Neighborhood Changes Near AT&T Stadium
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - A nearly 30 acre, undeveloped lot has a new owner and could see commercial and/or residential development beginning in coming months. It is welcome news for businesses along E. Division near Collins who so far have had few spill-over benefits from neighboring AT&T Stadium.
"Well, its prime property," said Fran Ruegsegger, owner of Bodacious Bar-B-Q. "And I never understood why they've not developed it."
Ruegsegger's restaurant is across the street from the undeveloped land. There used to be a retirement home there. After it was finally torn down a holding company auctioned the land in June. The parcel of property is a barrier between the crowds at AT&T stadium and Ruegsegger's food.
"When the out-of-towners come here they want some real Texas barbecue," Ruegsegger said. "So it doesn't really matter what they put over there as long as it draws the customers in."
The new owners are talking to Arlington about building apartments, a hotel and office space on the land. It is welcome news for the south side of the stadium. Traffic going to the games comes in from I30 to the north and 360 to the east. And so far, all the stadium has brought to the south side is the promise of more prosperous times ahead and empty lots ready for development.
"Depending on what they put over there, well, I can't see it being a bad thing regardless," Ruegsegger said. "I don't think they're going to put anything in there that will be undesirable for this neighborhood anyway."
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