North Richland Hills & Tarrant College Clash Over Land

0:00It's April 8th. Welcome to Dallas News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story. North Richland Hills and Taren County College are clashing over 20 to 25 acres of empty land at the college's northeast campus. Right. At Boulevard 26 in Harwood Road, the spots prime for growth, but it's just been a gas well and dirt fill site so far. City leaders, led by Mayor Jack McCarty, want to sell it to a major retailer to boost the economy. Police pushing hard, saying the deal could net the college over $10 million, spark $50 million in private investment, create $200, permanent jobs, and bring in $5.5 million in property taxes over the next decade. Right now, that land generate zero tax revenue, and the city sees it as a rare win in a built-out area. The college chancellor, Elva LeBlanc, pushes back strong, arguing they need the land for expanding programs like science buildings, childcare, cyber. City and defense manufacturing as student numbers grow.

1:00She says the sites worth around 20 million, and selling would betray taxpayer bonds, while only adding $28,600 a. Year in taxes, not enough to cover security or storm water fixes. City officials met with the retailer first, without looping in the college, leading to a no-sale letter from the college CFO. McCarty and others spoke at board meetings, but the college points to their past rigorous land sales in 2018 as the right way. There's set to talk more in April 8th, with McCarty hosting an economic development town hall that evening at City Hall could be the move to bridge. This gap and unlock Northeast Terran County's future.