Closing up this shop and moving to New Discussion Site

Denton News Blog is now more interactive at www.talkaboutdenton.com . Sure, you can choose not to say anything and just read the growing number of rants, but that wouldn't be any fun now would it?

Rayzor Ranch in Code Violation

Apparently the Rayzor Ranch project is again underway. Or, are they again just moving dirt around to make it look like something is actually happening. There are a few earth movers making piles, much like kids in their own full scale sand pile. Meanwhile, developers are in violation of Denton codes with standing water on their site. Even the areas around the new medical rehab buildings have standing water in their "drainage ditches" - ditches that drain to nowhere. The ditches are obviously, currently just for show.

And Then There Were Four

Well, this is Denton after all. The Volkswagen suffered another in a string of abuses last Thursday evening. This one was visited upon our car - parked in front of the house, all alone and empty - empty except for the Green Honda Texas License Plate 314WMG driven by one Iris C. Edmonds. Yes, Iris is uninsured and a twice convicted felon. As her luck would have it, I saved her more than once from being hit by cars as she fled the scene on foot. Ask me how.

You can see Iris' baby pictures and earlier history at Denton County Records. Just key in the name and enjoy the show. I will get that mugshot on to join the legion of others --- later.

Rayzor Ranch Development

Nothing is happening at the Rayzor Ranch Development. Nothing is happening at Fry Street either. We all know why there's nothing going on with the Fry Street Development, but can anyone really tell us what is happening at the Rayzor Ranch. They have created a drainage nightmare with major runoff issues. I have a full video survey of the perimeter of the property and will try and get that online soon.

There are three things that have circulated about the Rayzor Ranch Development (RRD), and they are:
1) one or more of the entities involved in the financing of the project has pulled out rumored to be because of the home mortgage crisis
2) there were "issues" with drainage and the most efficient way to accomplish suitable drainage with the long haul being to go through the Army Corp of Engineers, and the short way being - not the Army Corp.
3) there is an "issue" with an electricity substation and the land for that substation
4) a direct correspondence from one of the retail realtors stated they were "waiting to get final approval on the plats from Denton Planning and Zoning

Now, one could theorize that problems go deeper than these, since there is absolutely positively no work going on this project on either side of HWY. 380, and there is no heavy, medium or light equipment or crews working on anything EXCEPT the independently developed medical buildings just across from the Presbyterian Hospital.

Time will tell the truth.

When to say When

David Wayne Tutt


Diane Dianese Daniels

Be sure and visit the Denton County Records Search Site for a complete rundown on these two, before they run into you some night.
the dentonista

The Lights are on but Nobody's Home

Well, this news blog sits here waiting for someone to help it - the news is everywhere, from the stalled out Rayzor Ranch Development, to the Fry Street Fiasco, Denton continues to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don't believe it? Drive by the Rayzor Ranch sometime and see what is going on - absolutely nothing, and nothing about it in the local rag Denton Record Chronicle. Amazing. Rayzor Ranch Development - their site- the images do not look like the Denton I know, and about the only thing I can say is get real. Randall L. Holcombe, Dawn Mosley, Glenn Fuhrman, C. Joseph Gampper, Scott Hall, Phillip Jones and Walter Hughes, all of Rayzor Ranch - how about giving me a call and let me know what's going on? You are in my back yard now.

Razor Ranch Development Hearing Tonight - OPINION

Looks like a done deal is never a done deal when it comes to Denton development. On the one hand we have folks motivated to keep hope alive for Fry Street, and on the other hand we have a corporate gunfight brewing on the Razor Ranch Development.

While owners of the Golden Triangle Mall continue to apply CPR to their nearly 30-year-old structure, the upstart Razor Ranch developers are exercising all their options, apparently including taking space right out of the Golden Triangle Mall. Can you say mercy killing?

The Golden Triangle Mall is at the end of its life cycle, and there's nothing anyone can do about that. Pity the mall that can't even hold onto a couple of GAP stores for heaven's sake. Although one could easily wonder if a deal was made with the Razor folks for a GAP Brands out on their new spread.

With major corporate welfare in the offing, it's no suprise that we have the old hands - Golden Triangle Gang - crying foul and waxing sentimental over the potential loss of their monopoly to the Razor Ranch Rough Riders, who apparently need tax relief to make it all fly, fighting it out tonight at City Hall.

According to newspaper reports, the Golden Triangle Gang, has pulled out all the sentimental stops, using selective memory to conveniently discard all the small town businesses they crushed during its rise to prominence. And with no notches on their gun-belts yet, the Razor Ranchers are claiming innocent upstarts just trying to bring upscale civilization to Denton. Time will tell. There's really no need for the Denton City Council to integrate protectionist policy into tonight's resolutions though is there? This could only insure that the City of Denton is included in any potential litigation between the Golden Triangle Gang and the Razor Ranchers.

Meanwhile, back on Fry Street the party is just about over. The ground zero of all that is / was the UNT party scene for decades is its final death throes, and the voltage to life support has dropped to just about five volts. Patrons may now officially begin the exodus to the Denton's Historic Square which has pretty much taken over as the de-facto New Ground Zero with Andy's, and the Loophole leading the bombed out, run down stinky dive bar charge. It's only a matter of time before dive bar developers realize all the space and potential that awaits even further down the street by the railroad tracks and beyond. Cover your ears and noses people. Heck, maybe the herd will not go that way ... what is it a WHOLE MILE from campus - way too far for today's students to walk or God forbid - take public transportation (another topic for another day).

Anyone who has taken the time to travel to Wild West Denton realizes this side of town needs revitalization in a serious way. However, subsidizing the Razor Ranchers while they profit and stampede the infrastructure of streets and City Services at the same time, seems ... well a might bit unfair don't you think pardner?