89 replies to this topic

[John T Roberts]

A 193 Acre, 1.5 Million square feet shopping center was announced today for Benbrook. It will be on the south side of I-20 and run from Winscott Road eastward to the Trinity River. No tenants have been announced yet, but construction is expected to begin in late 2012, with the first stores opening in 2013.

Below are links to two articles.

http://www.star-tele...l-shopping.html

http://www.fwbusines...se-project.html

[elpingüino]

And here's the site plan.

[David Love]

That's HUGE!

[elpingüino]

As a Benbrook resident, I'm torn.

I'm skeptical that the developers will find enough tenants, given how many are in the Hulen/Bryant Irvin corridor -- and given that there are a number of vacancies over by Sprouts and Lowe's. Maybe my imagination is lacking, but I can't think of many stores that would want to locate in SW Tarrant but haven't already. Hopefully they'll secure tenants before building, unlike, say, the medium-size strip centers north of Ridgmar that still sit half-empty. And, as much as it will be nice to have an H-E-B (as indicated in tiny print on the site plan), I imagine that it will hasten the demise of the Albertsons and Brookshire's on 377. The gaping holes left behind would be pretty ugly and nearly impossible to fill.

I'm also bummed that this mixed-use vision will never come to fruition: http://www.cityofben...master_plan.pdf It would have been really great for Benbrook to have a "downtown."

But overall, provided that the developers fill the space, I'm pleased about the new businesses. We'll be glad to have restaurants beyond our all-fast-food lineup, and the movie theater will be particularly welcome. With more or less direct access to I-20, this shouldn't make the bad traffic on 377 that much worse. And after years of having to go to Fort Worth for everything outside of groceries and fast food, Benbrook will finally get to keep its residents' sales tax revenue at home, and actually draw shoppers from other cities for the first time.

[johnfwd]

This will not be a “Benbrook shopping center.” As a regional development is envisioned, I believe it's intended to serve the burgeoning southwest metroplex market, including Parker County. In additional to continued population growth in this area, the planned new tollway will augment the lure of commercial and residential tenants.

[youngalum]

Not happy about this for purely selfish reasons.

My house sits on hole #4 on Ridglea Country Club men's course. The service road outside the club will be a major artery for this development for the traffic that will go westbound to I-20. Therefore, what is now a quite area for a frontage road with maybe 5 cars a day will now become busy with thousands of cars per day.

With envisioned 6250 in workers alone, this means the traffic of those visiting will be even higher. This is about to become a headache for me and my neighbors. Unless a very large wall is built, the widening of the service road that will need to be done will require the trees to be torn down. There will be nothing between my backyard and thousands of daily cars/trucks except a fairway.

My neighborhood and the Country club survival depends directly on the ability to get a large wall built. I don't like our odds. If the wall doesn't get built, my home values plummet.

I love progress, but it will ruin my home as it stands now.

[hannerhan]

Don't tell me they're going to name it Glory Park!

The only way I see this working is if the stores are of the discount variety... ie an outlet mall. Given how many big box stores are located just up the hill off Bryant Irvin, how else could they possibly attract 1.5 million square feet of retail just a mile or two away? Other than a mega movie theater, most every retailer that would be interested in a location like that is already accounted for.

Color me skeptical.

[annrenee]

Bass Pro Shop, IKEA, REI, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc....... Lots of choices, really. I love the idea but I am torn--do we really need that much????? shopping????

[David Love]

Think they're planning on yet to be completed highways/tollways to the area.

[TexasArch79]

I for one think this is great, and i also live in the area. I am glad to see a master planned development for this area as opposed to what could have been random unplanned eyesores. The tollway looks to bring much growth to Southwest Fort Worth. Maybe not as much as North Dallas Tollway, but could be quite similar. Another 650 acre tract is already being master planned on the future McPhereseon/Chisholm Trail interchange (south of Risinger).

[TexasArch79]

On the site plan.... The footprint for major anchor 5 is the footprint of IKEA. Interesting.....

[Thurman52]

Sometime back the city of Benbrook was going to study putting a bridge over the Trinity under 20 to connect the future development along the freeway to Bellaire. They were calling it required for safety as response time from Police/Fire was too long. I bet they need it for the development more than anything.

As for the traffic Bellaire and the frontage road along RCC south course will be very heavy.

Still worried they may further attract from Hulen /Bryant Irvin as they are struggling but i gueess Cooper/ Matlock are working...

[David Love]

Traffic wise, this is going to do for Benbrook what Grapevine Mills and The Gaylord did for Grapevine.

