Lewisville - Coppell | February 2025

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Lewisville Coppell Edition VOLUME 8, ISSUE 4 FEB. 22MARCH 20, 2025

Old Town boom Downtown Lewisville revitalization eorts continue as more developments open

MAIN ST.

Aura Main Street is expected to open in spring 2025, joining three other multifamily projects in Lewisville.

ELM ST.

INSIDE

SKY EYESCOMMUNITY IMPACT

2025 Private School Guide

Also in this issue

Dining: Check out sushi rolls and more at Coppell’s Sushi Box (Page 4)

Government: Read how Coppell hired a rm to analyze land use for economic development (Page 6)

Education: See private school options in Lewisville and other cities

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LEWISVILLE COPPELL EDITION

Impacts

2 Big Saving Appliance The store sells a variety of discount appliances, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges and

LEWISVILLE LAKE

JUSTIN RD.

more, company staff said. • Opened in early January • 1130 W. Main St., Unit B, Lewisville • www.bsa-lewisville.com

LLELA NATURE PRESERVE

WINDHAVEN PKWY.

COLLEGE PKWY.

MAIN ST.

121

3 Home2 Suites by Hilton The five-story hotel offers a selection of rooms and suites with one king-sized bed or two queen-sized beds. • Opened Dec. 31 • 1030 W. Sandy Lake Road, Coppell • www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dfwehht-home2-suites- coppell-grapevine-north 4 Inspine Wellness The business offers chiropractic care, musculoskeletal ultrasound, pilates and ultrasound training to healthcare professionals, according to its website. • Opened Jan. 6 • 2550 E. SH 121, Building 2, Lewisville • www.inspinewellness.com 5 King Ramen and Dumpling The restaurant serves a wide selection of noodle dishes, soups, dumplings and bao buns and is equipped with a boba tea bar, a hibachi grill and a robot food runner. • Opened Jan. 13 • 2601 S. Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 450, Lewisville • www.kingramendumpling.com 6 Pizza Twist The restaurant serves pizzas that are fully customizable with more than 30 different topping options, according to its website. The menu also includes vegan, gluten- free and halal options. • Opened Jan. 24 • 3517 Windhaven Parkway, Ste. 400, Lewisville • www.pizzatwist.com 7 Sushi Box The menu includes various kinds of sushi rolls, fried rice, tempura udon, a bento box and more. • Opened Jan. 1

544

KING ARTHUR BLVD.

Lewisville

SRT TOLL

BELLAIRE BLVD.

CORPORATE DR.

35E

R O V

E R

PGBT TOLL

Coppell

SANDY LAKE RD.

BETHEL RD.

D .

635

NORTH LAKE

MAIN ST.

SRT TOLL

MAP NOT TO SCALE

dedicated foot or body massages, which come with a hot stone service, according to the company website. • Opened Jan. 21 • 2601 S. Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 140, Lewisville • www.amazingfootmassage.icu

Now open

1 Amazing Foot Massage The business offers a variety of massage services from full body to deep tissue. Customers can choose

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Coppell, 820 South MacArthur, Unit 104, 972-745-4343 Flower Mound, 1901 Long Prairie Rd, Unit 116, 972 325 2233

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

11 Cabinetry and Co. The company specializes in designing cabinets for multiple spaces in the home including kitchens, bathrooms, closets and more, according to its website. • Showroom opening in late March • 2560 King Arthur Blvd., Ste. 138, Lewisville • www.cabinetryandco.com 12 Singas Pizza The pizza brand, which has multiple locations across the U.S., serves a variety of hand-made pizzas, wings, salads, sandwiches and pastas, according to its website. • Opening summer 2025 • 817 S. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 105, Coppell • www.singaspizzas.com

• 110 W. Sandy Lake Road, Ste. 104, Coppell • www.sushiboxtx.com

Now open

8 Wing Dash The restaurant serves a variety of flavored wings, chicken tenders, sandwiches and burgers. • Opened Dec. 26 • 360 E. Round Grove Road, Ste. 840, Lewisville • www.wingdash.us 9 Zyana Yoga The company offers three different yoga styles. The studio also offers two heated yoga styles and classes that use free weights and resistance bands. • Opened Dec. 12 • 2425 FM 544, Building 1, Ste., 200, Lewisville • www.zyanayoga.com

