Projects to repair roads, upgrade pedestrian crossings and renovate city facilities are underway in and around downtown McKinney.
McKinney Planning Manager Cassie Bumgarner shared updates on a number of downtown projects at a Nov. 3 McKinney City Council work session.
The details
The presentation highlighted multi-million-dollar projects led by a number of different city departments, including engineering, planning and public works, as well as an initiative being led by officials from the McKinney Economic Development Corp. Check out updates on the following nine projects.
Roads and infrastructure
Tennessee, Lamar and Hunt streets improvements
Project: Construction will address aging infrastructure and include full street pavement reconstruction, upgrades to water, wastewater and storm drainage systems, installation of new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks, street lighting, landscaping and hardscaping.
Update: The project will be phased and short-term lane closures are expected as utility work in the first phase is underway. Phase 1 includes wastewater utility work on Hunt, Tennessee and Lamar streets as well as water utility work on Hunt and Lamar streets, per the presentation.
Timeline: November 2026-December 2028
Cost: about $19.5 million
Funding source: city of McKinney
Church, Henry, Wood, College, Hunt, Davis and Valley streets improvements
Project: Construction will include full street pavement reconstruction, upgrades to water, wastewater and storm drainage systems, installation of new accessible sidewalks, street lighting, landscaping and hardscaping.
Update: The project will be phased and short-term lane closures are expected as utility work in the first phase is underway. Phase 1 includes wastewater utility work on Hunt, Tennessee and Lamar streets, as well as water utility work on Hunt and Lamar streets, per the presentation.
Timeline: summer 2027-summer 2029
Cost: about $25.2 million
Funding source: city of McKinney
Pedestrian crossing enhancements at Highway 5
Project: An enhanced at-grade pedestrian crossing is planned for SH 5 between East Virginia Street and East Louisiana Street. The potential city project is being considered in coordination with the second phase of the Texas Department of Transportation’s SH 5 reconstruction project, which will target SH 5 from McMakin Street to Powerhouse Street.
Update: City staff are coordinating with TxDOT officials regarding improvements within the right-of-way. Outside of the right-of-way, city staff are considering independent improvements such as vertical monuments, pedestrian streetscape elements and other outdoor activations.
Parking
Downtown parking management project
Project: The project aims to improve the downtown parking experience by using real-time information to display parking availability on digital signage at three parking locations, including the South Kentucky Lot, Cloyd Lot and Chestnut Garage.
Update: Work is underway to set up and build out the project. Camera installation is slated for February to establish baseline information, and digital signage is set to be introduced in March or April.
Downtown parking study
Project: The city’s semi-regular downtown parking study collects information about the parking in the area and how it’s serving visitors, local employees and businesses. The study encompasses six zones, including downtown proper, as well as parts of the area on the east side of SH 5.
Update: Data was collected in July and August, and city staff are working to finalize the study draft. The study is expected to be published in December.
Facilities and development
Chestnut elevated storage tank rehabilitation
Project: Work will rehabilitate and formally decommission the water tower, including re-painting and improving the site.
Update: Lighting has been installed on the tank and a T-Mobile antenna relocation is underway. Site work at the base of the structure is also under construction, including fencing and landscaping.
Redevelopment of city-owned downtown properties
Project: Two city-owned properties, including the former McKinney City Hall and the former Development Services building, are being demolished to clear the sites ahead of future redevelopment. The effort is targeting the sites of the former city offices, which are also surrounded by multiple other city-owned and city-controlled properties currently serving as parking lots.
Update: Work to complete the demolition process is underway, including finding appropriate fill material for the basement of the former city hall, in an effort to level the sites. McKinney Economic Development Corp. officials are leading an initiative to bring potential office and hotel uses to the sites. City officials expect to review submissions from developers looking to partner on the project in December.
Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library renovation
Project: The project is set to reimagine the downtown library, including changes to the library’s layout, creation of youth- and teen-specific spaces, and the addition of a planetarium with a 55-person capacity.
Update: The library is set to reopen Dec. 1, and a grand opening celebration is slated from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 5.
McKinney Performing Arts Center renovation
Project: Renovation work is slated to refresh various aspects of the building in an effort to improve the guest experience, including the public restrooms and theater seating. Other updates will improve infrastructure, repair plaster, add new railings and more.
Update: Public access to the building and the public restrooms is restricted during construction. Some parking on Tennessee Street is also impacted. Painting has restored green accents to the exterior of the building, which replicate a paint scheme the building had in the 1930s.
