Over the past 15–20 years, bringing “quality jobs” or corporate headquarters to Frisco has been a common campaign theme across many city council and mayoral candidates. As Frisco transitioned from a bedroom suburb into a regional employment center, candidates across political factions have run on platforms tied to economic development, corporate relocations, and high-wage job growth.
For communities like Frisco, smart corporate development isn’t just about landing big company logos—it’s about long-term financial health, balanced growth, and protecting taxpayers. Cities like Frisco have to think carefully about what kind of development they pursue and where it goes.
Mayor Cheney and other city leaders have frequently said Frisco “must pursue” major employers so the city becomes a regional job center instead of a commuter suburb. Cheney has emphasized pursuing large corporations and creating office districts where employees can live, work, and socialize.
Lifestyle Frisco wrote an article in October 2019 titled “Mayor Jeff Cheney Announces Re-Election Campaign” which centered around Mayor Cheney’s own words. Cheney continues, he was seeking residents votes on May 2, 2020, so he can continue to bring more jobs, expand the tax base, create beautiful neighborhoods, and provide top tier entertainment. He notes that Frisco won our FIRST-EVER Fortune 500 relocation with Keurig Dr Pepper. He continues, the goal is to deepen our Sports City USA brand by adding the National Soccer Hall of Fame, professional lacrosse, and an esports team. His political mailer in 2020 listed his so-called wins. It still does not compare to Plano’s wins that will bring more high paying quality jobs that have a better economic impact to the city.
For years we have listened to candidates and current Council Members talk and campaign about bringing “high-paying primary jobs” to reduce commutes for residents, diversify the city’s tax base, and to support the city’s financial stability. In the most recent special election, we were shocked to learn our newly elected council woman, Ann Anderson stated she was glad that AT&T chose to relocate to Plano. Wait what?
Frisco Chronicles began to question have our city leaders fulfilled their obligations and promises to Frisco residents? Shockingly, no! Residents need to pay attention.
Frisco vs Plano Comparison
Who is the largest employer in each city?
Frisco: Frisco Indepenent School District – 8,800 employees vs Plano: JP Morgan Chase – 11,261 employees
Frisco vs Plano Economic & Corporate Landscape
Which city has added the most corporate jobs?
Frisco: 5000 to 7000 vs City of Plano: 25,000+
Which city has had the greatest Economic Impact?
Frisco Annual Payroll Impact: Roughly $500M to $1Billion vs Plano Annual Payroll Impact: Roughly $2 to $3 Billion
Frisco Property Tax Impact: Tens of millions annually vs Plano Property Tax Impact: Hundreds of Millions over time
Frisco
Major employers are a mix of private and public sector. Frisco has attracted some high-profile corporate offices, but its largest employers tend to be public sector or regional service-focused, rather than Fortune 500 headquarters.
The focus has been on building a diversified but smaller-scale corporate base rather than creating a dense Fortune 500 corridor.
There’s evidence of success in certain sectors, but less concentration of high-paying corporate headquarters jobs compared to Plano.
Plano
Plano has built a robust corporate ecosystem, especially along Legacy West/Legacy Business Park, attracting Toyota Financial Services, JPMorgan Chase, NTT Data, Fujitsu/Ericsson, and Capital One.
The city has successfully attracted major Fortune 500 companies which created tens of thousands of corporate jobs and generated billions in annual payroll and hundreds of millions in property taxes.
Plano’s strategy has emphasized large-scale corporate relocation and campus development, which creates a strong economic multiplier effect.
Community Impact Comparison:
Frisco’s Potential Issue: With a large portion of the top employers in the public sector, Frisco’s economic growth may be more sensitive to government budgets, policy changes, and public funding cycles, rather than the stable expansion seen in private corporate headquarters. This could limit long-term job growth and tax base expansion.
Resident Impact Comparison
Plano: Residents benefit from high-paying corporate jobs, a strong tax base that funds public services, and a built-in ecosystem that encourages additional businesses and amenities.
