1. New fire station goes vertical in Canyon Creek neighborhood
Construction of a new fire station in Canyon Creek should be complete by early next summer, according to Richardson Fire Department Chief Curtis Poovey.
Steel beams are in place, and most of the foundation has been poured, Poovey said. Core Construction was waiting to install the interior floors until the heat subsides, which should reduce the chance of excessive cracking, Poovey said.
The 13,200-square-foot station was designed by BRW Architects and will sit at the northwest corner of Lookout Drive and Custer Parkway. It will include three garages, nine sleep rooms for personnel and two officer suites.
Project engineer Brad Bernhard told City Council earlier this year that the additional station was necessitated by increased development in the area as well as by enrollment growth at the nearby University of Texas at Dallas.
2. Groundbreaking nears at Shaddock Caldwell custom-home development
Homes included in the boutique subdivision Mimosa Place will be fully cleared for construction Dec. 1, according to Ben Caldwell, managing partner at Shaddock Caldwell, the builder behind the project.
Twelve of the development’s 18 lots are still available for purchase, Caldwell said. The city recently completed construction on the street, meaning passersby can now drive into the neighborhood.
The city will allow developers to begin building on 20% of the lots—or four homes—prior to the Dec. 1 lot delivery date, Caldwell said. As a result, construction could kick off in November, he said.
Homes in the subdivision will cost between $700,000-$1.4 million, and square footage will range from 2,500-4,500 square feet. The first set should be move-in-ready by late summer.
3. Best use for Richardson business park contemplated by new owners
Fobare Commercial is weighing options for what to do with Arapaho Central Park, a development it acquired in May.
“We have engaged some architects and had conversations about what is the highest and best use for the property,” leasing agent Pat Hanahan said.
The development, located just north of Arapaho Road and US 75, is home to several industrial and retail businesses, including Peek’s Carpet & Tile, Cake Carousel, Rescue Air, Mattress Warehouse Outlet and more.
Hanahan said Fobare officials met with tenants to negotiate lease terms once the purchase was finalized in May. He described Fobare’s rental prices as affordable and competitive with those of other nearby properties.
“We are trying to keep the tenants who can afford the market rental rate,” Hanahan said.
Arapaho Central Park falls within a 1,200-acre area known as the Collins-Arapaho Innovation District, where city leaders are in the midst of conducting a major revitalization project. A comprehensive rezoning process for the area kicked off earlier this year and should wrap up in November.
Hanahan said decisions about the fate of the business park will be closely tied to city plans for the Innovation District.
“We will be working hand-in-hand with the city to make sure that what we are planning on doing aligns with their vision,” he said.
4. Commercial development stalls as residential piece moves forward
Construction of the office and retail portion of Hall Park at Richardson has been put on pause for the foreseeable future, according to a Hall Group spokesperson.
The stall does not impact construction on the residential side of the project, overseen by Leon Capital Group.
In September, the company opened the first 54 apartments of Society 190, which, at full build-out, will include 415 units ranging from one to three bedrooms. Completion of those apartments is slated for winter 2020, according to a company spokesperson.
