Richardson Edition | March 2024

BY DUSTIN BUTLER AND CONNOR PITTMAN

The approach

What they’re saying

Identifying the right businesses for the revitalized Core District has been a challenge given turnover and other factors, said Manasseh Durkin, president of Durkin Properties, a com- pany developing retail in Lockwood and along Main Street. Durkin added that his rm is evaluating options to bring additional businesses near downtown with a goal of creating a destination within the Core District. Despite closures and delays, he said there continues to be high demand for businesses to locate in the area. “[Belt & Main is about] trying to change the sense of what this place is in North Texas … so [individuals] start to think they want to be in downtown Richardson,” Catalyst Urban Devel- opment President Paris Rutherford said. The rst phase of the Belt & Main project is once again progressing smoothly, albeit about one year behind schedule, which resulted in Catalyst hiring a new construction group for

Openings

Closings

“Because of the delays in the development at Belt & Main, we haven’t quite realized the return on our investment in our business as I’d hoped we would have.” KRISTINE BAUGH, CO-OWNER OF CINNAHOLIC

10

8

6

4

2

0

“I think you’ll see the shopping center continue to evolve and become even better than it has been over the decade that we’ve been here, which is really exciting.” BILL DIGAETANO, CO-OWNER AND CEO OF ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE NORTH TEXAS

2020 2021

2022

2023

SOURCE: COMMUNITY IMPACT

the project, Rutherford said. There were also other uncertainties, namely supply chain issues during the pandemic, that delayed the project, he added. “Sometimes good things take a little waiting and patience for them to occur,” Rutherford said.

What’s next?

the [Core District] is having a population ... that actually lives there,” Magner said. Despite the setbacks, Baugh said she is optimistic for the future once the project is completed. “Hopefully the city will turn [the delays] around, but they can’t do it quickly enough for me,” Baugh said.

Rutherford said the apartments, parking structure and commercial footprint of Belt & Main is on track to open this summer. Cinnaholic co-owner Kristine Baugh cited Belt & Main as a reason she invested within the Core District, hoping residents would discover her store. “A big piece of the puzzle for the success of

RENDERING COURTESY CATALYST URBAN DEVELOPMENT

NOW OPEN !

1240 E Belt Line Rd Richardson, TX 75081

Camelot

Richardson

75

HOlford

E Beltline Rd

635

N

13

RICHARDSON EDITION

Powered by