From the cover
City looking for ways to revitalize Old Town Coppell
BY DESTINE GIBSON
What you need to know
1. Hard Eight BBQ
2. George Co ee
Coppell City Council hosted a town hall meeting about the future of Old Town in March. Attendees provided ideas and suggestions for the area, which city o cials further explored by launching a survey in May. Feedback from community members indicate the area has not lived up to expectations. Old Town has popular amenities, including the Coppell Farmers Market and Hard Eight BBQ, but the area still struggles with tra c counts and visibility, according to a 2023 Old Town Coppell study. “Where we struggle in comparison to like [Historic Downtown] McKinney is we don’t have that major tra c arterial feeding our Old Town area,” Community Development Director Mindi Hurley said. Old Town was not originally planned to be a regional destination, she said. “The desire from the community has changed,” she said. “Now they de nitely want it to be more of a destination attraction than just a local amenity.”
COURTESY COPPELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
3. Coppell Art Center
W. BETHEL RD.
1
2
HOUSTON ST.
COPPELL FARMERS MARKET
TRAVIS ST.
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COURTESY LONESTAR CIRCUS COPPELL ARTS CENTER
What they are saying
What’s next?
The Old Town Coppell survey measured several topics, such as frequency of visits, thoughts about the area and what residents would like to see in the future.
would like to see more restaurants in Old Town
support more nightlife activities like bars, microbreweries and live music
would like to have more community events, such as plays, concerts, fairs and weekend markets
78%
47%
39%
SOURCE: 2023 OLD TOWN COPPELL SURVEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Old Town project will be located at 509 W. Bethel Road in Coppell.
DESTINE GIBSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
How we got here
Discover Coppell launched last year. Its goal is to bring awareness to Coppell’s attractions and draw visitors, said Ellie Braxton, Coppell Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. More restaurants and retail are expected to come to Old Town soon. The Main Street Old Town project will include o ces, residential and retail spaces. City o cials are still determining the long- term vision for Old Town, Hurley said. “We’ve heard from the community,” she said. “We’ve also got the reality of just the market conditions today. Council’s really in the process of trying to match those up.”
Roughly 70 acres of land has been developed over time, and the city has invested nearly $49.5 million into the area, according to city o cials.
Old Town Coppell was established through the adoption of Coppell’s 1996 comprehensive plan with a focus on preserving Coppell’s character.
2022: Discover Coppell campaign launches
1996: Old Town Coppell is established
2021: Coppell Arts Center opens
2002: Old Town Master Plan is drafted
2003: Coppell Farmers Market is established
March 2023: Council hosts Old Town Community Conversation April 2023: Council approves Main Street Old Town project to be located at 509 W. Bethel Road May 2023: City sta launches Old Town Coppell survey
SOURCES: CITY OF COPPELL, COPPELL FARMERS MARKET, COPPELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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