Plano North | November 2023

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Plano North Edition VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 NOV. 17DEC. 15, 2023

2023 Higher Education Guide

Expansion of programs such as welding at Collin College’s technical campus in Allen has been one factor leading to the school’s growth.

COURTESY SARA CARPENTER

New opportunities fuel growth at Collin College

Collin College has expanded over the last three years, opening new campuses, launching programs and expanding dual enrollment opportunities for local high school students.

2020, and its student body increased 8% heading into the 2023 fall semester. As much of higher education was “hit very hard” by the pandemic, Abe Johnson, Collin College senior vice president of campus operations, said

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & HANNAH JOHNSON

As Collin County’s population has boomed in recent years, Collin College’s enrollment has followed suit. The school rebounded from an enrollment dip in

CONTINUED ON 20

Also in this issue

Impacts: Truluck’s brings fresh seafood to Plano (Page 6)

News: See Collin County bond election results (Page 12)

Education: Learn about local higher education (Pages 18)

Business: Vixen Body Art oering cosmetic tattoos (Page 25)

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12 Days of Fitmas DEC 1-12 Plano Holiday Market NOV 18-19 Carpenter Recreation Center

Spaghetti Dinner with Plano Community Band DEC 7 Sam Johnson Recreation Center Holiday Party with Adapted Recreation DEC 8 Course 58054 Course 57061 Gingerbread Boy Puppet Show DEC 12-14 Harrington Library Luminaries Age 13+/Adult DEC 31 Parr Library

Don’t trash the old ones – recycle them at one of our Saturday drop-off events. If it can be plugged in or runs on batteries, it can be recycled. Plano.gov/Electronics Boxes, boxes, what to do with them all? Remember to remove all packing materials and items from the boxes before breaking them down. Once empty and flat - small boxes can be recycled in your curbside cart. Large boxes can be put out with your yard trimmings. Plano.gov/Recycling

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Dickens in Downtown Plano DEC 2 Ugly Sweater Litter Cleanup DEC 2 Plano.gov/Cleanup

Don’t let fats, oils and grease (FOG) cost you money over the holidays. With all of the extra cooking this season, take the opportunity from Thanksgiving through the New Year to recycle FOG instead of dumping it down the drain. Here’s what you need to know: • Don't dump cooking fats, oils or grease down your sink drain. This can plug your pipes causing sewer water to back up into your house or your neighborhood. • Use cold water to rinse pots and pans. • Collect small amounts of used, cooled cooking oil in a sturdy, plastic container with a screw-top lid. When the container is full, put it in the trash cart. • Schedule a free pickup for 1 or more gallons of cooking or turkey fryer oil. Just collect it in a container and call Environmental Waste Services to recycle it into bio-diesel fuel. • Pour fats and grease into a container to harden. Trash it when full. • Soak up small amounts of fats, oils or grease from pots and pans with a paper towel, then toss the towel in the trash.

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Impacts

after LASIK treatments or the procedure is free, according to the company website. • Opened Nov. 13 • 5280 Towne Square Drive, Plano • www.clearsight.com/plano 6 QuickFee California-based company QuickFee, which accelerates accounts receivable for professional service firms, relocated its U.S. headquarters to Plano’s Legacy business park, according to a news release. Accounts receivable is an asset account on company balance sheets that represents money due to a company in the short term. QuickFee claims to help its clients get paid faster, and cut down on check processing costs by automating and speeding up the bill-to-cash cycle for firms through multiple online payment options and e-invoicing integrations. • Opened Oct. 17 • 5601 Democracy Drive, Plano • www.quickfee.com 7 Deka Lash A new Deka Lash location is now open in Plano. The studio offers a variety of eyelash and eyebrow services, including eyelash extensions, eyelash lifts, eyebrow lamination and eyebrow cleanup. • Opened Oct. 18 • 4709 W. Parker Road, Ste. 470, Plano • www.dekalash.com open in Plano. The business offers dog training classes, Pilates for dogs and classes specifically designed for teaching any dog new tricks. At the Plano location, classes are offered in both an individual and group format. In addition to classes, Zoom Room also hosts play groups and birthday parties for dogs. • Opened Oct. 21 • 3115 W. Parker Road, Ste. 320, Plano • www.zoomroom.com 8 Zoom Room National dog training business Zoom Room is now