Frisco: While still attracting quality employers and offering amenities, the job base may be narrower in sectors that generate higher wages and broader economic spillover. Public sector dominance among top employers may limit diversity in employment opportunities.
WHO WINS: FRISCO OR PLANO
Plano emerges as the city with a more aggressive, high-impact corporate strategy that directly benefits residents through employment opportunities, payroll tax revenues, and large-scale infrastructure support.
Frisco has been moderately successful in attracting employers but may face long-term challenges due to the nature of its largest employers and a less concentrated corporate corridor.
ELECTION TIME: VOTE WISELY
You constantly here residents in Frisco complain they are tired of growth without infrastructure. Why is that? Because our city leaders have done nothing to reduce our commute to local jobs or bring quality paying jobs to our community. By putting a heavy emphasis on “TOURISM” and “HOSPITALITY” they have created more traffic issues and attracted less quality paying jobs.
A recent big win the city likes to talk about is Universal Kids Resort, which is bound to add to Frisco’s traffic congestion. City leaders are hoping that over the years tourist attractions will bring in enough tax revenue to offset what the corporate relocations could have brought to our community.
A search of the internet for jobs at Universal Kids Resort displays the following available jobs: Lobby Attendant, Quick Service Associate, Dispatcher, Full Time Lead Technician, Lifeguard, Ride Operator Attendant, Wardrobe and Costume Supervisor, and many more. The requirement a HS Diploma or GED, Customer Service Experience. No pay scale offered for any of the positions. Universal offers very few highly paid management positions.
We did find one job for a Senior External Affairs & Corporate Communications Manager which states a bachelor’s degree in political science, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration or related field is required. It also says at least 7+ years of corporate communications, legislative, government or external affairs experience is required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Why is all this important?
Every election the same people stand before us and ask for our vote, and Frisco Residents who are none the wiser continue to just elect the same regime. The result is our leaders have failed to bring quality paying CAREERS to our community. This will affect us down the road when it comes time to paying the big bonds they have asked us to pass over the years.
John Keating’s website brags he has served on the council “FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.” Frisco Chronicles is curious if he can name one Corporate Relocation (besides the PGA) that he pushed hard to win that brought high paying quality jobs to Frisco? Keating’s website lists his priorities as Mayor and not one of them directly states the goal to bring high quality CAREERS AND CORPORATIONS that protect taxpayers. He offers the same priorities just re-written that he has failed to complete before in his decade on the dais. Keating’s time is up!
Laura Rummel is back to also ask for your vote! Her website states her priorities include Frisco’s infrastructure, smart growth by asking developers to offer smaller format housing options such as condos, townhomes, zero lot line home alternatives and fuel innovation and entrepreneurship. Her website states, “Start-ups typically provide slow and steady organic growth for the city, as well as bringing high-paying jobs, two attributes I would like to see us continue to recruit here to Frisco.
How will Laura Rummel help Frisco compete with Plano and the economic windfall they are having with corporate relocations? Rummel has had 5+ years on council now and she has no win to call her own! It takes a long time for startups to grow into a Capital One or AT&T and provide an economic impact to residents that we need here.
In closing, when will Frisco Residents say WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND WE WANT HIGH PAYING QUALITY JOBS THAT CREATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT like other surrounding cities. The big wins Frisco claims are great, but they are nothing compared to our neighbor the City of Plano which has built one of the largest corporation corridors in North Texas. Plano employers include major financial institutions, corporate headquarters, tech firms, and large service centers that anchor Plano’s economy and make up a significant share of local jobs. A linear “corporate corridor” lined with major employer logos, emphasizing Plano’s role as a corporate hub
Frisco residents need to ask, “How will we repay the $1 Billion in debt we have?” Frisco leaders have dropped the ball and if you look down the road none of the “WINS” our current leaders like to claim will bring in the billions that major corporate relocations could have. At the last city council meeting you saw them approve a warehouse along the 121 roadway – is that the best use of that land or could it have gone to something else that would have brought in more high-quality paying jobs. Frisco’s future is not as bright as residents would think when it comes to financial stability. The One Billion in debt has to come from somewhere so where will it come from? Get Wise Frisco!
