LH Press Library
Makeover Envisioned at Lake Highlands Site
Developer hopes to raze apartments and build retail-residential center
Dallas Morning News, by Wendy Hundley and Steve
Brown
October 15, 2004
Three aging apartment complexes in Lake Highlands may be demolished to make room for a commercial and residential complex.
Sutter Wood, Ashton Springs and Ashton Point along Skillman south of Kingsley are under contract to be purchased by Fort Worth-based developer Trademark Cos., said Dallas City Council member Bill Blaydes.
"They form the core of Lake Highlands Town Center," said Mr. Blaydes, referring to the working name for the 59-acre project.
Mr. Blaydes said the proposed urban center would also include a city park and a light rail station on DART's Blue Line that connects Lake Highlands to Garland and downtown Dallas.
"It will change Lake Highlands forever," he said. "Creating a new town center is something that will cause leapfrog development up Skillman."
Terry Montesi, Trademark Cos.' president, wouldn't discuss the planned redevelopment, citing confidentiality agreements related to the property purchase.
But leasing agents looking for retail tenants said the deal is moving forward.
"This will be a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use development," said Mickey Ashmore, president of United Commercial Realty. "You will be able to ride DART, go to the store and go home. We want to make it truly a little village."
He said between 60,000 and 130,000 square feet of shop space will be constructed, and potential tenants include a specialty food store, restaurants, apparel and service retailers.
Other retail real estate brokers say the Lake Highlands area needs retail.
"I think it will be great infill development and is much needed," said Jill Tiernan of the Retail Connection. "It can be the Inwood Village for Lake Highlands."
Mr. Blaydes, who represents the surrounding council district, plans to hold a town hall meeting in November to discuss the project, which has been in the works for several months. He said construction could start in early 2006.
Townhouses, homes and some office space are being considered for the Northeast Dallas development. Mr. Blaydes said the lofts, townhouses and zero-lot-line homes would range in price from $180,000 to $600,000.
The redevelopment, which would replace about 1,000 apartment units built in the 1970s, "is our first shot at a real urban rehabilitation," he said.
A DART station in that vicinity was first proposed in 1996, said Mike Miles, DART's senior manager of community and member city relations.
He said DART has been working with the city and Trademark Cos. for several months, but officials have not identified funding for the station.
"There's a lot of work to be done," Mr. Miles said. "But, from our standpoint, it makes sense that we're starting to see more transit-oriented development in the city."
Mr. Blaydes said the development would be privately owned, but city officials may create a tax-increment financing district, or TIF, to help pay for streets, utilities and other infrastructure improvements.
The proposed project would also require a zoning change.
Reprinted with permission of the the Dallas Morning News.
We're always looking for volunteers!
Find out how you can help out LHAIA!
