First Look: The New Highland Park Town Hall
Okay, so maybe not the first look, but definitely the first one in color. We ran a rendering in the paper a few weeks ago, but here’s one that you can print out and stick on the fridge, if that’s the kind of thing you like to do.
You can even chop off all the writing, throw it in a Christmas card, and tell your out-of-town relatives that it’s your new house. Could be fun.
Anyway, there’s still a lot of work to be done on the design, but this is a pretty good idea of what to expect. Thanks to town administrator Bill Lindley for sending this over.
How is it different?
Why is the government spending right now? Time to return property tax money when you are fixing one of the best town halls in America!!!!
@what?,
Amen. It’s like the UP and HP town governments spend money for the sake of spending it. Ridiculous
As a taxpayer, and resident of Highland Park, can anyone in administration at HP Town Hall tell me if any employee and/or Town Council member has:
1. A Criminal Record;
2. At any time in the past and/or present has and/or have been been arrested.
Maybe the HP Adminstration on Drexel Drive can get this information to the taxpayers asap. Thanks.
@DemBones- The third floor is new, and there is a lot of extra square-footage jammed into some nooks and crannies. For the entire plan, head to http://highlandp.blogspot.com
Sam, I’m tired of your pestering. You lost the election. Get over it.
Others: From my understanding, one of the biggest improvements for the space is improving communications, particularly cell phone coverage and 911 response. Plus fixing a flooding basement. Which in my book = money well spent.
Wow, $14 million sounds like a lot to improve communications and fix a flooding basement. I like how they say that they didn’t have to raise taxes, which basically means that the taxes have been high enough the whole time.
Listen, I understand updating old buildings, but why do I get the feeling that they are going for the deluxe, gold plated option???
Sam,
As a fellow resident, etc., I’d prefer it if you did your own research, rather than asking the Town of HP administration to do it. The Highland Park Library has wonderful online databases which you can use for free, or file a Freedom of Information Act request.
If there is such an arrest/criminal record issue that is germane to residents, that you know of, then let your fellow residents know. If not, then please hush.
@Bradford. I did not notice the third floor. Thanks.
I’m no fan of real estate taxes, but my impression of the HP government is that they spend and hire carefully. The staff are friendly and helpful and do not drive cars that suggest they are overpaid. The library relied mostly on donations for its re-do, and much of that was functional. I questioned some workers who were changing out plants I liked in a park and was told it was because those plants were too water intensive, which is a reasonable concern in a landlocked town. So I’ll assume they need the 3rd floor.
Hmmm, very interesting comment “Jen”.
Not worried about the past bogus election. You should know already about the situation. Anytime the Town desires a one vote per voter instead of five votes per voter, please let me know. Get a real election.
Secondly, “Jen” please do not hide behind blog nicknames. If you have something to say, be a grown up and stand behind your opinion/comment with a verifiable real name.
Third, Have a great day.
Highly irregular
@Sam. “Anytime the Town desires a one vote per voter instead of five votes per voter, please let me know.”
????????
Unfortunately, the maintenance costs of the existing town hall were escalating rapidly. Eventually, major renovations have to happen to all structures to keep them going for another 50 years. Add on the challenge of building over a waterway and avoiding damage to the big trees and it’s easy to see why costs escalate.
“Sam”, please quit going on about the election you lost. You sound like some kind of conspiracy theorist. If you have some sort of earth-shattering expose about ballot box stuffing, please shed some (honest, well researched) light on it or quit whining.
DemBones, good point. The town’s budget is set and approved at the beginning of the year and is public record (and accessible on the town’s website). The employees are definitely not overpaid. It’s amazing how much the staff does relative to the size of the town and it’s budget.
I think this design is a disaster aesthetically. It completely messes up the proportions of the building, turning what had been an elegant building into the Hulk.
All interesting comments. But…faceless (Alias) name comments are laughable, and are what they are.
I believe any municipality, and in particular Highland Park, Tx, who does not do basic background checks on existing non-Dept. of Public Safety employees, (i.e. administration employees) raises brows.
Changing the subject to the election is an obvious diversion to the issue at hand.
Do the checks, make the information public. The town has a duty to the residents.
Sam-you too changed the subject. Any knowledge of election fraud-speak up or forever shut the pie hole.
I think Sam wants HP to change the at-large election system to a place # system like how the HPISD school board is elected. Many municipalities have been forced to make such a change due to under-representation of minorities (which isn’t a problem in HP since there are no minorities).
Of course when 9 out of 10 residents don’t care one whit who their elected officials are what’s the point.
Sam, give it a rest, call for a re-vote, do some investigating yourself and present it to the HPDPS. It doesn’t sound like you even like HP, obviously you are a newby and don’t get this TOWN. Moving on, I still wnat to know who voted on the white (hanky) HP flag with baby blue lettering. Come on guys, HP colors have ALWAYS been navy and gold. It looks like someone has hoisted a diaper up the old flag pole. One can’t even read what it says. If you don’t believe me go to the newly and over dolled up HP Village and see what you think. There’s the US FLAG, the Texas Flag and “the diaper”. Won’t anyone reconsider? IJS
Wow! It appears some disgruntled “group” members have piled on from the past election…. wonder who you are.