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
Largest Employers in Frisco
Employer
Sector
Employees
Frisco ISD
Education
~8,800
Dallas Cowboys
Sports & Entertainment
~2,000
City of Frisco
Government
~1,800
HCL Technologies
Corporate
~1,500
T-Mobile
Corporate
~1,300
Keurig Dr Pepper
Corporate
~1,200
AmerisourceBergen
Healthcare
700+
Baylor Scott & White Health
Healthcare
600+
Collin College
Education
500
Mario Sinacola & Sons
Construction
500
Oracle
Corporate
400
Baylor Medical Center of Frisco
Healthcare
450
Lexipol
Corporate
420
Top Employers in Plano, TX
Plano’s largest employers based on the most recent city and economic data (2025–2026 estimates):
Alright, grab your popcorn —this one has all the makings of a classic Frisco Chronicles feature: money, media, and that familiar scent of roses wafting through the pages of the Dallas Morning News.
All Good in the Frisco Hood: Brought to You by… Medium Giant?
By now, longtime Frisco residents have noticed a curious phenomenon. Whenever the Dallas Morning News (DMN) writes about Frisco, the city sparkles. Streets are shinier. Leadership is visionary. Problems? What problems? If Frisco had potholes, DMN would probably call them “community engagement craters designed to slow traffic and save lives.”
Which raises the obvious question: why does Frisco always smell like roses in the DMN? Not weeds. Not smoke. Roses.
For years, residents have speculated. Maybe DMN is afraid of being cut off from exclusives. Maybe access journalism is alive and well. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s about the oldest motivator in local government and media alike: Money.
Enter Stage Left: Medium Giant
Here’s where things get interesting. A sharp-eyed reader recently connected a few dots that deserve a closer look. The Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) has entered into several contracts over the years with a company called Medium Giant.
Whose Medium Giant, you ask?
They’re an “integrated creative marketing agency.” Which is marketing-speak for we make things look good. Even better? Medium Giant just happens to be the sister company of the Dallas Morning News.
Cue the dramatic music. So now the question isn’t why DMN never seems to publish critical reporting on Frisco or its leadership. The question becomes: would they dare?
Follow the Money (Because It Always Tells a Story)
When we reviewed city check registers, we noticed multiple payments over the years made to Medium Giant. Not chump change. Not lunch money. Not “oops, forgot to expense that Uber.”
The total? $2,105,631.76
That’s over two million dollars paid by Frisco entities to a company tied directly to the same organization responsible for shaping Frisco’s public narrative in one of North Texas’ largest newspapers.
Now, we’re not saying this proves corruption. We’re not saying there’s a secret smoky backroom with editors and city staff clinking champagne glasses. We’re not even saying there’s an explicit quid pro quo.
What we are saying is this: If you were the DMN, would you risk torching a relationship connected—directly or indirectly—to a $2 million revenue stream by publishing hard-hitting, unvarnished reporting about Frisco’s leadership, finances, or controversies?
Hit Pieces for Some, Rose Petals for Others
What makes this dynamic even more eyebrow-raising is DMN’s recent track record. The paper has shown it’s perfectly willing to publish aggressive, sometimes glowing-less-than-rose-scented coverage of candidates who fall outside the Frisco inner circle.
Just ask: Jennifer White, Mark Piland, John Redmond
Funny how the gloves come off for political outsiders, but stay neatly folded when it comes to City Hall, current council members, and current city leadership.
Journalism, Marketing, or a Blurred Line?
Let’s be clear: Medium Giant being a marketing firm isn’t inherently wrong. Cities hire marketing agencies all the time. But when the marketing arm and the newsroom live under the same corporate roof, the public has every right to question whether the coverage they’re reading is journalism… or brand management.
Because from where residents sit, the pattern looks less like watchdog reporting and more like: “Frisco: Presented by Medium Giant, distributed by DMN.”
Final Thought
Transparency isn’t just about open records and posted agendas. It’s also about who controls the narrative—and who’s being paid behind the scenes while that narrative is shaped.
