Olde Towne Developer Discusses Project on 'Open Line'
Delbert McDougal, the Lubbock-based developer of the Olde Towne project, discussed and answered questions regarding the project during Irving Community Television Network’s “Open Line” show on Nov. 7.Residents were encouraged to call in with questions during the show, which aired live on Time Warner Channel 16 and Verizon Channel 30. Taped repeats will run at 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11, and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13.
Downtown Irving redevelopment plans under consideration include a mixed-use urban village complete with retail, residential, restaurants, offices and parks, centered on the Trinity Railway Express. The initial development area will include eight to 10 city blocks.
“Our goal is to entice people and new businesses to relocate to South Irving,” McDougal said. “The only way to get new businesses to come to an older area is to rebuild and revitalize the area so that it is more economically vibrant. We want to make Olde Towne a strategic investment that will attract people to downtown Irving.”
McDougal said his plan will focus on purchasing existing commercial property. There is a need for a small number of single-family homes for future phases of the redevelopment project.
Owners have the option to sell their property to McDougal or to retain ownership. The city will not use eminent domain for the Olde Towne development. Under the terms of an agreement, property outside of the target area will not be purchased without City Council approval, unless it is funded entirely by McDougal Companies.
A development plan is expected to be completed by December with the first phase of construction to begin in 2008.