals -- limited-assortment Aldi stores last year and natural food retailer Sprouts this year -- in what already had been a hyper-competitive market.

"While, like many, they have some execution and perishable department opportunities, their stores are clean and well-merchandised," Vic Gallese, an independent retail consultant in Fort Worth, said of Kroger. "Their ads are compelling, their pricing is sharp and their private label products are quality.

"They are clearly a step ahead of the other traditional grocery chains in our marketplace today."

Super center feeds on growth in north Fort Worth

Casey Norton — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH — It's one of the newest hot spots for shopping in the fastest-growing part of Texas.

Business is booming at the new Kroger Marketplace in Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth, bringing some retail relief for a booming region where even a post office is hard to come by.

Ten years ago, Fort Worth City Council District 2 served just 68,000 people. New numbers show the population has more than doubled since then.

When the Kroger opened Wednesday morning at Interstate 35W and Heritage Trace Parkway, people were waiting in line to start shopping. Grocery executives say they did their homework, saw the growth, and found out this location would be right in the center of 140,000 — with the potential for another 100,000 in the next decade.

Not many people would walk shoulder-to-shoulder down store aisles for the chance to load up on Frosted Flakes, eggs, and jewelry, but north Fort Worth shoppers have been waiting years for a new grocery store option.

"There's not a lot around here yet, and this is a really nice store," said Meredith Simpson. "Really close to our house."

Less than 10 years ago, there weren't many places that sold fresh vegetables along with love seats and couches. Now, it's all in one store instead of miles away.

"Travel time becomes an issue, so it's nice to have something that is convenient and close by," said Dennis Goodwin.

The area once considered country living is now a sprawling suburbia. Builders are laying the foundation for a quarter million residents by 2020.

Hillwood Development's Michael Berry says even that may not fill all of its 17,000 acres. "Our road construction is critical," he said. "We've got to keep our highway construction and our roadway construction up with the pace of the population growth."

Pat Edwards and her husband moved to north Fort Worth nine years ago and watched the city move to them.

While she picks through a selection of fresh produce, she has a few other items on her shopping list for the burgeoning neighborhood.

"We need a post office, I'll tell you that, because you have to drive so far to mail a letter, so that would be wonderful, too," she said.

The Kroger store highlights milk next to home furnishings. There's a jewelry store at the front. And on the far side, there is produce, a bakery, and a Starbucks coffee shop.

The future looks bright for this area. Hillwood Development says it's working on plans to bring in more restaurants, more shops, entertainment options, and possibly a movie theater.

Alliance hospital expected to serve growing population

A. Lee Graham — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Texas Health Resources hopes to minimize patient frustration and maximize efficiency when its Alliance-area hospital opens near Interstate 35W and Golden Triangle Boulevard.

Groundbreaking for the $90-million project occurred on Dec. 3 and the facility is expected to reach completion in 2012. The hospital will be known as Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance.

"We are not building a hospital-centric facility; we're looking at patient-centric care," said Winjie Tang Miao, whose title is executive champion for the project and president of Texas Health Azle.

For example, Miao pointed to patient pre-registration from home for minimizing check-in time.

The entire project will open in phases, with a medical office building opening in spring 2012 and a full-service hospital opening in fall 2012.

Officials chose the 40-acre location for what they consider growing demand for medical services in the Alliance area, including Northwest ISD families.

"North Tarrant is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the Metroplex," Miao said. "When we looked at the area, it was rapidly growing and there weren't adequate health-care services in the area."

Texas Health Resources is not alone in recognizing the demand. At I-35W and North Tarrant Parkway, HCA Health Services of Texas plans to construct its own emergency care facility.

Construction of the 10,500-square-foot emergency care facility is expected to reach completion in late 2011.

Miao says technology will set Texas Health Resources apart from traditional medical facilities and gives as an example, electronic medical records, a growing trend in the industry.

"We're looking to use technology to extend capacity so we can provide care where it makes sense for patients," Miao said.

For example, real-time location services are designed to minimize lost patients and equipment. By storing inventory on computer, hospital officials can track the location of every piece of equipment. "So when a nurse is looking for an IV pump, she can pull up on computer where the nearest IV pump is," Miao said.

That works for patient tracking, as well, especially when visitors want to see friends and family members.

"There is a capability for you to talk to a nurse and the nurse can pull up [on computer], in real time, where a patient is," Miao said. Patients not in their rooms might be receiving treatment or testing in another room, for example.

When open, an emergency room, outpatient and surgical services, and other offerings will be offered.

But Miao said other features will set the Alliance facility apart.

"We know that there are a lot of young families at Alliance," Miao said. "We'll provide robust women's and infant care services. The whole women's health area, we are excited to bring to this market."

The hospital will open with 108 patient beds and the ability to expand up to 300 beds depending on patient need, according to Whitney Jodry, a Texas Health Resources spokeswoman.

Texas Health Resources already operates Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine in Keller and physician offices in Saginaw.

"This is an extension of our presence in North Tarrant County," Miao said.

COUSIN’S BAR-B-Q OPENS AT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817-224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 17, 2010) – Cousin’s Bar-B-Q, which catered the original luncheon at the opening of Fort Worth Alliance Airport on Dec. 14, 1989, has opened a 4,200 square-foot restaurant at Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth. It is the company’s sixth location.

Since 1983 Cousin’s has been serving up Texas-style Bar-B-Q with all the “fixins” for thousands of customers and several dignitaries, including President H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev. In May 2009, Cousin’s Bar-B-Q was named one of four finalists in the ABC Good Morning America “Best Barbecue Challenge.” The restaurant also received awards for best beef ribs and the best sausage at the recent Texas Monthly BBQ Festival in Austin.

Located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive, Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center is also home to the new 123,000 square-foot Kroger Marketplace, which will open in January.

A joint development of Trademark and Hillwood, Alliance Town Center is located along the east side of Interstate 35W between North Tarrant Parkway and Heritage Trace Parkway. The 300-acre development is in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas in the nation over the past decade. Many restaurants and stores already have reached sales levels that are among the best for their respective companies.

More than 20 companies occupy more than 700,000 square feet at Alliance Town Center. In addition to Cousin’s Bar-B-Q and the Kroger Marketplace, retailers include Bank of Texas, Belk, Best Buy, Cheddar’s, Dress Barn, Eye Masters, Freebirds World Burrito, Hobby Lobby, Jason’s Deli, JCPenney, Justice, Kincaid’s, Kirkland’s, Mattress Firm, McDonald’s, PetSmart, Rack Room, Rue 21, Sam Moon, Smoothie King, Sports Clips, Ulta, Wells Fargo, and Which Wich.

Alliance Town Center is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that also includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, the Monterra Village apartment home community, and the single-family communities of Heritage, Saratoga and Vaquero. AllianceTexas houses more than 7,800 single-family homes and 229 companies that have built more than 31 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

# # #

New hospital coming to Alliance

Adrian McCandless — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Texas Health Resources broke ground on a 100-bed hospital on Interstate 35W and Golden Triangle Boulevard Friday, Dec. 3.

The $90 million facility which will serve Alliance-area residents will include an emergency room, acute-care beds, outpatient and surgical services and offices on 40 acres.

"We've had our eyes on this area in the Metroplex for many years and now we are going to [put a] thumb print on the future of healthcare in North Tarrant County with the building of this great facility," said Barclay Berdan, senior executive vice president of system alignment and performance at Texas Health Resources, at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The first phase of construction is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2012, said Winjie Tang Miao, Texas Health Resources representative.

This will not be just a hospital, Miao said.

"We really want to be a partner in the community, whether on an individual level or in a community level," she said. "What we want to provide is care that is simple, easy and accessible."

The site was chosen to serve a growing demand for healthcare in the area.

"The Alliance area is one of the fastest-growing communities in North Texas with limited healthcare resources to meet the needs of residents," Berdan said.

Currently, Golden Triangle is undergoing construction to be expanded to a four-lane road and is slated to be complete in the summer of 2012.

Having Golden Triangle scheduled for completion near the same time as the hospital is good timing, but wasn't planned, Miao said.

Hillwood Properties officials are hoping that the Texas Health Resources Hospital in the Alliance area will be the anchor for the development.

"This is a project that we have been talking about for several years and it is one that really fills a huge need," said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties.

The hospital will be a continuation of Alliance Town Center, which is to the south of the development on Heritage Trace Parkway, he said.

"With the Texas Health Resource Alliance Hospital on the north end, it will now draw the next generation of development up further to the north between Heritage Trace and Golden Triangle," Berry said.

Texas Health Resources is not the only company in the medical field eyeing that location.

Down the road at I-35W and North Tarrant Parkway, HCA Health Services of Texas plans to build a 10,500-square-foot free-standing emergency care facility.

The Fort Worth City Council has approved an incentive package worth about $102,000 for the first phase of the project.

The company, part of Nashville-based Hospital Corp. of America, plans to spend $8.9 million on the facility.

HCA hopes to have construction on the 24-hour emergency center finished by the end of 2011, said Bethe Spurlock, a spokeswoman for North Hills Hospital, which is owned by HCA.

--Jan Jarvis contributed to this report

Freight traffic on US railroads still on the up

Katerina Kerr — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Intermodal rail freight traffic in the US continued to post weekly increases in November, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

During the week ending 20 November, intermodal traffic totalled 236,000 trailers and containers, up 10.6% on the same week last year. Compared with 2009, container volumes increased by 11.7% and trailer volumes were up 5.2%.

Overall, the US railroads carried 297,990 carloads, up 3.9% on the same week in 2009.

In Canada, November’s rail freight traffic reached 48,521 trailers or containers, up 12.8% on 2009, while in Mexico, traffic totalled 6,547 trailers or containers, up 1.8% on the same week last year.

For the first 46 weeks of 2010, US railroads reported carrying a total of 13.2 million carloads, up 7.2% on the same period last year, and 10 million trailers or containers, up 14.4%.

Canadian, and Mexican railroads carried 17.2 million carloads, up 9.4% on last year, and 12.5 million trailers and containers, up almost 15%.

Alliance foreign-trade zone in Fort Worth is expanded

Sandra Baker — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Commerce Department has approved an extension of the foreign-trade zone at Alliance in far north Fort Worth to include the entire Alliance Corridor, along both sides of Interstate 35W from Denton to just south of Northeast Loop 820.

Click here to read the full article.

Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone expands

Elizabeth Bassett — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 has been expanded to include the entire Alliance corridor, including property along both sides of Interstate 35 West from Denton to just south on Interstate 820 in Fort Worth.

The zone, which already ranks as the top general purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the U.S. in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted, was expanded under the approval of the U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone Board, which accepted an expansion application from Alliance Corridor Inc., the Hillwood subsidiary that oversees the trade zone. In 2009, the Department of Commerce board decided to allow the expansion of FTZ areas in order to expedite the approval process for companies within the zone.

“This expansion streamlines the process for companies that want to take advantage of the significant savings that being in a Foreign Trade Zone can bring,” said Hillwood Properties Vice President Steve Boecking, who oversees the Alliance Foreign Trade Zone #196 and provides advisory services to companies within the zone, in a release. “Previously, a company had to go through the process of being annexed into the zone then the process of applying for foreign trade zone status. Now the company is considered to be within the FTZ Grantee’s designated service area, so the entire application process for FTZ status is reduced from six months to approximately 30 to 45 days.”

Major users of Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include ATC Logistics & Electronics, Callaway Golf Company, Hyundai, Trans-Trade, LEGO and Motorola. For three years straight, the zone has ranked as the top general-purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the U.S. in terms of foreign products admitted; in 2008, $5.357 billion in foreign products were admitted into the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone.

EXPANSION OF ALLIANCE FOREIGN-TRADE ZONE #196 PROVIDES EXPEDITED APPLICATION PROCESS FOR AREA COMPANIES

Contact: David Pelletier (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Top U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone Now Includes Area Along I-35W From Denton To 820

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 18, 2010) – The Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196, which already ranks as the top General Purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the United States in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted, has been expanded to include the entire Alliance Corridor, which includes property along both sides of Interstate 35W from Denton to just south of Interstate 820.

The U.S Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone Board recently approved the expansion application, which was submitted by Alliance Corridor Inc., the Hillwood subsidiary that oversees Foreign Trade Zone #196.

“This expansion streamlines the process for companies that want to take advantage of the significant savings that being in a Foreign Trade Zone can bring,” said Hillwood Properties Vice President Steve Boecking, who oversees the Alliance Foreign Trade Zone #196 and provides advisory services to companies within the zone. “Previously a company had to go through the process of being annexed into the zone then the process of applying for foreign trade zone status. Now the company is considered to be within the FTZ Grantee’s designated ‘Service Area,’ so the entire application process for FTZ status is reduced from six months to approximately 30 to 45 days.”

The expansion of the Alliance Foreign Trade Zone #196 is possible due to a change by the U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign-Trade Zone Board in 2009 that allows expansion of FTZ areas in order to expedite the approval process for companies within the zone.

For three straight years, the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 has ranked as the top general-purpose Foreign Trade Zone in the U.S. in terms of foreign products admitted. In 2008, the most recent year that data is available, $5.357 billion in foreign products were admitted into the Alliance Foreign Trade Zone.

Major users of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include ATC Logistics & Electronics, Callaway Golf Company, Hyundai, Trans-Trade, LEGO, and Motorola.

Foreign-trade zones are secure areas under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment. Under zone procedures, the usual formal customs entry procedure and payment of duties are not required on the foreign merchandise unless and until it enters U.S. Customs territory for domestic consumption, in which case the importer normally has a choice of paying duties either on the original foreign materials or the finished product. Foreign-trade zone sites and activities remain within the jurisdiction of federal, state and local governments and agencies.

In large part due to its role in handling imports, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of $36.4 billion on the North Texas economy. In addition the development has attracted $6.9 billion in private investment, generated more than $838 million in property taxes and created 28,000 fulltime jobs.

In addition to the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development includes Alliance Town Center, the Monterra Village apartment home community, the corporate campuses of Circle T Ranch, the Vaquero estate golf community, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. AllianceTexas now houses 7,200 single-family homes and 229 companies that occupy 31.2 million square feet. More than 50 companies at AllianceTexas are ranked on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Approximately 65 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms have chosen to locate in Hillwood developments. In addition to the AllianceTexas project, Hillwood is best known for its development of American Airlines Center and the Victory mixed-use district near downtown Dallas and AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles.

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JPMorgan unit buys 47 Alliance buildings

Bill Hethcock — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An arm of JPMorgan Chase has purchased 47 industrial buildings totaling 13.4 million square feet in the 17,000-acre Alliance business park in far north Fort Worth.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but average trading prices for the quality of properties put the value in the range of $500 million.

Bill Burton, senior vice president for Alliance developer Hillwood, said the JPMorgan Chase real estate investment fund purchased the portfolio from Prudential Real Estate Investors and Hillwood. Prudential bought its stake in the portfolio from Hillwood in 2005. Hillwood still had a minority stake in 41 of the 47 buildings, Burton said. Hillwood still owns about 6,000 acres at Alliance and two industrial buildings totaling about 1 million square feet, he said.

Representatives for JPMorgan and Prudential declined to comment on the sale and referred calls to Hillwood.

Hillwood will continue to market and manage the buildings, Burton said.

“It should be transparent to the existing and future customers at Alliance that Hillwood still represents the commercial ownership interests in the buildings,” Burton said. “We still own the land, we’ll still do future development, and the quality and consistency should stay the same.”

Hillwood will develop more industrial space at Alliance when demand improves, but the focus now is on keeping existing tenants happy and filling available space, Burton said.

Some of the major tenants in the buildings sold to JPMorgan include Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Lego Systems Inc. and General Mills Inc.

The Dallas Business Journal reported the pending sale to JPMorgan in the July 12 edition.

The Alliance business park off Interstate 35W spans about 12,000 acres in Tarrant and Denton counties, with parts of the development lying in the cities of Fort Worth, Haslet and Roanoke. Hillwood, headed by Ross Perot Jr., began building the industrial airport at Alliance in 1989, and the overall project now has about 31 million square feet of developed space.

Real estate brokers say high-quality industrial space such as the buildings that JPMorgan bought are trading for more than $35 per square foot, putting the price tag for a 13.4 million-square-foot portfolio at more than $469 million.

Investment in U.S. industrial properties increased by 40 percent, to about $5 billion, for the first six months of 2010, according to a report released this month by commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis Inc. The report shows industrial markets worldwide are recovering from the global recession.

The industrial buildings in Alliance are highly attractive to investors because they draw tenants with strong financial positions, said Jean Russo, a senior director who specializes in industrial properties in commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield’s Dallas office.

“It’s prime real estate,” Russo said. “These are state-of-the-art buildings — well-designed with the ultimate tenant in mind — and therein lies the attractiveness from an investor standpoint.”

Texas adds money to speed up I-35W expansion

Gordon Dickson — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New toll lanes could be open on Interstate 35W as soon as 2017 after the Texas Transportation Commission agreed Thursday to spend an extra $135 million in state bond funds to speed up the project.

The breakthrough in the long-stalled effort to improve I-35W comes a month after Texas Department of Transportation officials and a team of developers known as North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners announced that they were close to a deal to widen the corridor between downtown Fort Worth and Alliance Airport.

It is one of the most pothole-pocked, truck-clogged and gridlocked corridors in Texas.

Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief called the announcement a "big win" but cautioned that a few hurdles remain before construction can begin.

"Although this isn't the last step in the process, TxDOT's commitment for funding is a critical part of getting us moving again on I-35," Moncrief said. "Residents and visitors who fight the daily traffic know what a difficult problem this has been. The gridlock on I-35 is not only a frustrating burden for commuters, it's also a threat to our environment and the economic future of our city."

Under a plan approved Thursday at a meeting in Austin, the I-35W expansion will become part of the adjacent Loop 820 expansion known as North Tarrant Express. To help pay to rebuild I-35W's lanes and add two toll lanes in each direction, the state pledged to infuse the project with an additional $135 million. The money will come from Proposition 14, under which future gas tax revenue is used to pay debt incurred for road work.

Improvements include a complete redo of the dangerous I-35W/Loop 820 interchange and removal of all left-lane exits, as well as two new I-35W toll lanes in each direction from I-30 in downtown Fort Worth to just north of the I-35W/U.S. 287 split in far north Fort Worth. Existing freeway lanes would also be rebuilt and remain free.

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, called the approval justice for North Texas, which got shortchanged by the state this year when voter-approved Proposition 12 bonds were issued for areas along the I-35 corridor in Texas that have far fewer traffic problems.

"I'm pleased to see Proposition 14 bond money being used to solve real congestion problems in the state, and especially in North Texas, which has seen tremendous growth and has been designated a serious nonattainment area for air quality," said Davis, a Senate transportation committee member.

A year ago, the state Transportation Department abandoned its attempt to develop a new toll road parallel to the I-35 corridor known as the Trans-Texas Corridor. That project was widely criticized as a land grab and an intrusion on Texans' property. Since then, about $1.9 billion in federal, state and local funding has been committed to widening the I-35 corridor and keeping it a nontoll road, mostly between Hillsboro and San Antonio.

But very little of that money was awarded to the Metroplex, the state's most congested metro area.

Thursday's action brings the total value of work under development in the I-35W/Loop 820/Airport Freeway corridor in Tarrant County to $3.3 billion, including expansion of Northeast Loop 820 in Fort Worth and Haltom City and Texas 121/183 in Bedford, Euless and Hurst.

Most of the money is coming from NTE Mobility Partners, a group of private-sector firms led by Spain-based Cintra that is assuming the financial risk in return for the right to collect tolls on the toll lanes for 52 years. The project includes a total of about $773 million in public funds.

NTE Mobility Partners has pledged to rebuild Loop 820 and Airport Freeway by 2015, and I-35W by 2017.

Construction on the Loop 820/Airport Freeway portion will begin within a few weeks. Motorists can expect full-fledged construction on Airport Freeway, particularly in Hurst, by early next year.

The I-35W portion must still clear a couple of bureaucratic hurdles, including a federal environmental review. But Thursday's approval of $135 million removes the biggest obstacle to completing the work.

"Our business partners understand today that patience is key," said Russell Laughlin, senior vice president of Hillwood Properties at AllianceTexas.

Investment fund buys 47 buildings at Alliance

Sandra Baker — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A real estate investment fund of JPMorgan Chase has closed on its purchase of 47 industrial buildings, some leased by Fortune 500 companies, in the 17,000-acre Alliance development in far north Fort Worth.

The properties, totaling about 13.4 million square feet of space, were sold Sept. 29 by Prudential Real Estate Investors, an arm of Prudential Financial. Prudential bought the stake from Alliance developer Hillwood five years ago.

A JPMorgan spokesman could not be reached Wednesday to comment on the sale. Terms were not disclosed.

Hillwood said it will continue to market and manage the buildings.

"Hillwood represents the commercial ownership interests in the buildings," said Bill Burton, Hillwood's senior vice president. "Hillwood still owns the remaining land in the development and all of this should be transparent to our customers."

Bell Helicopter, Lego, LG Electronics, Textron, TD Ameritrade and General Mills are among the tenants in affected buildings.

Alliance is a master-planned development that began with the opening of Alliance Airport in 1989. It also includes residential neighborhoods, shops and restaurants, and offices.

PERFORMERS TO VISIT SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS WHILE IN NORTH TEXAS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIR SHOW PRESENTED BY BELL HELICOPTER

Contact: Dave Pelletier (817-224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 26, 2010) – Several performers from the 2010 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, which will be held Saturday and Sunday at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, will visit local schools and hospitals while in town for the event.

“The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is an event that benefits the community in many ways,” said Christina Carey, Special Projects Manager for Fort Worth Alliance Airport. “In addition to the more than $260,000 that the show has raised for area non-profits since 2006, our performers make it a priority to talk to school children about hard work and making the right choices, as well as to visit hospitals to help brighten the day for patients.”

GREG POE

Greg Poe visits local schools to deliver his “Elevate Your Life” message, encouraging students to achieve success by believing in themselves and focusing on their goals. He also takes the winners of an essay contest at local schools for a ride in his ethanol-powered Fagen MX2 the week of the show. The “Elevate Your Life” Program is the action arm of the Ryan J. Poe Foundation, which was established after Greg lost his son to heroin addiction in 2002.

Weds., Oct. 27, 2:15 p.m............. Timberview Middle School, 10310 Old Denton Rd, Fort Worth.

Weds., Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m............. Ride for essay contest winner from Medlin Middle School in Northwest ISD. Ride will take place at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, 2221 Alliance Blvd, Fort Worth.

Thurs., Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m............. Medlin Middle School, 601 Parkview Dr., Trophy Club

Fri., Oct. 29, 9:20 a.m.................. Hillwood Middle School, 8250 Parkwood Hill Blvd., Fort Worth

U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGELS

In addition the being the only military jet performance team to appear in North Texas this year, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels also will visit several schools and hospitals during its visit.

Fri., Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m.................. Saginaw High School in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, 800 N. Blue Mound Rd., Saginaw.

Fri., Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m.................. Cook Children’s Hospital, 801 Seventh Ave., Fort Worth

Fri., Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m.................. Scottish Rite Hospital, 2222 Welborn St., Dallas

Fri., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.................. Southlake Carroll v. Saginaw high school football game at Rough Rider Stadium, 800 N. Blue Mound Rd., Saginaw. Coin toss and/or pep talk

F-22 RAPTOR

The F-22 Raptor, which is built by Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, will perform for the first time in North Texas at the air show. The F-22 demonstration team, led by pilot Major Dave “Zeke” Skalicky will visit with high school students before a couple of high school footballs games in the area.

