Major mixed-use projects gain momentum in 2012

Carillon is Southlake's largest remaining tract of undeveloped property.

Development for that project also slowed as a result of the recession. However, in June 2011, the Children's Medical Center's new 34,000-square-foot Specialty Care Center opened on the property.

"We needed something like Children's to really kick us off in terms of making the commitment to start putting the infrastructure in," said Jeff Kennemer of Hines, which is developing the project. "And once we had the commitment of Children's, and had put in the roads and utilities that related to that facility, we moved forward and decided to start the first phase of our residential."

Carillon will include luxury custom residential developments featuring both single-family villa homes and estate-style homes. Hines completed the first phase of construction for 94 residential units in December 2011. Construction is scheduled to begin this month for the second phase, which includes 44 villa lots, a community center and swimming pool. A total of 404 residential lots are planned.

"We really wanted it to be a place where people can shop, people can go to work and people can live all within the same area," Kennemer said.

Silver Lake Crossings

Silver Lake Crossings will sit on Grapevine's second largest piece of undeveloped commercial land, which was purchased in 2008. In addition to a hotel, the estimated $40 million Silver Lake Crossings development will eventually feature multi-family apartments, restaurants, retail stores and a gas station.

A six-story hotel co-branded as Marriott Courtyard and TownePlace Suites is planned for nine acres at Silver Lake Crossings. The Marriott Courtyard will boast 180 rooms for overnight guests, and the TownePlace Suites' 120 rooms will accommodate extended stay guests. Plans for the hotel include a media lounge, swimming pool, restaurant and 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

"When guests come, they will feel like they have everything they need at the hotel, whether it is family or business," Patel said.

Silver Lake Crossings' developer is seeking to attract four- and five-star restaurants offering a variety of cuisines from Mexican to Italian.

Patel said a six-acre lake that sits on the property will help to enhance the 15 acres allocated for restaurants and retail stores. A 6,500-square-foot gas station complete with a convenience store and an outdoor patio will be a gathering place where people can fill up gas for their cars, eat a sandwich and surf on the Internet, Patel said.

"We are trying to bring in a unique experience that doesn't exist in Grapevine," he said.

The remaining acreage will be dedicated to offices and multi-family apartments, which have yet to go before the City Council for approval. Developers of Silver Lake Crossings have allotted space near the lake situated on the property for future development of 350 multi-family apartments on the site.

The Marriott Courtyard and TownePlace Suites groundbreaking will help to jumpstart other developments on the property, Patel said.

"Everybody wants to see if we can break ground on the hotel," Patel said. "The hotel is the key generator of the site, so once you bring a 300-room hotel to the site, that brings 400 to 500 guests every night."

City leaders are hopeful that as the economy continues to recover, development for the project will move forward.

"In Grapevine, those types of developments really add to our portfolio," City Manager Bruno Rumbelow said. "They build the brand, they make Grapevine even better than before. And I'm confident that this project, when it gets built, that it is going to be a real asset to the community."

Carillon

Carillon is branded as a mixed-use community meshing upscale residential neighborhoods with a variety of fine dining and entertainment options.

It is designed around a large stand of 100-year-old oak trees and a 12-acre lake to be called Lake Carillon surrounded by more than 68 acres of parks and trails.

Trails will provide connectivity throughout the development, helping to maintain the open space and small-town feel consistent with Southlake, Kennemer said.

About 400,000 square feet of space is planned for retail and restaurants.

"We are seeking to pull together tenants that will help us get started on our retail development," he said, "and we are also searching for office tenants and relocations to be able to get started on the first office building."

Hines has also planned an upscale, full-service hotel with about 150 to 200 rooms on site, but it is still working to attract the right hotel.

"When the timing is right for a hotel developer, we will get them plugged in," Kennemer said.

When completed sometime in 2017, Carillon will help to enhance the overall business climate and attract quality development along the Hwy. 114 corridor, said Greg Last, the city's economic development director.

"I think when you add additional business as a destination to the city, it increases the overall attraction of Southlake through the whole region," he said.