Two million dollars isn’t small change. It’s not accidental. And it certainly isn’t irrelevant.
So the next time you read a glowing DMN article telling you everything in Frisco is just peachy, ask yourself: Is this news… or is this advertising with better grammar?
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
Frisco Chronicles has received multiple complaints from residents of Meadow Hill Estates after an email landed in what appears to be every single email inbox in the community. The message, sent from a Gmail account — StopMillerAutomotive@gmail.com — urged residents to vote in the Frisco Special Election for Ann Anderson.
The writer of the email openly states “I spoke to this candidate about our issue” which is problematic since he never gave the other candidate a chance to share their view on the community’s issue. Based on one conversation with only one candidate you then send an email to your entire community telling them how to VOTE? Did the writer of this email do any research into other projects where citizens objected to something nearby their home and if Ann Anderson supported it.
For example, Universal Kids! Ann Anderson spoke on 2/7/2023 in FAVOR of Universal Studios. She ignored the numerous residents who lived in Cobb Hill and throughout Frisco, that came out and said they did not want a theme park that close to their community because of the noise, traffic and potential crime it could bring. Ask residents today if it has affected their home values in that community and how many Airbnb’s now exist there. She said at the forum the other day we need to be mindful of where we place projects near communities and used the hospital power plant as an example, yet she was in Favor of Universal Kids which is going to have roller coasters looking into people’s backyard! Her words and actions – DON’T MATCH!
That raised an obvious question residents can’t shake: How does a random Gmail account suddenly have the private email addresses of an entire neighborhood?
Not a Guessing Game — It’s a Privacy Issue
Residents aren’t speculating for sport. They’re concerned because there are only a few realistic ways someone could obtain a complete HOA email list:
Through HOA records
Through property management systems
Through board-level access to resident data
Those email addresses are not public information. They are collected for official HOA business, not political campaigning.
From the complaints we received, many residents believe the sender may be a current HOA board member or someone with inside access to HOA records.
The Meadow Hills Estates Facebook Page Raises More Questions
Adding fuel to the fire, residents pointed us to the Meadow Hill Estates Facebook page, which states it is “run by volunteers.” That page has posted about Miller Automotive on December 10, 2025 and several other times throughout the past year.
The overlap between the campaign email content and the Facebook posts has residents asking whether the same individual — or group — is behind both. And if so, how much access do they really have?
HOA Data Is Not Personal Property
Here’s the part that matters most. If a board member obtained residents’ email addresses solely because of their position, those addresses are HOA property, not personal contacts. Using them for anything outside official HOA business — especially electioneering — is widely considered improper and, in many cases, explicitly prohibited.
HOA board members have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the association — not personal political agendas. Using confidential resident data to influence a city election crosses a line that residents say should never be blurry.
Texas Attorney General Complaint Incoming
According to one Meadow Hill Estates resident, a formal complaint is being filed with the Texas Attorney General regarding the use of private HOA data for political purposes. That makes this more than neighborhood drama — it’s a legal and ethical issue.
We Reached Out to 4Sight Property Management
Frisco Chronicles contacted 4Sight Property Management, which oversees Meadow Hill Estates, asking the following: Did your company approve or authorize this email? Do you have rules or policies governing how HOA board members may use resident contact information? What safeguards exist to prevent misuse of confidential HOA data? We are currently awaiting their response and will update readers when one is received.
The Bigger Question
This isn’t about whether someone supports Ann Anderson or opposes Miller Automotive. It’s about trust. Residents trusted their HOA to safeguard their personal information — not turn it into a campaign mailing list. We hope Ann Anderson herself did not know about this email because if she did that it could be problematic also.
Until someone explains who hit “send” and how they had the power to do it, Meadow Hill Estates residents are left wondering whether their HOA is protecting them… or politicking with their privacy.
Stay tuned. Frisco Chronicles will follow this story wherever it leads.
