Baine Brooks, Mayor, City of Allen
City of Allen Mayor Baine Brooks talked to Invest: about Allen’s considerable recent growth, which he attributed to the city’s dedication to infrastructure maintenance, continual development, fostering a business-friendly environment, and Allen’s unending dedication to the success of its own residents and businesses.
In what ways does Allen stand out from other cities in North Texas?
I view Allen as a boutique city. It spans 27 square miles and is known for its cleanliness, parks, trails and spirit of community-based hospitality. Allen offers a wide range of amenities along with excellent schools and shopping. We have unique recreational opportunities with 80 miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through scenic areas with woodland and water and provide a distinct outdoor experience.
What factors contribute to Allen’s reputation as being especially friendly to small businesses?
Small businesses are supported by the local community, and Allen continues to be a place where people want to start businesses. Allen people take care of their own, and the community wants to see their neighbors’ small businesses succeed. We are a pro-business city in a pro-business state, and this value is reiterated by our local governance’s policies which support entrepreneurs. Our employers have access to a labor pool of 2.4 million workers within a 30-minute drive. We are located within one of the most exciting, dynamic economic counties in the nation and continue to grow our economy by working collaboratively with nearby cities to uplift our entire region.
How does Allen’s AAA Moody award affect the city’s economic development strategies to attract potential investors?
Moody’s AAA rating reflects Allen’s conservative financial practices, which prioritize cash payments and reinvestment in our city. Fiscal responsibility is paramount, and this allows us to evolve with the shifting, diverse economic landscape that now includes data centers and class-A offices and buildings. Small businesses are the “heart of America,” and business owners are choosing to build their success in Allen. When both small and large businesses are actively choosing our city to cultivate their growth, we know we are doing something right. Allen has a friendly, supportive community that contributes to everyone’s success.
How is the city supporting land developers to streamline the development process?
Our Economic Development Corporation (EDC) actively supports developments in Allen. We are strategic about the projects we undertake and view Highway 121 as our last frontier. For example, The Farm offers 135 acres of mixed-use development, including class-A office spaces, entertainment and restaurants, with popular venues like High 5, Chicken N Pickle and The Hub. The Allen Gateway is another mixed-use development, with office space, residential, shopping and dining. The next few years of building out these mixed-use developments will be instrumental in Allen’s growth. Sloan Corners is being constructed at one of the last undeveloped intersections in DFW – U.S. 75 and Highway 121. It promises a unique, well-designed space with art installations, green areas and family-friendly spaces.
How are you ensuring a balance of continual growth while continuing to prioritize essential services such as healthcare, education and public safety to Allen’s residents?
We pride ourselves on safety and boast quick response times for police and fire services. Allen was recently voted the safest city among Texas’ Top 40 cities. The city recently opened a 149,000-square-foot recreation center that includes gymnasiums, an indoor playground, unique fitness amenities and a golf simulator. We intentionally balance safety and amenities to improve our residents’ quality of life. Allen has just broken ground on construction of our sixth and final fire station. A new police station was also just approved by our citizens. Outdoor experiences, like our extensive trail system, and a new dog park named “Bark Yard” contribute to enhancing community life. In terms of education, Allen offers access to multiple school districts: Allen ISD, Lovejoy ISD and Plano ISD, which are all highly rated. Collin College provides affordable higher education with a technical campus located here in Allen that includes advanced training in fields such as licensed vocational nursing, construction technology and robotics.
What projects are in the pipeline to improve connectivity and attract young professionals and families?
The city’s downtown is on the cusp of redevelopment, which is reflective of growing excitement and interest from residents. We are observing the entrance of more young businesses, and Allen is experiencing both a 30-year boom of growth while aging at the same time. This growth necessitates maintenance of our infrastructure, like our roads and water lines. A recent third-party road assessment led to a bond initiative to allocate funding of $5.1 million annually over seven years for Allen to maintain high-quality roadways. The Community Enhancement Department is tasked with revitalizing older neighborhoods, which, in turn, preserves home values and supports neighborhood stability.
What are your top priorities for the next two to three years?
Both the greatest goal and challenge is to maintain the high quality that those before us have put into place. In addition to maintaining excellence, we want to continue supporting neighborhoods as they age, remaining fiscally responsible and providing high-quality infrastructure to support our growing population.. The city of Allen will aim to stay engaged with our community and hear the needs and feedback of our residents and businesses.
