The project, which began in mid-2019, involves $21 million worth of infrastructure updates on approximately 1 mile of Main and Greenville Avenue. The improvements are intended to be a catalyst for future development by public and private entities, Magner said last year. During the May 17 briefing, he explained one of the final milestones in the project will be the May 28 installation of the 28-foot-tall sculpture titled “Rising Star” in front of the city's public safety campus at Main's intersection with Greenville.
"When we install 'Rising Star,' you'll have some localized and temporary interruptions again in the area," Magner said. "But in terms of being able to open up both lanes [of traffic on Main] both ways, it's approximately two weeks [away]."
The main feature of Richardson’s redesigned downtown area is the tree-lined Main boulevard, with McKinney Street set to serve as the predominant pedestrian crossing. Magner said the Mexican sycamore trees that were planted along Main have already begun to develop the high canopy the city wanted.
"We're looking to make sure that we can keep that 14-foot clearance that we need while we round out the top of the boulevard," he said. "These trees are ideal for that."
A project timeline shared with council during the work session showed the project's demobilization will occur in June. Magner said the final project crews will tackle will be to create temporary public parking in downtown by utilizing the asphalt that was laid for the developer's staging area. That is expected to be completed in August, he said, weather permitting.
"This may be the last public briefing we do—probably the next step would be a neat ribbon cutting down on Main Street itself," Magner said.
Anchoring the revitalized downtown area will be the $80 million Belt+Main development, Magner said. Catalyst Urban Development held a groundbreaking April 5 for its new development at the northwest corner of Belt Line Road and Interurban Street behind the Chase Bank building. The project will include 15,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, 350 multifamily units that will be available for lease and 7,000 square feet of resident amenities.
Construction on the development is expected to last until May 2023, Catalyst principal Paris Rutherford said via email. The project is expected to open in four phases, according to Rutherford, with the first slated to be ready for January 2023.
There are also plans for around 100 townhomes that will be built just north of the development, according to Magner. He said the project, which has been in development for “a number of years,” will help activate the Main Street Plaza and the Core District.
The mixed-use buildings will be wrapped around a shared parking garage with open parking for the public as well as private and reserved parking for residents.
