Southlake’s mayor sees a year of possibilities

When Southlake’s Mayor John Terrell looks ahead through 2015, he sees a city of possibilities.

“Even as much as we have grown and as much as has been developed, there are still so many possibilities out there,” he said. “I look forward to some of those things that have not been thought of yet that will come up in 2015.”

Terrell recently shared his insights on what residents and visitors alike can expect this year.

Terrell shared his excitement about the community’s recreation center - The Marq Southlake - finally coming online this fall.

“It's going to be a big deal,” he said about the center that will house the seniors activity center, community meeting space, an outdoor amphitheater and possibly fitness and indoor aquatics.

“That center is going to provide not only a new development, but it will be a new attraction that services our community that our citizens have been asking for, for a number of years.”

He also spoke about the shopping centers and more stores coming online. Park Village, which is catty-corner to Southlake Town Square plans to have its grand opening this spring. And, a development also neighboring Town Square near Texas 114 is taking shape.

“It’s not like anything ever gets old in Southlake,” he said. “If you have been to Southlake in the last year you may not have seen the new things that have started and opened.”

Terrell said another major part of commercial growth is bringing corporate offices along the Texas 114 corridor.

The city has invested in a new economic development and tourism director and a new marketing plan to showcase what the city has to offer for visitors.

“Today, as we have matured and built the kinds of development that people like to come visit, they don’t come visit unless they know about it,” Terrell said. “Once they’ve experienced it, they come back over and over and they tell their friends.”

With planned growth, comes challenges and the mayor has some on the radar, including traffic and water needs.

“You don’t have to take a survey to know what one of our biggest challenges is and that’s traffic,” he said. “We are a destination now.”

He said the completion of construction on alternate roadways should alleviate the traffic on 1709. He also said the state and region should invest in ensuring that people have enough water.

Terrell’s time as mayor will end in May because of term limits, but he’s excited about what 2015 will bring.

“I think the possibilities are endless,” he said.

This story was originally published January 16, 2015 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Southlake’s mayor sees a year of possibilities."