14 Velcrokid Velcrokid is a unique café featuring a lineup of boutique vending machines stocked with a curated selection of drinks, snacks, and meals from local favorites like Edison Coffee, Marty B’s, Emporium Pies, Hoshi Japanese Sweets and more, owner Eric Bowman said in an email. Art toys from 3DRetro, 100% Soft, Medicom, Super7 and others are also

Closings

Coming soon

13 Black Walnut Cafe The cafe served omelets, pancakes, soups, pastas and more, per its website. • Closed Jan. 13 • 775 N. Denton Tap Road, Coppell • www.blackwalnutcafe.com

10 Artsy Cakery The business plans to continue selling custom cakes, ready-made cakes, cookies and cupcakes as it moves from a home business to a physical storefront. • Opening in March • 767 W. Main St., Ste. 109, Coppell • Facebook: Artsy Cakery

available to purchase. • Opened in December • 1298 Justin Road, Lewisville • www.velcrokid.com

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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

Government

BY COLBY FARR

Lewisville seeks state grant for boat ramp Lewisville applied for a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife department to renovate the area around a boat launch at Lewisville Lake Park. The gist During a Jan. 27 meeting, City Council members voted to authorize an application for TPWD’s boat- ing access grant program. If awarded, the funds will be used to recongure the parking lot and add two courtesy docks near boat ramp No. 2 in Lake Park. The ramp will also be redesigned to remain accessible when water levels rise, according to a sta report. High water levels currently render the ramp inaccessible and force closures until water levels lower again, per the report. The details If awarded, the program will provide a 75% matching grant for planning, constructing or

Coppell to analyze development patterns Coppell City Council approved a contract with consulting company Verdunity during a Jan. 28 meeting to complete a scal analysis of current and future development patterns in the city. What you need to know The contract was approved in the amount of $154,700 and will be funded by federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. The action comes as city ocials are pre- paring to update Coppell’s comprehensive land use plan later in 2025. City sta believe the scal analysis will show stakeholders the ways Coppell can continue developing in a nancially sustainable manner, according to a sta report.

Lewisville ocials seek to fund renovations for the area around boat ramp No. 2 in Lewisville Lake Park.

LEWISVILLE LAKE

BOAT RAMP

renovating a public boat ramp with access to public waters. Lewisville would contribute 25% of the remaining cost for planning and development. City sta will match grant funds for the project from a mix of capital improvement and park funds, according to the sta report.

255

214-444-8209

255 S. De nton TapRd, Ste. 240 Coppell, TX 75019 214-444-8209 255 S. De nton Tap Rd, Ste. 240 Coppell, TX 75019 214-444-8209 255 S. De nton Tap Rd, Ste. 240 Coppell, TX 75019 214-444-8209

255 S. De nton Tap Rd, Ste. 240 Coppell, TX 75019 214-444-8209 255 S. De nton Tap Rd, Ste. 240 Coppell, TX 75019 214-444-8209

255 S. De nton Tap Rd, Ste. 240 Coppell, TX 75019 214-444-8209

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Education

BY JONATHAN PERRIELLO

CISD faces $5M in cuts to support continued raises Coppell ISD is facing inflation, dipping enroll- ment, underfunded mandates and a state funding plateau, according to district officials. These issues led the district to close Pinkerton Elementary last year and call a voter-approval tax rate election, which failed to pass last November. Approval of a higher tax rate would have gener- ated $2.4 million in revenue for the district. The overview Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar presented budget updates to the board Jan. 15, which projected an $8.7 million shortfall for fiscal year 2024-25 and an $18.7 million shortfall by 2027-28. Despite budget shortfalls, the board approved a 3% midpoint staff salary increase last year, but to do so every year going forward, the district will need to reduce expenses by $5 million each year, Sircar said.

LISD could save $50K with solar panels Lewisville ISD could install its first solar panels this summer. LISD could see a return on the investment within 10 years and reap up to $500,000 in future energy cost savings. In addition, Jason Hughes, LISD executive director of facilities, said solar panels at Downing Middle School could save $50,000 annually. In a nutshell Staff identified the school as the ideal location for this project due to maintenance scheduled for summer that will include roof resurfacing. Installation of the panels is expected to cost up to $800,000, but a $280,000 rebate could bring the cost down to around $500,000, Hughes said.