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3 The Alley The Alley is now open in Plano. The shop serves various teas and other beverages along with pastries. The Alley specializes in boba and fruit teas. • Opened early September • 8240 Preston Road, Ste. 177, Plano • www.the-alley.us 4 EECU A new branch location of EECU opened inside the Plano H-E-B location. The not-for-profit credit union offers mortgage services, personal loans, credit cards and more banking services. • Opened Oct. 26 • 6001 Preston Road, Ste. 100, Plano • www.eecu.org PGBT TOLL 5 ClearSight LASIK As of press time, Oklahoma-based ophthalmologist ClearSight LASIK planned to open in Plano, a company representative said. The clinic has been in the works since last year and will provide its advanced laser- assisted technology for several different LASIK procedures as well as two LASIK alternatives. ClearSight LASIK offers a guarantee of 20/20 vision for patients 15TH ST. 1 4 T H ST. 75

Now open

PARK BLVD. SOUTH PLANO

1 All Starz Realty Real estate company All Starz Realty is now open in Plano, owner Babar Hussain said. The company employs an experienced team of agents and real estate specialists who provide full-service real estate brokerages in Texas. • Opened Oct. 14 • 6150 Independence Parkway, Unit K1, Plano • 972-537-7529 2 Hideaway Pizza Hideaway Pizza is now open in Plano. The restaurant offers different signature pizzas, including a build-your- own pizza option with dozens of topping combinations. Hideaway Pizza also offers pastas and sandwiches. The new Plano location will be the largest for the chain, with two full bars and a rooftop patio, according to a company social media post. • Opened Oct. 17 • 5410 SH 121, Plano • www.hideawaypizza.com P L A N O P K W Y . DNT TOLL

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Coming soon

Now open

9 Truluck’s Seafood restaurant Truluck’s is slated to open soon, according to the company website. The restaurant specializes in fresh stone crab claws served chilled and pre-cracked less than 24 hours after being caught. The menu also includes caviar, lobster bisque and

Norwegian salmon. • Opening November • 7161 Bishop Road, Plano • www.trulucks.com

In the news

11 Cibo Cucina Italiana Cibo Cucina Italiana opened in Plano in late September. The restaurant offers authentic Italian pastas, including fettuccine Alfredo and lemon piccata. Cibo Cucina Italiana also serves classic pizzas, such as the margherita pizza, veggie pizza and burrata pizza. The restaurant has a speakeasy patio area with craft cocktails and signature appetizers, including the housemade bruschetta. • Opened Sept. 29

12 Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Steakhouse Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is now open in Plano, according to a news release. The restaurant is the second location in the Dallas- Fort Worth area. Firebirds is known for its scratch kitchen, featuring seasoned hand-cut, aged steaks and fresh seafood, which are cooked over an open flame visible from the restaurant’s dining room. • Opened Oct. 30 • 5400 SH 121, Plano • www.firebirdsrestaurants.com

10 Vuori Performance apparel brand Vuori is coming to Legacy West in Plano, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Construction began in August and is slated to finish Nov. 20. Vuori sells apparel inspired by coastal California lifestyle,

according to the company’s website. • 7301 Windrose Ave., Ste. C100, Plano • www.vuoriclothing.com

• 8408 Preston Road, Plano • www.cibocucinaplano.com

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Impacts .

