Council members voted 5-2 to approve site plan variances, including height variances, for the redevelopment project at the July 18 meeting, with Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Philips and Council Member Geré Feltus voting against.
The details
The overall site at the southeast corner of McDonald and Elm streets totals 32.1 acres. The redevelopment project includes the addition of multifamily units, townhomes, office space, retail and more, according to city documents.
The project is an effort by Texas-based real estate development firm Presidium. The plans for the redevelopment include adding:
- One five-story multifamily building and three seven-story multifamily buildings totaling 1,135 units
- Two four-story office buildings totaling 195,000 square feet
- 27 townhomes, referred to as “artist lofts,” according to site plans.
The residential communities in the project will offer a variety of amenities, including a pool, a fitness center, a dog spa, co-working space, a car wash and more, according to city documents. The multifamily dwelling units will also feature smart home technology and private balconies.
The project also includes the development of 60,000 square feet of commercial space and 7 acres of parkland on the site, according to city documents. The outdoor space would include a community park with food truck spots, areas dedicated to play dominoes and checkers, a playground, event space for car shows and markets, and more.
“We wanted to make sure we were speaking to the past identity of the [McKinney] Cotton Mill itself,” said Martin Zogran, principal urban planner for design firm Sasaki, of the design of the outdoor space.
By the numbers
A study conducted by Jason Claunch of Catalyst Commercial analyzed the economic impact of the planned project, Presidium President of Development Mark Farrell said. Over a 20-year period, the mixed-use project would generate $933 million in economic impact, Farrell said.
The economic impact study also noted the project would:
- Bring about over 4,100 jobs during construction,
- Create nearly 400 jobs for the retail operations
- Generate $38 million in tax revenue to the city, Farrell said
Presidium began working with Terry Casey, owner of the McKinney Cotton Mill, and the Casey family about two years ago, Farrell said. Terry Casey has owned the property since 1996, according to his son, McCall Casey.
The organization began to reach out to community leaders, stakeholders and residents living near the site to get input and feedback on the plan for the site in 2021, Farrell said.
“In trying to keep with what the Caseys have done, a wonderful job in renovating this historic building, we wanted to create something that compliments it,” Farrell said of the redevelopment project.
Beth Bentley, a representative of Legacy Keepers of Old East McKinney, spoke about the developer’s efforts to gather input from local residents and community leaders at the meeting.
“Mr. Mark Farrell has provided multiple opportunities to gather input, sometimes very direct input that would challenge the status quo of a traditional development,” Bentley said. “As the conversations and the renderings developed, so did the updates as reflected in the proposed final development. Ultimately this project has the potential to provide a myriad of opportunities.”
What they’re saying
Council Member Rick Franklin called the redevelopment a “catalyst project,” noting its proximity to other development efforts in east McKinney including the new city hall and Tupps Brewery’s new location.
Council Member Justin Beller, who represents District 1 where the Cotton Mill is located, said he is in favor of the redevelopment, noting the potential for attracting people and businesses to the area.
“[The project] will bring about the resources that density and people will provide,” Beller said. “You’re doing it in a place that doesn’t necessarily put us at risk for displacement or other factors. You’re doing it in a place that we’ve all agreed kind of warrants this.”
Council members also noted that the project’s density could attract businesses such as grocers to the area, which is part of the east McKinney food desert, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Eliminating the food desert, the restaurant desert, the entertainment desert, that’s only going to happen with density,” McKinney Mayor George Fuller said. “We could build whatever we could build in single family homes here and ... it won’t make a single teeny tiny dent in any of those other things that [the project] provides."
Director of Planning Jennifer Arnold presented plans for the project to council members, noting that city staff recommended denial of some of the requested site plan variances related to the heights of the proposed multifamily and office buildings.
Council members including Feltus said the height of some buildings in the planned project were a concern.
“I love the idea because I think it will be unique from west McKinney; I just hate the height," Feltus said.
Deborah Bradford, the assistant pastor at New Jerusalem Baptist Church in east McKinney, also spoke about her concerns for the proposed heights of the multifamily buildings.
“While I love all of the ideas that were presented, the potential, with great respect to all of that, my husband and I feel that it’s too much in too small of a space,” Bradford said. “We would still like to see those types of things carried out but maybe in a different method, a different way.”
Some council members also expressed concerns about the impact of increased traffic in the area as a result of the project. McKinney Director of Engineering Gary Graham noted that a traffic analysis study on the project would require Fowler Road to be extended to connect to Industrial Boulevard, along with the addition of new right-turn lanes on McDonald Street and Industrial Boulevard.
