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Supporters tell council North Park TIRZ could fund a Quan Parker park and sculpture; first reading planned this month
Summary
At a public hearing on a proposed North Park tax increment reinvestment zone, staff described a 332-acre district and preliminary project estimates; developers and historians urged approval, saying the district could reimburse park improvements including a proposed Quan Parker equestrian sculpture.
The Lubbock City Council opened a public hearing on Oct. 8 on a petition to create a North Park tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) roughly 332 acres in size just outside the north loop near the Alamo Drafthouse. Staff said the petition met statutory requirements, described the project and finance plan as preliminary, and said the council could consider a first reading of an ordinance later in October and take final action in November.
Briana Brown, the staff presenter, described the TIRZ concept and explained that a TIRZ uses incremental property tax revenue to reimburse developers for eligible public improvements; she noted the presentation’s estimate that the area could generate approximately $41.5 million in incremental taxable value over a proposed 30-year district term and listed developer project estimates including about $3.6 million for a planned "Applia Lake Park." Brown emphasized the estimates are preliminary and that the project-and-finance plan will set limits on reimbursement and term length.
Speakers in favor included a developer representative, Corey Douan of AMD Engineering, who said he represented the property owner and would answer technical questions; historian Dr. Ty Kridler (Texas Tech and the West Texas Historical Association) urged council to support the TIRZ in part because it could enable a prominent park honoring Quan Parker and a large equestrian sculpture by local artist Eddie Dixon. Holly Humph, a resident and scholar, also urged support and tied the proposal to regional heritage-trail and tourism potential. Speakers described the sculpture and park as a cultural and economic draw for the region.
On the record staff presented estimated project cost categories and emphasized the plan to return a project-and-finance plan with detailed reimbursement schedules to council for approval. City staff noted that only the public hearing was scheduled for this meeting and that subsequent readings and the final creation ordinance are expected at later council meetings.
The public hearing was closed and no final council action to create the TIRZ occurred on Oct. 8; the council will consider additional hearings and ordinance readings in the October/November schedule, per staff remarks.
