Houston Developer To Raze Denton's Fry Street

This story affects me personally. I lived in Denton for several years, and did part of my college schooling at the University of North Texas. During that time, I hung out a lot on Fry Street, just like a lot of other students and Denton residents. Most of the buildings there date back to the 1920's, and house a mixture of shops, resturants, and bars, that are still popular with UNT students.

Fry Street has always been a favorite hangout for UNT students. Back in the sixties, Denton's first head shop opened on Fry Street, and it became a hangout for north Texas hippies. The shops came and went, and Fry Street altered itself slightly to fit each succeeding generation, but it always remained a popular spot for students. Recently, it had been the home of the Fry Street Festival - a music festival that drew thousands each year.

However, none of this seems to matter to the current leadership in Denton. Their eyes are on the dollar signs. Chuck Carpenter, president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce says, "We recognize its attractiveness in terms of a hospitality destination. This is not a dis of Fry Street. I just don't know if you can view any of that as significant." Carpenter went on to say that Fry Street doesn't produce as much tax money as other developments such as the Golden Triangle Mall, so the area needs to be redeveloped.

A Houston company, United Equities, has now purchased the block of Fry Street closest to the college, and plans to tear down the current buildings and put up a new development with shops such as Starbucks. Some of the current businesses have been offered a spot in the new buildings, but at a rent increase of 600%. Most of the current businesses will not be able to afford that. The result will be that the unique and rather charming businesses now populating Fry Street will disappear, and be replaced by the cookie-cutter corporate businesses that can be found everywhere.

Many UNT students are not happy about the planned new development, and have started a petition that has already gathered 7,000 signatures. They are asking the company to renovate the current buildings, rather than tear them down for new buildings. In this way, they hope to save the current charm of the area.

I wish the students success, but I am realistic. Trying to fight a developer during the current Republican administration is usually a losing proposition. The only thing that matters to these people is the almighty dollar. History and charm are easily sacrificed to feed the corporate greed machine.

As a lover of Fry Street, I am saddened today.