Revitalizing Denison

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Posted: 1:17 PM Feb 26, 2008
Last Updated: 5:33 PM Feb 26, 2008
Reporter: Stephanie Brletic
Email Address: stephanie.brletic@kxii.com

46 comments

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DENISON, Tex. -- When searching for a new place to live, the look of the neighborhood is probably a factor, and in Denison, Mayor Robert Brady is concerned about his city's appearance. Stephanie Brletic has the story.

Mayor Brady says helping to revitalize Denison is a big priority because some areas of are in very bad condition, full of litter and dilapidated buildings.

Brady says he has been working with city employees to brainstorm ways to clean up the city, coming up with things like ‘3-Men-In-A-Truck,’ a litter pickup program, and affordable housing programs.

The mayor says one problem is litter. There are several areas that people have been using as makeshift dump sites for years, and Brady says cleaning up those areas is going to cost at least $10,000.

To get rid Denison of unsightly structures, Brady plans to increase demolitions from 30 to 50 a year. He worries that if the city doesn't change its appearance, no one is going to be interested in moving to Denison.

"You know, sometimes you don't even know someone's looking at you to relocate here. They just drive around your community and if they see a community that doesn't have enough pride in itself to clean itself up, then they're likely to go either north, south, east or west," Brady says.

Brady says one way citizens can help out is by simply keeping their own property clean. He says that would help the city reach its goals, and of course, the mayor says he is always looking for good suggestions and volunteers.

"We're really trying to get the public involved. That's where it's going to happen. People have to have pride in their community and they have to keep their own property clean. If we could just get that accomplished, that would go a long way in taking care of the issues that we have," Brady says.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: kelly on Mar 3, 2008 at 01:49 PM
you people from sherman and denison spend so much time running each other down..myself i can barely tell when i go from one to the other...........

Posted by: Joe Location: Tweener on Mar 1, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Ralph I agree with you. I moved here a bit ago and everything in my neighborhood is just fine. Every town has it's problem areas and no matter what town your in it could use some cleaning.

Posted by: Ralph Location: Denison on Feb 29, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Hmmmm. I moved to Denison several years ago, and my neighborhood is great. Everyone takes care of their place, and its quiet and peaceful. I realize not all neighborhoods are this nice, but I was very selective.

Posted by: Mork Location: Ork on Feb 29, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Denison - Go get you a peanut - That worked for Durant! You'll have a boom before you know it!

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 10:10 AM
When I was looking at houses last year, I looked in Denison, but decided to live in Sherman. In Denison, there will be a nice house that is properly mantained, and the very next house will be a shack that is falling apart. At least in Sherman, you know which areas to avoid because all of the houses in the neighborhoods are similar as far as price range and upkeep go. Sherman doesn't have a problem with run down trash taking over the entire town like Denison.

Posted by: JC Location: Denison on Feb 28, 2008 at 11:59 AM
My experiences with their code enforcement officer show him to be a vengeful bully with a Napoleon Complex, even the municipal judge has commented on his over zealous enforcement practices. His approach will backfire and turn residents against the city making the problem worse, not better. He is not a public servant he is a public menace

Posted by: Joe Location: tweener on Feb 28, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Me you can't make people spend their money on things they don't want to. It's that simple. Some of these buildings have been neglected so long the cost is not reasonable to restore. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. If the Historical group wants to save buildings do it but you have to support your own beliefs and not wait till the building almost falls. My experience in Denison has been little cliques, that no matter the idea oppose one another based on who is for or against something instead of what's right. It's not just the current city council this has been going on for sometime (at least 30yrs). Me no matter how we see it we need to get on common ground and do things for our city and not argue. I can tell you from my experience with Shermans leaders that they realize that we are one community and viewed as such outside our two cities. Some of the posts on here not only don't reflect the views of Kxii they don't express the view fo Sherman as a whole.

