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03/08/04
Bachman/NW Highway Community Association Meeting
Here are some notes I took at our monthly meeting.
Our special guest was Rafael Anchia who will be the
next District 103 representative in
the State Legislature for much of NW Dallas.
Two members of the Park Cities Rotary Club made a
presentation regarding a new playground they (and three other
groups) are donating at Bachman Lake Park near the
gazebo.
1. Two DPD officers reported on
crime stats for the Bachman area. One of our members
also asked about car burglaries at the Fire Station on
Lombardy.
2. Rafael Anchia will represent 175,000 in District 103. The per capita for
the district is $13,000/yr. Much
of the district is a poor area, and many of the
constituents are interested in health care, good transportation, public
education, etc. He wants to start working on
problems that will arise once our city doubles in population in 20 years.
3. Planet Venus on NW Hwy is being watched by the city because they got a
Certificate of Occupancy to open as a restaurant. Their
marquee clearly indicates it will be a sexually oriented business. The
owner of the property is Michael Harrison. Curtis Wise leased the property.
Thurston Robinson subleased the building.
Editor's comments: CBS 11 reported Monday night the
City Attorney is seeking a TRO against the marquee sign and the apparent
sexually oriented business planned for the property. About time!
4. Homeless Shelter on Harry Hines site-still on hold. It
has been suggested the site would
be excellent for the expansion of El Centro Jr.
College's nursing program. The
building and land is available for $5 Million, and the DCJCD has over
$10 million for the expansion
project. The site is within 4 miles of several
hospitals on Harry Hines. NW Dallas needs to crusade
for this. It would solve that location being vacant, and the
building was a rehabilitation facility before it closed.
5. Tony Sanchez (former Democrat candidate for governor) owns the Bank of
Laredo. They plan to open a bank
at the SW corner of NW Hwy
and Webb Chapel Ext. |
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Randy Staff:
The bank opening a branch in the Bachman area is Laredo
National Bank (LNB), not Bank of Laredo.
Tony Sanchez is a major shareholder
in International Bank of Commerce (IBC). IBC is
headquartered in Laredo, but is not affiliated
with LNB, in fact LNB and ICB are fierce competitors. LNB is controlled by
Mexican national Carlos Rho Hanks. Several years ago, I believe Hanks was
fined $40 million by the Federal Reserve for numerous violations of
banking laws.
Management of LNB
approached Roxan and I approximately 18
months ago about buying American Bank for a
reasonable offer. I wish we had taken the offer.
At the time, both of us were excited about
prospects for revitalization of the Bachman area. As
Mike Perry said recently, it is clear now
"the Bachman area is doomed".
I agree with you that any new business coming
to the area is good news. For some reason, two banks competing are good
for an area but, surprisingly, also good for the
two banks.
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It is important that we work
together to keep NW Dallas
family oriented with good businesses.
I am concerned our area will become full of
sleazy bars and billiard halls. The
area already has too many Hispanic billiard halls.
I was born in Monterrey, Mexico, so this is not a racist statement. Old
establishments like the Denny's at I-35 and Walnut Hill has closed. We cannot
continue to go in this direction.
Mary Lou Montes Zijderveld
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