Coppell ISD projected budget shortfalls CISD officials expect an $8.7 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2024-25. While not listed as an expense, CISD is required to pay recapture funds back and contribute to budget shortfalls.

Revenue

Expenses

Recapture

$163.1M

$142.22M

2024-25

$29.5M

$170.5M

$144.5M

2025-26

$38.1M

$182.16M

$148.07M

2026-27

$49.4M

$194.7M

$151.8M

2027-28

$61.6M

$0 $50M $100M $150M $200M

SOURCE: COPPELL ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

CISD saves $10.3M on high school roof replacement

Coppell ISD can allocate over $10 million as savings or for other bond projects. The numbers are:

Coppell ISD is set to save over $10 million on a 2023 bond project at Coppell High School. The details The district originally allocated $16 million to replace 75% of the school’s roof, Bond Project Manager Sid Grant said at the Jan. 13 meeting. Instead, an architect with the firm Armko recom- mended removing the water-proofing material,

placing another half-inch backer board with a severe hail rating on top of the existing backer board and covering the new top layer with a similar water-proofing material rated for 20 years, Grant said. The change dropped the project cost from $16 million to $5.7 million. District officials said that the $10.3 million saved could be either reallocated into other bond projects or placed into savings.

District savings:

Original project cost:

$16M $10.3M

Updated project cost: $5.7M

SOURCE: COPPELL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

FIRST EDITION!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT FEBRUARY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

EXCURSIONS: A Port Aransas Quest CRITTER: Black-Tailed Prairie Dog OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: A Western Wear Pair FEATURE PREVIEW: Panhandle Fires, One Year Later

Above: Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, in Port Aransas.

LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

TEXAS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2025

Dear Fellow Texan, WELCOME

I couldn’t be prouder and more excited to bring you this special edition of Texas Monthly ’s February issue within the pages of Community Impact . One great Texas institution meets another. Community Impact and Texas Monthly have shared goals: to equip you with the news and perspectives that help you understand your state and your neighborhood and inspire you to engage with the people and places that surround you. Each month, we’ll provide you a kind of sampler of what Texas Monthly has to offer. Food, drink, travel, critters, and a taste of some of the award-winning storytelling Texas Monthly is known for. Enjoy the next few pages, thank you for welcoming us into your home, and please consider subscribing to Texas Monthly. —ROSS McCAMMON

EXCURSIONS Among the Craniacs North America’s tallest bird stalks Port Aransas once again. Its fans are back too. BY ROSE CAHALAN

I'M LEANING ON the rail of the Scat Cat, a red-and-white charter fishing boat in Aran- sas Bay, when two bottlenose dolphins leap majestically out of the water alongside our wake. The midday February sun gleams on their fins as the pair chases us. “Look!” I shout. A few of my sixty or so fellow passengers turn to watch, but this is only a warm-up for the real stars of the show: the whooping cranes. Today’s tour is part of the Whooping Crane Festival, an annual four-day winter celebra- tion of one of the continent’s rarest avian

species—and its tallest. About two thousand birders have descended on Port Aransas, a Gulf Coast town of around 2,900 residents on Mustang Island, for the twenty-seventh iteration, which is packed with more than fifty events, including birding tours and lectures by scientists. (This year’s festival happens February 20–23.) Before the arrival of European settlers, more than ten thousand of these birds soared across the continent, but habitat destruction and overhunting drove them to the brink. By

EDITOR IN CHIEF, TEXAS MONTHLY

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Its Reputation As a Ranch Pest Is Changing. The most common of the five species of prairie dogs in North America, these charismatic creatures today inhabit only about 2 percent of their native range, which once covered roughly 100 million acres of the Great Plains. Agriculture and urban development have consumed much of that habitat, and some ranch- ers, worried that these prairie dogs were competing with cattle for grass, exter- minated them. It turns out, though, that they are beneficial for grasslands. SO HOW DO THEY HELP? Prairie dogs nibble down the woody shrubs that could hide their predators and that often take over grasslands. This preserves habitat for birds and animals such as pronghorn. Plus, the rodents’ digging mixes and aerates the soil, and their scat provides nutrients. HOW DO WE KNOW FOR SURE? Scientists collected data from a group of GPS collar–wearing cattle that grazed on three pastures within a pre- serve. In warm seasons, the herd spent more time on the prairie dog colony than in areas outside it. I HEARD THEY CARRY PLAGUE. IS THAT TRUE? Prairie dogs are susceptible to the syl- vatic plague, caused by the same bac- terium as the bubonic plague. But it’s primarily fleas, not rodents, that spread it. At a respectful distance, you can en- joy them without fear. —Robyn Ross CRITTER BLACK�TAILED PRAIRIE DOG