Posted by: Me Location: Denison on Feb 28, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Joe, the question is "why" don't they want to fix up the buildings we already have? All the "want to save Denison History" people was wanting to save the old high school, why not other old buildings? Sounds like the counsil is so busy with trying to make sure residents get permits to hang a inside door they don't have time for the real issues. That is crazy having to get a permit to do repairs inside or outside of your own home. I can see getting your landlords permission if you rent, but not if you own. I guess businesses would rather watch a historic building rot over the years instead of repairing it. It still doesn't make since to me, but I'm not the one with the "college education" that is book smart but dumber than a box of rocks.

Posted by: Nathan Location: Denison on Feb 28, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Richie is right on the money

Posted by: Richie Location: Sherman on Feb 27, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Denison is creating their own ghetto with their stupid code enforcement. Did you know you have to get a permit and inspection just to replace a window or an interior door in your house? They make you do so much, that people in older houses cant' afford it.......so instead of fixing their houses, they just let them rot. Ten years from now Denison will be a hell hole.

Posted by: Steve Location: Sherman on Feb 27, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Denison is one of the trashiest places I've been. Most cities have bad parts of town, not Denison it's the other way around. THE WHOLE TOWN NEEDS A MAKEOVER!

Posted by: JC Location: Denison on Feb 27, 2008 at 05:56 PM
No, Joe, they don't. They being 1 officer, will drive by, if the dog runs, he drives away. I have tried and I have watched. I also emailed my city councilman, place 1 and NEVER got a reply within a few weeks of buying my home in Denison. I did get a prompt, informative reply from the City Manager, however. Has it turned out I was asking the wrong person regarding the information I was seeking, but being ignored is a strong motivator to me to pay close attention to the next city council election and vote based on my experiences so far.It is possible that my address revealed me as living in an area with lower home values therefore not worth the councilman's time. On a positive note, I have had positive interactions with police, they are obviously strained but professional and polite. Code enforcement was not.

Posted by: Joe Location: Tweener on Feb 27, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Me, you answered your own question. Nobody wants to fix up the old ones.

Posted by: bubba redneck Location: sherman on Feb 27, 2008 at 03:34 PM
now joe i dun gradated the 4th graid frum Dension and now I livs in Shermen...and i can tye mi own shues to...please explan to me howl else du you burn trash?? do yu ate it??

Posted by: Joe Location: tweener on Feb 27, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Resident Sherman you are so right. The entire area needs to come together and solve these issues in their communities and help their neighboring communities. Grayson county can be one of the nicest areas ever, but we need to support one another not tear one another down. Every town has room for improvement and I believe Brady has at least got some interest going.Folks you can e-mail any of the councilman from the city web page. It has places to report problems, eve street light that are out. It's OUR community and Our responsibility to clean it and keep it clean. It's also our responsibility to elect officials that see that these things get done. Resident I believe Sherman Denison really working together would deliver awesome results. Come on Denison let's step up as individuals and as a community. JC call animal control on the stray dogs, they will come out and get them.Good luck everybody!

Posted by: Me Location: Denison on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:40 PM
As I said once, why can't we try to fix up the buildings we already have (if fixable) instead of building new ones. That's why there are so many empty buildings. Everybody wants NEW. Speaking of cleaning up, just go eat pizza tonight at the "all you can eat", and look out the window and you can see all the drug activity you want going on just across the street.

Posted by: JC Location: Denison on Feb 27, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I agree with Jack, the trash department is frustrating. And if they don't get there before the stray dogs do your trash will be scattered up and down the street. Calls to the trash department get nowhere, they will suggest you wait until you see the truck coming before you put it out, which is not very helpful to working people.

Posted by: Resident Location: Sherman on Feb 27, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Quit bickering and complaining and just do something about it. The individual must do something instead of relying on the city officials...that would be a great first step. Sherman has its share of run-down and dilapidated properties; you just cannot see most of them from the areas of recent growth. Building is easy. Maintaining is the issue. That's why the Texoma area is expecting growth. People want to move out of the Metromess. They're looking for something DIFFRENT. This is a time of great opportunity for Denison. They can become the alternative to the typical north Texas "progress" by embracing growth while guiding quality and making sure that heritage is preserved thereby creating a revitalized town culture. People love the Hill Country, why? The Hill Country found a way to preserve heritage, environment and natural habitat while also inviting growth. It’s not only a fun place to live, but also a beautiful place to live in. Give me quality over convenience.

