When Leslyn Blake began her position as the new CEO of the Sachse Economic Development Corporation in March of 2014, there were four major initiatives she wanted to accomplish. In just one year, the feisty promoter of Sachse's business scene has made significant strides in every area.
The first goal was developing retail along Woodbridge Parkway and Highway 78. Walmart Supercenter on Woodridge Parkway answered the call, leading the way for more retailers to locate near the well-known anchor. Next came the groundbreaking of the Woodbridge Commons retail development across from Walmart, a newly designed LA Fitness and The Mansions of Woodbridge luxury apartment homes. Sachse also welcomed Laguna Madre Traders in March and is in talks with several more retail tenants interested in joining the rapidly developing Woodbridge corners.
"We're preparing the way for explosive growth," said Blake. “The North Dallas Corridor is expanding our way along the Bush Turnpike and what we're seeing is a trickle-down effect from State Farm, City Line and Toyota. The Tech Corridor is bringing everything in this direction and it's virgin territory.
“We see a pattern developing in Sachse very much like what happened in Frisco 10 years ago. We're anticipating a surge of retail development that could set us on a similar path that Frisco, Allen and McKinney have all experienced."
Blake's next initiative was to create a new advertising campaign to gain traction with retailers and businesses looking to relocate. The campaign, called "The Next Cool Place to Be," emphasizes Sachse’s new cache to retailers and businesses in an upbeat and memorable way.
“We’re advertising to brokers, the real estate community and regional businesses that we are open for business and we have plenty of room to accommodate them,” said Blake.
Once a bedroom community located at Hwy 78 and 1.5 miles from the Bush Turnpike, Sachse has over 120,000 vehicles a day passing by some of the most lucrative retail space in North Texas. Add to that the more than 7,000 households with an average income of $105,000 and the result is the perfect scenario for success.
Sachse’s infrastructure is another initiative that Blake and the SEDC Board of Directors has taken on to get the city ready for future demand.
“We’re investing in the necessary infrastructure along 190 to make it shovel ready for the businesses that are lining up and buying up sites along the frontage,” said Blake. “We are ready to turn dirt on the northwestern portion now, and have committed funds to have the remaining frontage infrastructure in early next year and ready for a major developer.”
A beautification plan is underway for Highway 78 and the city is looking at possibly rezoning industrial land for a signature development in the heart of the city.
Ambitious? Yes. Doable? Absolutely. It is the same kind of visionary thinking and leadership that successful cities like Frisco and McKinney put into place years before their cities boomed.
“We are proud of what we’ve accomplished but there is still a lot of work ahead of us to put Sachse on the map,” said Blake.
The Sachse Economic Development Corporation acts on behalf of the City of Sachse in promoting and developing authorized projects, while supporting economic development activities to retain, expand and attract businesses for the purpose of diversifying the tax base and improving the quality of life of the citizens of Sachse. For more information, go to www.sachseedc.com.