Richardson City Council approved a zoning change Sept. 11, allowing the university and real estate development firm Wolverine Interests to begin work on the project ahead of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s upcoming Silver Line project.
“The real unique opportunity at this [project] is that research and development or ... lab space, that could be both for university students but also for the private sector to come in and leverage,” City Manager Don Magner said.
In a nutshell
Called the Points at Waterview, the project will add to the existing Northside development, where construction for the UT Dallas station on the Silver Line is taking place.
While developers are still in the process of planning specifics, the rezoning allows for nearly 3,000 residential units along with office space, retail and restaurant space, hotels, and an event space. Plans also include a green space encircling the development.
“We hope it’s a place that people really want to be from a retail perspective, office perspective and living perspective,” Wolverine Interests President Jim Leslie said.
Leslie said the project will be developed in seven sections, the first of which would likely break ground in the next 12-14 months. He added the entire project could take between 10-15 years to be completed.
Some context
Magner said as the city grows while being largely built out, future construction of dense, mixed-use projects will be targeted along existing and future DART lines.
"The main benefits of developments like this is it provides options for transportation,” Magner said.
Leslie said he expects there to be demand for the density and type of development for the project. He noted he’s seen an increase in desire among younger generations and older ones looking to downsize for more walkability.
“This is much more pedestrian-friendly than we’ve seen done in the past,” Leslie said. “I think a lot more people are ready to accept that they like that kind of environment more so than they did even 10 years ago.”
Diving deeper
Officials with the university hope the project will help add more housing for students.
As of 2023, UT Dallas has around 8,200 beds on or near campus, said Calvin Jamison, vice president for facilities and economic development at UT Dallas.
Jamison said the Silver Line becoming operational will also help students be able to live in other cities along the line and still commute to campus.