Posted by: Joe Location: Tweener on Feb 27, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Bubba do you have your Mothers permission to be on the computer. You should be in school already.

Posted by: Former Resident Location: Greenville, TX on Feb 27, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I was born & lived in Denison for there for 46 years. I had to relocate in order to find employment that paid more than minimum or close to minimum wage. Look at the jobs market in Denison. The employers don't pay anything. That's probably the major reason folks don't keep up their property. It's also the reason there are so many note car lots in Denison, major substandard wages. An old "theory" that ran around town for years was that lots of industry attempted to move to Denison, but the owners of the Cotton Mill blocked them because of the wages & benefits to be paid & it would cut into their labor force. Anyone else ever hear this story?

Posted by: Jack Location: Denison on Feb 27, 2008 at 10:24 AM
If Mayor Brady he needs to start with the Trash Dept by having the 3 Men in the Truck fellow the trash trucks that leaves a mess,that they don't pick up.When they grab a bag of trash to throw in trash truck it rips open and leave a mess in the street and they don't clean up and wind blows it all over the place Brady needs to start cleaning he's dept.

Posted by: Joe Location: Tweener on Feb 27, 2008 at 09:46 AM
People instead of hanging your dirty laundry out to dry here, go to the next city council meeting and express your views. Don't holler if you don't care enough to do something yourself. And don't give me this stuff that they won't listen cause the local media will be there covering it. There is no excuse. If the people from Denison that have posted their complaint on here in the last year would show up and present ideas or give their views it would help. Probably need to act civil at the meeting though. Be persistent with this cleanup campaign and above all educate yourself about the city before making a comment. Neighbors this isn't a football game. Jobs are jobs and citizens from each town work in the other. Denison is the second largest city in Grayson, a country county, check out the other small counties cities. Before Dallas moved into Collin McKinney was by far the largest city in that county, check out Cook, Lamar and Hunt. It does make a difference if you are the county seat.

Posted by: Sherman Business Owner Location: Sherman on Feb 27, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Shermans growth is directly related to them being a county seat and the HWY 82 / 75 intersection. Small and large businesses, industries, and residents do decide where they want to live based on many factors such as prosperity, crime rate, and education. As a Sherman business owner, I would never consider moving to Denison due to their tough city regulations. Based on my understanding it's very tough to run a city in Denison. No disrespect to any Denison residents but I feel like there is a lot of areas in Denison that could be cleaned up in more wasy than one that could really help to grow their community on every level. However, there are several areas in Sherman that need the same kind of attention. Honestly, I don't know if Denison leaders will really ever move forward with anything that is going to move Denison in the right direction. I think its up to the community now. Good luck, Denison & Sherman.

Posted by: bubba redneck Location: sherman on Feb 27, 2008 at 08:18 AM
wow is Dension really trying to do something right for a change..there is so much trash and houses that are falling apart that place really needs a good cleaning..i suggest a match and a gal of gas its much cheaper..

Posted by: john Location: denison on Feb 27, 2008 at 06:31 AM
No, sherman is growing do to hwy75 and hwy82, hello two of north Texas larges hwy's.

Posted by: LC Clyde Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:44 PM
I wish someone would stepup and do something.We have always been the Crude.But what do you do with peole who are just nasty?My neighbor took a home that an elderly couple kept immaculate for 25 years and has let it go completly to hell.It is worse than any salvage yard I have seen.Everyone else on the block has pride in their homes,but this one guy dont care.Its disgusting.

Posted by: Buddy Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I was born here and lived here all my life. The town is a mess and the city needs to inform and shame people to keep up their property by mail notification .I was the reciepient of the Parking on the grass rule and promply corrected the problem.But to each side of me and across the street they are still parked on the grass.Also at the southwest corner of Bush and Johnson there sits a City of Denison truck every day on the grass .I guess its exempt.

