Gerard Hudspeth, Mayor, City of Denton
In an interview with Invest:, Gerard Hudspeth, mayor of the city of Denton, talked about efforts underway to ensure pedestrian and cyclist safety, initiatives undertaken to balance growth and, alongside historical preservation, how Denton is looking to kickstart the development of the east side of downtown.
How does the city strike a balance between preserving its historical ties while fostering innovation and growth?
I believe Denton’s advantage lies in its abundant open spaces. Unlike many other areas, we still have plenty of room for development. Our strategic investment in industrial areas has attracted other businesses to establish themselves here, creating a cohesive and maximized use of space. We are smart about how we fill these spaces, ensuring that similar types of businesses are concentrated together while keeping neighborhoods separate from industrial zones.
However, we do face a challenge between the town and the university, which you often hear referred to as the challenge between town and gown. This issue has gained attention recently, as the university has a large student population of 45,000, but it can only guarantee housing for freshmen. After the first year, students are left to find housing at market rates, which has led the university to call for more apartment construction. On the other hand, homeowners in the center of Denton express concerns about further apartment development and the impact it may have on the community. Finding a balance between the university’s housing needs and the desires of long-term residents is an ongoing process. We are exploring options such as incentivizing redevelopment or considering taller buildings instead of creating new apartment complexes. The approach we take to address this challenge is yet to be determined, but it is clear that finding common ground is crucial as we navigate the issue of apartment development.
One challenge for any growing city is identifying a blueprint for preserving the cultural heritage while still allowing space for innovation and growth, and these don’t need to be mutually exclusive. We take pride in implementing effective community engagement practices to increase participation in local democracy. Our community has the ability to become directly involved in guiding policy decisions that will shape the future of our city.
How is the city planning to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and what are the possible long-term impacts for Denton?
When it comes to safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, there isn’t a single right answer or a definitive solution. It’s a combination of various factors that need to be considered. The primary focus of our audit is to identify gaps and determine how we can connect people across our growing city. As we lose green spaces and trails or add new ones, we also need to think about how our streets are designed and the multimodal approach we can take to improve connectivity. We are exploring ways to prioritize our transit system and address the last-mile challenge.
Our Parks Department has been studying our trail system for the past few years, working toward connecting the core of Denton to the lake. This connection would also include additional features at the lake, such as kayaking and camping facilities. The study helps us understand where the gaps are and how we can allocate our resources effectively, especially as we rebuild roads and infrastructure.
It’s important to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For instance, we received feedback that while protected bike lanes are appreciated by novice riders, experienced riders pointed out that they collect debris and are difficult to clean with traditional street sweepers due to the bollards. To address this concern, we looked for alternative solutions and purchased smaller street sweepers that can navigate protected bike lanes, ensuring cleanliness for all riders. We strive to find the best middle ground by consulting subject matter experts and incorporating their insights into our decision-making process.
Safety is the number one transportation priority for the city of Denton. While the city continues to address safety through existing policies and projects, we also recognize the need to review current practices and identify opportunities. This led to the launch of our Vision Zero Plan to inspire and transform Denton’s roadway safety efforts, and set our sights on reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. Since then, we are working with the community to identify problems and build solutions. The success of our Vision Zero program is built around three pillars – Leadership and Commitment; Safe Roads and Safe Speed; Data Driven Approach, Transparency and Accountability.
What are the biggest infrastructure needs in the city of Denton and how are they being addressed?
The greatest infrastructure challenge we face is the high cost associated with it, to be honest. It’s astonishing how expensive things are in this regard. To address this issue, we have a current bond program in place that focuses on making improvements across Denton, to include fixing our streets. We are allocating a significant budget for the reconstruction of road segments, ensuring that we address the underlying infrastructure as well. This approach allows us to avoid tearing up newly constructed roads for maintenance purposes, especially as streets are our top priority in this regard.
Another challenge we’re dealing with is the flood zone area. Previously, we had open channels to manage water flow, but they posed a risk of overflow during extreme weather events. To mitigate this, we are now working on enclosing these channels. By doing so, we can bring the affected land out of the flood zone, making it more economically viable and safer, while improving the overall water situation.
As such, determining where to allocate our funds to maximize their usefulness is a significant consideration. When it comes to an entire water system, fixing downstream areas alone won’t remove them from the flood zone. To achieve the desired outcome, we need to address the entire system, which can involve significant costs, potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars. So, the question becomes whether it’s worthwhile to invest tens of millions of dollars in a specific area that won’t completely eliminate the flood risk but will bring us closer to our goal of mitigating the problem. Striking the right balance and deciding when to invest double-digit millions to make progress, even if the problem isn’t fully solved, is a crucial aspect of our decision-making process.
What potential do you think the area offers as a tourist destination?
As a tourist destination, Denton has successfully maintained its small-town culture. It has that authentic county seat vibe with the county square, the city square, and the beautiful county courthouse right in the middle. It’s a place where you can enjoy a staycation or use it as a central location to explore different areas. Denton is conveniently situated, only an hour away from Dallas, Fort Worth, and Oklahoma, making it an ideal hub for visiting nearby attractions. We may not have a huge Disneyland-like draw, but we offer the best of both worlds. You can experience the warmth of Texas hospitality and the charm of a small Texas city without sacrificing modern comforts. It’s like stepping into the past with the conveniences of the present, giving you that nostalgic feeling. Denton provides cultural richness and serves as a gateway for those who have always wanted to visit Texas and explore its diverse offerings. You can land in Denton, soak in the local atmosphere, and take day trips to various places, knowing that you can return and unwind in our relaxing small-town ambiance.
What are some of the initiatives or projects that you are excited to push forward for Denton?
Our main focus is on economic development because it plays a crucial role in our tax revenue. We need to grow our commercial tax base to relieve the pressure on residential taxes. It’s important for the people of Denton to have access to well-paying jobs, so we are hoping to attract corporate relocations and establish class-A office spaces in our city. Additionally, I’m seeking a catalyst project that can kickstart the development of the east side of downtown, especially the area near our rail station, which serves as a central hub for commuter rail and bus transportation. By developing that space, we can make it more appealing to businesses and visitors. Lastly, we require a new city hall, which I believe can serve as a catalyst project itself. Located just east of downtown, the new city hall can stimulate economic growth by attracting new restaurants, hotels, and parking facilities. It has the potential to create a ripple effect and enhance the overall economic landscape of Denton.
