Topping out for Omni Frisco Hotel
Executives from Omni Hotels & Resorts, the Dallas Cowboys, along with Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, commemorated the ceremonial construction milestone of the topping out of the 16-floor, 300-room Omni Frisco Hotel on July 27. Representatives from the City of Frisco, the Frisco Independent School District (FISD), the Frisco Economic Development Committee, Frisco Chamber of Commerce and Frisco Convention & Visitors Bureau were also on-hand for the event where a Leyland Cypress tree was hoisted to the top floor of the property – a longtime construction tradition symbolizing appreciation and good fortune.
Set to open in summer 2017, the Omni Frisco Hotel will serve as a cornerstone of The Star development, which is anchored by the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and the Ford Center. The Cowboys’ new headquarters will be home to the entire football operations, including administrative offices, coaches’ offices as well as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The Ford Center seats 12,000 and will serve as both the home venue for FISD for events and activities, and the practice and training facility for the Cowboys. The Star is set to open Aug. 27, 2016.
“Today’s milestone brings us one step closer to opening the Omni Frisco Hotel,” said Jeff Smith, general manager for the Omni Frisco Hotel. “In addition to thanking the Jones family and Mayor Maso, I want to thank those who have made today’s milestone possible – Manhattan Construction, Gensler and Wilson Associates. You have made immense progress in a very short period of time – and I look forward to opening the hotel next summer.”
The hotel will feature 300 guest rooms and suites. It will include 24,000-square-feet of meeting space, inclusive of a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. Omni and the Dallas Cowboys will also offer planners and attendees access to additional meetings and exhibit space in the Ford Center, as well as events on the plaza. The hotel’s culinary venues include Neighborhood Services and a lobby wine and coffee bar. A rooftop pool deck, situated on the fourth floor, can accommodate 300 to 400 guests and offers stunning views of the plaza and the Ford Center. The deck will also feature three fire pits, cabanas and a bar and grill.
Gensler is the architect for the hotel, while Wilson Associates is the design firm. The general contractor is Manhattan Construction.
NAI Robert Lynn assists Autos of Dallas in acquiring GMC facility in Plano
NAI Robert Lynn’s industrial division has represented Autos of Dallas in purchasing the 55,000-square-foot former Ewing Buick GMC Dealership in Plano, allowing the auto dealer to nearly double its inventory to 1,000 vehicles.
The new dealership will make Autos of Dallas the largest independent auto dealer in Dallas, and one of the largest independent auto dealers in the country. Chad Albert of NAI Robert Lynn represented Autos of Dallas.
Autos of Dallas will move from its current location in Addison, previously known as the Addison Square Garden Ice Rink at 15100 Midway Road, to its new headquarters at 4472 Plano Parkway in Plano.
NAI Robert Lynn has represented Autos of Dallas since 2008. Autos of Dallas will move its dealership to the new location by September 2016.
Dallas apartment property Villa Bonita sold following 10 offers
Villa Bonita apartments in Dallas has been sold to a California-based limited liability company.
Al Silva of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services’ national multi-housing group in Fort Worth marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a private, New Jersey-based investor. Silva also procured the buyer for an offer that attracted 10 offers.
The 232-unit property is at 8411 East La Prada Drive and comprises 20 buildings.
College Park in Richardson sold
College Park professional medical building in Richardson has been sold, with an unnamed buyer snapping up the 14,000-square-foot structure at 1001 East Buckingham Road just east of U.S. Highway 75. Rebecca Harrell of Henry S. Miller’s Investments-Land Division represented the seller, Pinnacle Bank, with Darrell Hurmis of Henry S. Miller representing the buyer.
Geico sells regional HQ building to JP Partners
JP Partners has purchased Geico’s former regional headquarters building at 4201 Spring Valley Road in Farmers Branch. Tom Lynn and Nick Lee of NAI Robert Lynn, as well as Griff Bandy of NAI Partners, represented the seller. Kent Smith of NAI Robert Lynn represented the buyer.
Presidium Group LLC has leased 7,912 square feet of office space in Citymark on the Katy Trail, 3100 McKinnon St. in Dallas from 3100 McKinnon LP. Ed Pachecano and Richmond Collinsworth of Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord in the direct deal.
Diamond Chain Co. has leased 12,450 square feet at 9120 Premier Row in Dallas from Bock Sylvia Living Trust. Joe Rudd of Transwestern represented the landlord.