Thurs., Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m............. Coppell v. Keller high school football game at the Keller ISD Football Complex at 500 N. Pate Orr Rd. in Keller. Coin toss and/or pep talk.

Fri., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.................. Fossil Ridge v. Denton Guyer high school football game at the C.H. Collins Athletic Complex, 1500 Long Rd., Denton. Coin toss and/or pep talk

INDY BOYS JET POWERED SCHOOL BUS

The Schooltime Jet Powered School Bus also travels to nearby schools the week of the air show to deliver the message that “Jets are Hot, Drugs are Not.” The Indy Boys team shows a 10-minute highlight video then provides tours of the bus. With a 42,000 horsepower jet engine from an F4 Phantom Fighter, the bus can reach more than 350 miles per hour.

Thurs., Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m............. Lone Star Elementary School, 4647 Shiver Rd., Fort Worth

F-16 VIPOR

The F-16 Raptor demonstration team, led by pilot Ryan “Rider” Corrigan will visit with high school students before the Springtown-Byron Nelson high school football game on Friday.

Fri., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.................. Springtown v. Byron Nelson high school football game at the Northwest ISD Stadium, 18501 Highway 114 , Justin. Coin toss and/or pep talk

Gates for the 2010 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show presented by Bell Helicopter open at 9 a.m. with performances beginning at 10 a.m. and running until late afternoon. Admission is free. Parking is $20 per vehicle.

This year's lineup also includes the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the Horsemen P-51 Mustang Aerobatic Team, the Warbirds of the Cavanaugh Museum, Randy Ball of Mabank, Texas in the vintage Soviet MiG 17, Dallas’ Jan Collmer in the FINA Extra 300L, Michael Goulian and the Extra 330, and Team Oracle featuring Sean Tucker.

For a list of performers, parking and other event information, visit www.AllianceAirShow.com

The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is a non-profit event that benefits local charities. Since 2006, Alliance Air Productions has raised more than $260,000 for local nonprofits, including those that provide some of the event’s 400 volunteers.

Fort Worth Alliance Airport is the centerpiece of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that houses 230 companies, 28,000 employees and more than 7,000 single-family homes. Airport users include the American Airlines Maintenance Facility, the FedEx Sorting Hub, the Bell Helicopter Customer Center, as well as corporate and military aircraft. The Fixed Base Operation at Fort Worth Alliance Airport has earned ExxonMobil's top customer service award for an unprecedented 14 straight years. The airport is managed by Alliance Aviation Services, a subsidiary of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas.

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FORMER COWBOYS FULLBACK AND CURRENT FOX-TV NFL ANALYST DARYL JOHNSTON TO FLY WITH U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGELS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27 IN ADVANCE OF NEXT WEEKEND’S FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIR SHOW

Contact: Dave Pelletier (817-224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Flight To Help Celebrate Super Bowl XLV In North Texas In February 2011

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 21, 2010) – While claws and deer antlers have been the talk of North Texas recently, a “Moose” will take to the skies with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels on Wednesday, October 27, when former Cowboys Pro Bowl fullback and current FOX-TV NFL analyst Daryl Johnston flies with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

The flight also is in recognition of Super Bowl XLV, which will be held in North Texas in February 2011. Johnston is Chairman of the SLANT 45, the Host Committee’s program to involve 20,000 North Texas elementary school children in more than 45,000 hours of community service projects. Hillwood, which produces the air show with its Alliance Air Services group, is a founding sponsor of the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.

Johnston will arrive at the Alliance FBO (2221 Alliance Blvd.) at 9 a.m. on Wednesday for a briefing and other pre-flight procedures. His flight with the Blue Angels will take off at 1 p.m. and should last approximately 45 minutes.

NOTE: The briefing, preparations, boarding of the flight, takeoff and landing are all open to the media.

The first fullback to be selected to the Pro Bowl (1993), Johnston played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-99, helping the team win three Super Bowl titles. In his recent Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech, former Cowboys teammate Emmitt Smith recognized Johnston’s sacrifice and commitment to the team that allowed Smith to become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Johnston currently works with Kenny Albert and Tony Siragusa to broadcast NFL games on FOX-TV. Daryl and his wife Diane live in North Texas with their children Aidan and Evan.

The 2010 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show presented by Bell Helicopter will be held on October 30 and 31 at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. In addition to the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, this year’s event features the first North Texas demonstration performance of the F-22 Raptor, which is manufactured by locally based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. In addition the Indy Boys Jet Outhouse and Jet School Bus will be making their first appearance at the air show.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with performances beginning at 10 a.m. and running until late afternoon. Admission is free. Parking is $20 per vehicle.

This year's lineup also includes the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, The F-16 Viper East Coast Demonstration Team, the Horsemen P-51 Mustang Aerobatic Team, the Warbirds of the Cavanaugh Museum, Randy Ball of Mabank, Texas in the vintage Soviet MiG 17, Dallas’ Jan Collmer in the FINA Extra 300L, Michael Goulian and the Extra 330, Greg Poe in the ethanol-powered Fagen MX2, and Team Oracle featuring Sean Tucker.

For a list of performers, parking and other event information, visit www.AllianceAirShow.com

# # #

TCC program helps unemployed learn new job skills

Diane Smith — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- A.J. Dye hopes to land a job more quickly now that he has added certified logistics training to his resume, expertise he said will be crucial when the economy improves.

Click here to read the full article.

F-22 TO PERFORM FOR FIRST TIME IN NORTH TEXAS AT THE 2010 FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIR SHOW PRESENTED BY BELL HELICOPTER ON OCTOBER 30 AND 31

Contact: Dave Pelletier (817-224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

F-22 TO PERFORM FOR FIRST TIME IN NORTH TEXAS AT THE 2010 FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIR SHOW PRESENTED BY BELL HELICOPTER ON OCTOBER 30 AND 31

Blue Angels, Jet Outhouse, Jet School Bus Also Among Featured Performers

Contact: Dave Pelletier

817-224-6044

dave.pelletier@hillwood.com

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 1, 2010) – The 2010 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show presented by Bell Helicopter will be held on October 30 and 31 at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. This year’s event features the first North Texas demonstration performance of the F-22 Raptor, which is manufactured by locally based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. With the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, this year’s show also is highlighted by the only performance by a major U.S. military jet team in North Texas in 2010. In addition the Indy Boys Jet Outhouse and Jet School Bus will be making their first appearance at the air show.

The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show typically attracts a crowd between 100,000 and 125,000 spectators for the two-day event, however most air shows across the country have experienced increased attendance over the past two years. This boost in attendance is attributed to the air shows being a low-cost alternative with tremendous entertainment value.

“With free admission and only $20 to park any sized vehicle, the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is one of the best entertainment values for families,” said Christina Carey, Special Projects Manager for Fort Worth Alliance Airport. “In addition to seeing the world’s best pilots and aerobatic performers, the historical and patriotic aspects of the show make it an exciting day for children, parents and grandparents, many of who have flown or have great memories of the vintage aircraft.”

World renowned air show announcer Danny "Skytalker" Clisham will narrate the show. Air show veteran Ralph Royce will once again command the skies as the Air Boss.

The event also will feature static display of numerous military and civilian aircraft. For children young and old, there is the Kids Zone, featuring the world's tallest inflatable slide and several flight simulators.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with performances beginning at 10 a.m. and running until late afternoon. Admission is free. Parking is $20 per vehicle.

For a list of performers, parking and other event information, visit www.AllianceAirShow.com

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HILLWOOD BREAKS GROUND ON 111 LOTS AT HEARTLAND COMMUNITY IN KAUFMAN COUNTY

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

HILLWOOD BREAKS GROUND ON 111 LOTS AT HEARTLAND COMMUNITY IN KAUFMAN COUNTY

Company Has Developed More Lots In North Texas Over Past 18 Months

Than Any Other Developer

HEARTLAND, Texas (September 16, 2010) – Hillwood broke ground today on the next phase of its 2,000-acre Heartland residential community in Kaufman County. Construction on the next phase, which includes 111 lots on 20 acres, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Homes in the next phase will be built by D.R. Horton, History Maker Homes and J Houston Homes and will range in price from $115,000 to $180,000.

Future plans also call for a new splash park and two new pocket parks to be completed at Heartland by June 2011.

“With its amenities, location, schools and value, Heartland has been one of the bright spots in terms of residential sales in North Texas,” said Elaine Ford, vice president of Hillwood Residential. “Hillwood felt the timing is right to provide new lots to our builders to meet that demand.”

Heartland has been the most active community in North Texas for the past year with 246 housing starts. Overall Heartland has added 3,500 residents over the past four years.

Heartland is located on the south side of Interstate 20 at FM 741, approximately 20 miles southeast of downtown Dallas. The community is in the Crandall Independent School District.

Over the past 18 months, Hillwood also has developed more lots in North Texas than any other development company. In addition to the 111 lots being developed in this phase of Heartland, Hillwood has developed lots in its Twin Creeks community in Allen and 78 lots at its Heritage community in Fort Worth since 2009.

Hillwood also recently purchased the 468-acre Rocky Creek Ranch residential community in west Austin. The community already has 151 completed lots and can accommodate another 241 lots. Rocky Creek Ranch will open in the first quarter of 2011, when the new entry is scheduled to be completed and the model homes will be available to tour.

In 2009 Heartland was named Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. The award was presented in part due to some of the unique and successful programs in place at Heartland. The Hometown Heroes program rewards teachers, firemen and police officers with price incentives on new homes. The resident referral program has resulted in more than 70 referrals over the past two years.

Hillwood also has made a long-term commitment to Crandall ISD. In addition to the seven school sites in Heartland, students from the school district helped design the community’s trail system, which received the Award of Excellence from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Hillwood also established the Heartland Education Foundation, which supports programs in Crandall ISD schools through a fund generated by ½ of one percent of every real estate transaction in the community. Last year at the opening of Betty Walker Elementary School, the first of seven schools in Heartland, Hillwood donated $500,000 to the school. The same will be done for each of the next six schools that will be built there.

All of the school sites in Heartland have been strategically located within residential neighborhoods and connected to trail systems to allow children easy access. This innovative land plan allows children to walk to schools rather than being driven, a positive impact for safety, convenience and the environment. Hillwood also is working on implementing “Walking Carpools” in the community.

Since 1989 Hillwood has developed residential communities with innovative features and top recreation amenities. The company has delivered more than 20,000 single-family lots in more than 30 cities, primarily in North Texas, over the past decade.

Hillwood (www.hillwood.com), a Perot company, is one of the country’s leading residential and commercial real estate developers and investors. The company is best known for its development of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project, located 15 miles northwest of DFW Airport; the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas; and the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia development near Los Angeles.

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HILLWOOD ACQUIRES ROCKY CREEK RANCH RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (September 8, 2010) – Hillwood has purchased the 468-acre Rocky Creek Ranch residential community in southwest Austin from LegacyTexas Bank. The community already has 151 completed lots and can accommodate another 241 lots.

“Purchasing Rocky Creek Ranch is a terrific opportunity for Hillwood to provide great value for homeowners in one of the best areas of Austin to live and in one of the state’s top school districts,” said Brian Carlock, senior vice president of Hillwood Residential.

Rocky Creek Ranch will open in the first quarter of 2011, when the new entry is scheduled to be completed and the model homes will be available to tour.

Carter Breed and Colin Armstrong of CB Richard Ellis represented LegacyTexas Bank in the transaction.

Homes at Rocky Creek Ranch will be built by Highland Homes (http://www.highlandhomes.com/Community-RockyCreek.html) and Drees Homes (http://www.dreeshomes.com/) and will be offered starting in the high $200’s. Comparable new homes in nearby communities typically start at $360,000.

Rocky Creek Ranch also will feature an amenity center with a resort pool, tot pool and playground, as well as 300 acres of open space with extensive trails. The community is adjacent to the 4,700-acre Shield Ranch Nature Conservancy.

Located on the south side of Hamilton Pool Rd. (FM 3238) approximately five miles south of Texas Highway 71 and just west of Crumley Ranch Rd., Rocky Creek Ranch lies within the Travis Independent School District, which is rated as exemplary, the highest rating by the state of Texas. All three schools that Rocky Creek Ranch’s children will attend (Bee Cave Elementary School, Lake Travis Middle School and Lake Travis High School) also have each earned the exemplary rating.

In addition to the purchase of Rocky Creek Ranch, Hillwood’s residential group has completed a variety of deals in 2010. Earlier this year Hillwood sold five residential properties in the Las Vegas, Nevada market to a joint venture between New Jersey-based Ridgewood Real Estate Partners and New York-based Angelo, Gordon & Co. In May Hillwood purchased a $38 million performing loan from a national residential lender for five partially developed master-planned communities and two golf courses in Georgia and Texas.

“This year Hillwood has been able to create great opportunities across the country that are different from the core development deals that we have concentrated on in the past,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential.

Since 1989 Hillwood has developed residential communities with innovative features and top recreation amenities. The company has delivered more than 19,000 single-family lots in more than 30 cities, primarily in North Texas, over the past decade.

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Rail Intermodal Containers Reach Highest Level in Three Years

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Intermodal container volume for North American railroads reached its highest level in nearly three years in the week ending July 3 as overall intermodal loads soared 36.6 percent over the holiday-shortened week a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Weekly carload volume also grew 18.8 percent in the 26th week of the year, an expansion that was distorted by the comparison to a week in 2009 that included the Fourth of July holiday.

On a week-to-week sequential basis, carload volume actually slipped slightly from the period ending June 26, extending a relatively flat performance for North American railroads over the last two months.

But intermodal container volume, which was up 39.8 percent over last year, also grew 5.4 percent from the week before, a sign of the growing push by retailers to get goods to markets in advance of the peak shipping and sales season.

The 197,134 intermodal containers hauled during the week marked the highest total the railroads have reported since September 2007 and the sixth-largest total the AAR has recorded.

The AAR said the intermodal volume in the most recent week was up 19.1 percent from the same week in 2008, which also included the July 4 holiday.

Carload traffic expanded 7.8 percent in the first half of 2010 over the same period a year ago, while intermodal volume -- including trailers and containers -- was up 12.9 percent.

HILLWOOD LEASES RECORD 2.6 MILLION SQUARE FEET AT ALLIANCETEXAS IN FIRST HALF OF 2010

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (July 15, 2010) – Through the first six months of 2010, Hillwood leased 2.6 million square feet at its AllianceTexas development. That’s the highest lease total for the first half of a year in the development’s 21-year history, exceeding the previous high of 2.1 million square feet leased in the first six months of 2007. In the first half of last year, the company leased 1.9 million square feet at AllianceTexas.

Primarily due to the new leasing activity, close to 500 jobs have been added at AllianceTexas in the first half of the year. Another 1,300 jobs have been retained through renewals that were completed in the first six months of 2010.

Of the 2.6 million square feet leased so far in 2010, 1 million square feet are new deals and 1.6 million square feet are renewals.

“Equally as impressive as the amount of space that was leased in the first six months of 2010 is the diversity of what was leased,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties. “Our bread and butter has always been our industrial portfolio, but close to 200,000 square feet of office space has been leased this year and several new retailers either completed leases or held grand openings at Alliance Town Center in the first half of 2010. Our Monterra Village apartment home community, which just opened in 2008, also is now 96% leased.”

Highlighting the leasing activity through the first six months of 2010 at AllianceTexas was LG Electronics leasing 165,402 square feet and adding 65 new jobs with the relocation of its cell phone repair unit from Alabama to AllianceTexas. Exel Logistics also expanded the North American Distribution Center that it operates for LEGO from the 402,500 Gateway 62 building to 596,000 square feet in the nearby Gateway 60 building. Texas Instruments, Lockheed, Ryder and Tarrant County College renewed leases at AllianceTexas.

At Alliance Town Center, leases were completed with AAA, Jos. A. Bank, Texas Health Resources and Zoe’s Kitchen, while Rooms To Go, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Tutti Frutti opened during the first half of 2010.

In addition to the record leasing activity, construction also was booming at AllianceTexas through the first six months of 2010. Health Care Service Corp., the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, recently completed its 250,000 square-foot data center. Kroger began construction on its 123,000 Marketplace Concept store at Alliance Town Center. In addition construction continued on the 750,000 square-foot Deloitte University training and leadership center at Circle T Ranch, as well as the 200,000 square-foot United Markets in the Alliance Global Logistics Hub. Texas Health Resources is scheduled to begin construction later this year on its new hospital campus on the 40 acres that it bought from Hillwood last year at Golden Triangle and Interstate 35W.

The 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the Monterra Village apartment home community, Alliance Town Center, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. More than 50 companies at AllianceTexas are ranked on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is one of the top commercial and residential real estate developers and investors in the country. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.

LEGO Expands Distribution Center by 200,000 SF

Jennifer Duell Popovec — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ROANOKE, TX-LEGO Systems Inc. has expanded its North American distribution center by nearly 200,000 square feet, moving into 596,000 square feet at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, which is part the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

The Denmark-based company, which provides toys and teaching materials for children, currently occupies the 402,500 square-foot Alliance Gateway 62 building at 400 Patriot Pkwy. LEGO first opened its Alliance distribution center in 2006. The center is managed by Exel Inc., a third-party logistics company that occupies about 2.5 million square feet at Alliance.

“LEGO only has one distribution facility in North America, and their business had grown exponentially so they ran out of space,” says Tony Creme, who represented Hillwood internally on the deal. The tenant was represented by Dan Cook of Cushman & Wakefield of Texas.

Creme tells GlobeSt. that LEGO is a textbook example of Hillwood’s flexibility. “We have the ability to tear up a lease mid-term and move a tenant into another space,” he points out, adding that LEGO/Excel had two years left on the original lease.

LEGO’s new distribution space is in the 756,000-square-foot Alliance Gateway 60 building located at 300 Freedom Dr. The company, which will occupy 79% of the building, has the opportunity to expand into the remaining space as it grows.

The building, which had an asking rate of $3.25 per square foot, triple net, had been vacant for a year. It was previously occupied by Ryder Logistics and Phillips Electronics and represented Hillwood’s largest vacancy in the Alliance project.

LEGO’s existing space will be returned to Hillwood’s vacant inventory, but Creme says it’s a great building to have back since it offers rail service and all the “bells and whistles” including foreign trade zone designation.

Originally, Alliance Gateway 62 did not have foreign trade zone designation, and Hillwood worked with the city and state to obtain it for LEGO. “The new building had to have a foreign trade zone, and we were able to get a modification for it like we did for the previous building,” Creme explains. “This is a great public-private partnership that made this deal work. The city has a pro-business attitude and wanted to make sure that the expansion would happen.”

As part of the new lease, Hillwood made some improvements to the Alliance Gateway 60 building. “We repainted the exterior and refurbished the office area so their new home looks very similar to their old home,” Creme says.

LEGO joins a list of companies including General Mills, Motorola, ATC Logistics, SC Johnson & Sons, LG Electronics, and Bell Helicopter that have expanded at Alliance.

LEGO EXPANDS NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT ALLIANCE GLOBAL LOGISTICS HUB

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

LEGO EXPANDS NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT ALLIANCE GLOBAL LOGISTICS HUB

Deal Shows Development’s Ability To Accommodate Customer Expansions

FORT WORTH, Texas (May 24, 2010) – LEGO Systems Inc. has expanded its North American Distribution Center at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub by close to 200,000 square feet, moving into 596,000 square feet in the Alliance Gateway 60 building. The company currently occupies the 402,500 square-foot Alliance Gateway 62 building. Both facilities are in the Roanoke, Texas section of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub.

This deal shows Hillwood’s ability to accommodate customer growth at Alliance. LEGO can expand its operation to a facility down the street from its existing facility, thus avoiding many of the operational and labor issues inherent with most moves. LEGO joins a list of companies, such as General Mills, Motorola, ATC Logistics, SC Johnson & Sons, LG Electronics, and Bell Helicopter that have expanded at Alliance.

Lego’s distribution center is managed by Exel Inc., a third-party logistics company that operates in approximately 2.5 million square feet of space at Alliance.

Exel was represented by Dan Cook of Cushman & Wakefield of Texas. Hillwood was represented in-house by Tony Creme.

LEGO first opened its North American Distribution Center at Alliance in 2006. The 756,000 square-foot Alliance Gateway 60 building is located at 300 Freedom Drive.

The LEGO Group (www.lego.com) is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is engaged in the development of children’s creativity through playing and learning. Based on the world-famous LEGO brick, the company today provides toys, experiences and teaching materials for children in more than 130 countries. The LEGO Group has approximately 8,000 employees, and it is the world’s fifth largest manufacturer of play materials.

The Alliance Global Logistics Hub is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development. In addition to the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the development includes the Monterra Village apartment home community, Alliance Town Center, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. More than 50 companies at AllianceTexas are ranked on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.

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HILLWOOD SELLS PROPERTIES IN LAS VEGAS AREA TO RIDGEWOOD AND ANGELO, GORDON

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

HILLWOOD SELLS PROPERTIES IN LAS VEGAS AREA TO RIDGEWOOD AND ANGELO, GORDON

5 Properties Can Accommodate 1,800 Lots, 759 Multifamily Units

DALLAS, Texas (May 18, 2010) – Hillwood has sold a portfolio of five primarily residential properties in the Las Vegas, Nevada market to a joint venture between Ridgewood Real Estate Partners and Angelo, Gordon & Co. This sale represents more than 1,800 residential lots and land that is already zoned for 759 multifamily units, plus approximately 10 acres for commercial use. Representing Hillwood in the sale was Michael Stuart, senior vice president of Colliers International – Las Vegas.

“The significant investment that already has been made in these parcels made this an extremely attractive portfolio,” said Brian Carlock, senior vice president of Hillwood Residential. “With the recent upswing in demand for developable residential property, Hillwood decided that this was an opportune time to market these properties.”

Approximately $70 million in infrastructure is already in place on this collection of properties, which Hillwood purchased as part of a larger portfolio in 2008. Nearly 600 of the residential lots are finished and more than 900 lots are partially completed. The remaining lots are zoned, entitled and ready for lot construction. This assemblage can accommodate single-family and multifamily homes, in addition to retail and commercial uses.

“With the substantially complete infrastructure and the increase in activity in the Las Vegas market, we are very excited to add these projects to our portfolio,” said Jonathan Grebow, president of Ridgewood Real Estate Partners.

Properties in the sale include:

Bilbray Ranch (Laughlin, Nevada) – The property in Bilbray Ranch consists of 497 single-family, triplex and duplex lots that are already completed in one of the nicest planned communities in Laughlin, which is a popular retirement and second-home community located along the Colorado River.

Boulder Ranch (Las Vegas) – In East Las Vegas, Boulder Ranch features partially completed lots for 114 single-family homes and 474 triplex homes. The 55-acre community is gated with many improvements already in place.

Boulder Ranch Apartments (Las Vegas) – Also in East Las Vegas, this 9.7-acre site is partially graded for apartment homes. Current plans call for nine 3-story buildings.

The Canyons (Henderson, Nevada) – Situated on nearly 150 acres, The Canyons’ original site plan called for 384 single-family lots. The property has since been reconfigured and rezoned for various multifamily and commercial uses. The parcel frontage on Green Valley Parkway will be built into four pods, which can support two apartment home communities, a townhome development and a commercial piece.

North Ranch (North Las Vegas, Nevada) – The 42 acres, which is part of a gated community, has the capacity for 122 duplex and 312 triplex homes in fast-growing North Las Vegas. Approximately 100 of the lots have already been completed. The others are 85% complete.

