30 more neighbors and our fiber pays for itself. After that, the surplus goes to our community center.
Goal: 146
116
0Today: 116 homes
146 = break-even
116
Homes signed up
30
To go
208
Homes in the program
$75
Per month, Fiber 500
Why it matters: BLNA is a nonprofit. Once the fiber bills are covered, every extra dollar supports the community center we maintain for neighbors' events, parties, classes and meetings.
With Spectrum's help, the BLNA is now offering high-speed fiber internet service to our neighborhood!
Sign up now to be one of the first to get fiber internet in the neighborhood!
Step 1
Sign up and set up through Spectrum to get service installed.
Step 2
Sign up and set up through the BLNA Billing portal to handle billing for the base 500Mbps internet package.
Billing Portal Instructional Video
Services
What we offer to our community
Community Center
We maintain the Benbrook Lakeshore community center for use by our neighbors for events, parties, classes, meetings, etc.
Parties and Events
Our incredible event committee helps put on special events for all our neighbors and their families. Events such as: holiday celebrations, block parties, and seasonal soirees!
Neighborhood Security
At the entrance to our neighborhood, we have deployed a "Flock" camera system that scans all license plates coming and going from the neighborhood. This information is shared with the Tarrant County Sherriff's Office for the purposes of crime prevention and prosecution.
Neighborhood Map
Parcel boundaries south of Tiger Trail, out to Benbrook Lake.
Click the map to open the full-size image.
Benbrook Lakeshore is shown in blue. The map also shows Lake Ridge Addition, the B. R. Lacy Survey, Twilight Addition, Deerwood Forest, the W. A. Hunter Survey, and Rawleigh Place Addition.
Covenants
Deed restrictions recorded for Benbrook Lakeshore Estates.
Restrictive covenants for Benbrook Lakeshore Estates were executed on January 27, 1986, and filed on January 28, 1986, in the Tarrant County Deed Records, Volume 8440, pages 1977–1981.
They replace the original 1953 developer restrictions in the plat (Volume 388-V, Page 55), as amended in Volume 2584, Page 575; Volume 3314, Page 227; and Volume 4130, Page 153. They renew automatically every 10 years unless the owners of 51% of the lots record a change.
Come to the yearly meeting on Sunday, September 28, at 4 PM!
What to Expect:
Pay your $40 dues for the upcoming year
Pick up your new Directory!
Learn about community updates and initiatives
Board Volunteer Opportunity
Please consider serving your community by volunteering for the board, as at least two of us will be stepping down. This is a great opportunity to make a difference in our neighborhood!
We Hope to See You There!
See you there, neighbor! 😀
For questions, please contact us through the website or reach out to current board members.
Hello everyone. We are thrilled to announce that the Spectrum Infrastructure installation has finally begun. You may notice trucks, backhoes, and horizontal drilling rigs in various places around the neighborhood. They are digging access holes to drill horizontally and pull fiber conduit lines. You may also see surveyors measuring and marking the area.
Please note that they will be working in the easements, so even if you didn’t express interest, they might be working across your lot easement. We appreciate your patience during this time. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
If you encounter any issues or concerns with the Spectrum installation, please contact us via email at wifi@benbrooklakeshore.org. We will relay your concerns to the construction team foreman, who is committed to resolving any issues and ensuring everything is done correctly.
Here are some updates on the progress:
There is a new Fiber line coming from 377 up Tiger Trail.
There are now several Spectrum Fiber Junction boxes where they are joining the conduits they ran with the horizontal drill. You’ll see these green top boxes buried around the neighborhood.
You’ll see many new green Spectrum Fiber Distribution Poles placed around our neighborhood. These are about 2-3ft tall and will be the point of distribution for the fiber to be run to your homes!
As of today Spectrum is still working on finishing the install of the main lines on the back side of the neighborhood and once that is complete we should expect to start seeing them contact residents directly to schedule and plan out the fiber run to your homes.
Stay tuned for more updates on the fiber rollout!
Tiger Trail Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Join us for a night of Halloween excitement! Get ready for an evening of costumes, games, and trunk-or-treating in your very own community. Don't forget to bring your creative trunk game and win candy for the young and young-at-heart.
SAVE THE DATE! Our awesome neighborhood Tiger Trail Trunk-or-Treat 2023 will be held on Sunday, October 29 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Community Center.
Come dressed in your favorite costume for a spooktacular evening of fun, games, and trunk-or-treating. EVERYONE is invited to join the Halloween festivities, so don’t forget to bring your favorite drink to sip while you meet your neighbors.