Shamrock Asset Management LLC has leased 4,404 square feet of office space from Parkway Ltd. at Wellington Center in Dallas. Robbie Baty and Mike Wyatt of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant. Brent Steward of Fidelity Commercial Reality Management Co. represented the landlord, Parkway Ltd.
Dr. T. Jeff Russell has leased 7,680 square feet of office space from CFO2 Dallas II LLC at 3535 Travis St., Suite 165-170 in Dallas. Johnny Johnson and Layne Mayfield of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant. Ruth Griggs of Pegasus Ablon represented the landlord, CFO2 Dallas II LLC.
Interlake Mecalix has leased 113,706 square feet of industrial space in Prologis Park 35 at 12301 and 12401 Stemmons Freeway in Farmers Branch from Prologis-North Carolina LP. Bill de la Chapelle, Sarah Lancarte and Sharon Johnson-Cramer of Transwestern represented the tenant.
MGA Healthcare Texas has leased 9,013 square feet of office space at 15601 Dallas Parkway, Suite 100 in Addison from Franklin Street Properties. Chris Taylor and Trey Smith and of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord. Chris Sido and Peery Wood of CBRE represented the tenant.
Cecil Benefits has leased 3,092 square feet of office space at 14881 Quorum Drive, Suite 340 in Addison from CREA/Blue Vista. Clint Madison and Layne Mayfield of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord. Jerry Ayvert of Henry S. Miller represented the tenant.
Vision Service Plan has leased 3,094 square feet of office space at 5700 Granite Parkway in Plano from Granite Properties. Natalie Snyder of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant.
Bankers Life and Casualty Co. has leased 5,719 square feet of office space at 501 President George Bush Highway in Richardson from Custer Property LLC. Cribb Altman of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant.
QT Technologies LLC has leased 9,049 square feet of office space at 1801 Royal Lane in Farmers Branch from Par Capital-Westwood LLC. Dean Collins, Mark Collins and Shannon Johnston of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant.
Zimmer U.S. Inc. has leased 15,876 square feet of office space at 2855 Trinity Square Drive in Carrollton from Red Tail Acquisitions. Emily Hoffman of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant, with Andrew Gilbert of Holt Lunsford representing the landlord.
Hillwood to develop Celina project with Wynne/Jackson
Hillwood Communities is partnering with Dallas-based real estate development firm Wynne/Jackson to develop 119-acre tract in Celina.
The group has received preliminary plat approval for development, with plans for a maximum of 350 single-family residential lots.
Wynne/Jackson began studying the area in 2014, focusing on this particular submarket because of its location in the path of growth in Celina – between Preston Road and the Dallas North Tollway – and within the Celina Independent School District.
The property was purchased from the Glendenning Family, who emigrated from Scotland to Texas in 1887. Tom Glendenning settled and farmed in Celina with his son, Don Glendenning, continuing the farming operation. The property has been held through three generations and the project is to be named “Glen Crossing” as a way to honor the Glendenning family and their ongoing Celina/Collin County heritage, according to a news release. .
Zoning of the property with the city was completed in February 2015, a Public Improvement District was created in April 2016 and the city of Celina approved the land as a tax increment reinvestment zone on June 14, 2016. The start of construction is planned for September 2016 and homes will be priced between $350,000 and $425,000.
Two of the largest privately owned homebuilders in Texas, Horizon Homes and Perry Homes, will be the homebuilders in the project.
This is the first joint venture between Hillwood and Wynne/Jackson.
“Wynne/Jackson has been a top residential lot developer in the DFW market for years, and their expertise in this product type coupled with their ability to position the property in a manner that greatly reduced our market and entitlement risk proved to be the deciding factor in our participation in this opportunity,” said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities. “We believe in the strength of the DFW market, which is why we join hands with experienced groups like Wynne/Jackson. We look forward to more partnerships like this in Dallas where we can leverage the expertise of our partners.
In November 2015, Hillwood Communities announced it acquired 400 acres in Celina with plans to develop a new residential community. Hillwood acquired the land from the Wells family, the same family that has owned it since before the Civil War.
That property is along the Preston Road corridor, at the northeast corner of Coit Road and Frontier Parkway, in Celina. The first phase of homes are scheduled to be complete in that project early in 2017.