Luxury living planned for Frisco land, but not all approve

The plan for a plot of land that borders one of the most concentrated retail sectors in the region has been years in the making.

The property along Ohio Drive in Frisco has long been zoned for commercial use. But the area just to the west along Preston Road already has millions of square feet of retail and restaurants. And the owners along Ohio say they have struggled to develop their land.

So talks turned to ways the area could transition from the Stonebriar Centre mall area to the nearby homes. City planners encouraged the various landowners to work together rather than develop the area piecemeal. Informal meetings began in 2012.

The result proposes a $400 million development with a mix of patio homes and urban-style apartments. The project will target professionals looking for luxury. Among the features are stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, Internet cafes and resort-style pools. The site also includes about 11 acres of park space. Sprinkled with gazebos, trees, shade structures, dog stations and trails, these outdoor areas will encourage people to leave their cars behind and walk.

Weve got roughly 105 acres put together with multiple owners, multiple developers and multiple architects, said attorney Tommy Mann, who presented the project Tuesday to the Frisco Planning and Zoning Commission. I can assure you from a private sector standpoint [that] is no small challenge to coordinate.

The plan calls for 175 patio homes located closest to the existing neighborhood. All will have front porches. As much as possible, they will embrace the plans open space, Mann said. Prices will range from $400,000 to $525,000.

Those homes will transition to three sections of urban-style apartments. Those farthest to the west will back up to the shopping center at Preston Road and Gaylord Parkway. The estimated 2,348 units throughout the project will wrap around parking garages and include enhanced streetscapes and a host of private amenities. Rents will range from $1,200 to $2,200 per month.

The idea, according to the prospective developers, is to create a unique sense of place.

But some neighbors to the north have balked at such a high-density development. They dont want four-story apartment buildings so close to their homes.

It looks like a great plan, but as Ive talked to the homeowners, they are scared of multifamily, said Dennis Johnson, who spoke at the meeting on behalf of the Prestmont homeowners association. They dont like it.

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Luxury living planned for Frisco land, but not all approve