early efforts to revive whooping cranes with captive breeding. During several breeding seasons in the late seventies and early eight- ies, he even lived in a shed with a female crane named Tex, who had imprinted on humans after hatching at the San Antonio Zoo. “Cranes require a great deal of space,” Ar- chibald said. “Each species selects a different type of wetland or grassland.” Unfortunately, those are some of the most easily destroyed habitats: With no trees to cut down, develop- ers can simply pave them over. Captive breed- ing has played a crucial role in the comeback of the species. In the past decade, the Dallas Zoo has picked up the baton, as one of seven organizations in the U.S. and Canada to carry on Archibald’s legacy of breeding baby whoop- ing cranes to release in the wild.

1941 only 21 whooping cranes were left in the wild. Today, after decades of extensive conservation work, there are about 700 wild whoopers left. Wherever there are cranes, there are crani- acs. The birders who visit Port Aransas—“We estimate the economic impact to be near $1 million,” says Brett Stawar, president and CEO of the town’s tourism bureau—bring with them an intense enthusiasm. The undisputed king of the craniacs is George Archibald, the 78-year-old cofounder of the International Crane Foundation. Archibald was a leader in

A birder at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, in Port Aransas, on December 14, 2024; birders in Port Aransas; a sign at the preserve.

LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

January 18-February 14

Give your loved one the ultimate symbol of endless love… a hissing cockroach.

Stop by the Museum Store to visit our Valentine's Roach Motel!

Endless Love supports conservation efforts of the Cockrell Butterfly Center

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TEXAS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2025

MADE IN TEXAS

All Loud on the Western Wear Front With its bold colors and modern designs, the Kennimer label is drawing the attention of pop stars and New York Fashion Week.

Meanwhile, In Texas OUT THERE

BY TAYLOR PREWITT

A video of a horse riding in the back seat of a pickup truck in Fort Worth went viral on social media, with one viewer commenting “living in fort worth this normal to me at this point.” A woman in Dallas booked a rental car for one day, then drove to Wash- ington State and continued to use the vehicle for 46 days , telling Spokane authorities that she didn’t return the car because she was too busy. Claiming to be a member of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force special opera- tions unit, a man from Manor de- frauded victims of more than $12 million by falsely telling them that they were at risk of violence from drug cartels and offering “protec- tion” in exchange for money. A Richardson resident was named CNN’s 2024 Hero of the Year for running a nonprofit in North Texas that helps people going into treat- ment for addiction find temporary homes for their dogs. Billionaire Tilman Fertitta became the first restaurateur in Texas to of fer A5 Wagyu bone-in ribeyes from the Kagoshima region of Japan, which he sells at one of his Houston steakhouses for $1,000 each. Researchers at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi detect- ed low levels of fentanyl and other pharmaceuticals in the blubber of dolphins swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. —Meher Yeda

while Ben, who hails from the small East Tex- as town of Latch and previously worked in graphic design, handles the hats. They jump in to help each other with tedious tasks such as adding rhinestones or handsewing when needed. “We’ve always just worked well to- gether,” Ben says, recalling early collabora- tive projects that included a hot dog–cart side hustle and a screen-printing business. They work as a team to conceive a collection’s overarching look and theme. The couple are motivated by their network of musician friends, many of whom have be- come clients. “We’re excited to show people it’s not a trend,” says Bonnie of Western style. “It’s a staple.” They’re looking forward to de- buting a few couture looks in New York. Some of the pieces, which incorporate subtle nods to the Victorian era (such as high collars and covered buttons), are so intricate that they required around seventy hours of detailed handsewing.

