Voters in two Fort Worth suburbs could decide to allow liquor stores within city limits
Haltom Theater owner Chaz Buchanan has big dreams of bringing an arts and entertainment district to the city which has seen an influx of new homes, restaurants and hotels.
Buchanan, whose entertainment venue draws bands from throughout Texas, said the first step in forming the arts district is bringing liquor stores and bars to Haltom City, which currently doesn’t allow them.
“This (not having liquor stores and bars) has held Haltom City back from having an arts district,” Buchanan said.
Cities bordering Haltom City, including Fort Worth and North Richland Hills, have liquor stores, he said. Buchanan said he wants to see an arts and entertainment district along Belknap Street.
Buchanan is launching a petition drive so that the local option election would be on the November or May ballot. Buchanan said he will need signatures from 2,900 registered Haltom City voters from the most recent gubernatorial election.
City manager Rex Phelps said it is up to citizens to start the petition drive and bring in the necessary signatures before the council could call for an election.
Haltom City isn’t the only community working on a liquor petition.
The Kite Realty Group based in Indianapolis that owns properties in Hurst, hired Texas Petition Strategies to oversee the petition drive.
John Hatch, president of Texas Petition Strategies, said Hurst will need 4,558 signatures to call the election.
Hatch said that if voters approve liquor stores, it would mean an additional 86 jobs and almost $200,000 in additional sales tax revenue.
“Cities are taking it on the chin right now with sales tax and property tax losses,” he said.
“One of the things they’ve shown is that package stores weather the storm and help cities recover some of what they are losing,” Hatch said.