Ridgewood Real Estate Partners (www.ridgewoodrep.com), based in Florham Park, New Jersey, is a land development and investment company, specializing in residential projects. Ridgewood recently closed over $300 million of transactions, focusing primarily on the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, Phoenix, Las Vegas and other areas of the Southwest and California.

Angelo, Gordon & Co. (www.angelogordon.com) is a privately-held registered investment advisor dedicated to alternative investing. The New York-based firm, founded in 1988, has expertise in a broad range of absolute return strategies. Currently, Angelo, Gordon is investing the 7^th in a series of closed-end opportunistic real estate funds, representing $1.25 billion of equity capital.

Colliers (www.colliers.com) is one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the world, with 294 offices in 61 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Greater Asia. Colliers International manages more than 1.1 billion square feet of commercial property and has revenue in excess of $1.6 billion.

Hillwood (www.hillwood.com) is one of the top residential and commercial developers and investors in the United States. The company owns 30 residential communities and four golf courses across the country, as well as a luxury home development in Costa Rica. Hillwood has delivered nearly 20,000 single-family lots over the past two decades since it was founded in 1988.

In addition to its exceptional residential communities, Hillwood, a Perot company, is best known for its development of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project, located 15 miles northwest of DFW Airport; the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas; and the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia development near Los Angeles. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms.

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Hillwood buys loan

Barry Shlachter, Scott Nishimura and Sandra Baker — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood, best known for its 17,000-acre Alliance development in far north Fort Worth, said Wednesday that it bought a $38 million loan from a national residential lender secured by land owned by developer Bluegreen Corp.

Click here to read the full article.

HILLWOOD ACQUIRES $38 MILLION RESIDENTIAL LOAN

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

DALLAS, Texas (May 5, 2010) – Hillwood, a Perot company, has purchased a $38 million performing loan from a national residential lender. The loan is secured by five partially developed master-planned communities and two golf courses in Georgia and Texas. The loan collateral within the communities includes more than 800 platted single-family lots and 4,000 planned residential acres.

“Hillwood is actively pursuing acquisitions of residential loans throughout the country,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential. “The purchase of these loans is a natural extension of our core business. Our access to capital and our experience as a residential lot developer give us the unique ability to underwrite and close transactions in a quick and efficient manner.

“In this deal, we quickly became comfortable with the borrower, its business plan, and the value and positioning in their respective markets. Our familiarity with those markets, as well as our understanding of the development process, allowed us to move from offer to close in just 45 days.”

Hillwood is one of the top residential and commercial developers and investors in the United States. The company owns more than 30 residential communities and four golf courses across the country, as well as a luxury home development in Costa Rica. Hillwood has delivered close to 20,000 single-family lots over the past two decades since it began in 1988.

In addition to its exceptional residential communities, Hillwood (www.hillwood.com) is best known for its development of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project, located 15 miles northwest of DFW Airport; the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas; and the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia development near Los Angeles. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms.

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LG Electronics adding jobs at Fort Worth's Alliance corridor

Sandra Baker — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

LG Electronics plans to move as many as 65 cellphone repair jobs from Alabama to Alliance in far north Fort Worth next month, and that number could grow to a few hundred jobs during the year, a company executive said Monday.

LG, a Korean consumer electronics company with worldwide operations, is consolidating its cellphone repair business into one location, said Kevin Grey, human resources director at the company's facility in Huntsville, Ala. It has operated a manufacturing and repair facility there since 1981.

Click here to read the full article.

Perot, Sowell named to commercial real estate Hall of Fame

Bill Hethcock — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ross Perot Jr. and James E. Sowell have been selected for induction into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame.

Perot, chairman of both The Perot Group and Hillwood, and Sowell, president of Sowell and Co., will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for having made a significant impact on the commercial real estate industry in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. They were selected by the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors, and will be honored at NTCAR's 23rd annual Hall of Fame Induction and Reunion on May 13 at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas.

Twin brothers John and Jerome (Jerry) Bradley will together receive the Michael F. McAuley Lifetime Achievement Award at the same event.

In 1977 the Bradley brothers started their own firm, Bradley & Bradley Realtors Inc., and began a career-long involvement in downtown Dallas real estate. Their firm has assisted in the brokerage of more than 110 properties in downtown Dallas. Recently the firm worked with Parkland Hospital to assemble more than 30 acres as part of the site of the new Parkland Hospital.

Usually the Lifetime Achievement Award goes to one individual, but this year the selection committee made an exception, said Robert Grunnah, co-chairman of the Hall of Fame Event.

"As twins, Jerry and John Bradley together have accomplished a great deal professionally and given generously of themselves to numerous charitable and civic endeavors,” Grunnah said.

Perot serves as chairman of The Perot Group, which manages the various Perot family interests that include real estate, oil and gas and financial investments. He's also chairman of Hillwood, one of the nation's top real estate developers, which he founded in 1988.

Perot is a founder of Perot Systems Corp. and served on its board of directors beginning in 1988. He served as chairman of the board from 2004 until the company was acquired by Dell Inc. in 2009.

Sowell is the president of Sowell and Co., an investment firm formed in 1972. Sowell was also the majority stockholder in American General Hospitality Inc., which was the largest operator of Hilton Hotels in the world.

Sowell has served on the board of directors of several New York Stock Exchange companies, including NL Industries, Todd Shipyards Corp., Lomas and Nettleton Mortgage Investors, and Ketchum Drug Co. He has also served as chairman of the Board of Regents for Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Medical School, and is a past president of the Boy Scouts of America's Circle Ten Council.

“Ross Perot Jr. and Jim Sowell have distinguished themselves in North Texas and across America for innovative, smart leadership in the field of commercial real estate and many other arenas,” Darrell Hurmis, co-chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee, said in a prepared statement. “They both have made a very remarkable impact on our industry that will be long remembered.”

The Hall of Fame was launched in 1988, when the first six distinguished real estate recipients were Trammell Crow; Lyn Davis; Henry S. Miller Jr.; John M. Stemmons Sr. and his brother, L. Storey Stemmons; and Angus G. Wynne. Later additions to the roster have included John Carpenter, Roger Staubach, Henry S. Miller Company and others.

General tickets to the Hall of Fame induction are $100 per person. Premium tickets are $150 per person.

RENEWALS RETAIN CLOSE TO 3,900 EMPLOYEES IN ALLIANCETEXAS

Contact: David Pelletier (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 27, 2010) – Hillwood has renewed leases for more than 3 million square feet at its AllianceTexas development over the past year. The renewals, many of which were with industry leading companies, also retained close to 3,900 jobs.

“While new deals tend to attract the most attention, renewals are just as important because they maintain the vitality of the development and show that existing companies are successful here,” said Bill Burton, senior vice president of Hillwood Properties, the developer and manager of AllianceTexas. “Our team at Alliance is particularly proud of the fact that we’ve retained every customer and every job we possibly could in a development that has 230 companies, 28,000 jobs and more than 31 million square feet.”

One of the largest renewals over the past year was for a total of 556,039 square feet in two buildings with ATC Logistics & Electronics, which employs 2,600 workers at Alliance. Renewals also were completed with industry leaders, such as LG Electronics (499,797 square feet), General Mills (670,000), S.C. Johnson (408,000), Exel Logistics/Texas Instruments (409,914) and Coca-Cola (127,200), over the past 12 months.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for 65 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.

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DBJ Heavy Hitters—Q&As

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Heavy Hitters—Q&As: Industrial Project Leasing brokers

Steve Aldrich

Hillwood

HOMETOWN: Dallas

COLLEGE: Trinity University

CAREER DEBUT: 1997

SURVIVING THE EARLY YEARS: I loved my early years in the business. I got to see the tech bubble burst early on. I had no money, anyway, so it was a great lesson. When making money is easy and things seem too good to be true, they are.

TOP 2009 DEAL: My favorite deal of 2009 was having our second little girl, Georgia.

GOOD TIMES: Driving through AllianceTexas every day for the past 12 years. When I started, Highway 114 was a two-lane blacktop and we had less than 10 million square feet on the ground. It’s easy to lose perspective when you see something every day, but I try and remind myself regularly what has happened out here over the past 12 years.

CHALLENGES: We are having to get creative, but I think that’s a good thing. Fortunately, we have an excellent project to sell. Overall, however, the market is going to have to equilibrate, which isn’t completely in our control. We like seeing deals completed and if they don’t happen at Alliance, we like to see them happen anywhere in the market.

FOOTBALL PLAYER YOU’RE MOST LIKE: Ki Aldrich.

Tony Creme

Hillwood Properties

HOMETOWN: Syracuse, N.Y.

COLLEGE: Southern Methodist University

CAREER DEBUT: 1998

SURVIVING THE EARLY YEARS: I used the first few years to network and learn as much as I could so I would be prepared when the market came back.

TOP 2009 DEAL: Q-Edge, a 365,000-square-foot lease. It was a heavily negotiated deal, and the competition was extremely intense at the very end.

GOOD TIMES: Every deal we do is rewarding, especially the development deals that add new product to our project, AllianceTexas.

CHALLENGES: Filling our large blocks of vacant space. We are staying very close to our customers and getting aggressive on every deal we see.

OPPORTUNITIES: Foreclosed properties. That is where people are willing to put their money.

FOOTBALL PLAYER YOU’RE MOST LIKE: Peyton Manning. He always takes control of his offense and makes quick decisions on the fly to adapt to each situation.

Heavy Hitters—Q&As: Rookies

Reid Goetz

Hillwood Development Corp.

HOMETOWN: Fort Worth

COLLEGE: The University of Texas at Austin

CAREER DEBUT: 2005

SURVIVING THE EARLY YEARS: One of the most challenging aspects of beginning a career in commercial real estate is having to build professional relationships from scratch, as well as learning every piece of the development, leasing, acquisition and capital sides of business. I learned to never miss an opportunity to network and to become a sponge whenever I was in business meetings or working on new projects.

TOP 2009 DEAL: Each individual deal we did within AllianceTexas presented its own set of challenges and unique characteristics, making each deal my favorite in its own way.

GOOD TIMES: The relationships. Forming long-term relationships with customers and brokers in the marketplace has been very rewarding and is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this business.

CHALLENGES: One of the biggest challenges is developing original ideas in an effort to create new business opportunities while responding to the changing needs of companies in the current economic conditions. At Alliance, our approach to responding to those challenges remains the same — keeping our heads down and continuing to work hard while providing the best possible operating environment and services to our customers.

OPPORTUNITIES: The greatest opportunities are going to lie in the way companies re-evaluate the way they do business. As companies look for ways to improve operating costs, increase efficiencies in logistics and supply chains, I believe that AllianceTexas is in a terrific position to provide those companies with the compelling options to meet their needs.

FOOTBALL PLAYER YOU’RE MOST LIKE: Without being too partial to my alma mater, I would have to say Colt McCoy’s approach to football best exemplifies my approach to business (sorry, I can’t help it). Colt looks at each day as an opportunity to work harder and become a better student of the sport, a philosophy that guided him to the most wins for a quarterback in NCAA history and to the largest stage in NCAA collegiate sports. While any hopes of a national championship stage long passed me by (pro quarterback abilities and a sub-5.0 40 were never in my future), I still go into the office each day with the attitude to work harder than the previous day and with the desire to become a better professional.

Heavy Hitters—Q&As: Retail brokers

Mark Miller

Hillwood

HOMETOWN: Dallas

COLLEGE: Texas A&M

CAREER DEBUT: 1997

SURVIVING THE EARLY YEARS: The early years were not too rough. I learned to be patient. I stuck it out because it was fun and interesting.

TOP 2009 DEAL: Kroger Marketplace because it was the first one they were doing in Fort Worth and although it was a challenging deal, it will be a good deal for everyone.

GOOD TIMES: Just the day to day learning of the different facets of the business.

CHALLENGES: Financing. Trying to find ways to get a harmonious marriage between equity and debt where everyone benefits.

OPPORTUNITIES: Single tenant deals.

FOOTBALL PLAYER YOU’RE MOST LIKE: Dat Nguyen because he is an Aggie and he was tenacious and persevered.

Exec has bright hopes for Entech Solar in Fort Worth

Barry Shlachter — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

David Gelbaum marked Earth Day 24 hours in advance, welcoming scores of guests ranging from local middle schoolers to landlord Ross Perot Jr. into his solar energy skunk works at Fort Worth's Alliance industrial park.

Click here to read the full article.

Airport tops its field

Barry Shlachter, Scott Nishimura and Sandra Baker — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance Fixed Base Operation at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, a private passenger terminal and airplane hangar, has received the Exxon Mobil Premier Spirit Award for the 14th consecutive year as top among 200 Exxon Mobil facilities worldwide.

Click here to read the full article.

ALLIANCE FACILITY EARNS TOP FBO HONOR FOR UNPRECEDENTED 14TH STRAIGHT YEAR

Contact: David Pelletier ((817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas – For an unprecedented 14^th consecutive year, the Alliance Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at Fort Worth Alliance Airport has received the ExxonMobil Premier Spirit Award as one of the top FBOs among the approximately 200 ExxonMobil facilities around the world. Last year Fort Worth Alliance Airport handled close to 105,000 operations, which are the most at the facility since 2001.

The Alliance FBO is particularly recognized for the services provided during NASCAR weekends at Texas Motor Speedway. Between Wednesday and Sunday, more than 400 flights will arrive at the airport. Approximately 200 aircraft will be parked at the facility during Sunday's race. NASCAR officials have used the Alliance FBO as the example of excellence that should be achieved by other airport facilities on their racing circuit.

The ExxonMobil Premier Spirit Award is based on surveys of independent pilots who visit FBOs around the country and detailed inspections by ExxonMobil’s professional quality Assurance Team. No other FBO has won the honor more.

A Fixed Base Operation is a private terminal and hangar that provides passengers, pilots and cargo carriers with a wide array of services, including catering, maintenance, fuel, accommodations, ground transportation and plane storage. The facility is managed by Alliance Aviation services, an operating company of Hillwood, the developer of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

The Alliance FBO serves passengers and pilots of private planes, as well as military aircraft. The 83,409-square-foot facility features a 23,000-square-foot aviation/office center and more than 62,000 square feet of hangar space. Among its amenities are a plush lounge, a pilots room complete with a shower and sleeping area, and a flight control room for pilots to file flight plans and monitor weather.

AllianceTexas also includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the Monterra Village apartment home community, Alliance Town Center, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities.

# # #

Ross Perot Jr. and one other selected to real estate Hall of Fame

Steve Brown — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dallas businessman Ross Perot Jr. and real estate investor James Sowell are getting top honors from the North Texas commercial property industry.

Perot and Sowell next month will be inducted into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame.

The award is sponsored by the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors and Real Estate Professionals and will be presented on May 13 in Dallas.

Perot’s Hillwood companies have developed landmark North Texas real estate projects including the Alliance complex in North Fort Worth and Dallas’ Victory Park development.

Sowell’s investment firm, Sowell and Co., has built residential communities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in other Texas markets.

The new hall of fame members will join a group that includes the likes of Trammell Crow, Henry S. Miller Jr. and Roger Staubach. More than 70 past and present real estate players have been honored with this industry accolade.

Along with the awards to Perot and Sowell, a lifetime achievement award will be given to Dallas brothers Jerry and John Bradley, who’ve worked as commercial real estate agents here since 1970.

Twin Creeks' last phase

Sandra Baker — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Residential has broken ground on the last phase of the master-planned Twin Creeks community in Allen.

Hillwood, based in Fort Worth, began developing the 2,400-acre community in partnership with Dal-Briar Corp. in 1993. Twin Creeks is now home to more than 2,400 families.

Click here to read the full article.

Texas Tops FTZ Value Tally

Adam Bruns — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

According to the recently released 70th Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to the U.S. Congress, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone No. 196 in north Texas admitted US$5.357 billion in foreign products in fiscal year 2008, tops in the U.S. among general-purpose FTZs, and was joined in the top five by fellow Texas zones in Houston and El Paso. The state is home to 31 of the nation’s 164 general-purpose FTZs, with half of the top 10 by foreign goods value located there.

According to AllianceTexas developer Hillwood, “in large part due to its role in handling imports, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of $36.4 billion on the North Texas economy. In addition the development has attracted $6.8 billion in private investment, generated more than $730 million in property taxes and created 28,000 fulltime jobs.”

The FTZ board in fiscal 2008 issued 47 formal orders, including approvals for one new general-purpose zone and 20 new subzones. Authority was also granted for the expansion of 10 existing general-purpose zones. Other actions included six expansions of the scope of manufacturing activity, as well as six approvals for new manufacturing activity in zones. “The number of facilities using subzone status during the year was 254,” said the report. “The combined value of shipments into general-purpose zones and subzones totaled over $692 billion, compared with $502 billion the previous year. General-purpose sites received nearly $75 billion in merchandise. Total shipments received at subzone sites amounted to over $617 billion.”

Over $40 billion worth of exports were shipped from facilities operating under FTZ procedures during fiscal 2008, and total FTZ employment came to approximately 330,000 persons at some 2,500 firms.

Exports from FTZs have grown steadily over the past decade, more than doubling in value since 2002. Vehicles led the way in value of foreign status goods admitted in FTZs, at more than $10.4 billion, followed by petroleum products and consumer electronics.

Blazing a Trail Across the High-Tech Frontier

Jenny Vickers — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In a struggling global economy, Texas is making made great strides to stand apart from the crowd. If Texas were a nation, its economy would rank as the 12th largest in the world by GDP, according to the Texas Comptroller’s 2008 estimates. A leader in the global marketplace, the Lone Star state was ranked as the number one state by export revenues for the eighth year in a row, totaling $163.4 billion in 2009. It is also home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state in the nation.

Texas continues to garner national attention, including top economic rankings by the Milken Institute, CNNMoney, and Forbes, which ranked the Lone Star State number 1 for Economic Climate in its “Best States for Business” report.

One of the most successful industries in Texas is its innovative energy and technology development sector. Pushing Texas into the high tech frontier is the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). In January, Gov. Rick Perry reauthorized $203.5 million for this initiative, which is helping to attract new investments in the state’s emerging technology centers.

UT-Pan American is receiving $3.4 million through the TETF for the creation of its Rapid Response Manufacturing Center, geared to reduce the lead time in a product’s life cycle between inception and delivery to the customer. The center will provide greater commercialization opportunities in South Texas by centralizing all product development, design, testing and distribution in one location, in Edinburg, TX, driving new products into the market faster.

Photon8 Inc., a startup company leading the development of algae bio-fuel technology in partnership with The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, received a $1 million grant from TETF. The company will use the award to genetically enhance the performance of the algae and advance its extraction technology.

“Texas is a leader in the energy sector and a leader in research and use in alternative energy,” Gov. Perry said, announcing the grant. “Through the help of Photon8 we hope to spur innovation in biofuels that does not interfere with our food supply.”

The partnership between Photon8 and UTB/TSC is leading research in algae-based biodiesel fuel. Photon 8 is housed at the ITEC Center.

“Photon8 and UTB/TSC are charting new pathways and together making unanticipated breakthroughs,” said Brad Bartilson, president and CEO of Photon8. “We are committed to making Texas the leader in sustainable energy.”

Since August, Photon8 Inc. moved its headquarters from New Jersey to the UTB/TSC campus and has begun working with professors and students in the chemistry, environmental science, molecular biology, MEMS and electro-magnetics departments.

ScanTech Sciences Inc. is receiving $2 million from TETF for the development and commercialization of food sterilization technology that uses electronic pasteurization to ensure the safety and freshness of food. The technology will allow for safer food imports by removing more insects, bacteria and toxins without using chemicals.

In addition to these TETF projects, National Instruments has announced a new NI Texas Emerging Technology Grant Program, which provides software and training services to companies that receive TETF investments. NI’s LabView software helps young companies make the transition from the lab to the market.

To date, TETF has allocated more than $126 million in funds to 98 early-stage companies, and $153 million in grant matching and research superiority funds to Texas universities. For more information on the TETF, visit http://www.emergingtechfund.com.

ALLIANCETEXAS: THE NATION'S TOP FOREIGN TRADE ZONE

AllianceTexas, developed by Hillwood (a Perot Company), is a 17,000-acre, master-planned, mixed-use community located in north Fort Worth. AllianceTexas offers a variety of commercial real estate options, including new industrial, office and retail. Anchored by the inland port known as the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, AllianceTexas is home to 230 companies, 28,000 employees and 7,100 single-family homes.

In February, the Alliance Global Logistics Hub was named the nation’s top foreign trade zone by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) Board for the third consecutive year. About $5.4 billion worth of foreign-made products passed through the local, general-purpose zone last year, according to the board’s annual report to Congress. That surpasses the $4 billion admitted through the second-place Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

“With Alliance, you have an airport, two rail lines and a highway [Interstate 35W], which is huge in distribution circles,” said David Pelletier, a spokesman with Hillwood, the developer behind the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

The foreign trade zone helps lure companies to AllianceTexas, Pelletier said. The designation allows companies to import products before U.S. customs inspections are made and pay no duty until the products leave the foreign-trade zone. “It’s just one more cost-savings measure that helps attract companies into the development,” Pelletier noted.

Hillwood officials expect the value of products passing through the zone to grow as ATC Logistics & Electronics continues to operate after setting up shop in 2009. The company provides repair and assembly services for GPS and cell phone manufacturers and providers. Other companies with operations in the FTZ include Motorola, Lego and Hyundai.

Since opening Fort Worth Alliance Airport—considered the centerpiece of AllianceTexas—Hillwood has watched companies flock to the development. Proximity to the world’s first industrial airport, which opened in 1989, and major freeways and rail lines, has made AllianceTexas a major player not only for attracting corporate tenants, but for enriching the local economy.

AllianceTexas now houses more than 230 companies, including 65 from either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes list of Top Private Firms. These companies have built more than 3,129 million square feet and created more than 29,000 jobs. For more information, visit http://www.alliancetexas.com/.

Hillwood adding lots in Allen

Bill Hethcock — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Residential has launched another phase at its Twin Creeks community in Allen. Forty residential lots will be added to the development, which already has more than 2,000 homes.

Dallas-based custom homebuilder Sanders & Associates has purchased the 40 lots and has presold about 10 of them, said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential. The lots are priced at about $130,000, and the homes will be priced at $500,000 to $1 million, he said.

This will be one of the last phases of Twin Creeks, the largest residential project in Allen and one of the largest masterplanned communities in North Texas. Construction on the project began in 1993. Only 60 lots will remain after Hillwood completes this 40-lot phase in June or July, Balda said.

Hillwood is developing the 2,400-acre Twin Creeks community west of U.S. Highway 75 in a partnership with Dal-Briar Corp. Breaking ground on a new phase at Twin Creeks is a bright sign for what has been a sluggish North Texas residential real estate market, Balda said.

“In Allen and Twin Creeks, it’s a matter of supply and demand,” he said. “We’re out of lots, and the market for this particular project continues to sell very well.”

Allen currently has a 28-month supply of vacant developed lots, which is lower than it is in most of Dallas-Fort Worth, Balda said.

Six-year supply of lots

Overall in North Texas, there are about 85,000 vacant, developed lots — more than a six-year supply, said Ted Wilson, principal of Residential Strategies Inc. A 24-month supply is considered a balanced market. About 4,000 lots currently are under development in North Texas.

Homebuilding is beginning to spark in a couple of fast-growing northern suburbs. Last month, homebuilder K. Hovnanian Homes contracted to buy 88 lots in The Villas at Craig Ranch in McKinney.