IN LESS THAN a decade, Ben and Bonnie Kennimer have gone from teaching them- selves hat making and clothing design to cus- tomizing looks for some of music’s biggest stars. Their eponymous Western wear label, which they founded in Houston in 2017, is fa- vored by Fort Worth songwriter and soul sing- er Leon Bridges, the Houston trio Khruang- bin, DJ and producer Diplo, and pop star Joe Jonas. One of Bonnie’s dresses, for renowned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenee Fleenor, is housed at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. And this February the couple will take their creations to a New York Fashion Week runway for the first time. Now based in Bonnie’s hometown of Aus- tin, the married couple splits the work down the middle: Bonnie, who has a background in costuming and tailoring, designs the clothes,

Ben and Bonnie Kennimer.

LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

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An estimated 15,000 head of cattle were killed in the Panhandle fires of February 2024.

flag warnings, an alert the National Weath- er Service issues a few dozen times a year in the Panhandle when a combination of strong winds and low humidity increases the risk of extreme wildfire. Though rain had been plentiful that winter and grass was thriving, unseasonably warm February temperatures had dried it out quickly. What should have beenarancher’sblessing—bountifulfieldsfor grazing—had instead turned into something ominous: “fuel load.” Adam, a 31-year-old with a slight build, shag- gy brown hair, and bright blue eyes, has the plumb posture of a man who takes pride in his work.He’dstartedpreppingforfireseasonthe week before, securing insurance for most of the 712 cattle he owned with his wife, Aubrie, a 30-year-old with sympathetic brown eyes and strawberry blond hair. They’d decided against paying the higher premiums to cover the full herd, largely because they’d made it through the previous five seasons unburned. Adam was no stranger to fire risks. The youngest of two boys, he’d known he want- ed to be in the cattle business since he was a five-year-old playing with a toy Ford pickup that was identical to the one his dad drove around their family’s ranch in Canadian, an almost utopian hamlet of 2,300 in the rolling sand hills and caprocks northeast of Amarillo. Adam earned a degree in ranch management at Texas Tech University. That’s where he met Aubrie, the daughter of an accountant and a rodeo competitor turned professor who’d given up horses when his children were born. To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

WHEN THE TOWERING black plume first sprouted on the western horizon, it wasn’t much cause for alarm. The sky in the north- eastern Panhandle is near-boundless, and from his Hemphill County ranch Adam Isaacs often spottedsmokefromfiresthatwereahundred miles away. Few of them ever threatened his property. This one, he knew, had gotten started roughly seventy miles west, and though the winds were blowing his way, the flames had a lot of ground to cover before Adam would allow himself to get concerned. His land, his livestock, his loved ones—none were at risk. Not right away. But the potential was there. That Monday morning, February 26, had brought one of the 2024 fire season’s first red

FEATURE PREVIEW

Where There’s Smoke After last year’s historic Panhandle inferno, Adam and Aubrie Isaacs are among the many ranchers in the region weighing how—and whether—to carry on. BY EMILY McCULLAR

READ THIS FEATURE AND MORE IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE TK AUDIENCE SPACE

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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

Education Private School Guide

BY GABBY BAILEY, CONNOR PITTMAN & JACOB VAUGHN

Grace Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: Pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: basketball volleyball, choir, speech, drama Enrollment: 136 Tuition: $1,000-$10,500 per year • 3200 Firewheel Drive, Flower Mound • www.gcapatriots.org Temple Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: volleyball, basketball, soccer, music, drama Enrollment: not available Tuition: $6,410-$11,600 per year • 2501 Northshore Blvd., Flower Mound • www.templechristian.com

Religion orientation: Christian Extracurriculars: 14 different sports, including football, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, swim, tennis and golf. Also has visual and creative arts programs Enrollment: 873 for 2022-23 school year Tuition: $11,290 for pre-K to $21,790 for 12th grade per year • 729 E. Dallas Road, Grapevine • www.grapevinefaith.com

2025

Lewisville

Enrollment: 1,317 Tuition: $5,293-$22,378 per year • 1301 US 377, Argyle • www.libertychristian.com

Grades served: Pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: baseball, football, volleyball, music, drama Enrollment: not available

Lewisville

Pinnacle Prep School Type: traditional Grades served: Pre-K-8 Religious orientation: N/A Extracurricular activities: drama, Spanish Enrollment: 80 Tuition: $11,825 per year • 1310 S. Stemmons Freeway, Lewisville • www.pinnacleprepschool.com

Holy Trinity Catholic School Type: Religious Grades: Pre-K-8 Religion orientation: Catholic

