The properties
The proposed project involves the redevelopment of four city-owned properties in historic downtown McKinney. The properties include the existing City Hall building along with the development services building and two neighboring parking lots.
The properties total about 4.6 acres and have a total assessed value of about $3.2 million, according to a presentation from city staff.
City services are expected to transition to the new City Hall that is under construction in early 2025, leaving the existing buildings unoccupied, Executive Director of Development Services Michael Quint said at an April 6 meeting.
The project
City Council members at a Jan. 24 work session indicated their desire for the properties to be redeveloped through a public-private partnership rather than being sold as is or retained by the city.
The partnership option would allow for public input on what the properties develop as, McKinney Mayor George Fuller said at the January meeting.
“Because these properties could alter the direction of downtown, it’s important to the city’s leadership to hear from the public before seeking development partners,” City Manager Paul Grimes said in a statement.
Timeline
Following direction given by council members at the January meeting, city staff has begun work on getting the properties appraised as well as conducting a market feasibility study with a consultant to determine what property uses would be most sustainable for the downtown area, Quint said.
The properties are part of the McKinney Town Center zoning district, which would allow a variety of potential uses, including residential, hotel, office, restaurant, personal service and more, according to the presentation.
The project is in a public engagement phase, and city staff is seeking feedback from community members on what types of uses they would like to see develop on these properties, Quint said. Feedback is also being collected from various city boards and commissions along with stakeholders in the downtown area.
Following the public feedback, a request for qualifications will be drafted and issued later this year to find one or more partners to work with the city to redevelop the identified properties, according to a news release.
Development partner interviews, partner selection and negotiations are expected to take place in the fall through summer 2024, according to the April 6 presentation.
Public input
The first opportunity for public input on the proposed redevelopment will be at the April 26 open house.
The event, to be held at 222 N. Tennessee St. from 6-7 p.m., will feature a brief presentation followed by public feedback, facilitated discussion and visual preference surveys, according to a news release. There will also be an online survey to provide feedback on the topic, according to the presentation.
“That [request for qualifications] document will basically include the public's feedback, include direction from the City Council so that respondents will know, ‘Hey, if I'm a multifamily developer, but the city is looking for [an] office, maybe I don't want to respond to this [request for qualifications],’ and that's what the type of feedback that we're hoping to get from the public will help inform,“ Quint said.
Public feedback on design and visual aesthetics for the project are also requested, Quint said. Feedback gathered through this phase will be shared with City Council members and considered when drafting the request for qualifications, according to a news release.
Additional public feedback opportunities will occur throughout the duration of the project, including during the partner selection and development process phases, according to the presentation.
For more information on the project, visit www.mckinneytexas.org/2096/Downtown-City-Owned-Property-Redevelopme.