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5 Pickleball Kingdom Pickleball Kingdom is planning a new location at the southwest corner of Custer Road and 15th Street, according to a news release from the company. The 40,000-square-foot facility will feature 15 indoor courts, a food and beverage cafe, and an internet lounge. Pickleball Kingdom will also offer pickleball classes, according to the release. • Opening in January • 1301 Custer Road, Ste. 200, Plano • www.pickleballkingdom.com 6 Dreamland Preschool Dreamland Preschool is set to open early next year in Plano, a company spokesperson said. The school’s programs are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education based on discovery, investigation and inquiry. The school will offer care to children from 8 weeks to 4 years old. • Opening 2024 7 Spitz Mediterranean restaurant Spitz is coming soon to Plano, according to the company website. The menu includes Mediterranean food, Greek food, American classics and more. The restaurant’s name comes from the vertical method of broiling proteins. • 5017 W. Plano Parkway, Plano • www.thedreamlandschools.com

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3 Awesome Chinese Cuisine Restaurant Awesome Chinese Cuisine is now open in Plano, according to company staff. The menu boasts authentic Chinese food with dishes ranging from fried dumplings and minced beef soup, to sesame chicken and kung pao shrimp, and more. For specials it offers crispy Peking duck served with bone, scallion and hoisin sauce. • Opened Sept. 29 • 1520 Independence Parkway, Plano • 972-985-8899 4 Kadou Boutique Apparel store Kadou Boutique is now open in Plano, according to the company’s social media. The boutique is a mother-and-daughter-owned small business dedicated to offering contemporary clothing styles to women. The selection includes pants, cardigans, dresses and more. A portion of the proceeds goes directly to aid victims of natural disasters, according to the company website. • Opened Oct. 19 • 1900 Preston Road, Ste., 205, Plano • www.kadou.shop

Now open

1 Karak Tea Bakery & Cafe Karak Tea Bakery & Cafe is now open in Plano, a company representative said. The shop strives to offer a range of flavors with recipes popular in Dubai and Qatar, according to the company website. The menu encompasses everything from gyros and chicken tikka to Moroccan mint tea and Saudi coffee. • Opened Oct. 11 • 1820 Coit Road, Ste. 138, Plano • www.karakteadallas.com 2 Chip Cookies Chip Cookies held a grand opening for its new Plano location in early November, a company spokesperson said. The Utah-based gourmet cookie chain features a base menu of sugar, chocolate chip, and cookies and cream cookies, along with a weekly rotating cookie bar that allows patrons to customize items. • Opened Nov. 4 • 2401 Preston Road, Ste. E, Plano • www.chipcookies.co

• Opening date not yet available • 565 Coit Road, Ste. 700, Plano • www.spitz-restaurant.com

8 Dirty Dough Dirty Dough is set to open a new location in Plano, according to signage on the building and the company’s website. The cookie chain serves a rotating menu of stuffed cookies including chocolate chip, cookies and cream and more. The location is set to start construction on Nov. 20, according to a filing with the Texas Department on Licensing and Regulation. • Opening date TBD • 4621 W. Park Blvd., Ste. 105, Plano • https://dirtydoughcookies.com

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9 Modern Vue Eyecare Vision center Modern Vue Eyecare is opening in Plano, according to the company website. The clinic will offer eyeglasses and contact lenses as well as optometry services, such as eye exams, eye disease management, post-operative care from LASIK surgery and more. Modern Vue staff is fluent in Vietnamese, Mandarin and English and can provide a Spanish translator by request,

Now open

Coming soon

according to the company website. • Opening February or March 2024 • 565 Coit Road, Ste. 650, Plano • www.modernvueeyecare.com

In the news

10 Eatzi’s Market & Bakery Eatzi’s Market & Bakery at the corner of Parker Road and Parkwood Boulevard reopened after temporarily closing in late October. A social media post from the company says that the location was closed while repairs were being made after a small grease fire. • Reopened Nov. 8 • 5967 W. Parker Road, Plano • www.eatzis.com

11 Kid City USA Kid City USA is now open in Plano, school official Kaneez Mowfa said. The school offers day care, preschool, and before- and after-school care, according to the company’s website. The day care is available for kids from 6 weeks to 12 years old. Kid City USA has more than 100 locations, including 15 in Texas. • Opened July • 4225 W. Parker Road, Plano • www.kidcityusa.com

12 Wow Donuts & Drips Wow Donuts & Drips is opening soon in Plano, according to the company’s social media. The shop will sell a variety of classic doughnuts, such as glazed and sprinkled, as well as specialty doughnuts, including blueberry cheesecake and maple bacon. The menu will also include other pastries from mochi donuts to apple fritters to pigs in a blanket. • Opening date TBD

• 501 Talbert Drive, Ste. 101, Plano • www.wowdonutsanddrips.com

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Development

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Redevelopment of Plano Market Square Mall completes construction

What’s next?

