Whether Crawling or Sprawling, Growth Moves On

By Donnita Fisher

It’s hard to see the growth of our children, our pets or our stomachs, because we see them daily and it happens so very slowly. Not so with our communities. Drive down Hwy. 78 or FM 544 – the major arteries that connect us – and it’s easy to see the asphalt and concrete, the storefronts and rooftops that signify a community’s growth.

As some of our areas reach near capacity on housing developments, the community focuses on maintaining quality and providing additional restaurant and retail. The home builders move to a more rural area and the cycle begins again.

And here we grow again.

LAVON

Driving out of Wylie north on Hwy. 78, it will become harder and harder to recognize the once rural community of Lavon.

“We’ve got the growth,” said Pam Mundo, executive director of the Lavon Economic Development Corporation. “These are exciting times. Major growth is before the community as Hwy. 78 improvements, with six lanes, are now completed. Improvements to Hwy. 205, four traffic lanes, will begin in late 2020. These improvements will bring better access to Interstate 30 south of Lavon.”

According to information from LEDC, the community experienced about a 10 % growth increase between 2018 and 2019 putting the population just under 4,000. That

growth is expected to continue significantly over the next few years.

City reports indicate there are 1,689 single-family residential lots currently entitled and 785 single-family platted lots in construction. Additionally there is the potential for 352 multi-family housing lots.

New retail in Lavon that opened in 2019 included 5 Flooring & Plus; 7-Eleven Convenience Store; Bayside Nutrition; Good Fella’s Pizza; Lavon Pharmacy; Lavon Nail Art & Spa; O’Reilly Auto Part; Sawaaro Spa and St. Paul Pharmacy.

A new specialty printer, Crown Labels, also began business in town. They make labels for retail and product identification business.

And, frankly, dirt was flying and plans were being made in almost every part of the city.

A 2019 end-of-the-year assessment showed: • Commercial tracts available in the Grand Heritage, Grand Heritage West and Bear Creek subdivisions; • Build out of the Traditions (97 lots) and Traditions West (84) developments; • Lots in Traditions Phase 2 (111) to be available in February 2020; • A bridge over Bear Creek is being built for the Bear Creek East Phase 3, 4 and 5 development. Phase 3 will include 161 lots and is expected to open December 2020. • Property south of Bear Creek East subdivision has been annexed to create a Bear Creek South. • The Crestridge Meadows subdivision is under construction on South CR 484. Approved for 274 homes, Phase 1 includes 140 lots. These lots should be available in February 2020. • Lavon Farms is being developed on FM 2755. • At the southeast corner of Hwy. 78 and FM 6, the Lakepointe by Lenart development has broken ground and is under construction. The preliminary plat approved 700 residential lots and is now in the planning stages for retail and office space. Phase 1 of the project includes resident lots 1 through 161, and the lots should be available in August 2020. • Another 1,600-acre development – Abston Hills – is in the planning stages for the eastern portions of Lavon. • Expansion of the City of Lavon’s sanitary sewer treatment plant is expected during the first quarter of 2020. The expansion will double the facility’s capacity. • Construction on the Bear Creek Special Utility District Water Pump State and Ground Storage on Geren Road has begun. • Plans are at 60% and construction to slated to start in December 2020 for the Texas Department of Transportation to widen Hwy. 205 from two to four lanes beginning at the Hwy. 78 and 205 intersection. • Construction on the Collin County facility behind Independent Bank on Hwy. 78 was scheduled to begin in January 2020. • Annexation planning is underway for 66 acres on FM 78 with plans for residential lots and commercial tracts along Hwy. 78 and five acres commercial at the corner of FM 6 and Hwy. 78. • There is 8,600 square feet of retail space planned for the corner of Hwy. 78 and Burleson Drive.

MURPHY

Murphy looks forward to not only the new year but the new decade, as the city continues to encourage development and redevelopment of its strong commercial corridor, according to Reagan Rothenberger, interim director of the city’s community and economic development program.

“2019 was a great year for Murphy as we continue to see progress in several areas of the city,” Rothenberger said.

Murphy has welcomed Jason’s Deli to the new Timber Ridge Center, as well as other new businesses, including a Verizon store, Wayback Burger, Deka Lash, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, Club Pilates, Game Stop and Tropical Smoothie Café.

New construction is imminent in Murphy Marketplace, Rothenberger said, as the city dhas approved an incentive agreement to spur new development there. “The city is proud of the partnership between Murphy Marketplace owners, Phillips Edison, and their commitment to continually improve the center,” he said.

New construction has begun for the Service First Automotive center, located on east FM 544. “This new automobile service center is highly acclaimed for their customer service, and we are proud to be one of their first DFW locations,” Rothenberger said.

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Conceptual design of "The Station" development by PMB Capital Investments. www.TheStationTX.com

Directly across FM 544 to the north, Best Gymnastics will soon begin construction on a new state-of the-art gymnastics facility. Along west FM 544, Take 5 Oil Change will soon open a new location.

Bluff Creek Estates on south McCreary Road is making fast progress with nearly 50 homes built or under construction. When completed there will be 113 new residences, all by K. Hovnanian Homes.

Commercial development on North Murphy Road saw new building from Eye Center of Murphy and Full Spectrum Salon. Oasis Springs Manors, also on North Murphy Road, continues to make progress and lots should soon be for sale.

