Euless: Voyager Observation Wheel Dallas (600 FT.) & Lifestyle Ctr. w/mid-rise tower

[CTroyMathis]

Holy cow. Do we have a future 'Best Vantage-point in the entire Metroplex?

Check out their work here:
Wow.
http://www.voyager-ent.com/htmlindex.html
___


http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2003/07/07/daily33.html

600-foot observation wheel planned for Euless development

Construction of a 600-foot observation wheel is being planned at a 200-acre development called the Villages of Bear Creek in Euless, owned by Bear Creek Associates II and Bear Creek Associates III partnerships.

Bennett Realty Group of Laguna Hills, Calif., will provide the required acreage for Voyager Entertainment International Inc. (BB: VEII) to build the observation wheel and an entertainment complex.

The land will be developed as a "town center" or "lifestyle center." The proposed development will include retail, a theater, restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues, as well as a mixture of office space, hotels, and high-rise residential living.

The 600-foot tall high-tech attraction to be built by Voyager of Las Vegas, will have the capacity of 7.5 million guests per year with an average individual ride ticket of $18, according to Voyager.

Each wheel consists of 32 sky cruisers seating 20 passengers and making a complete revolution every 27 minutes. Each sky cruiser consists of its own galley and bathroom.

This new concept surpasses that of the London Eye Ferris Wheel, which has approximately 4 million riders per year, according to Voyager.

[gc]

dude, i just saw this. What in the world is going on in Euless? Sounds cool.....i just don't get it though.

[CTroyMathis]

All I can say is, wow again. I just drove through that place (the city that is) Sunday. I can't even imagine...

The kind of stuff this company has in their portfolio/gallery:

http://www.voyager-ent.com/bigimages/shang2new.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/bigimages/newrender3.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/bigimages/shang3new.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/bigimages/wetnwildsiteplansmall.jpg

[jsoto3]

When visiting a friend at RTKL I saw plans for the "town center" at Bear Creek in Euless. It looked pretty nice, sort of like Addison Circle, only with ponds and creeks. I didn't see anything that looked like a ferris wheel though.

[chiboi]

This is staggering...It reminds me of when they were going to build the world's tallest building in the Colony. Anyway, however ironic it looks really cool, let's keep our fingers crossed.

[Gen5Dallas]

If they go through with it, it should be a great vantage-point for watchin' birds takeoff and land at DFW.

[CTroyMathis]

Now that we're past the gee whiz stage - anyone out there think this is kinda bizarre? Love the concept. Great visuals. But, the location has got to be a bit... confusing.

First, can you build anything that tall close to the airport?
Second, wouldn't Six Flags have been an interesting spot as well?
Third, there's always Fair Park or some other place in Dallas or Fort Worth. Who knows. Throwing out ideas searching for a bone.

Oh wait, there's always The Colony... ;)

[gc]

Good question Troy. I think the location for this project is a bit odd. It seems more suitable to be located at Six Flags or Fair Park like you said. However, it is really not that surprising if you consider that cities everywhere are trying to redefine themselves and attract visitors. Time can only tell I guess.

[mikedsjr]

i agree. Kind of odd. The only attractions to see there are the planes taking off and watch the cars on 183 sit during rush hour.

[CTroyMathis]

Here are a couple of other links to the news story when it first broke:

http://news.corporate.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20030710/10jul2003114312.html

http://www.webdesk.com/voyager-observation-wheel/

[CTroyMathis]

So, I kept going back for the last half a year to see if anything new was posted on that site.
It's updated w/flash and sound:
http://www.voyager-ent.com/flashindex.html

Well, here (at least) is some validation alas...

- with rough computer renderings of the 'DFW location' finally and at least company acknowledgement that this 'proposal' does actually exist in DFW and not just other places.

Pipe dream or not, at least it isn't a fabricated 'filler news story' by business journals across the US. Now comes the part about - 'excuse me, did you say Euless?!' Hehehe.

http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_8.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_2.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_7.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_1.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_3.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_4.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_5.jpg
http://www.voyager-ent.com/imgs_lg/dallas_6.jpg

[crescentboi]

WOW! That site is pretty cool. If you watch the video on the Dallas Location, it's pretty impressive. However how could you put something like that in Euless!! Can you imagine this on the banks of the Trinity!! I think that would be cool, and especially if Jerry World or whatever was not too far away, the downtown area would become a huge destination/attraction.

[gc]

That is cool. but...........

This is not a shot at Euless, but how does this fit into that area at all? How does this fit in to Euless's long term goals? What exactly are all the developments around it? Office? Retail? Residential? This is confusing to me.

[dallastophoenix]

Euless??? huh????

This would definitely work well in Las Colinas or Downtown Dallas, but Euless??? I just can't see this thing going forward... We're probably more likely to see a Ritz hotel being built in Red Oak... lol...

[MustangMonkey]

Well we all know the plan.

A developer will show fantastic renderings to the city council, and then ask for a few million bucks, once they have the funding, the renderings change and change and change.

eventually it's a multimillion dollar bolted down traveling carnival.

