North Texas city and TCC squabble over land, as possible development looms
North Richland Hills and Tarrant County College officials are at odds over the future of vacant land at a prime location that could play a key part in future growth and development in northeast Tarrant County.
Mayor Jack McCarty said he has been talking to college officials for several months concerning 20-25 acres of vacant land at the southwest corner of the TCC Northeast campus at Boulevard 26 and Harwood Road that hasn’t been used for anything except a gas well site and a “dirt fill” site.
“I think transparency is very important,” McCarty said in an interview. “We are getting conflicting responses.”
At issue is a request from a “major retailer” that views North Richland Hills as a prime location, McCarty said. McCarty declined to identify the retailer that wants to buy the land.
He stated in an interview and in a Star-Telegram opinion piece that the land sale would generate millions in much-needed funding for the college and tax revenue as well as create permanent jobs and work opportunities for students.
The college would receive well over $10 million in direct proceeds from the sale, McCarty wrote. The project would bring around $50 million in private investment into the local economy, create approximately 200 permanent jobs, and generate an estimated $5.5 million in property tax revenue over the next decade, he wrote.
Currently, the land isn’t generating property tax revenue, he said.
“This is the kind of project cities compete for,” McCarty said.
McCarty said he and officials from the city and the business met with TCC officials. That resulted in a letter from the TCC CFO stating there was no interest in selling the land.
McCarty and mayor pro tem Kelvin Dupree also spoke during public comment periods at recent TCC board meetings.
North Richland Hills is largely built out and doesn’t have 20 to 25 acres of land. The retailer identified North Richland Hills as a strong market, McCarty said.
But Chancellor Elva LeBlanc begs to differ.
She wrote in her opinion piece for the Star-Telegram that the college needs the land for future programs.
LeBlanc said the college has not received a formal purchase offer for the land and that North Richland Hills negotiated with the retailer before consulting Tarrant County College.
“Imagine if someone tried to strike a deal to sell part of the lot your house sits on, and you weren’t involved. How likely would you be to accept the offer? Not likely at all,” LeBlanc wrote.
She added that the city values the land at between $11 million and $13 million, but a “comparable appraisal lists a much higher value of approximately $20 million.
LeBlanc said the college would gain approximately $28,600 in annual tax revenue, which wouldn’t offset the cost for additional security needs, storm water challenges and lost opportunities.
She also stated that Tarrant County College needs the land for future opportunities geared toward a growing student population.
The college uses over 60% of its 173 acres on the northeast campus, which is higher than at other campuses, LeBlanc wrote.
The college sold unused land in 2018 through a rigorous evaluation process.
Construction will start this year on a science building and the college is exploring building child care facilities for families struggling to afford care.
Within the next 10 years, Tarrant county College will also need the land for cyber security and defense manufacturing programs that don’t exist yet.
“Selling this land would betray commitments we’ve made to taxpayers who approved our bond projects,” LeBlanc wrote.
For his part, McCarty said he is meeting with officials Wednesday, April 8, to discuss next steps. He will also address the issue during an economic development town hall at 6 p.m. April 8 at the North Richland Hills City Hall, 4301 City Point Dr.