[Art Cooler]

If it comes to pass I predict it will gut Hulen Mall and there will also be big box relocations from the Hulen/Bryant Irvin area to the new development. Prominent retailers want to be where the buzz is, and the draw of a sparkly new town center development will likely be irresistible.

[ramjet]

If it comes to pass I predict it will gut Hulen Mall and there will also be big box relocations from the Hulen/Bryant Irvin area to the new development. Prominent retailers want to be where the buzz is, and the draw of a sparkly new town center development will likely be irresistible.

I'm not sure what you're basing your prediction on, but here in Austin the two thriving malls coexist quite nicely with the big box outdoor centers nearby. They are a completely different mix of retailers. My prediction is that this center will add a new shopping experience to southwest FW and complement Hulen Mall. You folks will have more to choose from. Have fun!

[Art Cooler]

If it comes to pass I predict it will gut Hulen Mall and there will also be big box relocations from the Hulen/Bryant Irvin area to the new development. Prominent retailers want to be where the buzz is, and the draw of a sparkly new town center development will likely be irresistible.

I'm not sure what you're basing your prediction on, but here in Austin the two thriving malls coexist quite nicely with the big box outdoor centers nearby. They are a completely different mix of retailers. My prediction is that this center will add a new shopping experience to southwest FW and complement Hulen Mall. You folks will have more to choose from. Have fun!

I hope you're right, actually. I live near Hulen Mall and would not want to see it decline. I think the mall also sees this, hence its current remodel efforts and the addition of two large restaurants on the east side facing Hulen Street; BJ's and Abuelo's. And the possibly In and Out Burger going where Larry's Shoes is now.

My prediction was based on past experience and skepticism...in my many years living in DFW I've seen several once thriving malls go belly up, and others decline into what folks call "ghetto malls" where they become a shadow of their heyday glory. Prestonwood Town Center...gone. Valley View Mall...on the verge of oblivion. Richardson Square Mall...to me always had a tenuous existence from the start. Six Flags Mall on the brink. Big Town...gone. Red Bird? I guess that one's toast as well.

The trend is toward the outdoor town center vs. a totally enclosed, air conditioned mall as being the power magnet for retailers. However, when it's over 100 degrees outside, where would I personally be more motivated to go, provided I even wanted to be out in such heat to go shopping? Well, if malls had stores within them that would make me want to go out in such conditions to shop them, I'd choose the mall over the town center. But alas...most of the time malls don't have anything unique over what I can find after sunset somewhere else. But that's just me.

[Volare]

Lord, please bring Gander Mountain to Tarrant County. Crate and Barrel too...

[Doohickie]

A friend of mine works for the company that's doing the development. This is their first project like this, but they have been a consultant to many other major developments. The way things worked out, they decided this would be better to do in house. I believe they will have plenty of tenants and I don't think it will gut the Hulen Mall as feared. I would be really worried about traffic along I-20, but I think the SW Pkwy will shoulder a lot of the traffic load for the center.

[elpingüino]

In the past few weeks, my friends in Benbrook -- including ones in real estate and in city government -- have shed a little more light on these plans. The picture I'm getting is that the developers are still working on lining up tenants, but they know exactly what they're looking for. In other words, the site plan's 257,000-sq-ft anchor was drawn with the outline of an Ikea very intentionally, after much research and planning.

Other bits and pieces:
- H-E-B has been looking to gain a presence on the southwest side of Fort Worth, and they'll do so here. (I know people who drive all the way to Burleson to shop at its H-E-B, so there'll definitely be a market.)
- The developers' expectation of drawing shoppers from Waco, Abilene, etc. is referring to a Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's. (Notice that Anchor 4 has an artificial stream with canoes behind it.) Bass Pro is seen as more likely since Cabela's just opened its second Metroplex location.
- Home Depot is apparently unhappy with its current location on 183 -- it's barely visible from I-20, difficult to get to, and has no room to grow. So it wouldn't be a surprise if it makes the move to the new development.

[John T Roberts]

Well, I had always heard rumor that Ikea was looking at Southwest Fort Worth. This site would certainly fit the location. As for H-E-B, I would love to have them in the area. However, their Burleson store wouldn't be that much further than the Benbrook store from my house.

[Art Cooler]

- Home Depot is apparently unhappy with its current location on 183 -- it's barely visible from I-20, difficult to get to, and has no room to grow. So it wouldn't be a surprise if it makes the move to the new development.