Housing starts bottomed at about 13,000 units annually in 2008 — down 73% from a peak of more than 50,000 in 2006, RSI’s information shows. RSI’s forecast calls for about 15,000 new home starts in 2010.

Balda said the consumer confidence is boosting the residential market.

“There seems to be a lot more optimism,” he said. “We’re not out of the woods yet, but we are seeing signs of improvement.”

Twin Creeks Groundbreaking

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood broke ground last week on one of the final phases of its 2,400-acre Twin Creeks residential community in Allen. The next phase includes 40 lots in the Lexington Village section of Twin Creeks, which is the largest master-planned community in Allen. Homes on the new lots will be built by Sanders Custom Homes with a $500k to $900k price tag. The lots are expected to be completed by the end of the year. After this phase, only 59 more lots will remain to be developed in Twin Creeks; 30 of those lots are in the Lexington Village section. The remaining lots are in the Wimberley Place section, where homes start at $1 million.

Deloitte to open Westlake campus 'mid-2011'

A. Lee Graham — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Deloitte's Westlake campus will not be available for public education - at least not in its early days.

"It's something we will consider," said Stephen Silverstein, director of real estate and workplace strategies with the New York-based accounting and consulting firm.

Speaking at the March 2 Northwest Metroport Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Silverstein described the $300-million training facility and corporate campus under construction on 107 acres bounded by Dove, Ottinger and Precinct Line roads and State Highway 114.

When complete in mid-2011, the resource dubbed "Deloitte University" will educate, entertain and likely inspire the thousands of visitors expected to walk through the mammoth facility.

"We really landed a great piece of property," said Silverstein. Deloitte employs 45,000 and operates 102 U.S. offices in 92 cities with nearly $11 billion in total U.S. annual revenues. After considering multiple sites as its next significant location, Silverstein said several factors made Westlake the obvious choice: airport access, an attractive physical location, surrounding amenities and climate. "We'll scratch this year," said Silverstein, drawing laughter from the capacity crowd.

Thousands of visitors are expected to train on the sprawling campus, broadening their skills while enlivening the local economy. Area restaurants, sports arenas and other recreational locations are expected to benefit from their business.

Deloitte employees are expected to give back, as well, donating one day a year to community volunteerism.

"We buy the paint, we buy the paintbrushes, we teach in schools," said Silverstein, touching on only a few ways in which he said Deloitte employees provide volunteer time in their respective communities.

"When you see the faces of those you impact, that's what makes it worthwhile."

Pressed to specify an opening date for the Westlake campus, the executive said "mid-2011. That's all you'll get out of me."

An unusually snowy winter has pushed back the construction schedule by a few weeks, said Silverstein, vowing that workers will catch up.

Though sizable, the campus conforms to Westlake's rural flavor and hilly terrain. Silverstein assured folks that the community's next major corporate tenant will not disrupt its way of life.

"We've built the project into the property," said Silverstein, estimating that construction has cost only about six trees. Primary access to the property will be via a private road extending from Westlake Parkway, minimizing the traffic impact on Dove and Ottinger roads. As for the facility itself, Silverstein touted its aesthetic qualities in a PowerPoint presentation.

"It's very Texas, low country, very ranch," Silverstein said of facilities that incorporate natural light and open space. In addition to several cyber cafes, a restaurant and a 30,000-square-foot ballroom will be an 800-room company hotel.

HILLWOOD BREAKS GROUND ON FINAL PHASES OF TWIN CREEKS COMMUNITY IN ALLEN, TEXAS

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044)

dave.pelletier@hillwood.com

ALLEN, Texas (March 10, 2010) – Hillwood today broke ground on one of the final phases of the 2,400-acre Twin Creeks residential community in Allen, Texas. The next phase includes 40 lots in the Lexington Village section of Twin Creeks, which is the largest master-planned community in Allen.

Homes on the new lots will be built by Sanders Custom Homes (www.sanderscustomhomes.com) and will be offered from $500,000 to $900,000. The lots are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

After this phase, only 59 more lots will remain to be developed in Twin Creeks. Thirty of those lots are in the Lexington Village section. The remaining lots are in the Wimberley Place section, where homes start at $1 million.

Since 1993, when development began on Twin Creeks, the master-planned residential community has been a key part of the growth of the city of Allen. Twin Creeks has accounted for approximately 25% of the area’s new home closings over the past decade. Since 1993 Allen’s population has almost quadrupled from 22,728 in 1993 to more than 83,000 today. The number of people working in the city also has grown, from 4,200 in 1993 to 39,423 today.

“Allen is a shining star in North Texas in terms of job growth and residential growth,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential. “The city is one of two places in North Texas that has a tight supply of lots. While some areas of North Texas have lot supplies of more than 100 months, Allen’s lot supply is close to equilibrium (24 months) with a 29.4-month supply. We expect that number to drop in the next few months, in part due to the federal homebuyer tax credit.”

Despite the recent slump in residential real estate, there have been 450 housing starts in Allen over the past 12 months. The city also added 500 jobs in 2009, and with the new Cisco Systems Data Center and the recent expansion by Experian, another 400 new jobs have already been created in 2010.

Twin Creeks (www.twincreeks.com) is located southwest of the intersection of North Central Expressway (U.S. 75) and Texas State Highway 121, primarily between Exchange Parkway and McDermott Rd.

The 18-hole daily fee Arnold Palmer-designed Twin Creeks Golf Club is one of the many amenities that are part of the Twin Creeks development. Residents of Twin Creeks also enjoy extensive hike and bike trails, an on-site elementary school, two swimming pools, lighted tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, basketball courts and baseball/softball diamonds.

# # #

New TCU scholarship program honors former Mayor Bolen

Gene Trainor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH -- Texas Christian University has received $2.5 million to endow scholarships in honor of former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen.

Click here to read the full article.

TCU announces Bob Bolen scholarship

Leslie Wimmer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An endowed scholarship has been set up in the name of former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen at Texas Christian University.

The Sarah & Ross Perot Jr. Foundation funded the scholarship.

“Mayor Bolen lived by the philosophy that was passed down by his father of ‘Always leave a place better than you found it,’” Ross Perot Jr. said in a statement. “This scholarship program will reward students who already have made the commitment to serve their community and their country, and who encourage others to do the same.”

Recipients of the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholarship will be chosen by a special selection committee, according to a release. Priority will be given to students who have served in the military or who are currently involved in ROTC or other military programs, and will also be awarded based on leadership and community service.

Hillwood breaking ground on next phase of Twin Creeks community in Allen

Steve Brown — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Residential is breaking ground Wednesday on the next phase in its Twin Creeks community in Allen.

The 2,400-acre development west of U.S. Highway 75 is being built in a partnership with Dal-Briar Corp.

Hillwood founder Ross Perot Jr. will be on hand Wednesday morning when construction starts on 40 more residential lots in the project, which is already home to more than 2,400 families.

The work starting Wednesday will be one of the last phases of Twin Creeks.

Construction has been underway on the project since 1993.

Allen is one of the Dallas-area’s fastest growing communities. According to the City of Allen, there have been 450 housing starts during the last year.

Fort Worth Intermodal Airport, AllianceTexas, Celebrates 20 Years

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As it reached its 20th anniversary on Dec. 14, AllianceTexas has had a $36.4 billion economic impact on North Texas. The 229 companies that now call the development home have built 31.2 million sq ft and created 28,000 jobs. Since the development began, the companies and residents of the AllianceTexas also have paid more than $730 million in property taxes, including more than $105 million in 2008.

Fort Worth Alliance Airport opened on Dec. 14, 1989 as the world’s first industrial airport and the centerpiece of an Alliance development that initially was designed to attract air cargo and aerospace manufacturing facilities. The subsequent addition of the BNSF Intermodal Facility on the west side, along with the existing Union Pacific mainline to rail serve buildings on the east side of the development, as well as the FedEx Sorting Hub, created an inland port intermodal logistics hub that is now the prototype for similar projects across the country.

Groundbreaking on one of the last phases of Twin Creeks

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Groundbreaking on one of the last phases of Twin Creeks, one of the largest and most successful master-planned communities in North Texas.

Hillwood Residential will break ground on 40 lots at the Twin Creeks community in Allen, Texas. Hillwood began developing the remaining portion of the 2,400-acre community in 2004. Twin Creeks is now home to more than 2,400 families.

Twin Creeks and the city of Allen have grown together since 1993, when development began. Twin Creeks is the largest residential community in the city. Over the past nearly two decades, Allen’s population has almost quadrupled from 22,728 in 1993 to more than 83,000 today. The number of people working in the city also has grown, from 4,200 in 1993 to 39,423 today. Approximately 25% of new closings in the area over the past 10 years have taken place at Twin Creeks.

Due to continued job growth in Allen and the quality of life in the city and in Twin Creeks, it is one of the few areas of North Texas that has a tight supply of single-family lots. While many sub-markets of North Texas have lots supplies of more than 100 months, Allen is one of only two DFW sub-markets approaching equilibrium (24 months) with a 29.4 month supply. In part due to the federal homebuyer tax credits, that supply is expected to drop in the next few months.

Despite the recent slump in residential real estate, there have been 450 housing starts in Allen over the past 12 months. The city of Allen added 500 jobs in 2009, and with the new Cisco Systems Data Center and the recent expansion by Experian, another 400 new jobs have already been created in 2010.

WHO: Ross Perot Jr., Chairman, Hillwood

Fred Balda, President, Hillwood Residential

Charles Nies, Vice President, Dal Briar

WHERE: The groundbreaking will be held at the corner of Shallowater Dr. and Walnut Springs. From 75 go west on W. McDermott Dr. to Twin Creeks Dr. Go right on Twin Creeks Drive to W. Exchange Pkwy. Go left on W. Exchange Pkwy to Lexington Ave. Go left on Lexington Ave. to San Jacinto Dr. Go right on San Jacinto Drive to Walnut Springs Dr. Go left on Walnut Springs Dr. Shallowater Dr. is the next street.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 10 10:00 a.m., lunch will be provided after program

Contact: Dave Pelletier, Hillwood

817-224-6044(office)

817-366-9933 (cell)

dave.pelletier@hillwood.com

FORMER MAYOR BOB BOLEN HONORED WITH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Albert

Director of Communications

817-257-5063

l.albert@tcu.edu

FORMER MAYOR BOB BOLEN HONORED WITH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

FORT WORTH, Texas (March 9, 2010) – Former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen has been honored with the establishment of an endowed scholarship in his name, made possible by a gift from The Sarah & Ross Perot Jr. Foundation. The scholarship will be awarded based on the leadership and community service that Mayor Bolen has embodied throughout his life. Preference will be given to applicants who are or have been in the military.

The $2.5 million commitment for the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholars program is rooted in shared beliefs by both donor and honoree. The Perots and Mayor Bolen believe that higher education must be affordable and accessible. They agree that scholarship support is one of the most important investments one can make in the lives of young people. They also believe it is critical to develop young leaders to think and act ethically as responsible citizens in the global community.

“ Mayor Bolen lived by the philosophy that was passed down to him by his father of ‘Always leave a place better than you found it.’ This scholarship program will reward students who already have made the commitment to serve their community and their country, and who encourage others to do the same,” said Ross Perot Jr.

“We are especially grateful for this commitment,” said Chancellor Victor Boschini. “Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. honor Bob Bolen and the TCU community with their wonderful gift. We are thrilled that their generosity will enable generations of student leaders to benefit from the TCU experience. And there could not be a more fitting tribute to Mayor Bolen.”

Scholarships enhance the University’s ability to attract the most talented and deserving students. For this reason, scholarships are the highest priority of the University and The Campaign for TCU – a $250 million comprehensive fund-raising effort. The Perots’ commitment directly supports the campaign and a $100 million Scholarship Initiative. More importantly their support will benefit current and future generations of TCU students.

Recipients of the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholarship will be chosen by a special selection committee. They will exemplify the mission of TCU by thinking and acting as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. Priority will be given to students who have served in the military or who are currently involved in ROTC or other military programs.

Robert (Bob) Bolen served as Mayor of Fort Worth from 1982-1991. He joined the TCU staff as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor in 1991 and serves as a Visiting Lecturer and Advisor to the Dean of the M.J. Neeley School of Business. He received the TCU Royal Purple Award in 1992 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas A&M. Mayor Bolen holds honorary doctorates from TCU, the University of North Texas and Texas Wesleyan University. He was the founder and CEO of Bolen Enterprises before serving as mayor.

His tenure as mayor was noted for his leadership and ability to collaborate with corporate executives and public officials on transformative projects. He also was the city’s driving force behind the creation of Fort Worth Alliance Airport and the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that surrounds it. That project has received national recognition as a model for public-private partnership.

Mayor Bolen continues his lifelong devotion to education and to providing opportunities for young people. He is passionate about helping people and has been a mentor to generations of business executives, public officials, friends and students.

Mayor Bolen and his wife Fran have established scholarship funds at TCU and other institutions. They funded The Beatrice Bolen Piano Scholarship in 2002 in memory of his mother. The scholarship benefits piano performance majors.

In addition, the R.E. “Bob” Bolen Scholarship was established in 1991 by the generosity of community leaders and friends to honor Mr. Bolen for his nine-and-one-half year term as mayor of the Fort Worth. Mayor Bolen is involved in selecting recipients each year and 19 undergraduate and graduate business students have received this scholarship to date.

The Perots have been leaders in the business community and supporters of charitable and civic organizations in Fort Worth for many years.

Ross Perot Jr. founded Hillwood, which is now one of the country’s top real estate development and investment companies, in Fort Worth in 1988. Together with its public partners, Hillwood created one of the country’s greatest economic development projects. In its two decades of existence, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of more than $36 billion on Fort Worth and the surrounding communities.

Education has always been a big part of the Perots’ community involvement in Fort Worth. They helped establish and support education foundations for the local school districts and donated two school sites, one of which was named Bette Perot Elementary School for Ross Perot Jr.’s aunt, who was a teacher and principal in the Fort Worth school district.

For more information on the scholarship, contact Don Whelan at (817)257-7785 or visit www.scholarship.tcu.edu.

END

Billions of foreign goods come through Alliance trade zone

A. Lee Graham — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance Global Logistics Hub for the third consecutive year was named the nation's top foreign trade zone by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone Board.

About $5.4 billion worth of foreign-made products passed through the local, general-purpose zone last year, according to the board's annual report to Congress. That surpasses the $4 billion admitted through the second-place Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

"You have an airport and two rail lines and a highway [Interstate 35W], which is huge in distribution circles," said David Pelletier, a spokesman with Hillwood, the developer behind the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

"It's just one more cost-savings measure that helps you attract companies into the development," Pelletier said.

Other companies with operations at the foreign trade zone include Motorola, Lego and Hyundai.

Since opening Fort Worth Alliance Airport -- considered the centerpiece of AllianceTexas -- Hillwood has watched companies flock to the development. Proximity to the world's first industrial airport, which opened in 1989, not to mention major freeways and rail lines, has made AllianceTexas a major player not only for attracting corporate tenants, but for enriching the local economy.

No fewer than 15 of the Northwest school district's top 20 taxpayers are within AllianceTexas. For the current budget year, Citicorp Technology stood as the top AllianceTexas taxpayer, providing the school district $157,571,000 in taxable assessed valuation. But the district's top taxpayer overall is Devon Energy Production Co. , which provided $1,172,741,570 during the same period. Devon has no operations at AllianceTexas.

Other AllianceTexas companies on the list span several industries, with Cardinal Health 411 representing health care; Bell Helicopter Textron, Peregrine Point and AT&T Mobility representing commercial and industrial; and Cabela's Retail TX representing retail.

Of the $3,820,463 in commercial property listed on the school district's 2009-2010 taxable property breakdown, the lion's share of the property value is within AllianceTexas.

"Out of the $3.8 billion, quite a bit would be Alliance," said Jon Graswich, the district's chief financial officer.

Construction & Development

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cousin’s Bar-B-Q is planning to open a 4k SF location at Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth after the building is completed in the fall. It will be the company’s seventh location. Located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive, Heritage Marketplace is also home to the new 123k SF Kroger Marketplace, which will open in the 4Q10. Also scheduled to open this year at Alliance Town Center are Rooms To Go, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and Olive Garden.

Alliance Town Center space

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cousin’s Bar-B-Q leased a 4,200-square-foot building from Hillwood at Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth. The new Cousin’s location is expected to open after the building is completed in fall 2010 and will serve as the company’s seventh location.

Located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive, Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center also is home to the new 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace, which will open in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Also scheduled to open this year at Alliance Town Center are Rooms To Go, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and Olive Garden.

Cory McCord served as broker for Cousin’s Bar-B-Q in the transaction.

Cousin's Bar-B-Q to open at Alliance

Shlachter & Co. — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cousin's Bar-B-Q catered the Dec. 14, 1989, opening celebration of Fort Worth's Alliance Airport, and this fall it will become a permanent tenant.

Cousin's has leased a 4,200-square-foot building at Alliance Town Center, off Interstate 35W in far north Fort Worth. The building is under construction at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive and should be completed this fall.

Click here to read the full article.

Texas Takes Top Honors in FTZ Report

Texas Takes Top Honors in FTZ Report — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FT. WORTH-According to the recently released Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to the US Congress, the Board issued 47 formal orders during the 2008 fiscal year. The decisions included approvals for one new general-purpose zone and 20 new subzones.

Authority was also granted for the expansion of 10 existing general-purpose zones. Other actions included six expansions of the scope of manufacturing activity, as well as six approvals for new manufacturing activity in zones.

There were 164 FTZ projects fully active during the year, with subzones in operation in more than 100 of them. The number of facilities using subzone status during the year was 254.

The combined value of shipments into general-purpose zones and subzones totaled over $692 billion, compared with $502 billion the previous year. General-purpose sites received nearly $75 billion in merchandise, while total shipments received at subzone sites amounted to over $617 billion. Some 89% of zone activity took place at subzone facilities, which is consistent with the pattern of the past 15 years. Exports to foreign countries from facilities operating under FTZ procedures totaled over $40 billion.

Nearly 330,000 people were employed at some 2,500 firms that operated under FTZ procedures during the year. Industries that continued to account for most zone manufacturing activity included the oil refining, automotive, pharmaceutical and electronic product sectors. About 57% of the shipments received at zones involved domestic status merchandise.

For the third consecutive year, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 in Fort Worth, TX ranked as the top general purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the US in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted, which accounted for $5.357 billion.

Located at the inland port-known as Alliance Global Logistics Hub-FTZ #196 should continue to grow with the 2009 addition of ATC Logistics & Electronics, which is leasing close to one million square feet and employing 2,600 workers at its Alliance facilities.

The port is part of Hillwood-developed AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned, mixed-use community that includes Alliance Town Center, the Monterra Village apartment home community, the corporate campuses of Circle T Ranch, the Vaquero estate golf community and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. AllianceTexas now houses 7,200 single-family homes and 229 companies that occupy 31.2 million square feet.

In large part due to its role in handling imports, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of $36.4 billion on the North Texas economy. In addition, the development has attracted $6.8 billion in private investment, generated more than $730 million in property taxes and created 28,000 fulltime jobs. Theres even a 9,400-acre international transportation complex, dubbed Alliance Airport.

We anticipate that the use of the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone will allow us to realize significant cost savings for our customers, says Antony Francis, president of ATCLE. As we grow and gain a better understanding of how effective it can be, we expect to expand our use of the Foreign-Trade Zone in order to provide the best cost structure to our customers.

In addition to ATC Logistics & Electronics, major users of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include Hyundai, Trans-Trade, LEGO and Motorola.

COUSIN’S BAR-B-Q TO OPEN AT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Restaurant Returns Two Decades After Catering Opening Event Of

Fort Worth Alliance Airport

FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 3, 2010) – AllianceTexas recently reached its 20^th anniversary. Now one of the companies that was part of the airport’s opening celebration two decades ago will open a permanent location in the development. Cousin’s Bar-B-Q, which catered the original airport lunch on Dec. 14, 1989, has leased a 4,200 square-foot building from Hillwood at Heritage Marketplace at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth.

The new Cousin’s Bar-B-Q is expected to open after the building is completed in the Fall 2010. It will be the company’s seventh location.

“Cousin’s Bar-B-Q was at the Alliance opening 20 years ago, when there wasn’t anything there except the airport,” said Jeff Payne, CEO of Cousin’s Bar-B-Q. “Now there are 28,000 employees in the development and thousands of new homes in the area. After searching throughout North Texas, Cory McCord, our real estate broker, determined that this is a great location for many reasons, including the great business environment that Hillwood has created there even during tough economic times. Retailers at Alliance Town Center have done extremely well, while retailers in other places have struggled.”

Since 1983 Cousin’s has been serving up Texas-style Bar-B-Q with all the “fixins” for thousands of customers and several dignitaries, including President H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev. Last May, Cousin’s Bar-B-Q was named one of four finalists in the ABC Good Morning America “Best Barbecue Challenge.” The restaurant also was named one of the top 50 Bar-B-Q Joints in the state by Texas Monthly magazine in 2008.

Also scheduled to open this year at Alliance Town Center are Rooms To Go, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and Olive Garden.

More than 20 retailers occupy more than 600,000 square feet at Alliance Town Center. In addition to Cousin’s Bar-B-Q and the Kroger Marketplace, retailers include Bank of Texas, Belk, Best Buy, Cheddar’s, Dress Barn, Eye Masters, Freebirds World Burrito, Hobby Lobby, Jason’s Deli, JCPenney, Justice, Kincaid’s, Kirkland’s, Mattress Firm, McDonald’s, PetSmart, Rack Room, Rue 21, Sam Moon, Smoothie King, Sports Clips, Ulta, Wells Fargo, and Which Wich.

Alliance Town Center is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that also includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, the Monterra Village apartment home community, and the single-family communities of Heritage, Saratoga and Vaquero. AllianceTexas houses more than 7,200 single-family homes and 229 companies that have built more than 31 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

# # #

U.S. Manufacturing Surges to 2004 High

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The manufacturing sector kicked off the year with a strong surge in January, The Institute for Supply Management showed on Feb. 1. It is the sixth consecutive month of expansion in the sector leading the economic recovery.

The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index, also known as the purchasing managers index, climbed to 58.4% in January from December from 54.9% in December.

It was the highest PMI reading since August 2004, when the index registered 58.5%.

The reading was much stronger than the 55.5% expected by most analysts. Any number above 50% indicates growth.

"This month's report provides significant assurance that the manufacturing sector is in recovery," said Norbert Ore, head of the ISM survey committee. Ore pointed out that both the new orders and production sub-indexes were above 60%, "indicating strong current and future performance for manufacturing."

Daniel J. Meckstroth, Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI points out that "ll the component indicators were moving in a positive direction in January, including the index for production which was exceptionally strong. There is a major inventory swing underway in the manufacturing sector that explains why industrial activity is so strong.

"Firms were previously in a panic mode and drastically slashed their inventories by reducing production, but now they find themselves low on materials and components," he added. "Once orders started rising again there is an acceleration in production to catch up with underlying demand. U.S. manufacturing physical production was up 4.5% in December from its trough in June 2009. Furthermore, a global recovery in world industrial activity has helped U.S. exports and supplemented domestic demand. The overall tenor of the ISM report is very positive and a good way to start 2010."

Alliance Nation's Top Foreign Trade Zone

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH (Hillwood) – For the third consecutive year, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 ranks as the top General Purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the United States in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted.

In the recently released Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to the U.S. Congress, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 admitted nearly $5.4 billion in foreign products.