Posted by: Bob Location: Amarillo on Feb 26, 2008 at 09:37 PM
If the Denison City Manager had not retired in his position 7 years ago the City would look like a place folks would be proud to call home. The place looks like a "third world country"! When was last time the City Manager took any initiative to do anything?

Posted by: RLG Location: Dallas on Feb 26, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Denison does need a good clean up. Starting with the clean up of their leadership.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 26, 2008 at 08:28 PM
well maybe some of us pople are living in homes we can't afford to fix up because the home is not in our name and because of that we can;t get any help we just pay the taes on it to live there we can;t get any help is not our fault. I'm sure if we had the money we would improved I property.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 26, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Also, I think Brady deserves some credit for his work in trying to clean up our city. That is part of living in the city and if you dont want to take care of your house or you want to put cars on cinder blocks or boats in your front yard then move to the country. I hope he can get grants and form some service organizations that can help elderly or physically unabled to help make there properties cleaner looking. Also as far as vision, when the lake development gets going,and the hospital gets built, Denison will grow leaps and bounds and have enough property taxes to help with other projects.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 26, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Some of you dont get demographics. Sherman has two major highways running through it, 82 & 75. Companies and corporations look at population in the area when town themselves are not large enough to sustain the numbers they need. They figure,which they have been doing this for years, is they could get more people from all the directions in Sherman easier. When population increases further north from Dallas, and there are twice as many people in the area, then Denison will be the next spot to get all the growth because then Pottsboro and southern OK will drive to Denison since its closer, while the growth in South Grayson, Whitesboro/Sadler Southmayd,Tom Bean, will still go to Sherman because of its location. Hate to break it to you but griping about how our city leaders don't do nothing or old rich families control everything is idiotic. It is a timing process, it just doesnt happen overnight. Cities don't say I want this and it appears.

Posted by: Debbie Location: Denison, TX on Feb 26, 2008 at 07:50 PM
It's about time the City Of Denison has taken steps to make our town desirable. Its sad to see Sherman doing so well and Denison just sitting here losing our restaurants and I am sure business who don't want to build in a town that looks run down. The city need to be cleaned up so retail companies will want to build here and families will want to live here. And the streets need improving to attract people as well.

Posted by: Ralph Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Misti...I believe I mentioned the fact that Sherman is the most populated city in the county. The fact that it is the county seat has certainly been a major reason for it being more populated, and its poulation way back when may be why it was made the county seat. Re: the theater, you are apt to hear all sorts of stories. It isn't uncommon for a business to "play" one municipality against the other when it comes to tax breaks, infrastucture improvements etc. In the case of the theater, after all things were considered, they choose the Hwy82/75 location. If you owned a movie chain, and your choice was either next to Chilis in Denison or at Town Center, where would you build? JC has a good point re: the indentity thing. Unfortunately, our leadership seems inclined toward adopting a growth model that is both common and more appropriate to the cities to our south. Joe (tweener) is right on the mark! Bill, I moved to Denison (from the south), and I like it better here.

Posted by: Laura Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 06:47 PM
I agree with JC. We need a universal vision of what Denison should be. I would like to see it become a place that stays green (lots of trees, etc., Keep Denison Beautiful work), with just enough industry to provide the residents with a healthy amount of well paying jobs, and a tourist haven that helps bring in visitors to the specialty shops and art galleries. The local artists are doing well enough to maintain their galleries, are they not? I see nothing wrong with our downtown having galleries, antique shops, and other specialty shops. I also see nothing wrong with there being more theaters, restaurants, and stores like Walgreens popping up in Denison around Highway 75. We can stand to grow a little more in that area, but I don't see a need to push Denison and Sherman in to becoming one city. They already are to a certain extent. As long as the two cities can work together to try and benefit all who live in this area, that's all that matters.