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
In our last blog, we looked at Mayor Cheney “in his own words.” And one thing became painfully clear: residents and business owners have more questions than answers. We pointed out that our very own Mayor somehow became the “Official Realtor” of the Rail District and proudly used this in his marketing. Not sure how that happened? Neither are we. Seems like a convenient title to slap on it when you’re the guy with the gavel and the guy with the yard signs. But here’s the question that really matters today:
Who’s knocking on Main Street’s doors right now?
Not the shoppers looking for a boutique candle. Not the residents grabbing tacos or a cup of coffee. Not the neighbors wanting to support local businesses. Are businesses in The Rail District getting visits from investors, developers, and opportunists? Folks who see dollar signs where you see memories. They’re not coming with a smile and a handshake — they’re coming with contracts and cash offers. Are property owners being pressured to sell?
Are these small businesses — the ones who fought through COVID shutdowns, construction dust, and skyrocketing rents — now staring down the possibility of being bought out, flipped, and priced out. Let’s call it what it is: cashing in on a revitalized downtown.
We received this email, which left us with numerous questions. It takes a lot for businesses in Frisco to reach out, because many fear retaliation for speaking up. We commend Randy for speaking up and after reading his email, we are alarmed! We are publishing the entire contents as we received it.
Dear Whistleblower,
My name is Randy Burks, and I own Randy’s Steakhouse in downtown Frisco. Someone suggested I reach out to you regarding an experience I had that raises serious concerns.
Recently, I attended a meeting between Frisco city staff and downtown merchants about the ongoing Main Street construction. During the meeting, one merchant stated that 14 businesses had already closed due to the project. A city staff member laughed and asked whether those businesses closed because of the construction or because they were “bad operators.”
At that moment, no one in the room knew that I was facing severe financial difficulties—bouncing checks, draining my wife’s and my savings, and borrowing from family just to keep the doors open after 32 years in business. I stood up and told the group that Randy’s Steakhouse maintains 4.7 stars on OpenTable and 4.4 stars on Google, ranking among the top restaurants not only in Frisco but across the Metroplex. I asked if they thought I was a “bad operator.” It was humiliating to be forced to share personal financial struggles in front of both city staff and fellow merchants.
Other merchants then spoke up, saying their businesses were down 60–65% due to the construction. Just a few hours later, I received a text message from Jason Young asking if I was interested in selling my restaurant. While I’ve always been open to retirement discussions at a fair price, the timing felt far from coincidental.
We arranged to meet at 8:30 PM that evening, though he did not arrive until 9:00. He brought with him a man he introduced as Mark Hill, an attorney who he claimed worked with the CDC. Instead of discussing a purchase, Jason asked personal questions about my wife and daughter, while Mark Hill walked around the restaurant taking photos. After a while, I excused myself, angry that my time had been wasted.
The next day, Jason texted me an offer of $2 million for my restaurant. I replied that I would not sell for less than $4 million. Since then, I have heard—but cannot confirm—that his restaurant group includes investors such as Mayor Cheney and Donny Churchman.
I feel compelled to share this because of the sequence of events—the city staff’s dismissive remarks, Jason Young’s immediate outreach, and the potential involvement of city leadership—raises serious concerns of conflict of interest.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am prepared to provide additional details, messages, or documentation if helpful.
Sincerely,
Randy Burks
Randy’s Steakhouse
“Déjà Vu: Same Block, Different Spin”
While many love to believe we are biased here at Frisco Chronicles, we do try to be fair! We reached out to Jason Young with some of our questions, and he quickly responded. His comments are intertwined with our questions below.
1. What city staff member would laugh when a merchant says 14 businesses have closed already due to this project and after laughing ask if the business closed due to construction or because they were “bad operators?” We talked to a source inside that meeting, and allegedly that staff member was Ben Brezina, Assistant City Manager. Currently, we have no confirmation from the city Brezina was the staffer with the horrible attitude.
2. The timing of Jason Young’s text message to Randy Burks – is it strategic? Is it coincidental? Hours after Randy pours his heart out at a city meeting, another local business owner who happens to also be a developer is reaching out. Just based on the optics, it doesn’t look good, in fact it looks bad, and it also feels very dirty in our opinion.