Use of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub should continue to grow with the activation by ATC Logistics & Electronics in 2009. ATC Logistics & Electronics handles assembly, repairs and logistics for GPS and cell phone manufacturers and providers. The company leases close to one million sf and employs 2,600 workers at its Alliance facilities.

Other major users of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include Hyundai, Trans-Trade, LEGO, and Motorola.

Alliance Tops FTZ List Again

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

For the third consecutive year, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 ranks as the nation's top General Purpose FTZ in the value of foreign goods admitted ($5.4 billion). Harris County ranked third nationally with $4 billion; Dallas 15th with $679 million; and DFW Airport 23rd with $379 million. FTZs are secure areas under the supervision of US Customs and Border Protection and are considered outside the US customs territory for duty payment until imports enter domestic consumption; then the importer may choose paying duties on the original foreign materials or the finished product. There’s a high school algebra question in there somewhere.

ATC Logistics & Electronics prez Antony Francis says using the FTZ will allow significant cost savings for customers. ATCLE opened in 2009, leasing 1M SF. The firm assembles, repairs, and provides logistics for GPS and cell phone manufacturers and providers. Besides ATC, major users of FTZ #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include Hyundai, Trans-Trade, LEGO, and Motorola.

CNBC Video: Ross Perot Jr. on Tech, Oil & Real Estate

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

CNBC Video: Ross Perot Jr. on Tech, Oil & Real Estate

Ross Perot Jr., Hillwood Development Co. chairman, discusses technology, oil prices and commercial real estate with CNBC's Becky Quick.

Inventories Push U.S. GDP Up 5.7 Percent

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Exports expanded 18 percent in growing fourth quarter, Commerce Department says

The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in six years in the fourth quarter, expanding 5.7 percent as companies scaled back their attempts to cut inventories, the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday.

The department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said an 18.1 percent gain in exports also helped push GDP upward, along with stronger business investment in equipment and software.

“The acceleration in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected an acceleration in private inventory investment, a deceleration in imports, and an upturn in nonresidential fixed investment,” the BEA said in its initial estimate on the last three months of 2009.

The government said real private inventories actually contracted $33.5 billion in the fourth quarter from the third quarter, but that was far less than the $139.2 billion inventory retrenchment in the third quarter and the $160.2 billion decrease in the second quarter.

The inventory improvement contributed 3.4 percentage points to the quarter’s economic growth.

The report mirrored assessment from transportation and retail industry executives who have said companies have been pushing goods to distribution centers and stores to restock shelves after sharply curtailing inventories early in the year.

Alliance is tops in nation again in foreign goods admitted

Sandra Baker — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

More than $5.3 billion worth of goods came into the U.S. in 2008 through the foreign trade zone at Alliance in far north Fort Worth, ranking it No. 1 in the country for the third consecutive year, according to a new government report.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood's Alliance Foreign Trade Zone named country's top performer

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance Global Logistics Hub has again topped the list of best-performing U.S.-based free trade zones. The list rates FTZs by the value of foreign goods admitted.

The Fort Worth Alliance trade zone admitted $5.357 billion in foreign products in the year 2009.

This is the third year in a row that the hub ranks first in the nation as a foreign free trade zone, according to a new report compiled by U.S. Congress.

The 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development was developed by Hillwood, a Perot company.

Other top ranked foreign-trade zones in Texas include No. 3 ranked Harris County (or Houston), which recorded a foreign trade value of $3.7 billion; and No. 5 ranked El Paso, which posted $1.2 billion in foreign trade value.

FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, ALLIANCE GLOBAL LOGISTICS HUB RANKS AS TOP FOREIGN TRADE ZONE IN THE U.S. IN TERMS OF FOREIGN PRODUCTS ADMITTED

Contact: David Pelletier (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Future Values Should Increase With Activation By ATC Logistics & Electronics in 2009

Contact: David Pelletier (817/224-6044)

dave.pelletier@hillwood.com

FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 27, 2010) – For the third consecutive year, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 ranks as the top General Purpose Foreign-Trade Zone in the United States in terms of the value of foreign goods admitted. In the recently released Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to the U.S. Congress (www.ia.ita.doc.gov/ftzpage/annualreport/ar-2008.pdf), Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 admitted $5.357 billion in foreign products.

Utilization of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub should continue to grow with the activation by ATC Logistics & Electronics in 2009. ATC Logistics & Electronics handles assembly, repairs and logistics for GPS and cell phone manufacturers and providers. The company leases close to a million square feet and employs 2,600 workers at its Alliance facilities.

“ATCLE anticipates that the use of the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone will allow us to realize significant cost savings for our customers,” said Antony Francis, president of ATCLE. “As we grow and gain a better understanding of how effective it can be, we expect to expand our use of the Foreign Trade Zone in order to provide the best cost structure to our customers. ATCLE appreciates Hillwood’s diligence in providing a low-cost operating environment at Alliance and working closely with us to establish our Foreign-Trade Zone status.”

In addition to ATC Logistics & Electronics, major users of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include Hyundai, Trans-Trade, LEGO, and Motorola.

TOP U.S. GENERAL PURPOSE

FOREIGN TRADE ZONES

By Value Of Foreign Goods Admitted

(in millions $)

1. Fort Worth/Alliance (Texas)... $5,357

2. Newark/Elizabeth (N.J.).............. 4,060

3. Harris County (Texas)................. 3,775

4. Port Hueneme (California).......... 3,063

5. El Paso (Texas)........................... 1,200

6. Harrison County (MS)................. 1,168

7. Jacksonville (Florida)................... 1,101

8. Long Beach (California)............... 1,067

TOP TEXAS GENERAL PURPOSE

FOREIGN TRADE ZONES

By Value Of Foreign Goods Admitted

(in millions $)

U.S.

Rank

1. Fort Worth/Alliance ...... $5,357 1

2. Harris County.................... 3,775 3

3. El Paso.............................. 1,200 5

4. Ellis County.......................... 995 9

5. Brownsville........................... 987 10

6. Dallas.................................... 679 15

7. McAllen................................ 456 19

8. DFW Airport......................... 379 23

In large part due to its role in handling imports, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of $36.4 billion on the North Texas economy. In addition the development has attracted $6.8 billion in private investment, generated more than $730 million in property taxes and created 28,000 fulltime jobs.

In addition to the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development includes Alliance Town Center, the Monterra Village apartment home community, the corporate campuses of Circle T Ranch, the Vaquero estate golf community, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. AllianceTexas now houses 7,200 single-family homes and 229 companies that occupy 31.2 million square feet. Approximately 60 companies at AllianceTexas are ranked on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Close to 80 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms have chosen to locate in Hillwood developments. In addition to the AllianceTexas project, Hillwood is best known for its development of American Airlines Center and the Victory mixed-use district near downtown Dallas and AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles.

# # #

New Hospital coming to Alliance

Jan Jarvis — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Alliance residents will be getting a new hospital close to home in late 2011.

Texas Health Resources plans to build a full-service hospital off Golden Triangle Boulevard, east of Interstate 35W.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall with service beginning in late 2011 and construction complete by 2012. The hospital is expected to include an emergency room, acute-care inpatient beds, outpatient and surgical services, and offices.

The site, at 10001 Old Denton Road in Fort Worth, was chosen to meet the needs of residents in the Alliance area, one of the fastest-growing communities in North Texas, said Barclay E. Berdan, senior executive vice president of system alignment and performance at Texas Health Resources.

"They really don’t have great access to hospital and ambulatory services, and we thought this was a great opportunity to match up with the population up there," he said.

The new hospital will serve residents from Keller to east of Eagle Mountain Lake and northward about halfway to Denton. Initially, the facility will be a little smaller than Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital H-E-B and larger than Texas Health Azle.

Texas Health Resources bought 40 acres at the southwest corner of Old Denton Road and Golden Triangle Boulevard from Hillwood, Alliance’s developer, in mid-December, deed records show.

The deal involved swapping land that the health care company bought from Hillwood more than a decade ago. In 1999, Texas Health Resources bought 35.8 acres in the Circle T Ranch, east of U.S. 377 and along Alliance Gateway in Westlake. In December, it traded the Westlake land for the property about five miles south in Fort Worth.

After considering the distance that Alliance residents must travel for hospital care in Fort Worth’s medical district, the new site was better, Berdan said.

"We keep track of everything from drive times to rooftop counts, and it’s taking longer and longer for people to drive south down I-35," he said.

Mark Miller, Hillwood’s vice president of retail, said the hospital and ancillary services will be a "great boon" for the area. Alliance residents have long asked for more and closer medical services.

The facilities could also draw other businesses to Alliance, such as restaurants, to meet work-force needs.

Texas Health Resources approached Hillwood about six months ago, indicating that the company would rather have a site near I-35W, Miller said.

"Having one of the bigger players make a move, it’s going to be great," Miller said.

Not too far away, on I-35W and North Tarrant Parkway, HCA Health Services of Texas owns 73.5 acres where it has planned to build a hospital and medical offices.

The company, part of Nashville-based Hospital Corp. of America, first bought 60 acres in January 2003 and later acquired 13 acres near North Tarrant Parkway and Old Denton Road, just south of Alliance Town Center.

"We don’t have anything concrete yet ready to announce," said Randy Moresi, CEO of North Hills Hospital, an affiliate of HCA. "We’re still studying the situation."

But the area is a fantastic growth engine for Tarrant County, he said.

"There’s no question that the north part of Fort Worth through the Alliance area is going to be an incredible population generator for a long time," he said.

Texas Health Resources, which is based in Arlington, operates 14 hospitals, including the Harris Methodist hospitals, Presbyterian in Dallas and Arlington Memorial.

The 35 Biggest Moments in Modern Dallas History

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We had the bright idea of not just chronicling these important moments, but getting the people who made the moments happen to write about them. This proved to be a Herculean task, but our efforts paid off. What other city magazine in America could get no fewer than seven billionaires to contribute to such an undertaking?

AllianceTexas Reshapes the West

By Ross Perot Jr.

The AllianceTexas program is halfway through its 40-year plan, and is only 40 percent developed. But its impact has already been felt: 220 companies, 31 million square feet of commercial real estate, 28,000 jobs, 7,100 single-family homes, one new highway (Texas Highway 170, which connects Alliance to DFW Airport), and on and on. Expect all those numbers to keep rising during the coming years.

This is why the rich get richer: they constantly see opportunity where others see only obstacles. Ross Perot Jr. didn’t have AllianceTexas in his mind when he began buying land north of Fort Worth in 1983. He knew only that it was cheaper to buy there than it was in Dallas at the time. Or maybe he just doesn’t have a strong sense of smell.

Part of the reason the land north of Fort Worth was so readily available was that in the past the prevailing winds from the south brought the smell of the stockyards north and made living in that area extremely unpleasant. Although by the early 1980s the stockyards had been closed for years, that general perception still remained.

In the mid-1980s, the Federal Aviation Administration was looking for reliever airports around DFW Airport. When they approached us about putting one of these airports on our property north of Fort Worth, we decided to talk to some of the local aerospace companies about their future needs and any suggestions as to what type of airport should be built. The response we received was that the area needed a full-size airport that could accommodate any size jet. It would be one designed primarily for aerospace manufacturing and air cargo uses. We shared the idea with the FAA and the city of Fort Worth, which both saw the value of creating an airport-anchored project that would have more of an economic impact on the area than a small reliever airport.

Ironically, the first deal that was done at Alliance was rail related. While the runways were under construction, we were approached by Santa Fe Railroad, now BNSF Railway, about purchasing land to build a facility to offload automobiles from trains, adjacent to its mainline on the west side of the development. This led to the realization of the importance of rail, along with the airport and Interstate 35W, in creating a multimodal inland port logistics hub.

The intermodal concept became even more refined when the Hillwood team worked with BNSF to build one of the country’s largest intermodal facilities, where containers filled with goods from Asia arrive by train via the West Coast ports. Those goods then are transferred from train to truck and transported to a nearby distribution center and eventually to other regions of the United States.

Alliance is now the prototype for the inland port logistics hubs, which became more prevalent as manufacturing moved overseas. The development is the busiest Foreign-Trade Zone in the country, admitting $7.46 billion in foreign products, which is almost twice as much as the next busiest U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone.

Ross Perot Jr. is chairman of Hillwood Development Company. He is also a founder and former president and CEO of Perot Systems, where he served as chairman until its purchase by Dell last year.

U.S. port volume back in black

AMERICAN SHIPPER — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Import cargo at major U.S. retail container ports ended a nearly two-and-a-half-year streak of year-over-year declines in December and is on track to show gains through the first half of 2010, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Monday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“These numbers are a clear sign that retailers are optimistic about 2010,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “Retailers are still going to be cautious with their inventories, but we wouldn’t see these increases in imports if stores weren’t expecting sales to improve. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen year-over-year volume go up, so this is definitely good news.”

U.S. ports handled 1.09 million TEUs in November, the latest month for which actual numbers are available. That was down 8 percent from October, traditionally the busiest month of the year, and 10 percent from November 2008.

The November number marked the 28th month in a row to show a decrease from the same month a year earlier. But the trend was broken in December, which was estimated at 1.08 million TEUs, down slightly from November as the holiday season came to a close, but a 1.7 percent increase over December 2008.

Year-over-year increases are expected to continue through the remainder of Global Port Tracker’s six-month forecast range:

• January is forecast at 1.15 million TEUs, a 9 percent increase over January 2009.

• February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, is forecast at 1.05 million TEUs, up 25 percent from the previous year.

• March is forecast at 1.16 million TEU, up 21 percent as retailers begin to stock up for spring and summer.

• April at 1.19 million TEUs, up 20 percent.

• May at 1.2 million TEUs, up 15 percent.

While final data won’t be available until next month, the report estimates that 2009 ended with a total volume of 12.7 million TEUs, down 17 percent from 2008’s 15.2 million TEUs and the lowest since the 12.5 million TEUs reported in 2003.

“The U.S. economy is experiencing positive growth, with imports on the rise as a result of restocking and a rising consumer demand,” said Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett. “Consumer sentiment remains cautious, however.”

Texas Health Resources Planning New Tarrant County Hospital

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Texas Health Resources has announced plans to construct a new full-service hospital in north Tarrant County. The facility will be built on a recently acquired 40-acre parcel located at the intersection of Golden Triangle Boulevard and Old Denton Road, within Hillwood's AllianceTexas development. While the design stage is currently under way, initial plans call for between 50 and 100 beds with expansion capability. Other features of the hospital will include an emergency room, outpatient and surgical services, physician offices and acute-care beds. Groundbreaking is expected to occur this fall, with the grand opening scheduled for late 2011. Texas Health currently has two Tarrant County medical properties in Saginaw and Keller.

Texas Health Resources Plans Alliance Hospital

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH – Texas Health Resources will break ground in the fall on a hospital to service north Tarrant County, where it's just bought a tract of land near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Golden Triangle Boulevard.

If all goes as planned, the hospital will open in late 2011 along Old Denton Road, situated within the footprint of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas. The facility will include an emergency room, outpatient and surgical services, acute-care inpatient beds and doctors' offices.

"North Tarrant County is one of the fastest growing communities in North Texas with limited health care resources to meet the needs of residents," said Barclay E. Berdan, senior executive vice president of the Arlington, Texas-based Texas Health Resources. "Growth in this market will give us the opportunity to provide better coordination of care for patients throughout Tarrant and surrounding counties as well as reach new patients."

Texas Health Resources buys land for new northern Tarrant County hospital

Jason Roberson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Texas Health Resources Inc., the largest hospital system in North Texas, said Wednesday it has bought 40 acres in northern Tarrant County with plans to build a full-service hospital.

The Arlington-based company will break ground on the hospital in the fall near the intersection of Interstate 35W and Golden Triangle Boulevard, with hopes of opening it in late 2011.

Texas Health bought the land from Hillwood Development Co. but did not disclose the price.

The hospital will include an emergency room, outpatient and surgical services, physician offices and acute care inpatient beds to serve North Fort Worth, Saginaw and Keller.

"North Tarrant County is one of the fastest-growing communities in North Texas with limited health care resources to meet the needs of residents," said Barclay Berdan, senior executive vice president at Texas Health.

The purchase adds to a trend in North Texas of not-for-profit hospital systems buying up large amounts of undeveloped land. In fact, the two largest not-for-profit hospital systems in the area – Baylor Health Care System and Texas Health – own more than 460 undeveloped acres in North Texas, according to property records.

It takes 35 acres, on average, to build a hospital. At that size, Baylor and Texas Health, owner of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, could build 13 hospitals on their vacant land.

Hospital executives say they are buying the land in preparation for a population boom.

Tarrant County has 1.7 million people but is expected to have 2.2 million in 15 years, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Alliance area to get new Texas Health hospital

Jan Jarvis and Sandra Baker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Residents in the Alliance area in far north Fort Worth will be getting a new hospital close to home in late 2011.

Texas Health Resources plans to build a full-service hospital off Golden Triangle Boulevard, east of Interstate 35W.

Click here to read the full article.

TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BUILD NEW HOSPITAL AT HILLWOOD’S ALLIANCETEXAS DEVELOPMENT IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Jan. 6, 2010) — Texas Health Resources, the largest health care system in North Texas, has purchased land in north Tarrant County with plans to build a full-service hospital in the AllianceTexas development near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Golden Triangle Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas.

In December Texas Health Resources purchased the 40-acre site from Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas.

“North Tarrant County is one of the fastest growing communities in North Texas with limited health care resources to meet the needs of residents,” said Barclay E. Berdan, senior executive vice president of system alignment and performance at Texas Health Resources. “Growth in this market will give us the opportunity to provide better coordination of care for patients throughout Tarrant and surrounding counties as well as reach new patients.”

Groundbreaking for the new hospital is scheduled for fall of 2010, with hopes to begin offering services in late 2011. Texas Health is currently in the early designing and planning stages of the hospital, which will include an emergency room, outpatient and surgical services, physician offices and acute-care inpatient beds.

“Our top priority is to bring necessary medical services to the community so that care can be accessed close to home,” Berdan said.

With two physician office buildings in Saginaw and Keller, Texas Health has had a presence in north Tarrant County since 2006.

“We are excited about expanding the services we offer to this community, as we work to fulfill our mission of improving the health of the people in the communities we serve,” Berdan added.

In addition to the new Texas Health Resources Hospital, the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the Monterra Village apartment home community, Alliance Town Center, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. The development houses 220 companies, 31.2 million square feet, 28,000 employees and approximately 21,000 residents. More than 60 companies at AllianceTexas are ranked on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms.

For more information about the north Tarrant County project, please visit www.texashealth.org/northtarrant

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States and the largest in North Texas in terms of patients served. Texas Health’s system of 14 hospitals includes Texas Health Harris Methodist, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, and Texas Health Presbyterian, and an organization for medical research and education. The Texas Health Organization for Physicians and Texas Health Physicians Group provide a variety of models for engagement with physicians. Texas Health Partners is a joint venture development and management company owned by Texas Health Resources. Texas Health MedSynergies is a joint venture that offers physicians a range of office management and other business services to support their practices. Texas Health is a corporate member or partner in six additional hospitals and surgery centers. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.

About Hillwood

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for more than 85 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.

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Olive Garden files to build at Alliance

Sandra Baker — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Olive Garden has filed plans with the state to build a restaurant on a parcel site at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth.

Click here to read the full article.

Retailers Forecast Strong Import Growth

Joseph Bonney — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Containerized imports at 10 major U.S. ports are expected to rise in three consecutive months starting in February, breaking a 31-month streak of year-to-year declines, the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight said in their monthly Port Tracker report.

“We’ve been seeing hints of a turnaround in our past few reports but this is starting to look like a clear trend,” said Jonathan Gold, the NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “If retailers are starting to import more merchandise, it’s because they expect to be able to sell more, and that’s a good sign for our industry and the overall economy.”

By predicting a 9 percent year-to-year increase in April, the new report extended the cautious optimism shown in last month’s Port Tracker, which a forecast year-to-year increases of 16 percent in February and 6 percent in March. Volume through the ports in January is forecast to be down 4 percent. Port Tracker forecasts cover only six months.

Ports surveyed handled 1.18 million TEUs in October, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That was up 4 percent from September but was down 14 percent from October 2008. November was estimated at 1.09 million TEUs, down 12 percent from last year, and December is forecast at 1.05 million TEUs, down 1 percent.

The report now expects 2009 to end with a total volume of 12.6 million TEUs at the 10 ports. That would be a drop of 17 percent from last year’s 15.2 million TEUs and the lowest since the 12.47 million TEUs reported in 2003.

“The second half of 2009 has seen an improvement, with ‘less bad’ year-over-year numbers compared with the first half,” said Paul Bingham, an IHS Global Insight economist. “While improving, import container traffic is projected to be weak through March due to the traditional slow season combined with the weak pace of economic recovery.”

The drop in cargo has produced one benefit: All 10 ports covered by Port Tracker – Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma, New York-New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah and Houston – continue to be rated by the survey as “low” for congestion.

Alliance at 20: Continuing to impact area economy

Aleshia Howe — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Through 2008 Fort Worth’s sprawling AllianceTexas development has had a $36.4 billion economic impact on North Texas since its start, according to the latest impact study commissioned by its developer.

Coinciding with the north Fort Worth development’s 20th anniversary, Alliance’s creator, Hillwood Properties, hired Insight Research to perform the economic impact report, which shows the ever present impact of the multi-purpose development.

In addition to the overall impact, the report shows the 229 companies currently in AllinaceTexas have built 31.2 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs. And since the development began, the companies and residents of AllianceTexas also have paid more than $730 million in property taxes, including more than $105 million in 2008.

“Over the past year at AllianceTexas, new jobs were created, companies were added and property taxes paid increased despite the challenging economic times that we’ve experienced,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood. “This is the vision that the political leadership, led by Bob Bolen and Jim Wright, had in the late 1980s, when the area was facing equally tough economic conditions, which led them to make the bold decision to invest in an Alliance project that would help create more jobs and diversify the economy of Fort Worth and Tarrant County.”

Of the $7.2 billion that was invested in AllianceTexas, $6.8 billion, or 94.6 percent, has come from the private sector, while 5.4 percent has come from the public sector including the city of Fort Worth, the state of Texas and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The city of Fort Worth’s year-to-date investment of $39.2 million has yielded $140.9 million in property taxes alone, according to the report.

“AllianceTexas also is only about 40 percent developed, so it’s equally important now that additional investment is made in critical transportation infrastructure that will allow the development to continue to grow, create jobs and fulfill the intentions that these leaders had when they made the initial public investment two decades ago,” Berry said.

2009 – an untallied year

Though 2009 was not a part of economic impact study, Hillwood reports that nearly 800 new jobs have been created at AllianceTexas to date in 2009.

Q-Edge added 500 jobs at its 365,440-square-foot electronics assembly and distribution center it moved from California to Alliance in March. In September, United Supermarkets purchased 14 acres at Alliance to build a 200,000-square-foot distribution center that will employ 75 workers. And last month Kroger announced the grocer will bring its new Kroger Marketplace concept to Alliance Town Center, the massive retail portion of AllianceTexas, with a 123,000-square-foot store that will employ 100 workers.

Deloitte also began construction in October on its 750,000-square-foot training center that will employ 450 workers beginning in 2011 when it opens at Circle T Ranch, another sector of AllianceTexas. Also, Health Care Services, the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, completed construction earlier this year on its 220,000-square-foot data center that employs 130 workers at Alliance.