We will award prizes for the best costumes for both adults and kids, so get creative and show off your Halloween spirit!
We Need Your Help with the Trunk Games!
Are you ready to take your Halloween game to the next level? We’re looking for volunteers to participate in our trunk games. It’s simple - bring your car, pop the trunk, and set up a fun, themed game for kids and brave adults to win candy. Let your imagination run wild and create a game that will be a hit at the event.
Last year, someone did a Pirate theme and had a “walk the plank” game to win candy. The kids absolutely loved it! So, get creative and let’s make this year’s trunk games the best yet.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2023
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Community Center
Dress Code: Come in your favorite Halloween costume
Don’t miss out on the Tiger Trail Trunk-or-Treat 2023 - a fantastic evening filled with spooky fun and community spirit. Mark your calendars, gather your trunk game ideas, and get ready for an unforgettable Halloween experience!
BLNA Annual Meeting
Vote for board members, voice your opinions, and hear about what we're doing in the neighborhood.
Benbrook Lakeshore Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting
Hello Tiger Trail Community! We have scheduled our annual meeting Sunday, October 22 at 5pm to cast your vote and pay dues for the upcoming year for BLNA. Y
You may also sign up to pay your dues at:
https://www.benbrooklakeshore.org
However, we do not yet have the option to vote yet on the website.
I (Rob) have been working with the BLNA board and we have good news to report that our efforts to engage with Spectrum have paid off. We now have a proposal from them for a plan to provide fiber-based Internet service to all of the Tiger Trail community. This service will consist of guaranteed 500mbps both up and down (symmetric) service with no data caps to each residence. It will include a modem and router for each residence being serviced. And it includes Spectrum TV App streaming with 65+ channels, on-demand access to over 10,000 videos, ability to stream to phones and tablets, plus enablement on various streaming devices such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, etc. Note that additional services like HBO/Showtime, Sports packages, Spectrum Mobile, etc. will be extra but discounted in association with this plan.
Spectrum is going to cover the installation cost up to the residence, including installing a fiber termination point within the residence. They will also provide a 365 24/7 support line for technical support and problem resolution. They will also offer additional custom installation services within the residence if desired at an additional cost.
The method of them providing this service will be to run a fiber-based infrastructure throughout the community. They will do this using the horizontal boring techniques you have seen being done in other areas such as the fiber install down Patricia’s Ridge not long ago. It is minimally disruptive to current property, unlike trenching. There might be an occasion in some places where they will use existing overhead poles but it sounded like that would be an exception and only if necessary.
The installation will take around 6-8 months from project start. Potentially, they will have it all in place by Q1 of 2024 if we are able to commit within the next few months.
To justify Spectrum’s capital investment (~$1.5M) to build out the infrastructure within our community, they are requesting that the BLNA HOA be the centralized point of engagement and the mechanism of commitment. Effectively, the cost of this fantastic plan will be based on and dependent on participation of the community. BLNA is now requesting your acknowledgement of interest.
Express Your Interest
You can express your interest at:
BenbrookLakeshore.org Click the Fiber Internet tab.
Key Takeaways
Note this is still effectively a petition for the BLNA in order to establish justification for a commitment with Spectrum. It is not a signup of services yet. That will be forthcoming from the BLNA as things get finalized and a subscription request is warranted.
We are looking for at least 70% of residences (~175) to indicate that “Yes, I’m in!” on this form. And if we achieve that, the service cost for the above plan would be ~$75/mo per residence. If we achieve higher participation, that cost could be reduced. If we do not achieve at least that level of participation, it becomes much more unlikely for the BLNA to be able to commit for this massive infrastructure investment with Spectrum.
So, I ask that you look at your current costs for Internet and TV and see if you don’t agree that this proposal is indeed fantastic compared to what we are getting right now from AT&T. For instance, currently the dismal internet service of 14 mbps down and 1 mbps up is being billed at $70/mo on Jamies Ridge. I certainly am willing to pay $5 more per month for a 35X improvement down and a 500X improvement up.
If you agree, please go to the form and check “Yes, I’m in!”.
Questions
I am sure many of you have questions. Please send them to me at rlake@benbrooklakeshore.org. I will post the collective questions and answers on the Facebook group page. This way the Facebook page will not get overly cluttered by many repeat questions and comments. Otherwise, it will be hard to follow.
There will be another community meeting planned to discuss this opportunity within a few weeks. But please do not wait to send your questions and indicate your interest in participation.
