Saigling House The Saigling House in downtown Plano has been undergoing a major renovations project for nearly two years.[/caption]

The Plano City Council received an update Monday on the two-year-long Saigling House renovations project during its preliminary open meeting. The ArtCentre of Plano expects to move into the newly renovated house near Haggard Park in about a month or so, board member Howard Greisdorf said.

City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the ArtCentre of Plano in December 2014 to restore and repurpose the Saigling House, which was built in 1906. The house has since been repurposed into an arts, cultural, meeting and events center. The project was funded in part by leftover assets from the Arts Center of North Texas, a regional arts project led by the cities of Allen, Frisco and Plano.

The ArtCentre of Plano has been housed at 1517 H Ave. The nonprofit organization already has events booked at the new facility, including the Chamberlain Ballet’s annual gala, which will be held at the end of February, Greisdorf said.

The council also held public hearings during its regular meeting for the following items:

Collinwood House The Collinwood House was built sometime in the 1860s.[/caption]

  • A public hearing was held for the city’s proposed bond election scheduled for May 6, 2017 (no vote was made). The $257 million bond package includes funding for several library expansions and park improvements as well as for a new training center for Plano Fire-Rescue’s first responders. The proposed package also includes $3.5 million to renovate the Collinwood House. Council unanimously agreed in August to let voters decide the fate of the 1860s-era home located off Windhaven Parkway, which, for nearly two years has garnered support from residents who want to see the home preserved. Future public hearings for the bond referendum are scheduled for Jan. 9 and Jan. 23. Click here for a list and descriptions of the proposed bond projects.

  • The council held a public hearing for a specific use permit request for the construction of a used car dealership at the northwest corner of Lexington and Premier drives. The request failed with Mayor Pro Tem Lissa Smith, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ben Harris, and council members Ron Kelley and Tom Harrison dissenting, citing concerns over the proximity of a church and other residential areas near the proposed site.



  • The council also held a public hearing for and approved a specific use permit request for a daycare center to be built at the northwest corner of Enterprise and Premier drives.