Developer Chooses Southern Dallas Site

I‑20 corridor plans call for townhouses, retail, apartments and offices
By STEVE BROWN Real Estate Editor stevebrown@dallasnews.com

REAL ESTATE

A big mixed‑use project in the works for far southern Dallas would be the first such development in the Interstate 20 corridor.

Centurion American Development Group is getting approvals for the almost 275‑ acre project at I‑20 and Lancaster Road. The land development would include sites for construction of townhouses, apartments, retail, office and hotels.

Dallas city planners have already approved the planned development but are making minor changes in the master plan.

Along with the commercial construction, the University Hills development will feature “medium‑density residential uses that will include apartments and townhomes,” according to documents filed with the city.

A representative for Centurion American confirms the project is close to finalizing.

“They are getting zoning for a mixed‑use development,” the spokeswoman said. “We hope to have more detailed plans to share soon.”

A preliminary site plan shows that the retail and commercial construction would be concentrated at the south end of the property near I‑20.

Townhouses and apartments would be built at the north end of the heavily wooded tract near the DART light rail Blue Line.
Centurion American’s planned development is just southeast of the University of North Texas’ southern Dallas campus and is adjacent to a DART commuter rail station.

Homes in the development would be within walking distance of the transit line, according to city planners.

The I‑20 corridor in southern Dallas County has seen a surge in development in the last few years. But most of the construction has been for warehouse and distribution centers for companies including Quaker Foods, BMW, Amazon and Hyundai.

Centurion’s project would capitalize on the increase in employment in the area and the growing need for moderately priced housing.

Centurion American is one of North Texas’ largest land developers building new neighborhoods in the suburbs and mixed‑use projects in urban areas.

The developer is doing the $175 million renovation of downtown Dallas’ historic Statler Hotel.

And Centurion is building a high‑density housing and commercial project north of LBJ Freeway in Farmers Branch.

The Farmers Branchbased real estate company came under scrutiny starting last year because of its links to Grapevine‑based residential lender United Development Funding, which is being investigated by federal authorities.

But Centurion is still buying land for new developments and continuing to work on projects already in its construction pipeline.

Twitter: @SteveBrownDMN