We Are Richardson Proud

The Richardson Coalition is committed to helping Richardson maintain excellence in important areas:

Excellence in Quality of Life:

Excellence in Residential Neighborhoods:

  • Business Week magazine's annual report on the "Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2009" ranks Richardson second in Texas.
  • Money magazine's "100 Best Places to Live, 2008" lists Richardson in 18th in the country.
  • Innovative programs for quality neighborhoods continue:
    • Alley reconstruction program ongoing
    • Bicycle and trailways master plan
    • Neighborhood redevelopment ordinance and railroad quiet zones enacted

Excellence in Education:

  • All Richardson and Plano schools within the Richardson city limits scored "exemplary" or "recognized" on the recent TAKS tests. These are the two highest rankings the Texas Education Agency gives.
  • UT Dallas in Richardson has initiated a ten-year, $800 million expansion program which will
    • Increase faculty from 400 to 800
    • Add 5,000 new students
    • Increase research funding

Excellence in Financial Stability:

  • Richardson is one of the few cities in Texas to have a AAA bond rating, the highest rating a municipality can receive.
  • Richardson commercial assessed property valuations continue growing in 2009, a year in which many cities are seeing declining valuations

Excellence in City Services:

  • Richardson Police Department's volunteer program received the 2008 International Association of Chiefs of Police outstanding achievement award in Law Enforcement –Volunteer Programs
  • A new Huffhines Recreation Center will be completed in 2009.
  • Renovated ball fields at Huffhines recreation center and Breckinridge Park will be completed in 2009.

Excellence in Economic Development:

  • The one million square foot Blue Cross campus will be completed in 2009 in Galatyn Park
  • Major new corporate residents include:
    • United Healthcare
    • Texas Capital Bank- Bank support operations
    • Fujitsu Transaction Solutions
    • AT&T U-Verse technical support operations
    • Vertex Outsourcing
    • Esurance
  • Major retailers opened new stores in 2008/9 in Richardson:
    • Lowes Home Improvement
    • Ross Dress for Less
    • Sprouts Farmers Market
    • HomeGoods
    • Walgreens
  • DoubleTree Hotels is now operating the refurbished and upgraded former Radisson Hotel, adding to the list of upscale hotels located in Richardson
  • Of ten Richardson shopping centers targeted for redevelopment in 2004, seven have been remodeled or redeveloped and two more are in the process of planning for remodeling.
  • The Twin Rivers Senior Living retirement apartment community opened this year, adding to Richardson's growing number of excellent senior living communities.
  • Fifty new restaurants have opened in Richardson since the end of 2007.
  • The Brick Row mixed-use $140 million development at Greenville and Spring Valley is progressing, with the first retail and residential units completing in 2009.
  • Richardson is home to seven technology companies that have been awarded Texas Emerging Technology Fund grants, since 2006. This is third highest among all Texas cities.

We believe that our elected officials should:

  • Set the example in honest and transparent dealing with constituents.
  • Represent the City with a positive and progressive attitude that brings the city together in a unified approach to meet our challenges.
  • Keep taxes low while balancing the interests of residents and business.
  • Continue to improve open and accessible communications with all residents as well as the business community.
  • Support our city staff, including our Police and Fire Departments, to insure that they have the very best of personnel, equipment and training as well as competitive compensation and benefits.
  • Actively participate in regional activities to influence matters critical to the success of the City.
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