Several major decisions were made for West Plano in yesterday’s Plano City Council meeting, all adding up to a redevelopment of the former JCPenney headquarters property, now known as Park at Legacy.
Decision 1: Toyota donates millions toward a park
City Council approved the donation of $15 million from Toyota Motor North America toward a park to be designed, constructed and maintained by the City of Plano. The agreement stipulated that the park must be completed by Dec. 31, 2028, and that the City must provide $4 million toward the sale. The park will be named Mendomi, which is Japanese for “taking care of workers as if they are family,” a news release from the City of Plano said.
Decision 2: City of Plano purchases land for the park
City Council approved the purchase of property from Capital Commercial Investments (CCI) for $19 million.
Decision 3: Mixed-use development mixes up former JCPenney HQ space
City Council voted to approve the rezoning of 107 acres on the Park at Legacy campus to include a mixed-use development with multifamily housing, though not suggested under the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The proposal included multiple phases for a final product of four office buildings (three stories, 20 stories and two 21 stories), the new Miyako Hybrid Hotel, about 20,000 square feet of retail space, two apartment buildings at 20 and 22 stories, six one-story restaurant buildings and other mixed-use spaces.
Requirements and Opinions
According to the building owners, they have reserved 75% of the site for businesses, 20% for open space and less than 5% for luxury retail, calling it the “last remaining amenity for the activation of the site.”
“We need this quality of product to remain competitive with our neighboring cities,” Andrew Ledon with CCI said to City Council.
Before being issued a building permit, the developers are required to finish several renovations and amenities in two phases, with a courtyard, pocket park, green space, game courts, dog parks and trails for the first 365 units and a certificate of occupancy for the hotel, a pond/water feature, new trails and additional green space before the second 365 units.
“The building is designed for two main demographics: the empty nester who is winding down their career and desires to stay in the City of Plano and the established professional who’s drawn to the region’s high quality jobs,” said Greg Coutant, senior vice president of development at StreetLights Residential, the projects developer. “Both demographics are looking for the same thing – quality of life. They want the freedom that comes with a lock-and-leave lifestyle.”
A childcare facility, full-service gym, two pickleball courts and many capital projects and leases have been completed. Not to mention the grab-and-go pantry, conference center, coffee shop, arcade, food court and dining hall, golf simulator and ghost kitchen. These amenities, particularly the commitment to green spaces, were enough of a to sway some council members.
“We are looking at an architecturally iconic facility,” Councilmember Rick Horne said. “Due to the economics, JCPenney left, and we were stuck with basically a building that needed a lot of love and care. And what’s being proposed right now addresses a lot of those needs.”
While some council members voted against the development due to is misalignment with the Comprehensive Plan, others noted that the property was unique and would address the surplus of office space in the area since JCPenney’s vacation. The rezoning proposal was approved 5-3.
