History: Leander, Texas - A Great Place to Live!

2011 is a year that many of us would like to forget due to the serious nature of the international economic woes that affected us all.  Your city, the City of Leander, was impacted, but not as much as some of our sister cities in the region.  Our building permits were steady.  With the arrival of Taylor Morrison Communities (1,200 home sites planned) and Grand Haven Homes (150 home sites on the ground) 2011 for Leander looked more like a planning year rather than a building year.   These two home builders have planned their two respective high end communities here in Leander because of who we are rapidly becoming; and that is a city of great promise, and a community that is on the move and open for business.   Home Builders like Grand Haven and Taylor Morrison have taken notice, and so have employers.  Smokey Moe’s, Farmers Insurance, “Dry it” Manufacturing, O’Leander Café, Joule Bio Technologies, A+ Credit Union; we now have two Subway Sandwich shops, and recently opened a Pizza Hut, complete with a drive through at the Gateway Shopping Center.  Our 2006 road bonds were hard at work in 2010; the completion of Crystal Falls Phase One (183A to Reagan Blvd.) and Crystal Falls Phase Two (183 to 183A), 2243 at Bagdad Road improvements, the completion of Sonny Drive which is built in front of our brand new fire station #3, the opening of the much anticipated Capital Metro Red Line, which is now running rail service morning, night, and soon late night Friday rail service from Leander to Austin. Our Transit Oriented Development has a new member; Austin Community College, which purchased 100 acres near the rail station.  Your city has been upgraded to a AA+ bond rating, and it financially poised for a bright future.  2011; a year to forget? Not hardly!

I believe 2012 will be even better, and here is why.  Lakeline Blvd. is being extended from Crystal Falls Parkway to 2243.  We are currently working with a grocery store chain who is interested in coming to Leander, a hospital who is looking to acquire land for a future hospital, Scott and White has opened a clinic on 183, north of the Lowes Center, just to name a few things. Our golf course is in the process rebuilding some of its greens, cart paths and fairways after the rain, then the drought. In spite of the economy, the rain, the drought, golf rounds are holding steady.  Your city staff is growing, but still as lean as possible.  

If I had a wish for 2012, I would like for there to be more restaurants here in Leander as well as expanded parks, and recreation facilities such as a YMCA.  Let us all be thankful that we live I in Leander Texas.  I look forward to serving as your Mayor in 2012.  

Pol. Adv. Paid for by John D. Cowman.  Mailing Address: 1920 Holly Hill Drive, Leander, Texas 78741 (Tel. 512-789-5000).

John D. Cowman subscribes to the Texas ‘Code of Fair Campaign Practices” Act, TEC:[EC §  258-001-009] Texas Ethics Commission.