If you like, please also sign up to the BLNA website at BenbrookLakeshore.org so that you are tied into all the activities going on and the discussions of things being planned. We will be posting the FAQs there as well.
You may also wish to contact the BLNA board as a whole. You can do that on the BLNA website using the Contact button on the top right.
Look forward to hearing back from you. Please engage timely so that we can take advantage of this opportunity as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Rob Lake
Asphalt Seal-Coating
Make an informed decision about your driveway maintenance
Asphalt pavement is a static material, meaning that once it is laid down, its properties remain unchanged unless replaced entirely. Over time, cracking is inevitable, and there is no foolproof way to prevent it. Other common issues include bleeding/polishing and loosened aggregate. Rutting or shifting should not occur and, if present, may indicate problems with the pavement’s base structure or drainage.
Seal Coating: Purpose and Limitations
Seal coating (also known as fog sealing) is a technique used by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to revitalize pavement on public roads as well as private companies to revitalize residential and commercial pavement. This process typically involves the application of a new layer of aggregate material, creating a new wearing surface. Seal coating can be effective in addressing issues with surface aggregate becoming unbonded without affecting the overall pavement structure. However, this is not a standard or anticipated situation.
As a homeowner with a driveway, you are unlikely to experience the typical traffic load or heavy trucks traversing your driveway at high speeds, reducing the likelihood of your asphalt becoming worn out or damaged through use. Your primary concerns should be addressing potential issues stemming from poor design, substandard construction, or inadequate drainage. In the absence of these problems, there may be no need for intervention throughout the lifespan of your pavement, although its appearance may degrade over time. Seal coating can temporarily mitigate drainage issues originating from the pavement itself, rather than the surrounding yard, while also rejuvenating the surface appearance of your driveway.
Key Takeaways
Before engaging into business with any asphalt contractor, make sure they are reputable and well reviewed. This can be done with a quick online search or a post on social media. Don’t feel pressured to act fast when approached by door-to-door salesmen. A large financial decision like this should not be rushed into, and any good contractor will be willing to work with you if you need some time to plan for it.
Driveway sealing costs $470 on average, with a typical range between $250 and $770. The price depends on factors like the size of your driveway, and the type of sealant and coating you choose. At the lower end, you could pay as little as $110. At the top end, you may pay up to $1,500. Generally seal coating can range in price from $0.08 to $0.50 per square foot for a single coat. Residential driveways typically only need one coat of sealant.
Weigh all of the pros and cons for your own situation and make an educated decision about seal coating your asphalt driveway.
Q&A
Q: Is seal coating an effective way to prevent cracks?
A: Seal coating does not prevent transverse or fatigue cracking. However, it can prevent edge cracking and spalling if caused by cold temperatures and oxidation.
Q: Does seal coating fill small cracks and slow down freeze-thaw issues?
A: Seal coating can address these issues if applied correctly and in sufficient volumes to flow in and seal the cracks. If not done properly, it can exacerbate the problem.
Q: Does seal coating extend the life of a driveway?
A: When done correctly, seal coating can extend the life of a driveway for as long as the seal remains intact, which is typically about a year. For commercial parking lots, resealing the pavement may be worth the aesthetic improvement if it makes people feel better about patronizing your establishment.
Additional Resources
For those interested in learning more about asphalt pavement and maintenance, the following resources may be helpful:
Spring storms will be here before we know it and they can bring large hail to damage roofs and other property. I have been in the roofing business since 1978 and owned my own business, Metroplex Roofing since 1991.
I would like to offer these suggestions if a hail storm damages your roof.
Call your insurance as soon as you know or think there is damage to your roof, It will take an adjuster several days to come and inspect the roof. Once the evaluation has been made and if the roof needs replacement, he will give you an itemized estimate to do the repairs. There will most likely be a partial payment included. This check will be made out to you and your mortgage company if you have one.
Most likely, you will have several roofing company sales persons knocking on your door. Be very careful! These guys are pros and may tell you anything to get you to sign a contract. DO NOT SIGN A BLANK CONTRACT!
My suggestion is to call an association such as North Texas Roofing Contractors Association or the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas. Do business with a local contractor who has been in business at least two years.The BBB is good but you can join and have a A+ rating. Be sure you find out how long they have been a member and how many complaints, even if all are satisfied. There was a new law passed a couple of years ago that the roofing companies can not waive your deductible or a portion thereof. Be very careful when negotiating a price.
Local references are good but a company is not going to give a reference that is bad.
I hope this information is helpful
Carl W Hickey - Metroplex Roofing/Retired
Our website is up!
After many years without a web presence, we're finally online!
