Executives break ground on the Canyon last year.
The Canyon project from Stratford Land pulled a fast one on Dallas voters, according to this story from KERA.
Says reporter Shelley Kofler:
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Call it the $97 million vote: One person got to decide whether a specially created district can sell that amount in bonds and levy property taxes for a $700 million development.[/quote]Stratford wanted the city to pay for infrastructure, such as roads and sewer lines, for its project at Interstate 30 and Cockrell Hill. But the city couldn’t afford that, so it asked the state legislature to create the North Oak Cliff Municipal Management District.
But only one registered voter lives in that 400-acre district: the 24-year-old son of a Stratford Land executive.
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Stratford Land owns the 49-year old brick rancher. And that’s the address Austin Lee Vest provided when he registered to vote three months ago. Repeated visits to the house in the past week turned up nothing but barking dogs.[/quote]Stratford attorney Tim Green says the son, Austin Lee Vest, really does live there. Green also says the company has done nothing illegal, and SMU political expert Cal Jillson agreed. Even if it is legal, it was a shady, greedy move by Stratford Land that shows a lack of respect for the people of Dallas.
Oh, but we’re getting a new Denny’s.