We asked Jason Young this question and Jason replied, “I’m not sure what you mean by city meeting or circumstances or timing. I reached out to him because my friend had recently finished restoring a property in Downtown (city) and was looking for a new project. We also are looking at a similar historic home opportunity in Downtown (city) as a potential bed and breakfast, event venue or restaurant. I have projects in Downtown (city) and (city) as well. Our focus is on old downtowns in North Texas. **Anywhere there was a city name, we removed it**
3. Mark Hill? Mark Hill who is a Frisco ISD Board Member? Mark Hill who is a member of the City of Frisco CDC Board? Why was Mark Hill allegedly taking photos of Randy Burks’ property? Is Mark Hill the attorney of record for Jason Young’s business? We go back to one word every time … OPTICS!!! The way Randy describes it, it looks bad, it feels dirty, and you can’t blame him for asking the questions or for feeling the way he does. It does not feel random! It does not feel organic!
We asked Jason Young, when you went to visit Randy steakhouse, you brought with you Mark Hill. Is he your attorney of record? Because the optics of it look as if someone from the EDC or CDC board came to scope out of business. Why would Mark Hill attend the meeting.
Young replied, “The day I visited Randy I by happenstance was with Mark. I told him I was gonna go visit Randy and invited him to come with me to grab a burger at the bar while we chatted which we did. I’ve known Randy for 20 years, used to go weekly to eat from like 2004-2010 until I started dating my wife and she said no more lol. Randy and I served on Frisco Convention and Bureau Board together. I hadn’t seen him in 8 years or so and Mark and I ate at the bar and caught up with Randy. He shared some health concerns, and he gave me a tour of his kitchen.
4. The 2-million-dollar text? Why would you text someone an offer for their business? Why not pick up the phone or send an email with the offer? To us, after reading Randy’s letter, it felt like a fishing expedition on Young’s part, which made us wonder what he would use that intel for? Again, that is how we FELT, there is no evidence that it was a fishing expedition. Given how we felt, we can fully understand why Randy is questioning the sequence of events and potential conflicts of interest. The OPTICS don’t look good.
In talking to Jason Young he stated, “It was simply a text question asking if he would be interested in selling to which he responded yes. So, I went and chatted with him for a few hours. The next day we had a text exchange about a value which we didn’t agree on and he said no hard feelings. It was very brief. No ill intent, just a question.”
5. Three Empires Brewing
After reading the letter our natural reaction was to dig deeper. In that quest, we heard Jason Young may have also invested in Three Empires Brewing on Main Street. What we find interesting about that potential investment, is the owners of TEB back on September 4, 2024, went before city council during citizens input to tell the council the construction is taking a toll on their small family-owned business which they had put their life savings into.
In our conversation with Jason Young, we asked him if he had made offers to any other downtown businesses. Young replied, “In Sept of 2024, I made an investment in a minority percentage of Three Empires Brewing. In early July 2025, I had a brief conversation with Randy regarding the Steakhouse. In late August, another RD business approached me about potentially replacing one of its partners and I declined.”
We expressed our concern about the optics to Jason Young and flat out asked him if he has any business dealings with Mayor Cheney or Jeff Cheney Real Estate Mogul. Young replied, “I have no business dealings with Jeff. He is not at all and never has been an investor of mine.”
In The End: We are just Dazed & Confused
We go back to THE OPTICS … it does not look good! To a “Regular Ole Joe,” it comes across as if a downtown business is in trouble due to the impacts of the construction. That business then goes before the city council during citizens’ input and asks for help to stop the bleeding from the construction. Next thing you know, Jason Young is reaching out to say hi! Oh, and wants to know if you are interested in selling or need an investor for your business. It doesn’t sound good, does it?
We mentioned to Jason Young in our communication that he is a respected member of our community, and he is an influencer on social media; what he says carries weight with many people. In the past, he has been strong in defending the city and council members. Unfortunately, that does not help the optics of this situation.