Tuition: $3,150-$11,450 per year • 2200 Jeter Road E., Bartonville • www.lantana.hcasaints.org

Selwyn School Type: traditional Grades served: Pre-K-12 Religious orientation: none Extracurricular activities: archery, soccer, basketball, tennis, performing arts Enrollment: 140

Extracurriculars: 12 different sports, including baseball, basketball, football, cross country, softball, soccer. Technology clubs, affiliate organizations, dance team, Cotillion and Spanish club Enrollment: 232 Tuition: $5,945-$9,695 per year • 3750 William D. Tate Ave., Grapevine • www.holytcs.org This list is not comprehensive.

Flower Mound

Lakeland Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: Pre-K-11 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, cheerleading Enrollment: 283 Tuition: $2,530-$8,830 • 397 S. Stemmons Freeway, Lewisville • www.lakelandchristian.org

Coram Deo Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: Pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: band, theater, soccer, football Enrollment: 717 Tuition: $8,190-$13,495 per year • 4900 Wichita Trail, Flower Mound • www.coramdeoacademy.org/campuses/flower-mound

Tuition: $13,700-$31,850 per year • 2270 Copper Canyon Road, Argyle • www.selwynschool.org

Argyle

Liberty Christian School Type: religious-based Grades served: Pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: dance, baseball, football, musical and technical theater

Grapevine

Bartonville

Grapevine Faith Christian School Type: Religious Grades: Pre-K-12

Harvest Christian Academy Lantana Type: religious-based

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Development

BY COLBY FARR

Business 121 Corridor plan aims to improve safety, aesthetics

Lewisville officials have a new plan to improve safety and aesthetics along the Business 121 corridor that runs through the city. In a nutshell Lewisville City Council members unanimously voted to adopt the Business 121 Corridor Plan during a Jan. 27 meeting. The plan includes 12 goals with actionable strategies to improve mobility and economic vitality along the 8.4-mile stretch of road through Lewisville, according to a staff report. Council’s action caps an initiative that started in July 2023 when the city hired Halff Associates to develop the plan. The final version presented to council includes 72 actionable items related to three themes, Planning Manager Michele Berry said. The three key themes in the plan include: • Mobility

• Quality of place • Economic vitality

Improvement sites

After council action, staff will begin working on implementing the plan’s action items, Berry said. “We’re getting a key group together to work on implementing this plan so that we can start to see some of this work come to fruition,” she said. The details A copy of the Business 121 Corridor Plan can be accessed on the Jan. 27 meeting agenda. The plan includes four chapters that break down a vision, concept plan and strategies for the corridor, Berry said. The plan also highlights three catalytic sites along the corridor that have the potential to acti- vate redevelopment and economic growth along the corridor, according to a staff presentation. The sites were included with different scenarios for how those areas could be developed in the future,

121

SRT TOLL

PGBT TOLL

according to the report. Actionable items are separated across 12 goals and include time frames and expected costs, Berry said. Some items are bolded in the plan because they were identified as priorities by members of the Corridor Advisory Committee, City Council, and Planning and Zoning Commission, she said. “I’m ready to get this ball rolling,” Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ronni Cade said of the plan.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY COLBY FARR & CONNOR PITTMAN

DCTA hires consultant for ATrain enhancement The Denton County Transportation Authority’s ATrain service could run faster in 2026 as ocials make the rst moves to improve its runtime in both directions. The full story The DCTA’s board of directors approved a task order with Lochner, an engineering consultant company, in the amount of $386,255.56 during a Jan. 23 meeting. Lochner will complete initial steps for an ATrain enhancement program that the transit agency has been working on since 2022. The enhancement program aims to improve performance and eciency on the 21-mile ATrain service between Denton and Carrollton. Lochner will act as a consultant for the enhancement program’s initial tasks, said Austin Frith, vice president of planning and development. Initial tasks include designing curve and speed

DART further tests Silver Line in Coppell Further safety testing along segments of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Silver Line, including areas in Coppell, should be wrapping up. The Silver Line is a 26-mile commuter rail between Plano and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The overview Mario Zavala, project communications manager for the Silver Line, said vehicles will sound train horns when approaching rail crossings. Once revenue service begins, trains will not sound their horns unless a hazard exists on or near the tracks. Initial testing was planned to wrap up in mid-February. Zavala said cities will be notied if more testing is needed. Testing along the entire Silver Line should start in the second quarter of 2025.

