Three Things to Know in Arlington: Feb. 24-March 2, 2025

Students across The American Dream City are invited to compose an original essay to submit in the annual Sheri Capehart Animal Essay Contest.

The contest, in its 24th year, is open to students residing in Arlington city limits in third, fourth, fifth or sixth grade who attend public, private or home school.

Essay entries may be submitted through 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. No hand-delivered entries will be accepted after 5 p.m. on the final day of the contest. 

A first, second and third place winner will be selected from each of the four grade levels listed above. Each winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD and a $100 savings account compliments of EECU, Spring Creek Barbeque and the City of Arlington.

After months of anticipation, Taste Project is excited to announce the grand opening of its second Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington. Located at 200 N. Cooper St., just north of The University of Texas at Arlington, the new restaurant will open its doors to the public at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5.

The nonprofit organization, which has served more than 250,000 meals since its inception in Fort Worth, continues its mission to feed, educate, and serve the food-insecure population in Tarrant County with its unique pay-what-you-can restaurant model. In line with its original location, the Arlington restaurant will offer healthy, high-quality meals made from locally sourced seasonal ingredients with no set menu prices. Instead, guests are invited to pay what they can afford, what they would typically pay, or a little extra to support someone in need.

“Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington is more than just a new Downtown restaurant. We are welcoming a valuable community partnership that will provide access to healthy, affordable food for our residents while creating opportunities for those who need them most,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.

The City of Arlington invites residents, business owners, property owners, and stakeholders to participate in a three-day Form-Based Code (FBC) Charrette at the Downtown Arlington Library.

This interactive design workshop will take place from March 6 through March 8, 2025, and will provide the community a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Downtown Arlington.

The design charrette process is a crucial step in drafting the new FBC which will be the new zoning tool to implement the community’s vision for Downtown. This hands-on, collaborative approach allows participants to engage directly with planners, architects, and city officials to create a development framework that prioritizes walkability, mixed-use, and a vibrant street environment. Once adopted, the Form-Based Code will replace the existing zoning in Downtown, ushering the next generation of development and redevelopment to Arlington.

Unlike traditional zoning codes, which primarily regulate land use, FBCs focuses on the physical form of buildings and their relationship to public spaces and streets.