The Celina Economic Development Corp. is moving forward with plans to turn the Willock Tract, a 33-acre piece of land south of downtown Celina, into a mixed-use development.
The project team, which includes CEDC members and consultants from Norris Design, Catalyst Commercial and JHP Architects and Urban Design, presented an overview of the initiative and solicited public feedback at a May 11 meeting.
A snapshot
The Willock Tract is located south of Ash Street, bounded by Oklahoma Drive to the west and railroad tracks to the east.
The CEDC purchased the land in 2024 using funds from a 1/2 cent sales tax, CEDC Executive Director Anthony Satarino said. The purchase was the CEDC’s first land acquisition.
The land was previously owned by the Martinek family, which operated grain silos on the property.
What to expect
Plans for the Willock Tract are still taking shape.
At the May 11 meeting, Norris Design’s Rick Leisner presented two possible routes the development could take.
The first option envisions the development as a hospitality destination, with potential uses including:
- Hotel and conference center
- Event space and festival park
- Creekside dining
- Office space
The second option includes a residential component, with planned uses such as:
- Low- and medium- density housing
- Creekside dining
- Brew pub/distillery
- Mixed-use office and retail
Both options include creekside dining to accommodate Doe Branch Creek, which runs through the property.
The local impact
The project team is aiming for a mix of small businesses and established brands in order to provide a stable anchor for the development.
“It’s probably going to take some national operators to support the infrastructure required,” Catalyst Commercial’s Jason Claunch said. “[Small businesses have] higher risks because you have fewer resources ... but they also produce more output.”
Plans for the Willock Tract’s development come as downtown businesses are generating less sales tax revenue than expected, given Celina’s rapid population growth.
“We want to make sure this development will strengthen downtown,” Leisner said.
Get involved
The CEDC is gathering resident feedback on the direction of the project before moving forward.
Residents can visit www.projectwillock.com to fill out a 35-question survey with questions about the types of development they’d like to see on the property.
Once the CEDC has a clearer picture of future uses for the Willock Tract, the project team will begin rezoning the land and reaching out to developers for potential partnerships.
