The overview
The office buildings, located at 508 Twilight Trail in what is called Twilight Plaza, were purchased by their current owners, the Pardues, in 2019. Owner Taylor Pardue said there has been limited interest in the traditional office space since 2020, and they have been unable to acquire new tenants.
However, he said they have received interest from a wide variety of retail and service businesses that were not permitted in the office district that the buildings are zoned under.
The details
The proposed allowed uses include:
- Bakery
- Community garden
- Fine arts studio
- Health club
- Personal care services
- Community theater
- Florist
- Photography or art studio
- Restaurant without drive-through or curb service
- Retail
The Pardues do not plan to change the size, height or square footage of the buildings. In addition to the further uses, they requested a more flexible parking requirement for the site and an allowance for an existing wooden fence, with an added opaque gate, to screen dumpsters rather than the typically required masonry wall. Pardue also laid out plans for new landscaping along the perimeter of the parking lots.
The background
The Pardues purchased the buildings at Twilight Plaza in order to relocate their property management company from Dallas to Richardson, where they reside. They have undertaken a number of renovations on the buildings since taking residence.
“This city, this property and their combined future are very near and dear to us,” Pardue said.
At the City Plan Commission meeting Nov. 18, Pardue said that the property is currently 46% occupied. The commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval of the request for additional uses.
What they’re saying
Jeff Davis, president of the Heights Park Neighborhood Association, which encompasses Twilight Plaza, spoke in support of the area’s expanded use.
“It really is a hidden jewel in our neighborhood,” Davis said. “The opportunity to have an underutilized business park transformed into a walkable plaza with opportunities for coffee shops, restaurants, fine arts, retail and meeting places is exciting and really good for our neighborhood.”
Real estate broker Dan Washburn, who also lives in Heights Park, said that young homebuyers want walkable, bikeable neighborhoods with local places they don’t need to drive to. Projects like Twilight Plaza will make Richardson neighborhoods more attractive, he said.
“This is the kind of forward thinking we need more of in our city,” council member Dan Barrios said. “I hope we see more of these kinds of things as we create these new spaces in our city and rethink the way we use some of that office space.”
