Karen’s Work

On March 2, 2020

Karen continues her work as Principal of Strategic Community Solutions LLC (SCS). Her attention this year has focused on clients in the North Texas area and on involvement with the American Planning Association (APA). The City of Lewisville continues to be a major client. During 2019, SCS assisted this community in a complete overhaul of […]

Terry and His Not-Quite Retirement

On March 2, 2020

Terry retired from his 43 years in law practice in 2019 — for three weeks. He’s subsequently joined Messer, Fort, McDonald, a municipal law firm in Frisco, TX. He is working half-time from home and is often in the field representing Texas cities in the Metroplex.

Time with Family and Friends

On March 2, 2020

We were fortunate to see almost all of our close family members this year, and to enjoy time with good friends as well. These are a few highlights. In April, a planning conference gave Karen the opportunity to spend time with family and friends in the Bay Area. She and her sister Sallie had time […]

Enjoying Art

On March 2, 2020

It seems we visited more art museums and galleries this year than usual. That was really fun, particularly since there were many and varied topics and styles. Here is a selection of what we saw, in order of the museum, gallery or city (in the case of public art) where we saw it.

Spain in Spring

On March 2, 2020

We had planned to visit Spain in 2018, but delayed the trip after Karen’s parents passed away. We packed a lot into this trip — places Karen visited (with her mom, sister and nephew) in 2014, birding areas, diverse cities and unique islands. Here are the highlights. Our first stop was in Granada. The Alhambra […]

Argentina and Uruguay

On March 2, 2020

For our final foreign trip in 2019, we returned to Argentina and explored Uruguay for the first time. It was spring there and supposed to be the dry season. We began the trip by flying from Dallas to Miami, and then to Cordoba, Argentina. Our guide Emiliano ‘Indio’ Garcia Loyola picked us up and we […]

Stanford

On November 18, 2019

Stanford University’s Main Quadrangle The main quadrangle at Stanford University seems at once a classic academic setting and a place rooted in its California context. These two responses to the design are a clear indication of the successful blending of ideas that began the university. Leland Stanford was a successful California businessman and politician; his […]

Charles Stevens Dilbeck and North Texas

On October 16, 2019

October 16, 2019 When I was involved with Dallas’ Trinity River revitalization, one of the first champions to follow through on our vision of what the area could become was a developer named Monte Anderson. He bought an old hotel in West Dallas, renovated it, and reopened it as the Belmont Hotel. The view of […]

City of Lewisville Development Code Overhaul — Community Open House

On October 10, 2019

October 10, 2019. Lewisville residents and property owners came to a Community Open House this evening to find out about the major changes in the zoning component of the City’s development code overhaul. The session at the MCL Grand included a presentation highlighting key changes, but most of the time was spent in discussions at […]

APA Texas 2019 Award Winners

On October 1, 2019

October 1, 2019. The American Planning Association Texas Chapter will recognize plans and projects at its annual conference in November. Strategic Community Solutions LLC is very pleased to have been a part of several award-winning projects! The City of McKinney’s ONE McKinney 2040 plan is one of two award-winners in the Comprehensive Plan […]