Randy Burks has every right to question the sequence of events because it does not feel like this meeting happened organically. Unfortunately, that is the optics of the situation. We have reported both sides and it is up to residents to determine what they believe is the truth.
For us here at Frisco Chronicles, after Mayor Cheney’s remarks today on his Facebook page, it does not feel like this is about “progress” or “vibrancy” — it feels like it is about control. We believe there are potentially more players trying to buy up Main Street, lot by lot, brick by brick? That leaves us wondering, who gets to decide what Frisco’s history is worth, and at what price? Only time will tell …
For Residents: Get Out! Go Downtown! Shop Frisco First! #SAVEMAIN
To be blunt: Shop, Eat Frisco First! If you do, you could be saving one of these businesses from having to open their doors to an investor or developer. By shopping and eating FRISCO FIRST, you are saving Main Street’s soul from being put on the negotiating table. #SaveMain isn’t just a slogan. It’s a warning. Because once the doors close and the deals are done, Main Street won’t look like Main Street anymore. It’ll look like somebody’s investment portfolio.
For more information visit SaveMain’s website: click here
For more information on The Rail District: click here
Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog post is based on publicly available records and sources believed to be accurate at the time of publication. Frisco Chronicles and its authors do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of this information and cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from its use. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This content is provided for informational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as legal, professional, or personal advice.
Plans to redevelop the historic downtown have been two decades in the making! In 2017, a downtown master plan was developed and later approved to help move the $70 million project forward. In the last few years, city leaders spent resident tax dollars traveling to Colorado and North Carolina to draw inspiration for the project.
Mayor Cheney: In His Own Words
While things are moving forward (not as fast, as the speed of light), we want to go back in time and revisit some of Cheney’s statements regarding the “historic downtown.”
A year ago, Mayor Cheney told NBC 5 DFW that he hopes the historic district can be a place where residents can slow down and reconnect with their roots. Well, Mayor … things are slow, very slow, down there! Slow Traffic, Slow Construction, and Slow-Moving Progress! In a straightforward physical sense, “going back to your roots” means returning to the place of your origin – meaning hometown. If someone were to return to Frisco today, would they recognize the downtown area of their hometown?
Cheney continued, “You want to be able to tell your story and have a sense of identity and just always remember where you came from, and how the community started,” he said. I am sure many Frisconian’s stories include going to Randy’s Steakhouse for dinner before the high school prom or sitting on the deck at Didi’s on any given night where you can see birthday celebrations, baby showers and more. Lastly, our story, our sense of identity is intertwined with the small businesses who have been vital to our downtown over time.
Cheney continued, “A tremendous amount of investment is going in from the city and people are just really excited.” After two decades, why is the city “JUST NOW” making an investment into the historic downtown area? What is driving that decision? Is it to help the locals who live in the area? Is it to help the businesses in the area? Is it because the infrastructure demands it?
Why now? Why The Rush? After two decades, why is there a rush now to get downtown done? Is it because they want it done in time to celebrate Frisco’s 125th Birthday? Nope. Is it because our residents need it and want it right now? Nope. The answer is in 4 LETTERS … FIFA which will drive TOURISM which has been the priority of this council under Cheney’s reign.
Mayor Cheney said to NBC 5 DFW, “The city hopes to finish construction just in time for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.” That’s right, the placement of the downtown district is just half a mile away from Toyota Stadium, the home of FC Dallas will be hosting some events around the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to Local Profile, at the groundbreaking ceremony Mayor Jeff Cheney highlighted the significance of revitalizing the downtown area. “Every world-class city has a great downtown,” said Cheney. In 2024, Conde Nast Traveler ranked the top 10 best world-class cities in the US. They include Chicago, San Diego, New Orleans, San Franciso, Boston, New York, and Nashville. Mr. Cheney, Frisco did not make the list. People are not traveling to Frisco, Texas as their primary destination; it is a side-stop in their travel to somewhere else! When elections come around, remember, this current council put TOURISM before residents … every single time!
