HUBA Offers Seven Ideas to Bring the Small Businesses Back to South and Central Haltom City

    HALTOM CITY, TX, October 24, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) has been advocating for revitalization of the beleaguered south and central areas of Haltom City for more than two years. To draw attention to the declining corridors in South and Central Haltom, HUBA commissioned an independent business census that revealed a nearly 30 percent vacancy rate on Denton Highway.

"We believe there are some steps the city could take that do not cost much if anything and would go a long way toward bringing small businesses back to the older parts of Haltom City," said Joe Palmer, HUBA's Communications Director.

• Amend the table of uses so that Haltom City becomes an easier place to start a variety of types of small businesses than the nearby cities that it competes with. HUBA has proposed a set of amendments to the use table to Haltom City Council. Thus far, no action has been taken on the proposal.
• Permit accessory uses that would allow existing Haltom City businesses expanded opportunities to earn revenue. If a garden shop wants to sell sunglasses, let them without requiring a new CO.
• Eliminate parking minimums. Consider setting up special zones including the hardest hit areas in old Haltom City where parking mandates would be relaxed or eliminated. Parking requirements stymie many startups. Other cities have had a lot of measurable results from this easy-to-implement suggestion.
• Embrace form-based, rather than use-based, zoning. Consider setting up form- based zoning in an overlay district that includes the beleaguered corridors. Form- based zoning allows buildings to switch among uses more easily and less expensively. Mansfield, Texas, recently did this with great success.
• Recognize mom & pop retail isn't coming back after Covid. Be open to service businesses and other types of non-retail businesses in spaces that were formerly retail.
• Allow Haltom City business owners who live outside the city to volunteer to serve on the city's economic development committees. Excluding those who live outside the city from volunteering shuts off a valuable source of ideas and input from stakeholders in the economic life of Haltom City.
• Embrace the business community as a partner in redevelopment. To date, the council has said that any business owner that doesn't reside in the city has no seat at the table for ordinances and policies that affect the businesses.

Haltom City is not alone when it comes to the decline of its inner-city areas. In fact, HUBA founder Ron Sturgeon co-authored a book on the subject titled Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America's Small Cities. The book outlines common problems and talks about reasonable and cost-effective solutions.

As part of his advocacy work, HUBA Founder Ron Sturgeon launched the Make Haltom City Thrive Again campaign and is now providing a free copy of his book to any Haltom City resident or business owner who would like one. "I am offering the new book, the second edition, to Haltom City residents who are interested in a brighter future for Haltom City that includes more jobs, more choices of goods and services and more small businesses filling spaces that are vacant right now in South and Central Haltom City."

To get a free copy of the book, send your name and address to Ron at [email protected].

The book includes a concept plan for revitalization that would be a good place for the city to start in creating its plan to bring businesses back to South and Central Haltom City, according to Sturgeon.

About Haltom City
Haltom City is a diverse, majority working-class city located between Dallas and Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX. Haltom City is minutes from both the DFW Airport and Downtown Fort Worth with direct access to major highways including I-820 and SH-121. Due to an outdated and restrictive use matrix that discourages new business and deters growth, several areas of Haltom City have seen a decline in small businesses which provided goods and services and were a significant source of jobs, including the once-thriving automotive industry. However, Haltom City can reverse this trend and should prioritize development of inner-city land and vacant buildings, particularly in the major corridors close to the city's center. The city is financially healthy with a capable manager and staff who would like to see diverse business development occur and need the support of the City Council to make it happen.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City's business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses in the industrial districts, and bring more restaurants including breweries and eventually a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City's facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it's more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the group's Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

About Make Haltom City Thrive Again
Make Haltom City Thrive Again is a movement to return prosperity to the older parts of South and Central Haltom City by luring the small businesses that have left over the past decades back to Haltom City. A vibrant business community not only allows for greater employment and choice of goods and services, but also can ease the tax burden on residents. The movement is led by local entrepreneur and business owner Ron Sturgeon. For more on Sturgeon's ideas and background, check out his book, Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America's Small Cities and watch the videos on his Facebook page. Ron is also the founder of the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) which represents existing business interests in Haltom City and promotes growth of diverse businesses. HUBA is not a political action committee and does not endorse candidates. If/when Ron endorses candidates, he will do so on his own via the Make Haltom City Thrive Again organization.

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