PRESS RELEASES - FEBRUARY 2009

February 19, 2009

Six Arlington Projects Are Finalists in Region’s Best
Real Estate Deals for 2008

Six development projects in Arlington have been named finalists in the 17th Annual Best Real Estate Deals of the Year Award. Winners will be announced Feb. 26.

The annual event is sponsored by the Dallas Business Journal and recognizes the best in commercial real estate in North Texas. Arlington’s finalists are: Arlington Memorial Hospital, Decorator’s Warehouse, Forum 303 Crossing, Three Bridges Project, U.S. Bowling Congress and UT-Arlington Engineering Research Complex.

About the Projects

Arlington Memorial Hospital
The Arlington Memorial Hospital expansion is a finalist in the best medical project category. The $76 million expansion project included the addition of 16 new operating rooms and 48 private patient rooms. The new Vandergriff Surgical Tower is the largest expansion in the hospital’s history and positions it meet the growing demands for quality medical care. Construction was completed in the spring 2008. Learn more about the project, visit www.texashealth.org.

Decorator’s Warehouse
The Decorators Warehouse is a finalist in the category for best renovation project. The retailer is known as Texas’ number one Christmas store. The company out grew its space in Pantego and is relocating to Arlington in a 60,000 square-foot building on 6.3 acres in west Arlington. The new warehouse will feature a showroom and tea room to provide shoppers with a unique dining and shopping experience. This project is expected to create jobs and initiate redevelopment along West Pioneer Parkway. The new Decorator’s Warehouse opens summer 2009. Learn more at www.decoratorswarehousearlington.com.

Forum 303 Crossing
The Forum 303 Crossing is a finalist in the category for best industrial project. The developer, Panattoni is the largest private development company in the U.S. This $22.5 million investment features 504,000 square-feet of quality office/warehouse space on 29 acres. It will create about 200 jobs and further redevelopment efforts in the Great Southwest Industrial District. To learn more, visit www.bizjournals.com or www.arlingtontx.gov keyword search: Panattoni.

Three Bridges Project
The Three Bridges Project is a finalist in the category for best community impact. This $162.4 million mobility improvement project stretches from Cooper Street to Ballpark Way along Interstate 30 in north Arlington. The project includes new bridges, redesign of the old Collins Street interchange, new frontage roads, HOV lanes, and additional freeway lanes. The project is enhanced by historic murals and other architectural elements. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010. Get more information at www.arlingtontx.gov keyword search: Three Bridges.

U.S. Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress is a finalist in the category for best office deal in existing space. The USBC will move its state-of-the art, high-tech testing, training, research and coaching campus to Arlington’s Entertainment District. The project will also become the site of the International Bowling Museum, which will relocate from St. Louis, Mo. The new facility will bring events such as the BPAA Bowling Summit and the BPAA International Bowl Expo, which will enhance Arlington’s reputation as a tourism destination. The USBC also plans to host USBC Open Championships in Arlington. This project employs about 150 people. Groundbreaking for the international test center was held in February and a grand opening is set for the fall 2009. Learn more at www.bowl.com.

UT Arlington Engineering Research Complex
The UT Arlington Engineering Research Complex is a finalist in the category for best green project. The $116 million facility will provide approximately 230,000 square feet of space for state-of-the-art research labs, classrooms, faculty and graduate student offices, administrative offices, conference rooms and support areas. The building’s design incorporates several energy-saving features, including green and light-reflecting roofs, window designs for improved use of available light, rain and condensate water capture and storage for landscaping, use of recycled materials, and others that will allow the facility to meet requirements for LEED Silver certification. The laboratory opens in August 2009 and research building will open in January 2011. To learn more, visit www.uta.edu/engineering/erb.php.

Doing business in Arlington has never been brighter. To learn more about the Champion Arlington economic development strategy for success, visit the City of Arlington Office of Economic Development website at www.championarlington.com.