RICHARDSON The city of Richardson has spent over a decade trying to revitalize interest in the historic downtown area, including committing more than $21 million toward infrastructure improvements. SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IMPACT CHANGING DOWNTOWN
2019
2020
2021
2009
2016
2018
April: Belt + Main development begins construction June: Main Street construction ends
Main Street identi ed as area of needed economic growth
Public safety campus construction underway
Historic downtown restoration project underway with Main Street construction
Public safety campus open to public
Historic downtown rezoned as part of Core District
Belt + Main development fully open to the public
LATE 2023
Spring: rst phase of Belt + Main development opening
McKinney Street reconstruction project begins
2023
2022
The Belt + Main development will feature business and living spaces.
In 2016, the city rezoned downtown to make it easier for businesses to enter, followed by
at creating walkable mixed-use dis- tricts. That is similar to what is being designed for the Richardson Innova- tion Quarter, a 1,200-acre industrial area east of Central Expressway also undergoing a revitalization. “We believe in the new American model for successful cities that involves multiple ‘nodes’ of identity across the region that bring walkability and a range of things to do from the daytime into the evening,” Rutherford said. Carless mobility is a theme for the Core district, Durkin said. “Our hope is that people go down to that area not necessarily knowing where they’re gonna go, but they end up going to whatever’s open and spend the whole evening there,” he said.
Magner said another priority in downtown’s development is ensur- ing the cultural identity for each community. To preserve that unique cultural identity, the city has pro- moted several community events in the area, including the Culture in the Core event in June and a celebration of Chinese New Year in February. “By … being dedicated to helping preserve and grow [those cultural neighborhoods], I believe we are honoring them and promoting them while these communities grow,” Magner said.
passing $21 million in infrastructure projects, according to city o cials. The Main Street project began in 2019 and was completed by mid-2021, while the McKinney Street project is set to last until the end of 2023. “That’s where the new investment will need to take place and how we’ll continue to add value to the commu- nity,” Magner said. Manasseh Durkin, Richardson Chamber of Commerce board chair, said Belt + Main will add density, which is needed for historic down- town to be vibrant and thrive. “You need to have people down
there to spend money, which is what brings in great restaurants,” he said. Valerie Kernan, owner of Smart- Looks Window & Wall Decor o of Main Street, said she believes the newly redesigned streets are going to enhance the growth opportunity for the downtown area. “I think that the growth potential is here, we’re just waiting for those busi- ness partners to come in and commit to the downtown area,” Kernan said. Modernizing downtown Rutherford said Belt + Main and other downtown projects are aimed
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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RICHARDSON EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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