Frisco Enterprises covered the groundbreaking and wrote, Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney spoke about how the redevelopment and revitalization of the city’s downtown district has been a personal passion of his since joining the city council. Mayor Cheney has had a lot of personal passions, like Fields, a performing arts center, and he has never shied away from the fact that he wants more amenities. News flash, we want to get home faster and not be stuck in traffic for an hour and a half! We want to exit the highways and not wait 30 minutes to get through the nearest intersection. Residents would like an animal shelter, roads with no potholes, and basic essential services.
Cheney also said, “We want to make sure that our downtown Rail District is the heartbeat and soul of Frisco. No great world-class city in the country does not have a great downtown — so (the Rail District Redevelopment project) is the beginning of that.” Next newsflash Mayor, our local businesses are the heartbeat and soul of Frisco! Our small locally owned businesses on the east and west side of the city, which is connected by our downtown, add to the flavor, flare and heartbeat of our city! You have already removed the soul from our city years ago.
Cheney emphasized the project’s commitment to preserving the historical essence of the Rail District while infusing it with modern amenities and attractions. I guess we need to shout it from a ROOFTOP for our city council to understand … THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ADD TO THE HISTORICAL ESSENCE OF THE RAIL DISTRICT. Why is the city turning a blind eye to that!
HOW DOES CHENEY BENEFIT FROM THIS?
Well in 2022, Jeff Cheney posted to Facebook, “Now that we are the Official Realtor of the Rail District it’s only fitting that we share this City of Frisco video about the Downtown Redevelopment Project!”
How did the mayor become the “OFFICIAL REALTOR” of the Rail District? What does it mean to be the “OFFICIAL REALTOR” for the Rail District? Did the city hold a contest that named him the “OFFICIAL REALTOR?” We searched high and low and could not find anything about the city, naming him the Official Realtor for a city run an operated area. This is not private like the PGA.
Surely the mayor can understand the concern of his Real Estate colleagues who question the fact that he uses city videos (paid for by city tax dollars) on his personal business page claiming to be the “OFFICIAL REALTOR” for the Rail District and how that is problematic?
HOW DOES THE CITY BENEFIT FROM THIS?
According to a February 2024 article in Frisco Enterprises, the City of Frisco is looking at how city-owned property on Main Street could be redeveloped to support the plaza. The city put out an RFQ for development of downtown property located on a half block between Third and Fourth streets. It entails 39,875 square-feet of property that is owned by the City of Frisco, Frisco EDC, and Frisco CDC. The RFQ states the developers will act as partners with the city to achieve the city’s vision of a walkable downtown. The RFQ has a list of factors but two stood out being a boutique hotel and Destination entertainment and dining.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Strategic Planning: If better strategic planning had been put into this project, the city could have done the revitalization construction during the COVID shutdown when businesses were already suffering a tremendous impact. The small business administration said the pandemic’s effects were severe in the restaurant industry with nearly 16,000 restaurants permanently closing. Restaurant sales and small business sales did not recover to pre-covid levels until sometime in 2023. Just as businesses locally are starting to recover and get back to business, now the city shuts down roadways and parking lots which are affecting our downtown merchants all over again. Do they expect them to survive twice?
Why the rush to finish by FIFA World Cup? Why not stagger out the construction so it could have had less of an impact on local businesses? Why is it every day this week that I drove down Main Street, there were less than 5 people working? Where are the crews? Where is the progress?
#SAVEMAIN: Fast forward twelve months—and you can practically hear the collective groan of shop owners, restaurant staff, residents, and customers dodging construction cones like it’s an Olympic sport.
And when this all started, what exactly was the expectation? Was there a plan for protecting the very businesses that are downtown Frisco? Because if they fail, what’s the point of shiny new sidewalks and pretty streetlamps?
Here’s the uncomfortable question: Who’s knocking on their doors now? Not to shop. Not to support. But to buy them out, flip their property, and cash in on a “revitalized” downtown without the very heartbeat that made it worth saving in the first place.
We will answer that question in SAVEMAIN – Part 3 (stay tuned)!
City of Frisco Official Rail District Open House: Click Here
City of Frisco’s Official Downtown Development Page: Click Here
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
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