Numerous structures along Northeast Tarrant freeways are being razed to make room for the North Tarrant Express project.

Among the businesses torn down on the ever-changing landscape are the Tri-Cities Professional Building in Bedford, Billiards and Barstools in Euless and a Starbucks in Hurst.

Of the 399 parcels needed to widen Loop 820 and Texas 121/183, 390 have been acquired, said Robert Hinkle, spokesman for North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners, which is overseeing the $2.5 billion, 13.5-mile project.

Hinkle said the company expects to spend around $200 million by the time it finishes acquiring right of way in March.

"Since there are a handful of parcels still in the acquisition stage, the exact [cost] will not be known for a few months," he said.

While city officials acknowledge that they will take multimillion-dollar hits in property and sales taxes, they could only estimate what they will lose.

Bedford

Bill Syblon, Bedford's economic development director, said that a conservative estimate puts 15 percent of the city's sales tax base along the Texas 183 corridor.

"We also know that properties with structures being physically impacted by the widening represent 6 percent of Bedford's property tax base," he said.

That's about $174 million of Bedford's $2.9 billion net taxable property values.

Syblon said that every business along the 6.3 miles of Airport Freeway in Bedford is affected by the project.

"That's more than 70, factoring in that many of these properties are multitenant," he said.

In addition to the Tri-Cities building, Bedford lost Razzoo's, Mexican Inn and the Tetco and Valero gas stations. Both restaurants will be demolished. The Park Place Mercedes dealership also moved away, though the building remains.

"We've been talking with Capital Automotive, owner of the Park Place building, to help them identify other opportunities or options for the building," Syblon said.

The city also kept On The Border by granting some tax incentives that will help build a new restaurant behind the current site.

Other rescued businesses include a Jason's Deli, which moved to another spot in The Shops at Central Park; a motorcycle and accessory store called Bikers Bay; Bedford Gold and Silver; and Craig's Collision, Syblon said.

Hurst

As buildings disappeared along 3.1 miles of right of way through Hurst, the city scrambled to prevent the businesses from vanishing as well.

"We have indeed done everything within our power to keep our businesses located in Hurst and most have found new locations in the Hurst community," City Manager Allan Weegar said.

In all, 16 businesses were affected by the project, spokeswoman Ashleigh Whiteman said.

"Less than 1 percent of Hurst's property tax base is in the right of way," she said.

That property value, including all leveled buildings, represented about $2.8 million in taxable value, according to the 2011 Tarrant Appraisal District report, Whiteman said.

Hurst lost First Cash Advance, T-Mobile, Colonial Savings and a Subway sandwich shop. Just east of where Starbucks used to be, a Burger King and CiCi's Pizza closed. The empty buildings will be razed within weeks.

Seven affected businesses are staying put, Whiteman said.

A McDonald's just east of CiCi's survived and now sports a banner proclaiming, "We're still here. We're not closing."

Just a bit farther east, Outback Steakhouse also survived but is losing 26 parking spaces.

Weegar said that, along with the challenges, the North Tarrant Express is bringing opportunities ahead of its 2015 completion.

Across Precinct Line Road from Hurst Town Center, new neighbors next to a QuikTrip gas station are creating buzz.

The site attracted not only an In-N-Out Burger, but also the Mexican Inn that lost its building in Bedford.

Euless

Mike Collins, director of planning and development, said Euless has worked with businesses to minimize right-of-way acquisition's negative effects.

"The City Council is committed to assisting all of the businesses that are being impacted," he said. "We are working with a few businesses on potential relocations. But, it would be premature to make any announcements."

Other than Billiards and Barstools, a Whataburger and an OC Burger, Collins knew of no other businesses that have closed because of the project.

Many businesses in the 1.3 miles of right of way through Euless are affected to lesser degrees, he said. Showplace Lanes, for instance, is staying despite losing a lot of parking.

"In virtually all cases, we are dealing with impacts to required landscaping, parking and sign locations," Collins said. "We are working closely with the businesses to explore opportunities to modify their sites in order to continue to meet the site development standards, and to meet all life safety standards."

North Richland Hills

A team of North Richland Hills employees and representatives of businesses along the city's 3.15 miles of the project corridor helped plan ways to lessen the effects on commerce, spokeswoman Mary Peters said. They included changes in the sign ordinance, detours that eased business access and the coordination of construction work hours and business hours. In some cases, adjacent properties agreed to share parking.

Nothing but relocation worked for a few businesses. Peters said that a strip center demolished at 8705 Bedford Euless Road included Casual Male XL, Segway and FedEx stores.

"We were aware of the impacts on these businesses and have worked with each of them to find alternative locations in North Richland Hills," she said. "Casual Male and Segway have both relocated in NRH, while the FedEx chose a new location in Hurst."

Peters said the city has not calculated the percentage of property tax base impacted by the acquisitions and is still working with the state and the project's owner to determine the impact on city facilities like City Hall and Richland Tennis Center.

"A possession and use agreement has been signed between the parties but the final value of the damages has not been determined," Peters said.

Haltom City

The city lost Zimmerer Kubota & Equipment and may lose Unclaimed Freight in its 2.1 miles of right of way, City Manager Tom Muir said.

Unclaimed Freight, which overlooks the project at 4850 Northeast Loop 820, will lose too many parking spaces, Muir said.

"We are working with them to allow them to operate as long as they can until they can establish a new location," he said. "We have had several meetings with them and they are considering their options" to remain in Haltom City.

Muir said that the city regrets losing businesses but said the losses will be offset by large amounts of vacant land opened by the project's new frontage roads.

"We will be constructing roads on the north and south sides to enhance access and improve mobility," he said. "We are also in the early stages of creating [tax increment finance districts] on the north and south sides to aid in development as well."

Terry Evans, 817-390-7620

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