The project will also include 305 multifamily residential units, and Assembly Park’s apartment complex, The Annabelle, is set to open in December. The Annabelle will feature one-, two-, and three- bedroom units with rentable garage and storage units. The Annabelle will also feature a tness center, dog grooming room, indoor bike storage, a dog park, co-working spaces and more. “Assembly Park is a true work, live, play destination, positioned to appeal to a diverse range of community members,” Triten founder Scott Arnoldy said in the release. “Beyond the world class creative oce space, proximity to established corporations and neighborhoods, and walkable concept-driven retail and dining space, Assembly Park introduces an expansive new park, bike trails and a full calendar of nightly and weekly events, delivering a lifestyle second to none.”

Assembly Park also features a large outdoor space and hiking and biking trails. The Plano Market Square Mall was originally built in 1983 and functioned as an outlet mall. By the time Triten acquired the property in 2021, the mall was largely vacant. According to the release, much of the mall’s interior was kept intact. The corridors, entryways and skylights were repurposed, while several areas were reimagined into coworking and conferencing spaces.

A project to redevelop the Plano Market Square Mall has ocially nished construction, according to a news release. Triten Real Estate Partners announced that the mixed-use development now called Assembly Park was completed Oct. 4. The development located just east of US 75, at the corner of K Avenue and Spring Creek Parkway, features 180,000 square feet of oce space and 17,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

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The Assembly Park development in Plano completed construction in October.

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Government

BY SAMANTHA DOUTY & CONNOR PITTMAN

Collin County voters show favor for bond propositions

Plano considering revitalization grants Plano staff are seeking to move forward with a retail rehabilitation program in the form of various grants to help commerce centers across the city. The gist If created, the program would allow the city to provide funding assistance to different retail areas within Plano. It could also func- tion as an economic incentive for attracting companies into the city, Plano Director of Special Projects Peter Braster said. If a formal retail rehabilitation grant pro- gram is created, city staff will look for input on which areas are used as trial locations. Braster said the rehabilitation grant process could work similarly to other Plano economic development grants that include a committee review, data analysis and council approval. City officials also plan to create a set of criteria to define eligibility for the grants. Breaking it down Several categories of grant could be included in a future program, including: • Location, which is typically paid to a retail center tenant • Lease buy down • Facade improvement • Demolition • Landscaping

Election results show voters are in favor of all five Collin County bond propositions, according to Collin County voting results. The details Proposition A, which includes $261.86 million for justice facility projects such as expanding the Russel A. Steindam Courts Building and expanding the juvenile justice facility, garnered 53% of votes cast in favor. Proposition B, which includes $5.7 million for the county’s animal shelter, received nearly 65% of votes for the item. The funds will be used to add a one-story, 10,000-square-foot expansion at the animal shelter. Proposition C includes $13.36 million for the construction of a new one-story, 20,000-square-foot medical examiner’s office. The item received over 55% of votes cast in favor. Proposition D, which encompasses $22.45 million for parks and open spaces throughout the county, earned about 63% of votes. Proposition E includes $380 million for various road projects such as the development of regional corridor roadways and the Outer Loop. The item received over 70,000 votes for it, representing nearly 75% of votes cast. What else? There were 98,262 ballots cast countywide, which represents 13.9% of Collin County’s 706,388 voters. Nearly half the ballots cast, totaling 46,907, were cast during early voting. All results are unofficial until canvassed. The context County officials are looking to make infra- structure and facility improvements due to their

Results breakdown

For

Against

49,873 44,152 Proposition A: Justice facility expansion projects 61,271 33,272 Proposition B: County animal shelter expansion 51,791 41,338 Proposition C: New medical examiner's office 59,525 34,492 Proposition D: Parks and open spaces 70,742 24,099 Proposition E: Roadway infrastructure projects

SOURCE: COLLIN COUNTY ELECTIONS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

increased use by the growing population. “Growth is the big issue,” county Engineering Director Clarence Daugherty said. “Collin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and that just puts a strain on all the services in the county.” Collin County’s population is set to nearly triple to 3.4 million people near 2070, Daugherty said.