Posted by: Misti Location: Texoma on Feb 26, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Yes Denison needs help, we moved here a few years back from the Metroplex, we inherited a house, outside the city limits but we have a Denison address. After driving around town looking for 1 or 2 rent houses to buy, my husband said "Denison is such a dirty town". There are houses that need repairs, some a coat of paint would do wonders, cars parked on the grass, thought there a city law against that. If it was inforced & citations issued the money could be used to help pay to demolish some of the old buildings & houses in town. Had heard that the movie theater in the Sherman Town Center was to have been built next to Chilis in Denison but couldn't get the tax credit they wanted, if that is true....how stupid, the tax $$ that would have been received could have paid to clean up the city. There is too much "Old Money" in this town. I disagree that Sherman's development is a direct result of it being the County seat. Before a business decides to build they look @ the population.

Posted by: bill Location: denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 05:03 PM
What does it matter if they run all the shops out of town like they have been doing no one wants to move to denison.

Posted by: JC Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Being a relative new comer to Denison, I honestly can't see much difference between Denison and Sherman, coming from the metro-plex it feels like one town except for the obvious acrimonious comments posted here. But it seems to me what Denison lacks is any clear identity. In other words what is it trying to be? A suburb? An industry town? An agrarian community? A tourist/sportsmen haven? An artist enclave? The efforts seemed scattered, inconsistent and therefore ineffective. If the town had one clear vision, even if the vision included elements of all the above in a cohesive manner, the city leaders might find a more cooperative and involved citizenry.

Posted by: Joe Location: tweener on Feb 26, 2008 at 04:52 PM
I agree Ralph seems all our neighbors to the south do is make childish remarks, showing they really don't understand nhow it works. Developement will come to Denison soon enough and I hope that it is done in a manner that is pleasant looking not just a bunch of buildings and parking lots. I remember Kxii doing a story a few years ago about people moving to Sherman, the main reason they moved was they didn't like the metro area it congested. Now Sherman is becoming like that. Growth is fine with some sense to it. Ralph are these Sherman kids posting and mouthing on here, surely they are not adults.

Posted by: Ralph Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Lynn...The last thing Denison needs to do is to look to the south. Sherman's development is a direct result of it being the County seat, being centrally located within the county, and already being the most populated city in the county. Don't you think Best Buy etc. considered these facts before they opened there? There would be no reasonable incentive great enough for Denison to offer that would have made these retailers choose Denison over Sherman. It's almost like saying Tom Bean could have had all this development if they had only tried harder. The City of Denison could do more to help clean up the city, but they are already doing quite a lot with the 3 men and a truck, monthly debris pick ups, and the annual city wide clean up effort. Fines and liens must be part of this effort, but only after folks are fully informed they are in violation and given reasonable time to get in compliance. We have too many folks who think sofas and recliners look good on their front porch.

Posted by: Lynn Location: Sherman on Feb 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM
What?? I don't get it, Joe. Concrete asphalt? Ohhh. You mean department stores and developement, restaurants and movie theaters. Now, I get it. I wouldn't really know about Denisons issues. I don't go there much, unless I feel like slumming.

Posted by: JC Location: Denison on Feb 26, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Denison needs to do a better job reaching out to it's citizens besides just issuing fines. Offer tangible solutions and assistance, make a real effort to go after the worse offenders first instead of the easy targets, namely low income people who need more than ten days to solve whatever the issues are for them. Dispense with the gestapo approach to code enforcement and start communicating with people. I am surrounded by dilapidated fire hazards and a drug house yet I am being targeted for 1 vehicle that is temporarily out of commission. I never intended or wanted a disabled vehicle but I have one and am working on solving the problem. It is not an eye sore or a safety hazard, but I am easy to catch and to ticket. The absentee owners of abandoned properties are not.

Posted by: Joe Location: Between the two on Feb 26, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Lynn when I look south I see nothing but concrete asphalt and plastic bags. Denison has issues but the answers are not to the south

Posted by: j Location: tx on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:52 PM
To expand the program make it "Three-Men-In-A-Truck-And-A-Lady-That-Is-Tired-Of-Looking-At-It. ;)

Posted by: ME Location: DENISON on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Somebody needs to do something. Everyone is evolving except poor old denison.

Posted by: Lynn Location: sherman on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Brady should be concerned. Denison is starting to look like a big ghetto, and Sherman is spanking them in development. Look to the south for ideas, gentlemen.

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