Background checks on existing non-DPS employees is standard practice, and it only raises more questions for not doing so. If HP claims to desire the same standards as neighboring cities, then do so.
Some pretty sharp comments, has anyone ever above tried to put a real verifiable name behind them or is it easier to hide behind an alias.
I understand that there are some of you who are disgruntled about the 2010 election, but get happy.
Thanks,
Sam,
This thread started about the new design. You brought up the election and background checks on your own. I like the background question and would like an answer as well.
That being said; lay down some actual facts regarding why it was a “bogus election” and explain yourself. Or you could continue spraying random comments that dance around facts and sound like straight up whining.
@Avid Reader,
Read the thread above. I beleive “Jen” opened up the can of worms on the 2010 election. So I’m simply responding.
In my opinion, the following link may help:
http://www.parkcitiespeople.com/2010/05/03/highland-park-community-league-shares-address-with-hp-town-hall/
Because I bring up crimnial background checks on HP Town non-dps employees, and it is turned into “election” drama by another blogger (i.e “Jen”) is not whining.
That is the superficial character that some may desire to impose on me via this blog.
Wish you a Great Day.
Grump..GMOM..Dembones..Jen..Looks like some of you “chanters” have scattered and have no more arrows.
In my following political opinion, and, personal opinion, the link I provided says a great deal about you and your comments.
Hey GMOM, “newby” “don’t get this TOWN” & “it doesn’t sound like you even like HP”. Wow! I guess your right, I dont’ get this Town. I didn’t have to run a telephone line into Town Hall, and, then some folks pretend they didn’t know….The election smelled so bad that it raised the brow of the Dallas County District Attorney’s office.
I believe I recall a “special slap” from the Texas Ethics Commission on another issue.
Moreover, “newby” is a very interesting choice of words, GMOM. Apparently this “newby” would not sink the town in a refurbish job of $15 mil. and then try to find dollars, AND, would not desperately take advantage of the ill and desperate needy of ambulatory care by sacking folks with an increase in fee from $500 to $800.
I’m sure you realize not everyone is advantaged as some folks who live in the Park Cities. Some folks were not born with the silver spoon in their mouth….and believe it or not, some of us have actually made our own road in life.
The town design is interesting, but i’m not a fan of doing something and then trying to find dollars, or sack folks with unconscionable fee increases.
Wish you all a great day. EOM’s
@ Sam Tamborello – so many misspellings, misuses of commas, improper grammatical constructions, misplaced modifiers – they detract from your message, which is what again? Oh yeah, I think I remember now. We’ve all got it. Have a Great Day!
Sam – I don’t care about HP politics and quite frankly I don’t care about you, you sound like some bitter nut job, that pops up and posts occasionally, typically making posts that are not on topic or relavent to what is being discussed. Fair enough, for the most part I think nobody cares, they ignore you or poke back at you – whatever. But I am sick and tired of hearing you leer and jeer at people for posting here without posting their full names. We are not a bunch of public figures, we aren’t running for office or suing anybody and we’re not getting paid. For the most part we are just ordinary citizens of this community partipating in banter, sharing info and opinions. The bulk of the people on here are not being secretive about who they are in the least. Everyone at the paper knows who we are, our friends and family know who we are and we know each other. We just don’t want every crackpot with internet access to call us or email us or drive by our homes because they don’t like what we say or how we say it on here. If you don’t like that then stay off of “blogs”, because that is how they work, it is the nature of them. If you don’t know who we actually are then go back two sentences and reread what I just wrote, then go look in the mirror. Have whatever kind of day you want!
kmom – can i borrow a cup of sugar? thx.
@kmom, have you tried a coffee with Amaretto and a little nap.
Ooops, hoppe, I- speled …tat wright, fer hpperent.
I’m sorry you apparently have people driving by your home, I’ve never experienced such nor had any crazy e-mails. The folks of HP can e-mail me anytime, stop by my home, and my office is still open to the folks of HP. The issues are what they are.
You see, you probably have an agenda for a specific group, and not everyone has the same thought or opinions as you would like. People do care…..kmom, they are probably tired of the bad politics, and for the most part probably just give up.
If you want to banter on the blog, I would like to know who you are, why hide behind an alias. nothing more mean’t.
Wish you a wonderful day, and thanks for your thoughts. Stop by some time.
Up Up & Away… According to the Park Cities People…(October 14, 2011) … “The latest estimate for the entire Town Hall project is $14.3 million. That’s up from $13.9 million in June, and $12 million in March.”
The most funny thing as the article goes on to state…”but it (Town Hall) has another $10.65 million in cash for any unforeseen needs.” Oh really, does that mean the current Town Council members can spend this also?
It would seem to me that with all the “so called experience proclaimed with the Town Council” that someone can get a grip on the party on spending the taxpayers cash.
….an additional room on the second floor with an estimated cost of between $300,000 and $450,000? So funny?
The best part is…. the propaganda about all the hard work claimed to be put into this wild spending renovation, and, after it is exposed, there are the Town Coucil members quoted in the same article trying to spin their way out of the “gotcha.”
Mr. Rogers, in my opinion, you should have known or knew of the astonomical costs as well as your fellow Town Council Members, ……Ms. Madden….Mr. Nixon. I’ve noticed there was no comment from Mayor Seay.
In my opinion and belief, please stop spending like there is no tomorrow, best wishes.