• Lighting • Signage • Paving

390 apartments, restaurant approved for mixed-use project in downtown Plano A rezoning request for redeveloping a tract of land downtown with a mixed-use development containing apartments and a restaurant with outdoor pickleball courts received approval from Plano City Council. The project called Railside Lofts and Courts, What you need to know The development proposal includes 390 mul- tifamily units, a restaurant, six indoor pickleball courts and a game lawn area in downtown Plano, according to city documents. 14TH ST. 13TH ST.

Per the documents, the apartment building will be five stories tall and will also include a proposed dog park and a five-story parking garage.

located at the corner of 13th Street and Municipal Avenue near the future site of the Silver Line’s 12th Street Station, was approved during the Oct. 9 meeting.

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PLANO 5930 West Park Blvd (972) 250-0500

ALLEN 1839 N Central Expressway (972) 908-3488

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COIT ROAD 1453 Coit Rd (972) 867-2821

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Education

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & SAM PONTIUS

District seeking feedback on facility planning Plano ISD is hosting a series of community meetings as the district looks at long-range facility planning options, which could include schools. What you need to know District officials appointed a long-range facility planning advisory committee in September that will make recommendations on “building and property efficiencies.” The committee, comprised of current or recent PISD parents began meeting in October. The community is invited to provide feedback at meetings on Dec. 11, Jan. 11, Feb. 10, March 6 and April 9. Digging deeper As a result of declining enrollment numbers, PISD is looking to “rightsize” school sites,

Officials want TEA ‘held accountable’ Following a district court ruling that blocked the Texas Education Agency from issuing new accountability ratings to public schools, Plano ISD officials expect the agency “to be held accountable to the law,” a district spokesperson said in an email response. The gist PISD is one of more than 100 school districts in Texas that is suing the TEA over its new A-F accountability rating system. “The court recognized that the Legislature expects for families, schools and educators to know the rules by which schools will be graded in advance, rather than applying new rules retroactively as the TEA has attempted to do for the 2022-2023 school year,” the statement said.

The decline Enrollment rates declined by nearly 8% in Plano ISD from the 2018-19 school year to 2022-23.

Enrollment

53,057 52,692

2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2022-23 2021-22

49,400 50,154 48,921

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

according to the district’s website. Rightsizing may include closing school buildings or adjusting attendance boundaries within the feeder pattern. PISD’s enrollment has steadily declined since peaking at 55,700 students in 2012. The district’s enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is 47,800 students.

PLANO NORTH EDITION

Education

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Higher Education Guide

2023

Local college enrollment

Fall student enrollment

Largest academic programs by enrollment Fall 2022

Two of Collin College’s 11 campuses are located in Plano—the Plano campus on East Spring Creek Parkway and the Courtyard Center on Preston Park Boulevard—both of which contribute to the school’s total enrollment. Collin College also offers dual credit opportunities for Plano ISD and Frisco ISD students. Collin College saw an enrollment increase in 2022 after a temporary dip in 2021.

35,000 40,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 5,000 10,000 0

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

12,703

Business, Management, Marketing and related Support Services

5,036

Collin College Plano Campus 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano www.collin.edu Collin College Courtyard Center 4800 Preston Park Blvd., Plano www.collin.edu

Health Professions and related program

4,378

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

2,751

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

SOURCE: TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY JONATHAN PERRIELLO

BAD HIPS? GREAT DOCTORS.

The Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences program aims to oset the underrepresentation of women in the aviation industry by providing them an alternate path when pursuing their career.

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TWU launches new aeronautics program

Vivek Chadayammuri, M.D.; Richard Reitman, M.D.; Roger Emerson, M.D.