Alliance’s 2009 retail picture also improved as Sam Moon opened its 168,000-square-foot center at Alliance Town Center in May and Kincaid’s Hamburgers and Freebird’s World Burrito opened new restaurants at Alliance Town Center this year. Construction already has begun on BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse, Olive Garden and Rooms To Go – all set to operate within Alliance Town Center.

A groundbreaking impact

Insight Research performed its original report on AllianceTexas’ economic impact on North Texas in 2000 and continues to review the report annually based on new data.

AllianceTexas is a 17,000-acre mixed-use development that includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga, Heritage and Monterra Village, an apartment home project. AllianceTexas has about 10,000 residents in its single-family and apartment home communities and 220 companies that employ 28,000 workers. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for more than 85 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms.

The $730.5 million in property taxes from AllianceTexas since 1990 has been paid to three cities (Fort Worth, Haslet and Roanoke), two counties (Denton and Tarrant) and two school districts (Northwest and Keller) that it falls within. That number has grown from the $223,000 in property taxes generated from the same area in 1990.

According to the report, Tarrant County saw a $20.2 million property tax impact in 2008 and has received $121.5 million in property taxes via the development from 1990 to 2008.

Alliance, After 20 Years

A. Lee Graham — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From restaurants to retail, diversity has rocketed AllianceTexas to riches while bringing tax dollars to several Northeast Tarrant County communities.

That was the emphasis as Hillwood Properties executives trumpeted the development’s success before the Fort Worth City Council.

"Over the past year at AllianceTexas, new jobs were created, companies were added, and property taxes paid increased despite the challenging economic times that we’ve experienced," said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, outlining those achievements in a press release.

As the developer of AllianceTexas, Hillwood had big plans when it launched the development and Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the world’s first industrial airport that opened on Dec. 14, 1989.

Considered the centerpiece of AllianceTexas, the airport symbolized something greater: fulfilling a vision that transcended local geography, one that spread its wings to welcome businesses nationwide.

The approach paid off as several companies relocated or opened new operations at AllianceTexas. In March, Q-Edge added 500 jobs at its 365,440-square-foot electronics assembly and distribution center that it moved from California to Texas. And in September, United Supermarkets announced plans to employ 75 workers on a 14-acre parcel it purchased at Alliance.

And with finance consultin firm Deloitte constructing a 750,000-square-foot training center set to employ 450 workers when it opens in 2011, not to mention several other companies plotting similarly sizable developments, AllianceTexas foresees no downturn in interest from potential tenants.

But it does foresee a slowdown.

"It will be slower than in years past," said Tom Harris, senior vice president of operations. "The pace of development and the pace of growth will be slower than what we’ve been used to. But we’re blessed to be in Texas because we haven’t been hit as hard [economically] as many, many other places."

Despite possible slowing in new leases, area municipalities continue to benefit from AllianceTexas. In 2008 alone, Roanoke enjoyed $3.7 million in property taxes from the development. That’s part of $18.3 million Roanoke received between 1990 and 2008, according to Hillwood. In the same period, Haslet reaped $6.2 million; the Northwest school district, $284.7 million; and the Keller school district, $139.7 million.

Boasting 25 million square feet of industrial space, the development comprises a 3-percent chunk of Dallas-Fort Worth’s 747 million-square-foot industrial market and 38 percent of Fort Worth’s 65.3 million square feet of industrial.

Similar boasts come as good news for Hillwood, the Perot company that also operates the American Airlines Center and Victory development near downtown Dallas.

But closer to home, residents and employees in Roanoke and other parts of Northeast Tarrant County have ensured the development’s success. Whether dining at newly opened Kincaid’s Hamburgers or shopping at Sam Moon, they feed a development that trumpets diversity as its key to survival.

"It’s the diversity we offer," Harris said. "We hit just about every sector of real estate that’s out there."

From industrial, office and retail to multifamily and single-family residential living, Harris described Alliance as a "one-of-a-kind project."

""When companies are considering either consolidating their operations or when companies go through a merger and are looking to either relocate or move or build, we always end up at the top of their list and certainly at the top three four locations."

Credit three words for that scenario: location, location, location.

"There aren’t too many places in this world where you can find the rail, highway and airport infrastructure that’s in place at Alliance," Harris said.

With Olive Garden, B.J.’s Brewhouse and Rooms To Go just some of the new names expected to enliven the Alliance development in the coming year, the growth keeps continuing.

Alliance gets mix of private enterprise and government right

Mitchell Schnurman — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Who says government can’t get anything right? The trick is doing it consistently.

Twenty years ago, local, state and federal officials went to bat for Ross Perot Jr. and his Alliance project in far north Fort Worth. Together, they turned 17,000 acres of prairie land into one of the region’s economic engines.

Click here to read the full article.

Hillwood touts impact of AllianceTexas' growth

Sandra Baker — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s been two decades since Hillwood Properties, Ross Perot Jr.’s real estate development company, took 1,700 acres of mostly farmland in far north Fort Worth and transformed it into a multibillion-dollar economic engine called AllianceTexas.

Click here to read the full article.

AT 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, ALLIANCETEXAS ECONOMIC IMPACT GROWS TO $36.4 BILLION

Contact: David Pelletier (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 8, 2009) – As it reaches its 20th anniversary on Dec. 14, AllianceTexas has had a $36.4 billion economic impact on North Texas. The 229 companies that now call the development home have built 31.2 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs. Since the development began, the companies and residents of the AllianceTexas also have paid more than $730 million in property taxes, including more than $105 million in 2008.

Of the $7.2 billion that has been invested in AllianceTexas, $6.8 billion (94.6%) has come from the private sector, while 5.4% has come from the public sector, including the city of Fort Worth, the state of Texas and the Federal Aviation Administration. Every dollar of public money invested in the project has yielded more than $17 in private investment. The city of Fort Worth’s year-to-date investment of $39.2 million has yielded $140.9 million in property taxes alone.

The economic impact report determines the direct and indirect impact of the investment, employment and tax revenue from AllianceTexas. The study includes construction as well as ongoing business operations.

“Over the past year at AllianceTexas, new jobs were created, companies were added and property taxes paid increased despite the challenging economic times that we’ve experienced,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas. “This is the vision that the political leadership, led by Bob Bolen and Jim Wright, had in the late 1980s, when the area was facing equally tough economic conditions, which led them to make the bold decision to invest in an Alliance project that would help create more jobs and diversify the economy of Fort Worth and Tarrant County.

“AllianceTexas also is only about 40% developed, so it’s equally important now that additional investment is made in critical transportation infrastructure that will allow the development to continue to grow, create jobs and fulfill the intentions that these leaders had when they made the initial public investment two decades ago.”

To date in 2009, close to 800 new jobs have been created at AllianceTexas. Q-Edge added 500 jobs at its 365,440 square-foot electronics assembly and distribution center that it moved from California to Alliance in March. In September United Supermarkets purchased 14 acres at Alliance to build a 200,000 square-foot distribution center that will employ 75 workers. Last month Kroger announced it will bring its new Kroger Marketplace concept to Alliance Town Center with a 123,000 square-foot store that will employ 100 workers.

In addition Deloitte began construction in October on its 750,000 square-foot training center that will employ 450 workers beginning in 2011, when it opens at Circle T Ranch. Health Care Services, the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, also completed construction earlier this year on its 220,000 square-foot data center that employs 130 workers at Alliance.

Also Sam Moon opened its 168,000 square-foot center at Alliance Town Center in May. Kincaid’s Hamburgers and Freebird’s World Burrito also opened new restaurants at Alliance Town Center this year, while construction began there on BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse, Olive Garden and Rooms To Go.

As the project continued to grow and become more diversified with the addition of office, residential, entertainment and retail, Hillwood rebranded the development as AllianceTexas, which now includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities, Alliance Town Center, the Vaquero luxury golf community, and the Monterra Village apartment home community.

The $730.5 million in property taxes from AllianceTexas since 1990 has been paid to three cities (Fort Worth, Haslet, Roanoke), two counties (Denton, Tarrant) and two school districts (Northwest, Keller) that it falls within. That number has grown significantly from the $223,000 in property taxes generated from the same area in 1990. AllianceTexas also falls within the town of Westlake, but that community does not have a municipal property tax.

From 1990-2008, AllianceTexas companies and Hillwood-related entities along Interstate 35W have paid $730.5 million in property taxes, including $105 million in 2008. Below is a breakdown of the various public entities to which these funds flowed.

2008 1990-2008

Fort Worth ................................................................ $21.3 million........................... $140.9 million

Haslet.......................................................................... $0.6 million............................... $6.2 million

Roanoke...................................................................... $3.7 million............................. $18.3 million

Denton County............................................................. $2.9 million............................. $19.2 million

Tarrant County............................................................$20.2 million........................... $121.5 million

Keller Independent School District.............................. $23.6 million........................... $139.7 million

Northwest Independent School District...................... $32.7 million........................... $284.7 million

TOTAL................................................................ $105.0 million........................... $730.5 million

Insight Research performed the original economic impact report in 2000 and reviews it annually based on new data. Since its founding in 1981, Insight Research has become nationally known for its pacesetting analytical approaches in providing economic, employment, tax revenue impact and cost/benefits analysis. The company’s client list includes the FDIC, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Worth, New York and Chicago, as well as Fortune 500 companies, such as 3-M, American Express, AT&T and Dell.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for more than 85 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.

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FREEBiRDS WORLD BURRITO ROCKS ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX – On Friday, November 20, 2009, Austin, TX-based FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO - the fresh fast-casual restaurant known for its Monster burritos - will celebrate the opening of its 26th restaurant, located in north Fort Worth, Texas at Alliance Town Center. To kick off the opening party in “not so normal” FREEBIRDS fashion, the first 25 fans (or Fanatics as they’re called) in line will win free burritos for a year.

The design of FREEB!RDS at Alliance Town Center represents the free-spirited, funky vibe of the FREEB!RDS brand. The space was inspired by rock music of the 60’s and 70’s, features large windows on two sides; a large, trellised outdoor patio; inspirational messages on the walls; and of course, music. Always striving to provide the very best in customer experience, the fountain drink station has moved to the front of the line so guests can grab a drink while they wait – just another little touch that makes FREEB!RDS unlike anything else in the marketplace.

As you enter the restaurant, to the right is a life-size “Libby” statue – FREEB!RDS’ signature Statue of Liberty sculpture – blasting through the wall on her red racing Harley Davidson. To the left is an enormous mural of the words “We Can Change the World” and “FREEDOM.” Over the register are the words “Peace. Love. Burritos.” The covered patio – located to the left of the main entrance – provides shade and comfort for those looking to dine outside without suffering from the Texas heat. Seating and tabletops feature hip graphics, slogans and images of luminaries such as Janis Joplin and John Lennon. The murals, sculptures and furniture are all created by FREEB!RDS’ artist of choice, Lynn Wilkerson.

The back wall of the restaurant is dedicated to the FREEB!RDS WORLD WORKS program which encourages staff members and guests to get involved in their communities. As part of the grand opening, FREEBIRDS is partnering with Tarrant Area Food Bank to collect non-perishable goods that assists in both organizations’ missions to feed the hungry.

ABOUT FREEB!RDS AT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

FREEB!RDS at Alliance Town Center is open Sunday through Thursday, 11:00AM – 10:30PM; and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM. Order OTF – On the Fly - by calling 817-750-1331, or online at www.freebirds.com.

ABOUT FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO

FREEB!RDS exists to feed the belly and the soul, serving a customized experience for its burritos, quesadillas, tacos and salads in a free spirited rock n’ roll atmosphere. Be it the backwards “F” logo, the music lyrics scrawled across the walls, the iconic music soundtrack, or the Statue of Liberty – “Libby” – holding up a foil burrito, FREEB!RDS has a unique 60’s rock n’ roll hipster vibe like nothing else. FREEB!RDS prides itself on its unique approach to the business, characterized by the tag line “It’s not normal!”

FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO operates 25 locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Expansion plans includes the opening of 20 new restaurants over the next few years. For further information, visit freebirds.com.

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Kroger Coming to Alliance Town Center

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Shoppers near the Alliance development will enjoy another supermarket option when Kroger Marketplace opens in late 2010.

The 123,000-square-foot store will mark Tarrant County’s first Kroger Marketplace and welcome customers at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth.

"The residential growth at Heritage and the other nearby communities, as well as the employment growth at Alliance, make Alliance Town Center the ideal location for the first of our new Kroger Marketplace concept stores in Tarrant County," said Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger, making his comments in a press release.

Kroger and Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas, completed the deal that promises shoppers a fuel center, wine shop and a Nature’s Market section offering all-natural and organic products.

The store will also include a Fred Meyer Jeweler store, as well as a home-furnishing section featuring Ashley Brand furniture.

"Since Hillwood began developing Alliance Town Center, we have been looking for the right grocery store to meet the needs of our adjacent Heritage residential community," said Mark Miller, vice president of retail development for Hillwood Properties, making his comments in the same press release.

"Kroger Marketplace is the perfect fit, because it offers a one-stop shop for a wide variety of high-quality groceries, deli, meat and produce."

Hillwood, Kroger Sign Anchor Deal for Heritage Marketplace

Connie Gore — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH – With the deal now signed, Hillwood and Kroger Co. have unveiled plans to develop a 123,000-sf Kroger Marketplace as the anchor to a 20-acre development beside Alliance Town Center. Site work will get under way by the first of the year.

Mark Miller, vice president of retail development for locally based Hillwood Properties, said the Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger will own its 12-acre site and store in Heritage Marketplace. The balance of the land will be divvied into three pad sites and 30,000 sf of inline shops. The development site is located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive, a gateway to the 3,500 single-family homes in the Hillwood-developed Heritage community.

Miller said negotiations with Kroger have taken about two years to complete. The closest traditional grocery store to the development site is at least one mile away. "The residents have been clamoring for this for a long time," he stressed.

It will be the first Kroger Marketplace in Tarrant County. Kroger recently has opened two Marketplaces in Greater Houston and has one under construction in Frisco, a far north Dallas suburb.

Kroger Marketplace is being touted as a "one-stop shopping solution," a marriage of its Signature format and a "store-within-store" lineup featuring a Fred Meyer jewelry store and home-furnishing section with an Ashley Furniture Co.-branded line. Other Marketplace amenities are a fuel center, wine shop and gourmet and chef-prepared food line, Nature's Market with all-natural and organic products and drive-through pharmacy.

Miller said Hillwood is soloing on Heritage Marketplace, unlike the 300-acre Alliance Town Center, a joint venture project with Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. The three-year-old Alliance Town Center is a 20-store mix of national anchors and junior anchors representing more than 600,000 sf of retail. Miller said Heritage Marketplace will be filled with basic services and additional restaurants for the regional retail corridor.

Coming soon to Alliance Town Center is Rooms To Go, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Freebirds World Burrito and Kirkland's. The development's recent openings include a 168,446-sf center owned by Dallas-based Sam Moon Trading Co. At build-out, Alliance Town Center will boast more than two million sf of retail, office, residential and entertainment space.

Kroger to open new Marketplace stores in Fort Worth, Frisco

Maria Halkias — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Kroger store combining groceries and general merchandise is nearing completion in Frisco and the chain is turning its attention next to Tarrant County's Alliance Town Center.

Kroger Marketplace, a 123,000-square-foot concept store, is scheduled to open in January at the northwest corner of Eldorado Parkway and Custer Road in Frisco.

The company said Tuesday it's planning a second area location for late next year in the north Fort Worth shopping center being jointly developed by Dallas-based Hillwood and Fort Worth-based Trademark.

Kroger recently opened a Marketplace store in Houston and has a second one in the works there.

The bigger stores are Kroger's answer to the competition traditional supermarkets face from Wal-Mart Supercenters and SuperTarget stores. They also introduce Kroger's jewelry brand, Fred Meyer Jeweler, to Texas.

Kroger's Dallas-Fort Worth market share of 15.7 percent ranks second behind Wal-Mart's 39.8 percent share, according to Trade Dimensions quarterly data. Target is in the process of upgrading its discount stores in the area to include fresh foods.

Photography Photo store Kroger is also No. 2 in Houston, behind Wal-Mart, but the gap there is narrower.

In addition to expanded grocery, deli, floral, organic, gourmet and chef-prepared foods, the store will have a wine shop.

Its general merchandise categories are bed, bath, kitchen, tabletop and an Ashley-branded furniture department. The stores are twice the size of a Kroger Signature store and have fuel centers in the parking lot and drive-through pharmacies.

The 300-acre Alliance Town Center is located along the east side of Interstate 35W between North Tarrant and Heritage Trace parkways.

J.C. Penney was the first retailer to open in the shopping center in 2005 and since then several stores have been added, including Sam Moon Trading Co., Belk, Best Buy and Hobby Lobby. Other stores under construction are Rooms To Go, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Freebirds World Burrito and Kirkland's.

The center is surrounded by new housing developments and is near Alliance Global Logistics Hub.

In Frisco, the Kroger store is on the city's eastern border with McKinney. Kroger owns the property and no other tenants are part of the project.

Kroger signs on with Alliance Town Center

Aleshia Howe — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Developers of Fort Worth’s Alliance Town Center have announced the addition of a Kroger Marketplace set to open in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Kroger will open a 123,000-square-foot store under its Kroger Marketplace banner, serving as the company’s fourth such store in Texas. The store will be located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive at Alliance Town Center in north Fort Worth.

A joint development of Trademark and Hillwood Properties, Alliance Town Center is a 2 million-square-foot retail, office, residential and entertainment portion of the 17,000-square-foot AllianceTexas development in Fort Worth that is located along the east side of Interstate 35W between North Tarrant Parkway and Heritage Trace Parkway. The 300-acre development has more than 20 retailers that occupy more than 600,000 square feet at Alliance Town Center currently including JCPenney, Sam Moon, Bank of Texas, Belk, Best Buy, Cheddar’s, Dress Barn, Eye Masters, Hobby Lobby, Jason’s Deli, Justice, Kincaid’s, Mattress Firm, McDonald’s, PetSmart, Rack Room, Rue 21, Smoothie King, Sports Clips, Ulta, Wells Fargo and Which Wich. Currently under construction at Alliance Town Center are new locations for Rooms To Go and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Freebirds World Burrito and Kirkland’s.

At full build-out, Alliance Town Center also will house the HCA medical campus.

The development’s Kroger store will be the first grocery store within the project, serving more than 7,200 single-family homes in the nearby residential portions of AllianceTexas.

According to Hillwood’s announcement, Kroger Marketplace will offer features unique to a Kroger Signature store along with an expanded variety of grocery and deli products, a large floral section, fuel center, gourmet and chef-prepared foods, and a wine shop. The store will have linens for the bathroom and other areas of the home, a kitchen place area with upscale kitchenware and place settings, and the latest toys. The Nature’s Market section will offer all-natural and organic products and the drive-through pharmacy will provide consumers with $4 generic drugs. The Kroger Marketplace also will feature a Fred Meyer Jeweler store, as well as a large home-furnishing section with Ashley Brand furniture.

“Since Hillwood began developing Alliance Town Center, we have been looking for the right grocery store to meet the needs of our adjacent Heritage residential community and the nearby neighborhoods,” said Mark Miller, vice president of retail development for Hillwood Properties, in the release. “Kroger Marketplace is the perfect fit, because it offers a one-stop shop for a wide variety of high-quality groceries, deli, meat and produce, as well as a more convenient and cost effective place to purchase many of the other products needed by homeowners.”

Kroger Readies 1st Marketplace Concept Store for Texas’ Tarrant County

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Kroger Co.’s Southwest Division and real estate developer Hillwood Properties have inked a deal that will bring the first Kroger Marketplace to Tarrant County, Texas. Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2010, the concept store will be located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive at Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth and will be the Cincinnati-based retailer’s fourth Marketplace in the state.

“The residential growth at Heritage and the other nearby communities, as well as the employment growth at Alliance, make Alliance Town Center the ideal location for the first of our new Kroger Marketplace concept stores in Tarrant County,” said Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger. “This new concept has worked well in other markets, particularly in suburban locations as a one-stop-shopping solution.”

The 123,000-square-foot store will offer features unique to a Kroger Signature store, along with an expanded variety of grocery and deli products, a large floral section, a fuel center, gourmet and chef-prepared foods, and a wine shop. The location will also have linens for the bathroom and other areas of the home, a kitchen place area with upscale kitchenware and place settings, and the latest toys. The Nature’s Market section will offer all-natural and organic products, while the drive-through pharmacy will provide consumers with $4 generic drugs. The Kroger Marketplace will additionally feature a Fred Meyer Jeweler store, as well as a large home-furnishing section with Ashley Brand furniture.

A joint development of Trademark and Hillwood, Alliance Town Center is in north Fort Worth along the east side of Interstate 35W, between North Tarrant Parkway and Heritage Trace Parkway. The 300-acre development is in the middle of one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation over the past decade.

At full buildout, Alliance Town Center will house more than 2 million square feet of retail, office, residential and entertainment space, along with the HCA medical campus. The lifestyle center is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development, which also includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, the Monterra Village apartment home community and the single-family communities of Heritage, Saratoga and Vaquero. AllianceTexas houses more than 7,200 single-family homes and 220 companies that have developed more than 31 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

Kroger’s Southwest Division operates 209 stores and 86 fuel centers in Texas and Louisiana.

Kroger bringing Marketplace concept to Tarrant County

Sandra Baker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kroger, the Cincinnati-based grocery chain, has selected Alliance Town Center to locate its first Marketplace store in Tarrant County and only the fourth in Texas, Alliance developer Hillwood announced today.

Click here to read the full article.

FIRST KROGER MARKETPLACE IN TARRANT COUNTY TO OPEN AT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 10, 2009) – Hillwood and Kroger have completed a deal that will bring the first Kroger Marketplace to Tarrant County. It also will be the company’s fourth Kroger Marketplace in Texas behind the opening of two stores in the Greater Houston area and the impending opening of the Frisco, Texas location in January. The Tarrant County store, which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2010, will be located at the southwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Riverside Drive at Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth.

The 123,000-square-foot store will offer features unique to a Kroger Signature store along with an expanded variety of grocery and deli products, a large floral section, fuel center, gourmet and chef-prepared foods, and a wine shop. The store will have linens for the bathroom and other areas of the home, a kitchen place area with upscale kitchenware and place settings, and the latest toys. The Nature’s Market section will offer all-natural and organic products and the drive-through pharmacy will provide consumers with $4 generic drugs. The Kroger Marketplace will also feature a Fred Meyer Jeweler store, as well as a large home-furnishing section with Ashley Brand furniture.

“Since Hillwood began developing Alliance Town Center, we have been looking for the right grocery store to meet the needs of our adjacent Heritage residential community and the nearby neighborhoods,” said Mark Miller, vice president of retail development for Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas. “Kroger Marketplace is the perfect fit, because it offers a one-stop shop for a wide variety of high-quality groceries, deli, meat and produce, as well as a more convenient and cost effective place to purchase many of the other products needed by homeowners.”

A joint development of Trademark and Hillwood, Alliance Town Center is located in north Fort Worth along the east side of Interstate 35W between North Tarrant Parkway and Heritage Trace Parkway. The 300-acre development is in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas in the nation over the past decade.

Many of the retailers at Alliance Town Center have already reached sales levels that are among the best of their respective companies. Sam Moon Trading Company, the renowned seller of women’s fashion accessories and handbags, had the best first month’s sales in its chain’s history at its new 168,446 square-foot store, which opened at Alliance Town Center on May 8. JCPenney, which was the first retailer to open at Alliance Town Center in October 2006, earned the company’s top honor for sales and customer service in 2007 and 2008.

