LH Press Library
Urban Center Plans Hit a Snag
Developer won't buy property for retail, residential complex
Dallas Morning News, by Wendy Hundley
January 9, 2005
Lake Highlanders are expressing hope that a setback in a plan to build an Uptown-style commercial and residential center won't lead to its demise.
Late last week, Dallas City Council member Bill Blaydes said the project was halted after Fort Worth-based Trademark Cos. decided not to purchase rental property on Skillman Street near Kingsley Road.
Plans called for demolishing three aging apartment complexes near that intersection to make way for the proposed urban center and a new DART light-rail station.
"The plan itself is very sound. A lot of work has gone into it," said Terri Woods, president of the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association.
"I think it's going to happen," she said.
Mr. Blaydes indicated through an e-mail sent to homeowner associations that the cost of the land was the deal-breaker but said he was attempting to find another residential developer for the project.
The correspondence also said the city of Dallas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the North Central Texas Council of Governments are still on board.
Mr. Blaydes did not return phone calls seeking comment. However, in a prepared statement Friday, he said: "We are not dead yet. We have a three-week reprieve. We are trying to put the package back together again."
The "reprieve" apparently refers to an agreement with Fannie Mae, the biggest provider of money for the U.S. mortgage industry, to keep the properties off the open market while Mr. Blaydes tries to resurrect the project.
Doug Allen, DART's executive vice president for program development, said officials have been putting together some estimates and ideas for a station at the site.
"It's a neat location and a great opportunity," he said. "If this developer doesn't do something, we're hopeful somebody will do something there."
Mr. Allen said a station probably would not be built if the town center project falls through.
Last year, Mr. Blaydes announced plans for the transit-oriented development that would combine offices, stores, restaurants, loft apartments and townhouses on a 59-acre site.
He said it would create a much-needed downtown village for Lake Highlands.
Ms. Woods of the improvement group said such a center "would be wonderful for the community."
"These projects are much more complicated than anyone could ever believe. I respect Bill Blaydes for the amount of effort he's put into this. I think something positive will come of it."
Reprinted with permission of the the Dallas Morning News.
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