BIZZ BUZZ

WHAT’S UP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES STARTING OVER

Gecko Hardware was known for its quirky merchandise and renowned rooster Prince George, and its new owner Sharon Anderson plans to continue its unconventional legacy. Now Rooster Home & Hardware, the store at Northwest Highway and Ferndale is rebranded, and the shelves are restocked.

NEW NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHRISE?

An inferno at the Hearthwood North Condominiums in 2013 caused the death of firefighter Stan Wilson and left behind nine acres of debris, which has plagued surrounding neighborhoods at Abrams near I-635. GBN Financial recently purchased the land, on which it intends to build a high-rise mixed-use residential development, tentatively called Dallas Grand Plaza, if they can gain support from neighborhood landowners and city officials. The developers ideally would replace the one time three-story, 250-unit condominium complex with a six-floor, 750-unit apartment community including a robust mix of retail, eateries, parks and recreational space. GBN is interested in purchasing adjoining properties in the area, including apartment buildings and businesses along the I-635 access road, a spokesperson said at a public meeting. “There are improvements happening at Skillman and I-635, and we want to be a part of that.” The Skillman corridor, a stretch one exit east of Abrams and I-635, is part of a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) and is slated for an overhaul. The proposed Dallas Grand Plaza does not fall into a TIF or Public Improvement District, but the developers say they might seek tax incentives in order to further “develop more needed improvements in the Abrams/I-635 area.”

Not Coming To Lake Highlands

Flying in the face of hopeful rumors, H-E-B-owned Central Market will not open in Lake Highlands anytime soon. Despite buying up six Dallas grocery stores last spring, H-E-B announced plans to open just two new Central Market stores (in Uptown and Preston Hollow). The SunFresh Market at Northwest Highway and Ferndale, which H-E-B bought and closed last summer, is on the market, while Lincoln Property Company acquired another of H-E-B’s recent purchases, the grocery store at Mockingbird and Abrams.

Restaurant News

El Pollo Loco is coming to the intersection of Forest Lane and Abrams Road. The California-based fire-grilled chicken chain is one of more than 20 scheduled to open in the metroplex by the end of 2019. Seven Five Patio Bar is scheduled to open in February in the spot Nodding Donkey occupied until this past spring. The college hangout’s menu will be modeled after owner Aaron Morrison’s previous venture, Plano-based bar Lantern St. Grill. Pizza, wings and two dozen beers on tap will be available until 2 a.m.

Highlander School

9120 Plano Rd. Dallas / 214.348.3220 / www.highlanderschool.com

Founded in 1966, Highlander offers an enriched curriculum in a positive, Christian-based environment. By limiting class size, teachers are able to build a strong educational foundation to ensure confidence in academics, athletics, and the creative and performing arts. Highlander offers a “classic” education which cannot be equaled. Monthly tours offered; call for a reservation.

Holy Trinity Catholic School

3815 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas 214-526-5113, htcsdallas.org For more than 100 years, Holy Trinity Catholic School, has been committed to the religious, intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth of each student. This commitment is carried out in a nurturing atmosphere with an emphasis on social awareness, service to others, and religious faith in the Catholic tradition. The Immaculate Heart Program at Holy Trinity School was initiated to fully realize our school’s mission of developing the whole child by meeting the needs of one of the most underserved and underperforming groups in catholic schools, children with dyslexia.

Lakehill Preparatory School

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep.org to advertise call 214.560.4203

Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

SECTION

Spanish House

Four East Dallas Locations / 214.826.4410/ DallasSpanishHouse.com Spanish Immersion Program in East Dallas! Nursery, Preschool, Elementary and Adult Programs available. Our new dual-language elementary campus is now open at 7159 E. Grand Ave. Please visit our website at DallasSpanishHouse.com for more information.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org

Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

White Rock North School

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas/ 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Characterbuilding and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and stateof-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

Zion Lutheran School

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 65 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

People

Lake Highlands High School alumnus Jamarice Preston made a name for himself as a student-athlete, breaking a long-held school record on the track and earning silver at the state championship meet, among a number of other accomplishments. That success has carried over into his college career, where he beat the school’s 600-meter race record by .76 seconds. With a time of 1:11:53, he earned the title Western Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Week.

But Preston isn’t the only Lake Highlands High School graduate whose athleticism is worth noting. Reagan Dunk, who now attends the University of Denver, has been named a semifinalist for the national college soccer Player of the Year, and his team competed for a spot at the Division I men’s national championships.

And yet, another former LHHS student recently had her own 15 seconds of fame, albeit for a completely different reason. Alumnus Brittany Fitz Chapman appeared in the season premiere of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines.” Brittany and her husband, Andrew, were ecstatic with their new home, especially the fireplace. “It’s the focal point of the room,” she said. “It was something we weren’t expecting, but we love it. We’ve already been through the whole stack of wood seen on the show, and it hasn’t even gotten really cold in Texas yet.”

Places

The future of Flag Pole Hill is an ongoing debate, and community members gathered at a master plan community meeting in November to offer their often-impassioned feedback. “Flag Pole Hill is an asset to our Dallas community,” said District 10 City Council member Adam McGough. “The day after I was elected, I went to the park to spend some quiet time in prayer and reflect on the campaign. It is important part of our entire community and city.” Elizabeth

McIlrath and Philip Neely — representing the landscape architecture firm Dunaway — also presented potential improvements, such as restoring the original Works Progress Administration buildings, conserving area nature, improving trails and making the outdated playground accessible to those with disabilities. “The commonality seems to be to keep the park natural and celebrate the rustic natural beauty, like an oasis in this big city,” longtime neighbor Patti Smith said. “If we had destination amenity improvements, it would increase traffic and noise and would disturb the natural beauty. People come here to feel like they are out in the country.”

A new boathouse at White Rock Lake is in the works, and former opponents of the plan finally have given their seal of approval. The 8,300-square-foot structure with a metal roof would cost approximately $350,000 to construct and has received widespread support. “It sounds too good to be true, but it is, more or less, true,” says Michael Jung, the White Rock Neighborhood Association president who is part of both the White Rock Lake Task Force and the Dallas Plan Commission. The previous plan, which many felt was too gaudy, suggested a 9,000-square-foot structure that would cost $4 million.

Education

Richardson ISD school board member Justin Bono announced he will seek a second term, and he plans to begin campaigning soon for the May 2017 election. Bono, a 2012 graduate of Inside RISD, was elected for a three-year term in 2014 and was named Exchangite of the Year in 2013 by the Lake Highlands Exchange Club. His two daughters attend Moss Haven Elementary. “It has been a great honor to serve as a Trustee for the parents and taxpayers of Richardson ISD the past two and a half years working to give our students, teachers and employees the learning and working environment they deserve,” Bono told the Lake Highlands Advocate via email.

By GEORGE MASON