Texas Woman’s University is carving a pathway for women into aviation after the establishment of the Doswell School of Aeronauti- cal Sciences. As of 2022, the percentage of women pilots in the U.S. was 4.9%, according to CAPACentre for Aviation, an organization that tracks aviation market data. The program aims to oset this underrepresentation by providing an alternate path for women pursuing aviation. “TWU is uniquely positioned as an educational institution because they’re a woman’s university,” said Clint Grant, dean of aviation, business and logistics at Tarrant County College. “I don’t know of any other woman’s university in the U.S. that’s doing anything like this.” What to expect The professional pilot track is targeted to students interested in commercial piloting and certied ight instructor training. The management track is intended to certify students as commer- cial pilots while teaching ight

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operation management skills rather than instructor training. In addition to hiring qualied faculty and sta, Grant will also be working to secure partnerships with third-party ight programs. Going forward Five years down the line, the hope is that TWU has a thriving aviation program, a presence at the local airport and an expanded concept of aviation sciences to include majors for nonight students, Grant said. But for now the focus is getting the program o the ground. “I cannot wait to see a maroon and white airplane in the sky,” he said.

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

From the cover

New opportunities fuel growth at Collin College

Diving in deeper

The gist

Population growth and Collin College’s aord- ability has caused dual enrollment to grow, said Raul Martinez, Collin College associate vice presi- dent of primary-through-12th grade partnerships. Plano ISD is set to launch its collegiate academy next school year, said Kristyn Edney, PISD execu- tive director for counseling & college, career and military readiness. The district also partners with Collin College for several career and technical opportunities for students, including its Industries Academy and Health Sciences Academy. “Those programs provide our students the opportunity to really start getting hands-on experience in those areas,” said Karen Buechman, PISD director of Career & Technical Education. “Those are high-wage and high-demand jobs that are needed here locally in Plano and across the metroplex.”

Plano ISD total dual enrollment

Dual enrollment students make up 28% of Collin College’s credit enrollment and have been the biggest area of growth for the school, which partners with all of the independent school districts in its service area. Since 2021, Collin College campuses have opened in Celina and Wylie, and a technical campus opened in Allen. The new campus locations were chosen because data showed that students were less likely to attend if they had to commute more than 20 minutes, Johnson said. The school has also expanded to oer four bachelor’s programs.

1152

2019-20 2020-21

1406

1297

2021-22

1406

2022-23

1163

2023-24*

0 300 600 900 1,200 1,500

Number of students

Plano ISD Health Sciences Academy enrollment

196

2019-20 2020-21

220

210

2021-22

217

2022-23

The breakdown Dual enrollment at Collin College has increased over the last two years.

206

2023-24*

0 50 100 150 200

250

Number of students

Fall semester enrollment

SOURCE: PLANO ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT *FALL ONLY

Total credit students Dual enrollment students

33,996

21.16%

Quotes of Note

35,392

26.21%

“Our community is growing—and we are a community college—so we have had to be responsive.” ABE JOHNSON, COLLIN COLLEGE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS

“[Dual enrollment] students that go straight into a career are one step ahead of students who haven’t had that experience.” KAREN BUECHMAN, PLANO ISD DIRECTOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

33,690

19.86%

35,085

25.51%

28.45%

37,998

SOURCE: COLLIN COLLEGECOMMUNITY IMPACT

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What else

What’s next?

Collin College’s technical campus has allowed the school to oer several high-demand programs. “We started oering programs that we’ve never oered before,” Johnson said. “The technical programs like welding, automotive, construction management and things of that nature—our region was hungry for those programs. All of those programs have grown by leaps and bounds since we started.” The college has continued to expand opportu- nities within those programs as well. The most recent example is a partnership with Toyota for its automotive technician program, which provides a fast track for automotive technician students to work in Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Martinez added these programs have contrib- uted to the growth of dual enrollment students. “Four-year universities are not for everybody,” he said. “Some people just need a little bit of training to get them into a high-wage, high-de- mand job.”

