‘City of the future’: Allen officials discuss growth, reinvestment at State of the City event

Allen officials highlighted planned development projects and ongoing investments in aging infrastructure at the annual State of the City event.

The Allen Chamber of Commerce hosted the event May 21, where a panel of city leaders discussed upcoming mixed-use projects, economic growth opportunities and reinvestments planned for aging neighborhoods.

The big picture

City officials discussed maintaining community standards and amenities as a priority as Allen continues to age.

“We are becoming a city that is beginning to age and age well, and so we want to keep that up,” Allen Economic Development Corp. President Dan Bowman said. "Maintaining, reinvesting—that's a big piece for us."

Over the past several Allen City Council meetings, council members have approved more than $10 million in infrastructure improvements to Allen’s aging neighborhoods, City Manager Eric Ellwanger said, such as the Oak Hill neighborhood, Greengate neighborhood and two lift stations.

“It's going to be hard to see, because a lot of that is water and sewer lines that are underground, things of that nature, but [it’s] vitally important to the vibrancy of a community to reinvest in communities and make sure that we stay a community of choice for everybody,” he said.

In addition to neighborhood improvements, Mayor Baine Brooks said city leaders are planning to discuss aging shopping centers in east Allen.

“We had that conversation years ago, but it halted, but that conversation is coming back so we can reinvest once again in our city, in our aging community,” Brooks said.

The Allen Public Library, which reopened in December after undergoing a $19.9 million renovation and expansion project, is another example of the city’s reinvestment in aging infrastructure.

“[The library] is a typical example of quality-of-life amenities here in Allen, and again, reinvestment in our community,” Ellwanger said. “The Allen Public Library is an incredibly special place. ... It is really, in some ways, the living room of our community.”

Diving deeper

Allen is experiencing significant economic growth, especially along the SH 121 corridor, which supports the city's commercial tax base and helps ease the tax burden on residents, Bowman said.

City officials highlighted several projects coming soon to Allen, including High Five entertainment, the Katy Trail Ice House, the next phases of Sloan Corners and Downtown Allen.

“Allen is the city of the future,” Brooks said.

Earlier this year, council approved a $17 million mixed-use development in downtown Allen, including restaurants, retail space, a park and a stage for live music performances.

“The Catalyst project we announced recently ... is just the first step in a much larger plan,” Bowman said.

Phase 1 of the Downtown Catalyst Project is expected to break ground by the end of the year and be completed in the first quarter of 2028, Bowman said. In addition to providing amenities that improve residents’ quality-of-life, one of the goals of projects like this is to incentivize corporations to relocate to Allen, Bowman said.

“That's the phase we're in right now: Create the amenities, create the restaurants, the retail," Bowman said. "Then the office users, the next AT&T corporate headquarters-type project, this will be where they want to locate.”

Looking ahead

Brooks, who is wrapping up his term as mayor, said the people are what make the city of Allen great.

“We have so many great folks who want this place to be the best of the best,” he said.