Run the numbers on land price
The city is going to construct a new park in far north Fort Worth . (Dec. 13, 4A, “City approves $13.6M for 300-acre park in far north Fort Worth”) This is a good thing, but is the expense reasonable or justified?
At $13.6 million for nearly 300 acres, that is more than $45,000 per acre. The appraisal district valued the land at $3.8 million, or about $12,666 per acre.
Property appraisals are not exact, but did the city hire someone to estimate the value it wanted? If this is the actual value, then the appraisal district has been incompetent in establishing the value for taxes at $3.8 million.
It appears the city has vastly overpaid with taxpayers’ dollars or appraisers undervalued the property. The taxpayer appears to be the victim in either case.
– John Nolan, Arlington
Cross the Trinity safely on foot
Let’s build a walking bridge across the Trinity River from The Lodge apartments to the Waterside shopping center, where there’s good music and restaurants. There’s only one way to safely get across this river, but it’s an annoying, exhausting two-mile walk. Crossing the rocks underneath the Bryant Irvin Road bridge is not the safest, nor is it the best idea after taking shots on your birthday.