Frisco Development Booming, City's Population 150K+
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FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) - It's been said that 'location' puts the 'prime' in prime real estate, and there's no area hotter in North Texas right now than the 91 acre Frisco development that will be home to the Dallas Cowboys' new training facility. But, even before that blue star went up on the corner of the Dallas Parkway and Warren, Frisco was becoming a boom town because of jobs, jobs, jobs.
"Everybody's very friendly, very nice… people from all over the country," says Alessandra Kowieski. "So I like that." Brazilian born Kowieski and her family became transplants (after a stop in Boston) following her husband's job.
"Frisco has everything you need. It's wonderful. Great schools. Great community. Everything's nice."
But, it wasn't so long ago that Frisco residents needed to travel to nearby cities for nearly everything. The city got its first mall in 2000. But, Mayor Maher Maso called Frisco home even before then.
"I was one of those people who moved here when it was a town of 6000," says Mayor Maso. Maso reminded us with a chuckle that he doesn't like to be called an 'old timer'. So, let's just say, he remembers when: "Everybody was related, so you couldn't even talk about anybody, we had one blinking yellow light in town, no retail… so I understand those days, so where we are today is strictly because our residents want this."
Frisco is now one of the fastest growing cities in the country. From those roughly 6000 residents, to 33,000 in the year 2000, and more than 150,000 now. At buildout, the city's population is expected to add some 200,000 more.
And as expected, Frisco schools have mirrored the city's rapid growth. Frisco ISD will open four new campuses this fall, and four more next year. But, is it too much, too soon?
"We're used to this growth," says Mayor Maso, adding that Frisco is becoming the city that citizens want. "You had to leave town to go shopping, you had to leave town for entertainment… the services that people really wanted were not here yet and now you don't have to leave town for anything."
As some newcomers see it, though, the only problem: "I just thought I would see more horses!" exclaims Kowieski with a big laugh. Not to worry. There will be Cowboys coming soon.
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