New campuses and new programs could be in Collin College’s future. Johnson said school ocials plan to expand workforce programs and add a fth baccalaureate program to its current lineup which includes: • Clinical Operations Management • Construction Management • Cybersecurity • Nursing He also added Collin College owns property in Anna, but any new campuses won’t be built until “much further down the line.” Right now, the focus is ne tuning what the school already oers. “Our immediate plan of attack is to look at the campuses we do have,” Johnson said.

Collin College’s construction management program is oered at the school’s technical college in Allen.

COURTESY SARA CARPENTER

INNOVATION MEETS EDUCATION: UNT FRISCO'S PROJECT DESIGN AND ANALYSIS PROGRAM SHAPES TOMORROW'S LEADERS Q&A The story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team. Students in the Project Design and Analysis program at University of North Texas at Frisco have the unique opportunity to work with local business leaders to solve real industry problems and gain valuable experience through project-based learning. Kevin Sanders, Director of Project-Based Learning, explains the principles of project-based learning, its practical applications at the university and how this approach better equips students for their future careers.

Kevin Sanders, Director of Project-Based Learning

Can you give a basic definition of project-based lear�ing? Sanders: Project-based learning is a concept in which we try to build a curriculum around a centralized project throughout the course of the semester. At UNT at Frisco, we build that project around an industry partner. We identify an industry problem and we work to solve that problem throughout the course of the semester. How do you think that prepares students for what they’re going to do after college? Sanders: I think it really heightens the stakes because they’re not working with a simulation or theoretical problem. They’re working with something that somebody from an industry has actually identified as something that they need help with. One of the benefits of project-based learning is that it does increase the degree of authorship and ownership that a student has over their work. Our students are getting a chance to see what works and what doesn’t work because they’re getting feedback in real time. Therefore, when our students are going to work full time and doing interviews after they graduate, they have a little bit of a better grasp of what works and how to take those things from a classroom and actually apply them to the real world. Read the full interview and learn more

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

Transportation

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & COLBY FARR

DART approves $4M for Cotton Belt project Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s board of directors approved $4 million for design changes to the Cotton Belt Regional Trail project during an Oct. 31 meeting. What you need to know The North Central Texas Council of Govern- ments is expected to fund the changes, according to the board agenda. The action brings DART’s design-build contract for the Silver Line Regional Rail project to about $1.47 billion in total value. Funding will be used to address design changes requested by cities and railroads located along the Cotton Belt Trail corridor, said Trey Walker, capital design and construction vice president. In the same action, the board also approved an additional $1.16 million for resolving any unnegotiated change requests in advance, accord- ing to the agenda.

Work on Parker Road slated to continue Residents driving on Parker Road could see closures and construction in four dierent sections for the next few months. The details A section of Parker Road from Parkwood Boulevard to the west city limits is getting asphalt improvements, with daily lane clo- sures in both directions. A section from Jupi- ter Road to Avenue P has two lanes closed 24/7 for road repairs. Both of those projects are estimated to end in late November. Another section from Alma Drive to Rainier Road also has two lanes closed 24/7. That project is estimated to nish on Dec. 30. Various lanes will also be closed through- out the installation of a waterline from Independence Parkway to Country Place. Work is expected to nish around Jan. 30.

The Cotton Belt Trail will run alongside the Silver Line.

MICHAEL CROUCHLEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Zooming out DART oversees design and construction for the Cotton Belt Trail and Silver Line Rail projects between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Plano. The Cotton Belt Trail will include nearly 57 miles of trail between Plano and Fort Worth. The city of Plano approved an interlocal coop- erative agreement with NCTCOG during its Nov. 7 meeting, and it will provide $1,700,718 of funding for the project.

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Real estate

Number of homes sold

September 2022

September 2023

Residential market data

48 37 33 22 41 26

37 34 59 36 29 28

-22.92%

75023

Home sales across Plano were down from last year, according to data from Collin County Area Realtors. All ZIP codes saw a year-over-year decrease in number of homes sold.

