Plano North | February 2024

Government

BY CONNOR PITTMAN

The redevelopment was approved by City Council on Feb. 12.

RENDERING COURTESY THE CITY OF PLANO

Plans to proceed with the redevelopment of The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, located along West Park Boulevard and the Dallas North Tollway, appear to be moving forward. The Plano Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of a rezoning request to rescind several specic-use permits and approve a concept plan during its Jan. 16 meeting after tabling consider- ation at the applicant’s request in December. Willow Bend redevelopment moving forward

The overview With the recommendation for approval, Dallas-based developer Centennial plans to demolish up to 530,000 square feet, while main- taining around 400,000 square feet of the existing mall. “[The plan] is to maintain as much of the existing Shops at Willow Bend that we can maintain and deliver it in a way that works for the next 50 years,” Centennial CEO Steve Levin said. According to city documents, proposed redevelopment includes mid-rise residential, oce space, a hotel and open space. The project was later approved by Plano City Council on Feb. 12. Construction is expected to begin in early 2025, with the rst phase expected to nish in 2027.

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City debuts retail revitalization

Plano sta could soon have additional economic tools aimed at improving retail centers within the city at its disposal. Director of Special Projects Peter Braster presented a draft retail revitalization program to Plano City Council during its Jan. 22 meeting. The overview Braster said the goal of the

program is to provide support to struggling retail centers and help complement eorts by property owners. If adopted, city sta would likely look to provide a city contribution of around 10% of the total reinvestment in the property, he added. “It’s not to pay for everything, but it’s meant to augment and push them higher,” Braster said.

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