[JBB]

The company proposing this has had one proposed in Vegas for several years. It was planned to go on a site currently occupied by a water park, but they could not work out a deal to acquire the land. It is now set to go in next to Rio (off the Strip).

I don't think we'll see this built in Euless or anywhere else in the area.

[mikedsjr]

Maybe they could build this is Mineral Wells. :rolleyes:

[JaeTex]

Anyone else having visions of the Simpsons episode where the monorail comes to town? Maybe this company travels the nation selling ferris wheels.

[LakeHighlands]

Here’s another pic of the voyager that I had on my computer. I remember reading about it and saved the pic cause I thought it was odd to build something like that in Euless.

[LakeHighlands]

here it is

[freewaytincan]

This looks like a sick joke.

[tamtagon]

Euless may be a potential site for construction of a 600-foot observation wheel since the area is expected to experience a population boom during the next two decades.

The proposed development will include retail, a theater, restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues, as well as a mixture of office space, hotels, and high-rise residential living.

Now, if Plano has great parks, but with a giant recreational attraction, the city would be more "liveable"; Frisco added to the recruitment of businesses the recruitment of sporting venues; It just makes sense that the New Urbanist builders/planners would recognize the opportunity extended by a unique attraction in an area expected to attract 250,000+ additional citizens in the coming years. It makes perfect sense that a 600 foot ferris wheel is would be planned for H-E-B.

[gc]

Good points tamtagon. I guess that is where I disagree with new urbanism.

[tamtagon]

The way the observation wheel looks in these renderings reminds me of EPCOT beginnings. Kinda like: step right up folks, and take a look at what is possible in the future of mankind.

[CTroyMathis]

From the City Council minutes in Euless:


ITEM NO. 4 APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 04-1166



Council Member Porterfield motioned to approve Resolution No. 04-1166 agreeing to consider development agreements for the Bennett property located at SH360 and SH183.

Council Member Hogg seconded the motion.

Council Member Miller questioned whether the owner of the property noted in the resolution owed back taxes.

City Manager Joe Hennig stated that $108,669 taxes are owed after the closing of the 46 acres on the land swap with DFW Airport.

Council Member Miller also asked if there is quite a bit of multi-family in the development being proposed.

Director of Economic Development Bill Ridgway replied that he had not seen anything different than the last plan that the Council saw that included urban living which was residential units above retail.

Council Member Miller then asked if that plan had a sizeable multi-family in terms of what they saw.

Mr. Ridgway replied that there was some multi-family, but not in the sense of the multi-family that the city currently has north of the proposed development.

Council Member Miller then asked if the “wheel” is no longer a part of the project.

Mr. Ridgway replied that the approved clearance at the airport would be 800 feet above sea level, and their proposed wheel would have been 600 feet in addition to the 530 feet above sea level of the site.

Council Member Miller then stated that he is in favor of development, but the city has no agreement from the developer in terms of the initial intent which was commercial, and then the other uses would be considered. He does not believe the city knows the vision that they are proposing, and he is not sure he believes in letters of good faith that he does not know exactly what is being proposed and also what the costs involved are going to be on behalf of the city, but yet they are asking for a tremendous amount of incentives in terms of tax increment financing, tax abatements, etc.

Council Member Miller stated he is in favor of economic development, but cannot give his credence to the development, since he does not know what type of development is proposed.

Mayor Pro Tem Tyson stated he believed the council can consider the resolution without making a commitment.

Council Member Porterfield stated the resolution does not make a commitment on the part of the city other than to consider the proposal. He stated it is a non-binding resolution that does not make any commitments or give any incentives.

Ayes: Mayor Saleh, Mayor Pro Tem Tyson, Council Members Hogg, Porterfield, and Massey

Nays: Council Members Miller and Edwards

Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried.


I also reviewed their Village at Bear Creek (or whatever) planning & zoning agenda and it's also mentioned.

[CTroyMathis]

So, how close is this to the airport? 183/360 apparently...

[JBB]

So, if I'm reading that right, the wheel would actually be about 330 ft. taller than the approved height? Sounded like a goofy idea anyway. Glad it will fall through.

[CTroyMathis]

What were they thinking in actually proposing something that tall next to the airport - CLEARLY in flight path regulations!?

[freewaytincan]

Seriously, not to mention it looks like the circus from Hell.

[Foucault]

I bet Euless's 250000 prospective residents are disappointed.

[bloodandpopcorn]

I hope they don't give up on this project, but keep it in the metroplex somewhere! It would be great over by White Rock or in South Dallas. It really should be built somewhere, I think.

[dallastophoenix]

or on the banks of the lake in grand prairie - next to the other proposed development...

[tamtagon]

I wonder if these guys are still trying to build this somewhere.

[RobertB]

I wonder if these guys are still trying to build this somewhere.
I wonder if they every had any intention of really building it anywhere. It's as goofy as a suspension bridge over the Trinity. Oh, wait...

[clipper]

Maybe they can build the $375 million snow park instead.

[carousel]

^ Lol