Currently under construction at Alliance Town Center are new locations for Rooms To Go and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. Freebirds World Burrito and Kirkland’s also will open soon.

More than 20 retailers occupy more than 600,000 square feet at Alliance Town Center. In addition to Kroger, JCPenney and Sam Moon, retailers include Bank of Texas, Belk, Best Buy, Cheddar’s, Dress Barn, Eye Masters, Hobby Lobby, Jason’s Deli, Justice, Kincaid’s, Mattress Firm, McDonald’s, PetSmart, Rack Room, Rue 21, Smoothie King, Sports Clips, Ulta, Wells Fargo, and Which Wich.

At full buildout Alliance Town Center will house more than 2 million square feet of retail, office, residential, and entertainment space, along with the HCA medical campus.

Alliance Town Center is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that also includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, the Monterra Village apartment home community and the single-family communities of Heritage, Saratoga and Vaquero. AllianceTexas houses more than 7,200 single-family homes and 220 companies that have built more than 31 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs.

About Kroger

The Kroger Southwest Division operates 209 stores and 86 fuel centers in Texas and Louisiana and is part of one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains serving customers in 31 states. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the supermarket retailer is dedicated to making a difference in the communities it serves by supporting hunger relief, education, women’s health and wellness, and diversity programs. For more information about Kroger, please visit http://www.kroger.com/.

About Hillwood

Hillwood, A Perot Company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company is recognized for its high-profile and public-private ventures that bring tremendous value to its customers and partners. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas and the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia development near Los Angeles.

About Trademark

Founded in 1991, Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. (http://www.trademarkproperty.com/) has developed or acquired nearly $1 Billion worth of retail and mixed-use space. Trademark has become one of the premier outdoor retail and mixed-use developers in the country. Other notable Texas projects include Market Street – The Woodlands, and Watters Creek, a 1 million s.f. mixed-use development under construction in Allen, TX.

With BNSF purchase, Buffett bets on growth in container traffic

Jim Landers — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Warren Buffett says his railroad buy is an investment in America, but it's also a bet on a recovery in global trade.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. is the nation's top railroad in intermodal transportation, in which container cargoes move from ships to rail cars to trucks and back again. The nation's biggest container ports are in Southern California, where BNSF trains load up millions of containers of Asian goods each year for inland markets like Dallas-Fort Worth.

Terrance Pohlen, director of the Center for Logistics Education and Research at the University of North Texas, said intermodal is the future.

"Looking down the road a few years, with everybody's views on what's likely to happen with fuel prices and congestion, intermodal is the long-term solution," Pohlen said.

Container traffic has plunged during this recession. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach recently reported their worst September in nine years. That's slowed business for BNSF. It's also slowed traffic for inland ports like Hillwood Properties' Alliance Texas north of Fort Worth, where the rail line delivers many of its containers.

Alliance, BNSF and, evidently, Warren Buffett expect the container business to revive and keep on growing.

"It seems like it's bottomed out, and in the long run, Alliance is in a 40-year master plan, and we are only in year 20, so there's a lot of positive to grow," said Steve Boecking, a vice president with Hillwood Properties.

Boecking said Alliance Texas and BNSF have an "almost symbiotic" relationship.

"They've invested a lot in their intermodal hub here," Boecking said. "BNSF provides an excellent service into Alliance, which translates into excellent service for our customers."

In the last year, BNSF upgraded its screening and processing at Alliance so that trucks are moved in and out within 30 minutes.

Much of the work at Alliance Texas involves handling containers of Asian imports. That's created 28,000 jobs since Alliance opened in 1990.

Developers are creating an inland port in southern Dallas, and BNSF bought 198 acres there last year with an eye toward building an intermodal hub. Union Pacific Railroad already operates an intermodal hub at what's called the International Inland Port of Dallas.

"If you look at the BNSF network, they are really looking at growth of inland ports in the future, such as what we have in North Texas," Pohlen said. "It just makes sense to move by rail."

Boecking and Pohlen said Buffett's railroad investment should not be viewed as a forecast that the U.S. economy will return to a buy-and-borrow relationship with China.

Americans imported $337.8 billion of goods from China last year, and the U.S. trade deficit with China was $266.3 billion.

Over the last decade, China has used its trade surpluses to lend the U.S. government more than $2 trillion. Some analysts say this flood of capital encouraged banks to make reckless mortgages.

U.S. imports from China this year are on a much slower pace, but are expected to recover.

This time, though, U.S. companies will import more components and fewer finished goods. Already, several companies are assembling and packaging products at Alliance Texas with parts imported from China, including laptop computers.

"Globalism is here to stay," Pohlen said. "Whether we import from China, India or Southeast Asia, we're going to have to move goods using intermodal."

Boecking said "it would be fantastic" if the containers arriving via BNSF from Asia were returned full of U.S.-made goods, but "it's just not that economical to manufacture most of the products we want to buy here in the United States."

Deloitte Breaks Ground

A. Lee Graham — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Deloitte LLP summoned some Lone Star ambition in planning its Westlake campus.

"When you get down to it, that same pioneering spirit is the pulse behind Deloitte University," said Barry Salzberg, chief executive officer of the New York-based accounting and consulting firm.

Amid applause and chilly temperatures, the Brooklyn native celebrated the groundbreaking of the company’s $300-million training facility on 107 acres bounded by Dove, Ottinger and Precinct Line roads and State Highway 114.

Known as Deloitte University, the campus will serve as the company’s primary training facility. Thousands of visitors are expected to learn on the sprawling campus while feeding the local economy.

"The economic impact associated with bringing people from the outside is big," said Blaine L. Nelson, managing partner with the company’s North Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma region.

When classes adjourn, trainees are expected to patronize area restaurants, enjoy sporting events and discover other local diversions.

In short, officials predict that visitors and their families should help enliven the local economy.

About 1,000 jobs are expected to be created for the construction phase, with 100 Deloitte jobs and 400 operations positions, as well.

And with thousands of visitors expected each year, the economic impact becomes clear.

Building such a mammoth facility amid the nation’s wobbly economy underscores the company’s fearlessness when it comes to development. While other companies delay or scrap projects, Deloitte forges ahead.

It foresees a bullish employment market just around the corner and the need to train tomorrow’s workforce.

"The whole Dallas area is incredibly important to our market," said Salzberg, chatting with the Times-Register minutes before taking the podium. Reasons for the company’s North Texas commitment are many; namely, the region’s central proximity, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and quality of life.

"That makes it extraordinarily conducive to learning and developing," Salzberg said.

Westlake Mayor Laura Wheat drew similarities between the company and her town. While Deloitte pursues distance learning and technology in keeping its growing workforce educated, Wheat said that Westlake Academy also embraces innovative learning concepts.

And both are moving from the Information Age to what Wheat called the Conceptual Age.

"Thousands and thousands of Deloitte employees will come together to learn, to share lifelong learning experiences ... to incubate new ideas," said Wheat, next referring to academy students. "Their students will be doing the exact same thing."

When complete in 2011, the 750,000-square-foot campus will boast 800 guest rooms, classrooms and conference areas, business and fitness centers and a ballroom.

Deloitte will brings Westlake another major employer in a community already known for Fidelity Investments, DaimlerChrysler and First American Real Estate Information Services.

The town’s next major employer cheered as Salzberg enjoyed the moment but looked ahead.

"Let this great and never-ending journey begin today."

Deloitte breaks ground for 300 million training facility in Westlake

Sandra Baker — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

WESTLAKE — The chief executive of New York-based Deloitte L.L.P., one of the nation’s largest accounting and consulting firms, said Wednesday that following through with plans to build a $300 million training facility during the worst recession in 50 years is actually "a bullish and smart move."

Click here to read the full article.

Accounting giant Deloitte breaks ground on Westlake complex

Steve Brown — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Accounting giant Deloitte LLP is breaking ground today on its 107-acre national educational and office complex in Westlake.

The project could eventually cost up to $300 million and will include classrooms, informal learning spaces, meeting rooms and conference facilities, a dining facilities, a fitness center and 800 guest rooms.

“The construction of Deloitte University affirms and advances our commitment to our people and underscores our belief that our people are our greatest asset,” Barry Salzberg, chief executive officer of Deloitte LLP, said in a statement. “Deloitte University will deliver leading-edge learning at critical moments in each person’s career, from new hires to partners, principals and directors.”

The facility is set to open in 2011.

Earlier projections said that the facility could serve as many as 40,000 visitors a year.

Deloitte Digs Into 750,000-SF Project

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

WESTLAKE, Texas – Deloitte LLP yesterday broke ground on a 750,000-sf project on 107 acres in North Texas. The learning and leadership development facility will open in 2011.

Deloitte University will be a centralized training destination for professionals company-wide. "Deloitte University will deliver leading-edge learning at critical moments in each person's career, from new hires to partners, principals and directors," said Barry Salzberg, CEO of New York-based Deloitte LLP. "It will be a powerful catalyst for career-long learning at a setting designed to promote both the personal and professional growth of our people."

The campus will feature 35 classrooms, conference space, 800 on-site guest rooms, dining and social venues and recreational areas, including running trails and a fitness center.

Motorsports vets Pietsch, Unser get together to perform stunt – for first time

Melody McDonald — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH — Kent Pietsch, a professional stunt pilot, knows airplanes.

Retired Indy race-car driver Bobby Unser knows cars.

So it only seemed fitting for these friends to combine their talents and perform a stunt during this weekend’s Fort Worth Alliance Air Show.

Click here to read the full article.

What it’s like to fly -- and roll and flip -- in an aerobatic plane

Melody McDonald — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH — My heart was racing Thursday morning as the pilot and a crew member strapped on my parachute. Just in case, they said.

Hmmm.

Earlier in the week, when I told my husband I had been assigned to fly with stunt pilots for this weekend’s Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, he wasn’t exactly thrilled.

Click here to read the full article.

Show of daring

Cary Darling — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Golden Knights will be winging into North Texas for this weekend’s Fort Worth Alliance Air Show on Saturday and Sunday. But all the action won’t be up in the sky. There also will be pilot autograph sessions, simulators, exhibits, kids’ activities, food and displays of planes, ’copters and jets.

Click here to read the full article.

UNITED SUPERMARKETS TO BUILD DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT ALLIANCE

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

LUBBOCK, TX – Officials at United Supermarkets announced today the purchase of 15 acres in Dallas-Fort Worth for the construction of the company’s second distribution center.

The facility will be located on Freedom Drive in the Roanoke section of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub according to Robert Taylor, vice president of logistics for United Supermarkets, LLC. The city of Roanoke is located north of Fort Worth.

Site preparation work is expected to begin by mid-November, with anticipated completion by Sept. 1, 2010, Taylor said.

The 200,000 square-foot facility will be developed and operated by Exel, the logistics company which operates United’s distribution center at Llano Logistics in Lubbock. It will employ approximately 75 workers , all of whom will be Exel employees.

“We have provisions in place for future expansion of the new facility if necessitated by company growth,” Taylor said.

“Having a second facility in the Metroplex also will provide additional room for us at our Lubbock D.C., which has been operating at maximum capacity for awhile now,” Taylor explained.

United currently operates six stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, four of which opened within a 14-month span last April.

Taylor said that 100 percent of United’s frozen food, 90 percent of its produce, and 75 percent of its dry grocery will originate from the DFW distribution center.

“It’s a testament to the infrastructure and the advantages of Alliance, that United chose the development for its second distribution center, the first outside its home base of Lubbock and the first in North Texas,” said Tony Crème, vice president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of the Alliance. “We appreciate the cooperation of the city of Roanoke and Denton County on this deal and in their efforts to maintain a competitive tax structure that is attractive for companies like United.”

United was represented by Dan Cook of Cushman & Wakefield. Crème represented Hillwood.

Located 15 miles northwest of DFW Airport, the Alliance Global Logistics Hub is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development developed by Hillwood. Of the 220 companies located in the development more than 60 are major industry leaders, including General Motors, Bridgestone/Firestone, General Mills, Ryder, LEGO, Kraft, Nestle, and Daimler.

About United Supermarkets

Now in its 93rd year of operation, United Supermarkets, LLC, is a Texas-based, family-owned grocery chain with stores in 30 markets across north and west Texas. A self-distributing company with its headquarters and distribution center in Lubbock, United currently operates 50 stores under three distinct formats: United Supermarkets, Market Street and Amigos United.

About Hillwood

Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's developments currently house facilities for close to 90 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood is best known for its development of AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.

U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGELS JET PERFORMANCE TEAM HIGHLIGHTS 2009 FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIR SHOW ON OCTOBER 24 AND 25

Contact: Dave Pelletier (817-224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 14, 2009) – The 2009 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, featuring this year's only North Texas performance by a major U.S. military jet team, will be held on October 24 and 25. Highlighted by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, this year's show also includes the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the Shockwave Jet Truck, Julie Clark, one of the first female aerobatic and commercial pilots, and Kent Pietsch, who as part of his act lands on an RV that, as a special treat for this show only, will be driven by 3-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Bobby Unser.

Also taking to the skies as part of the show are Jan Collmer, David Martin, Jim Peitz, Team Oracle with Sean Tucker, the Cavanaugh War Birds, the U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force A-10 West Coast Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper East Coast Demonstration Team and the U.S. Navy F-18 Demonstration Team.

World renowned air show announcer Danny "Skytalker" Clisham will narrate the show. Air show veteran Ralph Royce will once again command the skies as the Air Boss.

The air show also will feature static display of numerous military and civilian aircraft, as well as the 19,500 square-foot Virtual Army Experience (VAE), which provides participants with a virtual test drive of the United States Army. The core of the VAE is the Army computer game, rendered with state-of-the-art Army training simulation technology to create a life-size, networked virtual world.

For children young and old, there is the Kids Zone, featuring the world's tallest inflatable slide, and several flight simulators.

The event will be held at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Gates open at 9 a.m. with performances beginning at 10 a.m. and running until late afternoon. Admission is free. Parking is $20 per vehicle.

The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show typically attracts a crowd between 150,000 and 180,000 spectators for the two-day event, however at most air shows across the country this year attendance has increased by approximately 20% compared to 2008. This boost in attendance is attributed to the events being a low-cost alternative with tremendous entertainment value.

“With free admission and only $20 to park, an entire family -- children, parents, grandparents -- can enjoy a great day of entertainment, watching some of the world’s best pilots, seeing and touring aircraft, and overall enjoying a variety of aviation-related activities,” said Christina Carey, manager of special projects for Fort Worth Alliance Airport. “Across the country, people are realizing that air shows are a great entertainment option that is close to home.”

The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is a non-profit event that benefits local charities. Since 2006, Alliance Air Productions has raised $207,000 for local nonprofits, including those that provide some of the event’s 400 volunteers.

For a list of performers, parking and other event information, visit www.AllianceAirShow.com

Fort Worth Alliance Airport is the centerpiece of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that houses 220 companies, 28,000 employees and more than 7,000 single-family homes. Airport users include the American Airlines Maintenance Facility, the FedEx Sorting Hub, the Bell Helicopter Customer Center, as well as corporate and military aircraft. The Fixed Base Operation at Fort Worth Alliance Airport has earned ExxonMobil's top customer service award for an unprecedented 13 straight years. The airport is managed by Alliance Aviation Services, a subsidiary of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas.

# # #

Hillwood Development Assists Crandall ISD in Opening 1st Heartland School

Denise Bell, Post Managing Editor — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last Saturday September 19th Heartland residents bore witness to the dedication and ground breaking ceremony for the soon to be built, Barbara Walker Elementary School.

The first of seven Crandall ISD schools to be erected in the still developing 2,500 acre Heartland community, the Barbara Walker Elementary School, like all the schools sites in Heartland, has been strategically located at the center of residential and trail spaces to allow children easy access.

The innovative plan allows children to walk to schools rather than being driven, a positive impact for safety, convenience and the environment.

The dedication of Barbara Walker Elementary was part of a long time commitment by Ross Perot, Jr. and Hillwood Development Company, the developer of the Heartland Community.

Seven additional schools are planned and students from the district assisted in designing the community’s trail system which received the Award of Excellence from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Hillwood Development Company has also established the Heartland Education Foundation which will support programs in the Crandall ISD through a fund generated by a ½ of one percent of every real estate transaction in the Heartland community.

The dedication ceremony was attended by Dr. Larry Watson, Crandall ISD Superintendent, Ross Perot Jr., Chairman of Hillwood Development, Jessica Dykman, Principal Barbara Walker Elementary School, Tex York, President of the Crandall ISD Board of Directors and Carol Powell, the daughter of Barbara Walker.

Barbara Walker was a longtime teacher in the Crandall ISD and a longtime Crandall resident. She first taught in the Crandall ISD in 1944 and retired in 1984. She was exceptionally passionate about teaching and was committed to the success of every student.

Barbara Walker was affectionately known as a “teacher’s teacher” and sadly she passed away in 2005.

The Heartland Community is located in Kaufman County along Interstate 20 approximately 20 miles east of downtown Dallas and Barbara Walker Elementary School is located at 4060 Abbey Road in Heartland, Texas.

For Second Straight Year, Alliance Global Logistics Hub Ranks as Top Foreign Trade Zone in The U.S. in Terms of Foreign Products Admitted

Contact: David Pelletier (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Fort Worth, Texas (Sept. 21, 2009) – Based on the latest Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to the U.S. Congress (www.ia.ita.doc.gov/ftzpage/annualreport/ar-2007.pdf), the value of foreign merchandise admitted to the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 has almost doubled from the previous year and continues to rank as the most of any Foreign-Trade Zone in the country. In FY 2007, the latest year that data was available, Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 admitted $7.46 billion in foreign products, an increase of more than 85% from the FY 2006 total of $4.031 billion. In FY 2005 the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone #196 admitted $0.3 billion in foreign products.

The increase at Alliance reflects similar growth across the United States. From FY 2005 to FY 2007, the value of foreign goods admitted to the 126 multi-purpose foreign-trade zones across the country increased 31.9% from $22.9 billion to $30.2 billion.

Major users of Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub include ATC Logistics & Electronics, Hyundai, Trans-Trade, KFS, LEGO, and Motorola.

"Not only is Foreign-Trade Zone #196 at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub handling more foreign goods from Asia through the West Coast ports, but shipments by truck and rail from Mexico are also increasing,” said Steve Boecking, vice president of Hillwood Properties, the developer of AllianceTexas and the operator of FTZ #196. "As more of our existing customers activate FTZ at their facilities and as we attract new companies seeking the FTZ benefits and the other advantages of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, we expect the value of goods flowing through Foreign-Trade Zone #196 to continue the phenomenal growth of the past few years.”

TOP U.S. GENERAL PURPOSE FOREIGN TRADE ZONES

By Value Of Foreign Goods Admitted

1. Fort Worth/Alliance (Texas).............................................. $7.460 billion

2. Newark/Elizabeth (New Jersey)........................................... $3.941 billion

3. Port Hueneme (California).................................................... $3.176 billion

4. Harris County (Texas).......................................................... $1.957 billion

5. Tacoma (Washington).......................................................... $1.048 billion

The biggest factor in the growth of imported goods at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub is the BNSF Intermodal Facility that is one of the busiest links in the country for goods arriving from Asia through the West Coast ports to the central part of the United States. A recently completed $32 million capital improvement program, which included new entry and exit gates, new bridges and nearly nine miles of new track, will allow for even more growth in imported goods.

Another key component of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub is Fort Worth Alliance Airport, which houses one of FedEx’s three major U.S. sorting hubs. A runway extension project is currently underway to increase the length of the runways to 11,000 feet. The facility can currently handle any size jet, but the extended runways will allow fully loaded cargo flights to directly serve Asia and Europe on the hottest days of the year. The project is expected to be completed in 2015.

Foreign-trade zones are secure areas under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment. Under zone procedures, the usual formal customs entry procedure and payment of duties are not required on the foreign merchandise unless and until it enters customs territory for domestic consumption, in which case the importer normally has a choice of paying duties either on the original foreign materials or the finished product. Foreign-trade zone sites and activities remain within the jurisdiction of federal, state and local governments and agencies.

In large part due to its role in handling foreign goods, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of $33.8 billion on the North Texas economy. In addition the development has attracted $6.5 billion in private investment, generated more than $625 million in property taxes and created 28,000 fulltime jobs.

In addition to the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development includes Alliance Town Center, the Monterra Village apartment home community, the corporate campuses of Circle T Ranch, the Vaquero estate golf community, and the Heritage and Saratoga residential communities. AllianceTexas now houses 7,200 single-family homes and 220 companies that occupy 29 million square feet. Sixty-five of the companies at AllianceTexas are ranked on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private Firms.

Hillwood, (www.hillwood.com) a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Close to 90 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms have chosen to locate Hillwood developments. In addition to the AllianceTexas project, Hillwood is best known for its development of American Airlines Center and the Victory mixed-use district near downtown Dallas and AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles.

# # #

Fort Worths Alliance foreign trade zone is nations largest for second year

Barry Shlachter — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, Alliance Airport will try to coax Commerce Secretary Gary Locke aboard a helicopter — possibly piloted by developer Ross Perot Jr. — for an aerial tour of its landlocked foreign trade zone, the largest in the country for two years running.

Retail sales rise more than expected in August

Christopher S. Rugaber — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Retail sales jumped in August by the largest amount in more than three years, spurred by widespread gains beyond the expected increases of auto sales from the government's Cash for Clunkers program.

And while inflation at the wholesale level also rose last month as gasoline prices surged the most in a decade, the retail sales report is a sign that consumers may be less cautious about spending as the economy recovers. Consumer spending is closely watched because it accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's economic activity.

Economists were encouraged by the reports, but warned that jobs remain scarce and credit tight, making it difficult for consumers to mount sustained increases in spending.

"Big gains may be short-lived as the weak labor market will weigh on consumers into next year," Adam York, an economist at Wells Fargo Securities, wrote in a note to clients.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month, after falling 0.2 percent in July. That's the largest gain in three-and-a-half years and beat analysts' expectations of a 2 percent increase, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

Excluding autos, sales rose 1.1 percent, ahead of an expected 0.4 percent jump. Excluding autos and gas, sales rose 0.6 percent, the most in six months.

Wall Street moved mostly lower in midday trading. The Dow Jones industrial average lost about 10 points, and broader indexes were mixed.

In a separate report, the Labor Department said wholesale prices rose 1.7 percent in August, more than double the 0.8 percent rise economists expected. Wholesale prices had fallen by 0.9 percent in July. Both months were heavily affected by energy prices.

Excluding volatile energy and food costs, core inflation as measured by Producer Price Index posted a more modest 0.2 percent increase, close to the 0.1 percent advance economists expected. The index tracks the prices of goods before they reach store shelves.

While many analysts believe the economy is staging a recovery in the current July-September quarter, the rebound is not expected to trigger inflation pressures because the labor market remains weak.

The Commerce Department report showed that auto sales soared 10.6 percent last month, the most in almost eight years, due mainly to the clunkers program. Gas station sales rose 5.1 percent, as prices at the pump rose. Economists expected increases in both categories, but sales also rose at electronics and appliance stores, department and sporting goods stores.

The clunkers program, which ended last month, provided consumers with rebates of up to $4,500 if they traded in older gas-guzzlers for new, more fuel-efficient models. The incentive boosted car sale 30 percent in August, after a 2.4 percent rise in July.

Many economists expect consumer spending to increase in the current July-September period, after it fell in the second quarter, mostly because of the clunkers program. That could cause the economy to grow by as much as 3 to 4 percent in the third quarter, many economists expect, helping to end the worst recession since the 1930s.