Lochner, an engineering consultant company, will complete initial steps for an ATrain enhancement.

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enhancements for the rail line. Those improve- ments could be implemented in late fall of 2025, Frith said. “[The] key takeaway here is we’re trying to get this train faster along the corridor,” he said. “What that’s going to hopefully allow us to do is get a 3-5 minute runtime improvement.”

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LEWISVILLE COPPELL EDITION

Old Town boom From the cover

Breaking it down

The full story

A TIRZ is possible through the Texas Tax Code and is used as a financing tool for public improvement projects in a specific area, Lewisville’s Economic Development Manager Christina Williams said. TIRZ No. 1 was established in 2001 and has generated nearly $16 million for projects in the area. When a TIRZ is created, the property value within that zone is established as a baseline the year it was created. Taxes up to the zone’s baseline value collected by public entities remain with those entities. As the zone’s property values increase though, participating entities can allocate the growth in taxes to a tax incre- ment fund for public improvements. “It’s also meant to continue stimulating additional growth, which continues to build the fund, which allows you to expand the amount of public projects that you can do to benefit the zone,” Luedke said.

The plan is used by the city to revitalize the area to generate more population density and foot traffic. The city also relies on a tax increment reinvestment zone for funding public projects. “You see a lot more foot traffic than you did a year ago or two years ago,” Planning Director Richard Luedke said. “That’s what we need to attract the new businesses.”

Aura Main Street is slated to open in Old Town Lewisville this spring. It’ll be the fourth multifamily project to open in the area, following three developments that opened within the last year. More than 800 multifamily units have been added, with more expected in 2025, according to officials. Other projects include single-family and townhome developments that started construction since the Old Town Master Plan was last updated in 2022.

Old Town Lewisville Key 1 Aura Main Street

COLLEGE ST.

WALTERS ST.

35E

CHURCH ST.

2 Whitlow

MAIN ST.

3 Station Old Town

4 Main & Mill Apartments 5 The Mill Old Town

TIRZ No. 1

121

PURNELL ST.

SOURCE: CITY OF LEWISVILLE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

By the numbers

Net taxable value in TIRZ No. 1 has increased 602% over the baseline set in 2001, according to a city report. That increase is driven by public improvements and new developments, the report states. In 2024, development finished on several apartment projects, including The Mill at Old Town and Main and Mill Apartments. Taxable value generated by multifamily projects was over $125 million in 2024.

$2.5M

$2M $1.5M $1M $500K $0 2022 2023 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Combined revenue from increased property values in TIRZ No. 1 increased 293% from 2010-2023.

Year

SOURCE: CITY OF LEWISVILLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY COLBY FARR

The impact

The takeaway

For Cynthia Dearnbarger, owner of Flourish flowers and gifts on Main Street, new residential developments are bringing stability to businesses in the area. Dearnbarger has owned the flower store in Old Town Lewisville for eight years and she’s lived in the area for nine years, she said. Since the new residential projects have opened, Dearnbarger said she’s noticed an increase in foot traffic, something that businesses have been waiting to see for years. Members of the Old Town Business Association, including Dearnbarger, are also hosting events to bring more people from out of town. “The business owners are at a place where we’re trying to do anything and everything that we can to get people aware of where we are and what we’re doing,” she said. “It definitely helps when people come in for the first time.” Lewisville Mayor TJ Gilmore said it was key for the city to create an experiential space that people want to visit through its revitalization efforts.

Aura Main Street will be the latest multifamily development to open in Old Town Lewisville. The $50 million project is expected to open later this spring with 325 units available for rent. The five-story building will offer a mix of one-, two- and three- bedroom floor plans, according to Trinsic Residential Group’s website. New residential developments help bring people to the area, Williams said. Retailers that the city’s economic development corporation hope to attract are looking at the amount of residents who are in the area, she said. “That’s been a majority of our goal when we work with developers,” she said. “It’s like bringing the customer base in to stimulate the expansion of businesses down here.”