-3.4%

75074

-33.33%

75024

-8.11%

75075

-36.59%

75025

-38.98%

75093

SRT TOLL

DNT TOLL

Median home sales price

PGBT TOLL

2022

2023

2022

2023

75023

-7.9%

75074

$402,000

$436,500

75023 75075

75024 75093

75025

75074

+13.9%

$438,500

$385,000

75024

75075

+0.21%

+5.82%

$699,500

$481,500

$698,000

$455,000

Homes sold in Plano area by price point

75025

75093

+1.87%

-0.37%

$545,000

$680,000

$535,000

$682,500

September 2023

$1 million+

$700,000-$999,999

Average days on market

$300,000-$699,999

131

-14.81%

+27.03%

+4.35%

+10%

+7.69%

-28.57%

$100,000-$299,999

<$99,999

MARKET DATA COMPILED BY COLLIN COUNTY AREA REALTORS • WWW.CCAR.NET

75023

75024

75025

75074

75075

75093

A home is more than an investment. It’s where the best holiday memories are made.

LoneStarHomes.com

PLANO NORTH EDITION

Community

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & JONATHAN PERRIELLO

Holiday Events Guide

2023

Light up the Highlands Kick off the holiday season with a countdown to a Christmas tree lighting and other activities, such as pictures with Santa and a reindeer petting zoo. The event will feature Reverse Food Truck, an outreach of NorthPark Presbyterian Church, which collects donations for local food pantries. • Nov. 26, 4-6 p.m. • Free • Lake Highlands Town Center, 7100 Wildcat Way, Dallas • www.lhjwl.org/event-information Christmas on the Square in Celina Celina’s Downtown Square will host a family-friendly holiday festival. The event will feature photos with Santa, cupcakes with Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, tree

November

Frisco’s Christmas in the Square The largest light and music display in North Texas will also feature an outdoor ice skating rink and more. • Nov. 18-Jan. 19, 6-10 p.m. • Free (admission) • Frisco Square, 8874 Coleman Blvd., Frisco • www.visitfrisco.com/event/christmas-in-the- square/4526 Christmas in Grapevine Craft Show Grapevine’s third annual Christmas in Grapevine Craft show will be filled with vendor booths, holiday music, drawings and more. • Nov. 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • $5 • Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine • https://iwokeupin2014.wixsite.com/icevents/ christmasingrapevine

Home for the Holidays Downtown McKinney will host activities, food and entertainment for the annual Christmas celebration. Activities will include live Christmas music; visits with Santa; and a petting zoo. • Nov. 25-26, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Nov. 27, noon-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney • www.visitmckinney.com/event/home-for-the- holidays-a-mckinney-christmas/7980

lighting and more. • Nov. 29, 5-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • 142 N. Ohio St., Celina • www.lifeincelinatx.com/christmas

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY JONATHAN PERRIELLO

Vixen Body Art oers all female tattooing talent in Plano When tattoo artist Stephanie Vixen opened Vixen Body Art in 2022 she wanted to do some- thing unique while also breaking out from a male-dominated industry. Vixen’s studio features an all female sta that provides tattoo and piercing services like tradi- tional shops, but also oers cosmetic tattooing which augments client’s aesthetics through per- manent makeup and eyeliner, tattooed eyebrows and lip brush, faux freckles and more. The backstory Vixen began working with her husband, a tattoo artist of 30 years where she learned how to tattoo starting as an artist in 2007. By 2009 she earned her cosmetology license and spent some time working in the beauty industry, Vixen said. In 2017 she combined her two passions into cosmetic tattooing before nally opening up Vixen Body Art. “I was like what better opportunity to nd a spot in Plano closer to my home and do an all female tattoo studio,” she said. The details The most popular area of service for all clients are eyebrows, she said. The treatment uses a dierent pigment than traditional tattoos, which fades after about ve years. Vixen has also provided cosmetic tattoos that even out skin tone to patients with Vitiligo, a condition that causes pigment loss in patches of skin.

Owner Stephanie Vixen learned how to tattoo from her husband and started as an artist in 2007.

PHOTOS COURTESY VIXEN BODY ART

W. PARKER RD.

W. PARK BLVD.

3198 W. Parker Road, Ste., #3109, Plano www.vixenbodyart.com

The studio oers cosmetic tattooing services.

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