But analysts worry that without consistent consumer spending growth, the recovery could weaken next year, as government stimulus efforts end.

Unemployment continues to rise, holding down wages and limiting the ability of consumers to spend. The unemployment rate, currently at a 26-year high of 9.7 percent, is expected to hit 10 percent by the end of this year and keep rising to around 10.3 percent next spring.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday said the recession is "very likely over at this point." The economy likely is growing now, but it won't be sufficient to prevent the unemployment rate from rising, he added.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. said Monday that it will cut 5,500 jobs over the next two years, 14 percent of its work force, as it restructures the company into five units.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Tuesday that the economy has improved in the past year but acknowledged in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" that the job market remains weak.

"I would say there's no recovery yet," he said. "We define recovery ... as people back to work, people able to get a job again, businesses investing again ... and we're not at that point."

The Commerce Department also reported Tuesday that business cut their inventories 1 percent in July, the 12th straight decline and slightly more than economists expected. Still, sales posted the first back-to-back gains in a year, providing hope that companies soon will switch from trimming stockpiles to increasing their orders.

Other recent economic reports also have been positive. Last week, the Federal Reserve said in a regional survey that the economy is stabilizing or improving in the vast majority of the country.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama on Monday credited his administration and the $787 billion stimulus package rammed through Congress in the first days of his taking office for helping to prevent an even worse economic downturn.

"And though I will never be satisfied while people are out of work and our financial system is weakened, we can be confident that the storms of the past two years are beginning to break," Obama said in a speech on financial reform in New York.

The nation's gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the economy's output, fell 5.5 percent in last year's fourth quarter and the first three months of this year, the worst six-month showing in nearly 50 years.

But in the April-June quarter the decline slowed to 1 percent and many analysts expect the economy will grow in the second half of this year.

Top Office Developers

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the Top Office Developers survey, respondents were asked to record their volume of global activity for the 2008 calendar year. Results show completed development and new construction as of Dec. 31, 2008.

Hines

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 13.5 million sq. ft.

Phone: (713) 621-8000

Web site: http://www.hines.com/

Opus Group

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 7.5 million sq. ft.

Phone: (952) 656-4444

Web site: http://www.opuscorp.com/

Trammell Crow Co.

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 6.6 million sq. ft.

Phone: (214) 863-4101

Web site: http://www.trammellcrow.com/

Lincoln Property Co.

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 4.9 million sq. ft.

Phone: (214) 740-3300

Web site: http://www.lincolnproperty.com/

The Alter Group

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 4.3 million sq. ft.

Phone: 847-676-4300

Web site: http://www.altergroup.com/

Carter

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 3.5 million sq. ft.

Phone: (404) 888-3000

Web site: http://www.carterusa.com/

Duke Realty Corp.

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 3 million sq. ft.

Phone: (317) 808-6000

Web site: http://www.dukerealty.com/

ING Clarion Partners

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2.83 million sq. ft.

Phone: (212) 883-2500

Web site: http://www.ingclarion.com/

Boston Properties

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2.8 million sq. ft.

Phone: 617-236-3000

Web site: http://www.bostonproperties.com/

LaSalle Investment Management

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2.6 million sq. ft.

Phone: (312) 782-5800

Web site: http://www.lasalle.com/

Brandywine Realty Trust

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2.4 million sq. ft.

Phone: (610) 325-5600

Web site: http://www.brandywinerealty.com/

Brookfield Properties Corp.

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2.2 million sq. ft.

Phone: (212) 417-7000

Web site: http://www.brookfieldproperties.com/

TIAA-CREF

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2.1 million sq. ft.

Phone: (800) 842-2252

Web site: tiaa-cref.org

Liberty Property Trust

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 2 million sq. ft.

Phone: 610-648-1700

Web site: http://www.libertyproperty.com/

Hillwood

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 1.9 million sq. ft.

Phone: (972) 201-2800

Web site: http://www.hillwood.com/

Patrinely Group

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 1.6 million sq. ft.

Phone: (713) 840-2700

Web site: http://www.patrinelygroup.com/

RREEF Americas

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 1.5 million sq. ft.

Phone: (212) 454-3900

Web site: http://www.rreef.com/

Koll Development Co.

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 1.4 million sq. ft.

Phone: (214) 696-1700

Web site: http://www.kdc.com/

The Rockefeller Group

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 1.27 million sq. ft.

Phone: (212) 282-2000

Web site: http://www.rockefellergroup.com/

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Total Office Space Developed or Under Construction: 1.2 million sq. ft.

Phone: 443-285-5400

Web site: http://www.copt.com/

Hillwood eyes more homes for Alliance

Staff report — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Alliance area continues to defy the economic odds, with developers announcing the next phase of Hillwood Residential’s Heritage community.

"It makes sense to start a new phase of Heritage at this time because of what the market is telling us," said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential.

Pointing to ongoing job growth and housing demand in the Alliance area, Balda said he hopes the next phase will meet mounting housing demand.

"This next phase will allow us to work with our builders to meet the demand of buyers looking to locate in the highly amenitized Heritage community," said Balda, making his comments in a press release.

New homes in the Heritage community have sold for between $164,000 and $500,000, with an average price of $230,000. About 232 homes in the development began construction in the past year, according to Residential Strategies, which monitors new home development in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Located in the Keller school district and near the retail-rich Alliance Town Center, Heritage is among four master-planned communities in Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development.

AllianceTexas breaks ground on next phase of project

Aleshia Howe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Residential broke ground on the next phase of its 2,300-acre Heritage community in north Fort Worth on Aug. 13. The next phase includes 78 lots on 30 acres in the Bluffs section of Heritage with homes starting at $280,000. The phase’s builders are Toll Brothers and Standard Pacific.

According to a release, Hillwood cites continued job growth in the Alliance area and a “pent-up demand for housing” as the driving factors in pushing forward with the new phase.

According to Residential Strategies, a local research firm, in the past year Heritage had 232 starts, which ranks second in North Texas areas.

Heritage is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village. AllianceTexas has approximately 10,000 residents in its single-family and apartment home communities and 220 companies that employ 28,000 workers.

Hillwood to develop new lots in Alliance

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Residential is beginning the development of 78 lots on 30 acres in the Bluffs section of the 2,300-acre Heritage development in Alliance.

The developer will break ground Thursday on the next phase of the masterplanned community in north Fort Worth.

“It makes sense to start a new phase of Heritage at this time because of what the market is telling us,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential, in a statement. “Due to continued job growth in the Alliance area and a pent-up demand for housing, Fort Worth’s economy is expected to improve faster than many areas of the country. This next phase will allow us to work with our builders to meet the demand of buyers looking to locate in the highly amenitized Heritage community.”

Heritage, which opened in 2001, had 232 housing starts in the last year with an average sale price of $230,000. There are about 7,000 residents in the development, in 2,600 houses.

The Bluffs phase will be built by Toll Brothers and Standard Pacific. The houses will start at $280,000.

Heritage includes 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, 100 acres of parks and open spaces and other amenities.

Hillwood Residential, founded by Ross Perot Jr., has developed four masterplanned communities in Alliance.

This decision to finish the new Heritage lots comes at a time when bulk lot development has slowed. Much of the focus of the industry over the last year has been to work down the inventory of finished vacant lots. There are 92,335 vacant developed lots in Dallas and Fort Worth, according to data from Dallas-based real estate analysts Residential Strategies Inc., which is an 80-month supply. In the past year, there have been 8,860 lot deliveries, down 64% from this time last year, and there are 5,812 lots currently under development.

Hillwood to break ground on Heritage expansion in Fort Worth

Steve Brown — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Hillwood Residential says it will break ground tomorrow on an expansion of its Heritage housing community in north Fort Worth.

Work is set to begin on another 78 lots in the 2,300-acre development at the northeast corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and Exposition Way.

While residential lot development in North Texas has slowed to a trickle in the last couple of years, Hillwood said that continued job growth in its AllianceTexas business district is creating a demand for more housing in North Fort Worth.

Builders Toll Brothers and Standard Pacific plan to construct houses in the new phase starting at $280,000.

During the last year, builders have started 232 homes in the Heritage project, making it one of the busiest subdivisions in Texas, according to Hillwood.

Hillwood breaks ground Thursday on The Bluffs home lots in far north Fort Worth

Sandra Baker — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood Residential is breaking ground today on 78 single-family home lots in The Bluffs section of its Heritage community in far north Fort Worth, despite market conditions and reports that show housing starts at their lowest levels in years.

Click here to read the full article.

HILLWOOD LAUNCHES NEW PHASE IN ITS ACCLAIMED HERITAGE COMMUNITY

Contact: David Pelletier, Hillwood (817/224-6044, dave.pelletier@hillwood.com) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (August 13, 2009) – With recent data indicating a more positive outlook for the housing industry, Hillwood will become one of the first companies in North Texas to develop new single-family lots when it breaks ground on August 13 on the next phase of its highly successful master-planned Heritage community in north Fort Worth. The company will develop 78 lots on 30 acres in the Bluffs section of Heritage.

“It makes sense to start a new phase of Heritage at this time because of what the market is telling us,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Residential. “In addition due to continued job growth in the Alliance area and a pent up demand for housing, Fort Worth’s economy is expected to improve faster than many areas of the country. This next phase will allow us to work with our builders to meet the demand of buyers looking to locate in the highly amenitized Heritage community.”

Since opening in April 2001, Heritage has consistently been among the top five communities in North Texas, based on new home starts. According to Residential Strategies, a local firm that researches DFW new home activity, over the past year Heritage had 232 starts, which ranks second in North Texas. Home prices in Heritage also continue to hold at a strong average price of $230,000, with a range of sales from $164,000 to $500,000. While new homes are maintaining their values, pre-owned homes are experiencing an approximate 4.6% increase. Approximately 7,000 residents currently live in the 2,600 occupied houses in Heritage.

Scott Minke, Heritage HOA Board Member and a home owner in the community for seven years, said, “It’s especially nice to know that as a Heritage resident my property value is not solely based on my home, but rather by what surrounds it. Top-notch amenities like the water park, spray park, walking trails and a multi-functional clubhouse make Heritage a wonderful place to buy a house, sell a house, or live in one.”

Industry leading home builders Toll Brothers and Standard Pacific will offer a variety of floor plans with prices starting at $280,000.

Known for innovative features and high-quality amenities that are incorporated into its communities, Hillwood created Heritage as its first “connected” community by leveraging state-of-the-art technology into each home. This 2,300-acre neighborhood was also among the first to feature extensive landscaping and world-class recreational amenities, such as 10 miles of hike and bike trails, more than 100 acres of parks and open spaces, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a recreation/community center. It showcases a multi-million dollar, 10-acre aquatic complex with waterslides and seven pools, as well as pocket parks and a spray park strategically positioned throughout the neighborhood.

Heritage is fortunate to be located in the highly-acclaimed Keller Independent School District. Families with children also benefit from the three on-site, state-of-the-art elementary schools within walking or biking distance, along with the new Central High School. Parents are encouraged to communicate electronically with their children’s teachers. Technology makes it easy to get missed homework assignments for students who are at home during an illness. The progressive educational programs being used by Keller ISD, along with the talented teachers make Keller one of the most sought-after districts for families moving to North Texas.

Residents are also connected through the community “Intranet,” where they can communicate with their neighbors via the web site or serve on one of the neighborhood committees that make Heritage such an energized place to live. The Club House at Heritage has become a popular gathering place for parties and covered dish dinners. While some people eat, others are in the next room exercising on state-of-the-art equipment. Or—there are those who are using the WiFi capabilities at the Club House, while another group is watching a playoff game in the TV room on comfy sofas.

The Realtor® community solidly supports Heritage because of Hillwood’s reputation of quality development in Tarrant County, coupled with two decades of incentive programs targeted to Realtors® and Hillwood’s commitment to fostering strong and long-term relationships with them. Many Heritage residents have relocated from different parts of the country, and often Realtors® are their first point of contact. Realtors® continue to be a critical partner of the Hillwood team, and as a testament to their commitment, Realtor®-assisted sales in Heritage account for 68% of the annual sales.

Heritage’s front door is anchored by a new retail complex, Alliance Town Center, which boasts the opening of stores at a time when many stores nationwide are closing. JC Penney, Belk, Sam Moon, Rue 21, Jason’s Deli, Which Wich and Kincaid’s are just a few of the thriving retailers, with most performing in the top 1% of all of their local or national locations.

Heritage has been and will continue to be a shining star in Dallas/Fort Worth, which is one of the largest and most robust real estate markets in the country.

Hillwood Residential (http://www.hillwoodresidential.com/) was founded in 1988 by Ross Perot Jr. so that this new division could begin to develop single-family residential communities to complement the new airport and logistics hub in what would become AllianceTexas. Hillwood Residential has not only developed four master-planned communities in AllianceTexas, but it has also delivered more than 19,000 single-family lots in more than 30 communities over the past 20 years.

Staying competitive and on the cutting edge of technology and efficiency—that’s Hillwood Residential. Where great things develop.

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Rail Traffic Strengthens Again

John D. Boyd — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. rail hauls of metal cargoes reach highest level yet in 2009.

A traffic recovery for large U.S. railroads picked up steam in the week ending Aug. 1, adding to signs that freight demand may be on a sustained climb from recession lows.

The Class I carriers and a few regionals that report to the Association of American Railroads said their U.S. operations carried 274,728 bulk carloads, up nearly 800 from a week earlier. Train hauls of intermodal boxes, containers and trailers combined, hit 193,332 units for a gain of about 350.

From the same week in 2008, carloads were down 18.3 percent and intermodal down 16.1 percent. But for the second straight week carloads were their strongest since March 21 while intermodal volume was the most since Jan. 24.

The year-to-date peak in metal shipments – to 7,727 carloads -- came amid a sustained recent pickup in scrap metal loadings, consistent with demand from metal furnaces to use cheap scrap inputs along with costlier ore when they are getting more metal product orders from other factories.

Other cargoes swelling rail traffic in the latest week included the strongest grain volume since Feb. 14 at 20,983 hopper carloads, chemicals with 27,846 tank cars at their highest since Feb. 28, and pulp or paper shipments the most since Jan. 17 at 5,989 units.

U.S. Manufacturing Almost at Growth Stage

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. factory sector moved within striking distance of growth in July, a survey showed on August 3 in another encouraging sign for the recession-gripped economy.

The Institute of Supply Management said its index of the manufacturing sector, also known as the purchasing managers (PMI) index, rose to 48.9% from 44.8% in June.

That figure was better than the level of 46.5% expected on Wall Street and closer to the 50% level that separates expansion and contraction.

The ISM said that although the factory sector contracted for an 18th consecutive month, the decline was modest and suggested the slump is ending. "It would be difficult to convince many manufacturers that we are on the brink of recovery, but the data suggests that we will see growth in the third quarter if the trends continue," said ISM survey chief Norbert Ore.

"The solid increase in July’s production reflects reopening of auto plants that were closed during GM's bankruptcy, which results in associated increases in auto parts production. The 'cash-for-clunkers' program appears to be more popular than most analysts projected, which indicates that the long, deep recession has created pent up demand for motor vehicles, " said Daniel J. Meckstroth, Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI.

"In addition, although the inventory liquidation is probably not over in the manufacturing sector, a reduced pace of inventory cutting does increase production," he added. "The July ISM reports adds to a growing number of indicators that signal that manufacturing and the general economy is bottoming out and a recovery is coming this summer. Although a welcome relief, we believe that the recovery will be below average and it will take many years to reach the pre-recession production level."

Additionally, the survey showed the new orders and production sub-indexes growing, and that the headline index was pulled down by weakness in inventories and lingering declines in employment.

The new orders index increased to 55.3% from 49.2%, showing growth in factory orders.

The production sub-index climbed to 57.9% from 52.5%, suggesting accelerating activity.

The employment index was at 45.7%, still contracting, but better than the level of 40.7% in June.

The ISM said six of the 18 manufacturing industries reported growth in July -- nonmetallic mineral products; paper products; printing and related activities; electrical equipment, appliances and components; transportation equipment; and chemical products.

Kincaid’s Has 'Scoop’ at Alliance

A. Lee Graham — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kincaid’s Hamburgers feeds customers the only way it knows how — one burger at a time. But at its newly opened Alliance store, the same strategy goes for ice cream scoops.

"We are the first [Kincaid’s] store to serve ice cream by the scoop," said Evan Parker, manager for the burger palace at Alliance Town Center.

Kincaid’s devotees mobbed the company’s fifth store when it joined the retail center in May at 9120 North Freeway. From office workers to families, a diverse clientele kept burgers flipping. And still do.

"I just say our focus is making one burger at a time. Just like at the Southlake store," said Parker, who trained at the Southlake Boulevard location before taking the reins at Alliance.

But Kincaid’s isn’t the only business feeding Alliance’s bottom line. So are Sam Moon Trading Co., J.C. Penney and others reporting sales spikes in May. Overall, business has surpassed expectations.

"Sales projections were exceeded by about a third," said Patrick Murphy, director of real estate for Sam Moon. "Usually, after a grand opening, it [business] dies down. This one hasn’t."

Added to that business later this month will be Sam Moon Home Decor, making it the company’s largest location even bigger. Also enjoying big business is J.C. Penney, the first retailer to open its doors at the center in late 2006. Since then, it has become among the Plano-based company’s top performers.

"They’ve got a great team out there — good management and a great team of associates," said company spokesman Tim Lyons. "They’ve really connected with the customers in the area."

The store is among only 74 of the company’s 1,101 locations to receive the 2008 Chairman’s Award, presented recently by Myron E. Ullman III, company chairman and chief executive.

About 140 employees work at the 104,000-square-foot retail emporium.

'Team effort’

Shlachter, Nishimura & Baker — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The J.C. Penney store at Alliance Town Center in far north Fort Worth, the first retailer to open in the shopping center in 2006, has earned its company’s Chairman’s Award for top performance for a second straight year.

Click here to read the full article.

Leases totaling 556,000 square feet renewed at Alliance

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hillwood has secured two leases totaling 556,039 square feet with ATC Logistics & Electronics (ATCLE), which first opened in the Alliance Global Logistics Hub development in 1994. ATCLE renewed its lease in the 375,000-square-foot Gateway 5 building, which it has occupied since 2005, as well as its lease at the 181,039-square-foot Gateway 31 building the company has occupied since 2007.

ATCLE also leases the entire 413,508-square-foot Gateway 19 building. The company signed a long-term lease on that facility in 2007.

With a total of 969,547 square feet, ATCLE represents one of the largest overall expansions at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub. The company first opened at Alliance in 1994 with 40,536 square feet in the Commerce Center 4 building.

Ryan Keiser of CB Richard Ellis represented ATCLE in the lease renewals. Steve Aldrich, vice president of Hillwood Properties, represented Hillwood. Including these deals, Hillwood has leased a total of 1.9 million square feet of space at the Alliance Global Logistics Hub in 2009. In 2008, the company leased 1.1 million square feet at Alliance.

Alliance Town Center's Shops Raising Sales Bars for Chains

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH – With Alliance Town Center's shops ringing up strong sales, Hillwood and Trademark Property Co. are toasting the traction that their 20 retailers in the 600,000-sf development have made in light of the recession and retail sector's overall sluggishness.

In the past month, Kincaid's Hamburgers and Sam Moon Trading Co. have opened doors and the project's JCPenney store, which opened in October 2006, won its second Chairman's Award to signal its success in the budding Interstate 35 W retail corridor in north Fort Worth. Alliance Town Center is situated between North Tarrant and Heritage Trace parkways.

The 168,446-sf Sam Moon Center is the Dallas-based chain's fourth in the state and first in Tarrant County. The sales were the highest of all previous store openings, said Daniel Moon, vice president and general counsel of Sam Moon.

Kincaid’s Hamburgers marked its fifth launch with one of the most successful grand openings in its 40-year history.

The joint venture's future plans include a grocery-anchored center and a "town center" component with specialty retail interspersed with office, hotel and residential space. At build-out, the 300-acre Alliance Town Center will top two million sf in a mix of uses, including entertainment and the HCA medical campus.

Alliance Town Center, with miles of interstate frontage, is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas encompassing the cities of Fort Worth, Roanoke, Haslet and Westlake in Tarrant and Denton counties. AllianceTexas houses more than 200 companies in 29 million sf, 7,200 single-family homes, Monterra Village apartments and corporate campuses and golf courses.

BUSINESS BOOMING AT ALLIANCE TOWN CENTER

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (June 25, 2009) – For several retailers at Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth, the past month has been exciting and busy. Iconic retailers Kincaid’s Hamburgers and Sam Moon Trading Co. experienced highly successful openings, while the JCPenney store earned its company’s Chairman’s Award for top performance for the second straight year.

Sam Moon Trading Company opened the doors of its fourth store in May. The renowned seller of women’s fashion accessories and handbags attracted large crowds of shoppers to its new 168,446 square-foot center, which is the company’s first location in Fort Worth and Tarrant County.

“Based on first month’s sales, Sam Moon Trading Fort Worth’s sales were the highest of all our prior store openings,” said Daniel Moon, vice president and general counsel of Sam Moon.

JCPenney, which was the first retailer to open at Alliance Town Center in October 2006, has earned the company’s top honor each of the past two years. The 2008 Chairman’s Award was presented on May 1 by Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, JCPenney chairman and chief executive officer, to only 74 of the Company‘s 1,101 stores.

“Our store’s performance was a result of a team effort. Our Associates are committed to putting our customers first and making JCPenney an easy and exciting place to shop,” said JCPenney Store Manager Enriqueta Calvillo. “We are part of a dynamic community, and we look forward to continuing to provide an outstanding shopping experience.”

Kincaid’s Hamburgers, which last month opened its fifth outlet at Alliance Town Center, had one of the most successful grand openings in the company’s 40-year history.

More than 20 retailers occupy more than 600,000 square feet at Alliance Town Center. In addition to JCPenney, Kincaid’s and Sam Moon, retailers include Bank of Texas, Belk, Best Buy, Cheddar’s, Dress Barn, Eye Masters, Hobby Lobby, Jason’s Deli, Justice, Mattress Firm, PetSmart, Rack Room, Rue 21, Smoothie King, Sports Clips, Ulta, Wells Fargo, and Which Wich.

Future phases of Alliance Town center will include a grocery-anchored center and a town center component with specialty retail integrated with office, hotel and residential space. At full buildout Alliance Town Center will house more than 2 million square feet of retail, office, residential, and entertainment space, along with the HCA medical campus.

Alliance Town Center is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that also includes the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, the corporate campuses and golf courses of Circle T Ranch, the Monterra Village apartment home community and the single-family communities of Heritage, Saratoga and Vaquero. AllianceTexas houses more than 7,200 single-family homes and 200 companies that have built 29 million square feet and created 28,000 jobs. The development lies within four cities: Fort Worth, Roanoke, Haslet and Westlake, and two counties: Tarrant and Denton.

About Hillwood

Hillwood, A Perot Company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company is recognized for its high-profile and public-private ventures that bring tremendous value to its customers and partners. In addition to AllianceTexas, Hillwood (www.hillwood.com) is best known for its development of the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas and the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia development near Los Angeles.

About Trademark

Founded in 1991, Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. has developed or acquired nearly $1 Billion worth of retail and mixed-use space. Trademark has become one of the premier outdoor retail and mixed-use developers in the country. Other notable Texas projects include Market Street – The Woodlands, and Watters Creek, a 1 million s.f. mixed-use development under construction in Allen, TX. For information, visit http://www.trademarkproperty.com/.

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