Community members want to see more investment in Old Town Coppell, and city officials say making the area a “destination” is a goal.
Old Town surrounds the intersections of Bethel Road and Coppell Road and represents the city’s roots, according to city documents. It is made up of residential homes, businesses and restaurants. Its anchor attractions include the Coppell Farmers Market and Coppell Arts Center.
Old Town became known as the city's historic district in 1996. The vision for the area has changed significantly over time, Coppell Mayor Wes Mays said.
“The original concept is not even close to what we have now,” he said. "There was a very distinct plan for having walkable businesses around the square.”
Those plans fell through after the developer struggled to recruit businesses. The concept was modified significantly in 2014, which allowed for residential use. The vision for the area continues to evolve, Mays said.
“We're still being very adaptable with it,” he said.
What you need to know
Coppell City Council hosted a town hall meeting about the future of Old Town in March. Attendees provided ideas and suggestions for the area, which city officials further explored by launching a survey in May.
Feedback from community members indicate the area has not lived up to expectations. Old Town has popular amenities like Coppell Farmers Market and Hard Eight BBQ, but the area still struggles with traffic counts and visibility, according to an Old Town Coppell study.
“Where we struggle in comparison to like [Historic Downtown] McKinney is we don't have that major traffic arterial feeding our Old Town area,” Community Development Director Mindi Hurley said.
The Coppell Arts Center has helped attract visitors, according to city officials. The venue opened in 2021 and was intentionally placed in Old Town. However, the venue has not been enough to keep people in Old Town because businesses close before the shows end, according to community feedback.
Old Town was not originally planned to be a regional destination, Hurley said.
“The desire from the community has changed,” she said. “Now they definitely want it to be more of a destination attraction than just a local amenity.”
Bringing foot traffic will be a key part of Old Town’s future success, said Ellie Braxton, Coppell Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.
“The more foot traffic we have, the more businesses we’ll get to come here and that will increase revenue for the current businesses that are here,” Braxton said.
What they are saying
The Old Town Coppell survey measured several topics, such as frequency of visits, thoughts about the area and what residents would like to see in the future.
How we got here
Old Town Coppell was established through the adoption of Coppell’s 1996 comprehensive plan with a focus on preserving Coppell’s character. Roughly 70 acres of land has been developed or redeveloped over time, and the city has invested nearly $49.5 million into the area, according to city officials.
- 1996 – Old Town Coppell is established
- 2002 – Old Coppell Master Plan is drafted
- 2003 – Coppell Farmers Market is established
- 2021 – Coppell Arts Center opening date
- 2022 – Discover Coppell campaign launches
- March – Council hosts Old Town Community Conversation
- April – Council approves mixed-use property to be located at 509 W. Bethel Road
- May – Coppell launches Old Town Coppell survey
What's next?
One of the city’s biggest efforts to promote Old Town is through the Discover Coppell initiative, a joint effort between the Coppell Chamber of Commerce and the city that launched last year. Discover Coppell's goal is to make North Texans aware of Coppell’s attractions and draw visitors.
“It’s a beautiful area and we want it to be successful,” Braxton said. “The Farmers Market is a major attraction, so making sure people know that it's there [is a priority.]”
More restaurants and retail are expected to come to Old Town soon. Council recently approved a zoning change request for a new development in April. The Main Street Old Town project will have office, residential and retail.
While city officials want to attract new developments, community members also expressed a desire to preserve Old Town’s character, which can be done through zoning restrictions and specific design guidelines, Mays said.
There is some community support for bars, but they are currently prohibited since Coppell restaurants must have a food and beverage license.
City officials are still in the process of determining the long-term vision for Old Town, Hurley said.
“We've heard from the community,” she said. “We've also got the reality of just the market conditions today. Right now, council’s really in the process of trying to match those up.”