Old Town Lewisville Development plans in

new parks and open spaces 8 mixed-use/urban housing projects 15

senior living projects 2 8 townhome projects

office/showroom projects 4 large format tech projects 4 3 retail/restaurant projects

SOURCE: CITY OF LEWISVILLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

Dining

BY JONATHAN PERRIELLO

Customers are family at Lewisville’s WiscoTx Cafe Birthed from a 20-year dream and the friendship of two families, WiscoTx Cafe serves customers who have become regulars since the opening last year, and are considered an extension of the family, co-owner Keila Hernandez said. “I love that even though we are new and there are a lot of restaurants nearby that have been here for many years, people still trust us and they come here and enjoy what we do,” Hernandez said. What’s on the menu The cafe prides itself on its Texas-sized portions and has become known for its skillet dishes like the WiscoTx skillet, which includes grilled steak topped with tomatoes, bell peppers, onion and cheese. The cafe’s menu is a mashup of Wisconsin, Texas and Hispanic cuisines, such as cheese curds or the Mexi melt sandwich, which honors the heritage of co-owners Jose Aguirre and his brother Librado.

The Patty Melt burger, $11.99 , sporting two patties on Texas toast with Swiss cheese, onions and mushrooms is a new item.

JONATHAN PERRIELLO COMMUNITY IMPACT

W. MAIN ST.

1322 W. Main St., Lewisville www.wiscotxcafe.com

The cream-cheese lled WiscoTx crepes, $10.99 , are topped with whipped cream, bananas and strawberries.

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Events

BY JONATHAN PERRIELLO

• Free • 100 N. Charles St., Lewisville • www.lewisvillegrand.com/home

February

Slime-A-Palooza Attendees can experiment with different slime formulas and take home their creations. • Feb. 26, 5-6 p.m. • Free • 177 N. Heartz Road, Coppell • www.coppelltx.gov/184/Cozby-Library-Community- Commons Acoustic Fridays Rock Songwriting Challenge Participating songwriters may perform their songs on acoustic instruments or a capella. • Feb. 28, 7-9 p.m. • Free • 100 N. Charles St., Lewisville • www.lewisvillegrand.com/home

River Care Clean Up Volunteers are meeting to help clean up the Elm Fork. • March 8, 10 a.m.- noon • Free • 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville • www.llela.org/about/volunteering Community Beautification Event- Tree Planting Residents can join officials at a tree planting event. • March 15, 8-10 a.m. • Free • Thrive, 1950 S. Valley Parkway, Lewisville • www.playlewisville.com St. Paddy’s Texas Style The event will include live entertainment, inflatable attractions, vendors, food trucks and beer. • March 15, 1-8 p.m. • Free (admission with some paid activities) • 150 W. Church St., Lewisville • www.cityoflewisville.com/home

Sunset Socials: Music Old Town Coppell is hosting a park social with a performance by Reputation, a tribute band that performs the eras of Taylor Swift with hits like “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood” and “Shake It Off.” • March 21, 7-9 p.m. • Free • 768 W. Main St., Coppell • www.coppelltx.gov/171/Community-Experiences

March

Youth/Teen Community Musical Theatre Workshop Theater lovers can attend this musical theater workshop hosted by the Young Artist Training Program. • March 1, 1-2 p.m.

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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

Real estate

In December 2024, more than 160 homes were sold across the market, according to data from the Collin County Area Realtors. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

December 2023

December 2024

+25%

+63.63%

-100%

+4%

+38.46%

LEWISVILLE LAKE

75019

75056

75057

75067

75077

SRT TOLL

75077

75056

Median home sales price

75057

75067

December

2023

2024

$631,000 $657,500 $295,000 $360,000 $492,500

$685,000 $587,750

75019

35E

75056

635

75057

$361,500 $488,000

75067

MARKET DATA COMPILED BY COLLIN COUNTY AREA REALTORS • WWW.CCAR.NET

75077

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Average days on the market

Lewisville-Coppell

December 2023

December 2024

+30%

+30.88%

-100%

-33.33%

-4.26%

December

2023

2024

126 116

New listings

124 164

Closed sales

Homes under contract

115

133

Homes sold by price point

75019

75056

75057

75067

75077

December 2024

Number of new listings

$1,000,000+

-44.44%

+2.08%

+66.67%

+22.73%

-23.08%

$700,000-$999,999

$400,000-$699,999

$100,000-$399,999

$100,000 or less

75019

75056

75057

75067

75077

LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION

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