As more growth happens in Frisco, “old-timers” love new faces and places.

FRISCO, TX (CBSDFW.COM) – In Frisco, it would seem that economic growth is contagious – from new home communities to corporate headquarters, and now from entertainment venues – now it seems that the only question is, what will happen next?

And proud “old-timer” Armando Baleerramos was there for everything when Collin County’s development darling was just farmland.

“I grew up in the field, picking cotton, picking cotton, I did it all,” recalls Balierramos, who says his family moved to the area from Indiana for farm work when he was 9 months old and he never was leaving. .

“I have been living in this house since the 65th. I remember my dad paid $7.50 a week in rent,” he adds with a laugh. It doesn’t require much prompting, and the memories sprout like new home settlements in his fast-growing city.

“For a quarter, we got two 16-ounce RCs, two packets of chips, and three pieces of chewing gum per quarter. And then you turn around and sell the bottle back for a nickel!” he adds with a new laugh.

In retirement, Baleerramos continues to help out at an art studio that was once a relative’s home near the city center. Owner and artist Nazanin Ahmadi says she was drawn to the vitality of the booming area.

“The place was so fresh and alive,” Ahmadi says. “it started to grow and I always love the growing part.”

Ahmadi says she moved to Frisco 18 years ago, migrating from Plano as local landlords continued to move north. It recognizes the challenges of rapid growth, from traffic to infrastructure requirements, but sees it all as a worthy trade-off. “I see this development as part of keeping this city alive and it’s great to see these changes.”

Others were also drawn to new home communities, new schools, entertainment venues, high-paying jobs nearby, and just the allure of the “new” that helped boost the city’s population from just over 6,000 in 1990 to over 200,000 now.

“I’m not worried about traffic jams,” the good-natured Baleerramos shares, “I’m sitting!”

And this self-proclaimed “old-timer” says he’s taking on all the new faces and places of Frisco.

“I just love it.”