Murphy Meadows in far northeast Murphy will soon construct five new upscale patio homes to build out the development. catching the attention of Urban Partners, a Dallas-based developer and consultant of world-class walkable developments, Weber said.

“The SEDC and Urban Partners are currently working together to make the SEDC-owned property a walkable restaurant district with lots of opportunities for recreation and entertainment,” he said.

Elsewhere in Sachse, PMB Capital Investments broke ground on The Station in July 2019. The 119-plus acre, mixed-use development will include restaurants, entertainment, single-family and multi-family housing. The Station is expected to open in late 2020.

In addition to The Station, 7-Eleven opened a convenience store and gas station at Miles Road and the President George Bush Turnpike, offering residents and visitors a convenient place to refuel and grab necessities along the busy turnpike, and Woodbridge Corners is looking much different with the opening of Hat Creek Burgers.

On the west side of Hwy. 78, there’s new construction happening with The Shops at Woodbridge. Earlier this year it was announced that the retail center would be anchored by Portland, Oregon,-based Black Rock Coffee. SEDC staff took to the road during the spring of 2019, exhibiting at the world’s largest retail conference hosted by the International Conference of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas. While at the conference, SEDC staff met with several retailers, hotel chains and restaurant brands, introducing them to Sachse and all that the city has to offer. This is the first time the SEDC has participated in the event as an exhibitor.

On Nov. 21, the Corporation celebrated its 25th anniversary with a reception that brought many local dignitaries, elected officials and members of the Dallas area com continued ~

SACHSE

The Sachse Economic Development Corporation experienced a tremendous 2019, according to information from the organization. “One of the notable highlights from the year includes a fabulous second season at Backyard on 5th,” said Bradley Weber, marketing specialist for the SEDC.

In addition to bringing some of DFW’s greatest food trucks, solo artists, and craft brewers to Sachse, the SEDC owned and managed venue hosted a firetruck spray, “Dine with Your Dog Night,” and a farmer’s market.

The SEDC’s commitment to Backyard on 5th paid big dividends this year, providing ‘“proof of concept” and

mercial real estate community to Sachse to celebrate the momentous occasion with the SEDC board and staff.

As the SEDC moves into 2020, the Corporation will remain focused on recruiting desirable local and regional restaurants to Sachse, Weber said, while transforming Backyard on 5th and the surrounding 7-acre, EDC-owned properties into a regional destination that will provide residents with high quality dining options, entertainment and unique retail experiences.

WYLIE

At the Wylie Economic Development Corporation in 2020, it might be the usual business but it won’t be business as usual.

WEDC Executive Director Sam Satterwhite is leaving the post he’s held since Feb. 15, 1996.

Under the Wylie City Council’s guidance and the city’s master plan, Satterwhite has been a dedicated gardener – pruning, prodding and plugging, and praying to produce a vibrant, vigorous and varied community.

About 11,000 people lived in Wylie when Satterwhite arrived on the job. The population now sits around 52,000.

Under Satterwhite’s leadership, the WEDC had finished more than 70 projects producing more than 2.7 million square feet of new commercial space; created or retrained 3,670 jobs and generated $374 million in new investment, according to information from the WEDC. 2019 was no exception. In 2019, end of the 10-year sales tax reimbursement agreement with the developer that brought Target (Woodbridge Crossing) to town ended. Woodbridge Crossing generates more than $1.6 million per year in sales tax revenue for the city of Wylie and has an ad valorem tax value of $79 million. New restaurants that opened included: • Chick-Fil-A – Hw y. 78 and Cooper Drive • Schlotzky’s Austin Eatery – Hwy. 78 • Fish N Tails Oy ster Bar – Hwy. 78 • Josephine’s Bis tro – FM 544 • BURGERim – Woodbridge Center • McAllist er’s Deli – Woodbridge Crossing • Mod Pizza – Woodbridge Crossing • Great American Cookie Company & Marble Slab Creamery – Woodbridge Crossing • Frankie’s Mexican Cuisine – Downtown Wylie (opening soon) • Bold Barbecue – Downtown Wylie • OMG Creamery – Downtown Wylie • Reopening of LaJoya Mexican Restaurant – Downtown Wylie

Businesses openings in the community included: • Pe t Supply Plus and Credit Union of Texas – Woodbridge Center • ULT A, Sketchers, Bath and Body Works – Woodbridge Crossing • Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Sanden Boulevard • Deanan Gourme t Popcorn expanded adding more than 10,000 square feet • Cardinal Strategies broke ground in Regency Business Park • Manufacturing also sa w expansion. So 2020 will bring changes to the WEDC leadership, but they will be familiar ones. In January, it was announced that WEDC Assistant Director Jason Greiner will move into Satterwhite’s vacated position.

Greiner has been with WEDC since 2016. He had been in economic development or consulting for eight years prior to joining Wylie.

The business of WEDC won’t change. 2020 starts with groundbreakings for new medical office buildings adding 17,000 square feet of space, $9 million in new investment and 40 jobs.

Whataburger will open sometime this year. Collin College’s Wylie campus on FM 1378 will welcome students for Fall 2020 classes.

And Greiner will continue to work on a 13-acre project at the corner of Brown Street and Hwy. 78. WEDC has secured 15 adjacent properties “with the intent of developing a highly visible master planned property with a mix of retail professional services and office.”

This, Greiner said, should help stimulate some redevelopment in the downtown Wylie area. Life grows on. •