I do hope I'm wrong about this development gutting Hulen Mall. But another thought I had just got echoed in your post. I know well the Home Depot you mention, as I live near it and have shopped there many times. As Home Depots go it's a tired old store. The one in White Settlement is worlds apart by comparison, both in how the store is maintained and the helpfulness of the staff. I would not be surprised if the Benbrook center gets Home Depot to pull stakes from 183 and decamp to the center. I mostly shop at Lowe's anyway when I need one of those two stores, yet I prefer Jabo's Ace Hardware in the Westcreek Shopping Center over either of them. They just don't have building supplies, is all (lumber, drywall, etc.).

[elpingüino]

The plans for Trails Town Center are evolving ... Buxton, the developer, released a new site plan last week. The tract that once had an Ikea-shaped building now has three hotels instead. (Compare to the original.) In addition, the grocery store has moved, another major anchor is gone, and there are quite a few more pad sites.

[John T Roberts]

I just wish this development were more urban and less suburban.

[mmiller2002]

I just wish this development were more urban and less suburban.

At that location? What would an urban shopping center look like at a frontage road intersection?

[elpingüino]

Here's one idea of what it would look like. The city's original plan (or at least its plan from 2002) was for more of an urban development:
http://www.cityofben...master_plan.pdf

[John T Roberts]

The original master plan was what I was referring to when I brought up a more urban feel. The current plan has greatly reduced the "Town Center" area and replaced it with more big box stores and pad sites lining the freeway.

[mmiller2002]

I suppose that looks better. But, the town center like Arlington Highlands is a complete congested mess to visit.

[John T Roberts]

Arlington Highlands really isn't good urban design. It's still a strip mall with only some slight gestures toward urbanism. They really just put "lipstick on a pig" over there.

[annrenee]

That will be a big disappointment if it's just more big box stores, which it sounds like it is!! Heck, we can go to Bryant Irvin/Hulen or Weatherford for that.

[elpingüino]

An updated site plan has been posted.
Notable changes:
- The size of the grocery store has been cut to 55,000 sqft, almost a third of what it was in the last version. By comparison, the Burleson H-E-B is 88,000 sqft.
- The hotels have been replaced by a "multi-family development," which appears to be apartments or townhomes.
- There's now an "ecological education and nature center" with amphitheater, as well as a 12-foot hike/bike trail around most of the development.
- The largest anchor store is even bigger (153,000 sqft), and part of it is labeled "Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl." That would indicate that this store will be a Bass Pro Shops.

Of course, if the last several months are any indication, the plan will probably continue to be in flux until they start pouring concrete.

[Roger_H]

I noticed the hike and bike trail just runs off the page to the east. It would be nice if they would connect it to the existing trail across the river. I know a pedestrian bridge would be expensive, but in the overall scheme of things I wouldn't think it would break the budget.

[TexasArch79]

They also have relocated the electric transmission lines to the back of the site in lieu of having it in front of all the stores, which is a nice touch. If they can actually get this accomplished, that will be great... but from experience, that is about the biggest most expensive pain in the ass thing to get done! lol

[kenkuhl]

Don't know what it means, but the large signs about the development that had been erected along the perimeter of the property (I-20 service road and Winscott) have been taken down.

(edit) -more...

The 2 signs that were along 20 near Winscott and along Winscott have been replaced by this one:


Here's a close-up.

Some of the old ones are still along the property further east along 20.

The only thing new on the sign is the architecture firm, Hodges and Assoc., who did Montgomery Plaza.

No signs of any prep work yet on the property.

But I did notice that on the opposite side of 20, under the high voltage lines, they've poured a new concrete roadway perpendicular to I20, North from the service road with a 'commercial development' sign next to eat.

[Joshw]

I'm with John T Roberts. I wish it was more urban. Totally focused on cars, and will end up being a mess like Arlington Highlands is, and Alliance Town Center is becoming. If you've been to any of the other Town Centers in the metroplex, some do lean closer to urban, some don't, but they are all a mess. I feel like this is a better way to do this.

Also, why do you call it the Town Center when it isn't? Or is that the new phrase for "fancy strip mall"?

[Roger_H]

1332363877[/url]' post='69149']
...Also, why do you call it the Town Center when it isn't? Or is that the new phrase for "fancy strip mall"?

Too funny!

[Doohickie]

Totally focused on cars

Being a regional shopping center, catering to motor traffic is essential. They are not trying to draw people within a 4 mile radius; to succeed they need to pull people from 40 miles. I'm all for urban, pedestrian- and cycling-friendly development, but that just isn't what this particular development is about.

[John T Roberts]

Here's the rub for me. The original master plan for the center was a more pedestrian oriented, urban environment. They were going to build something like Southlake Town Square, and it could be more urban. However, the current plan for this development puts big box stores behind acres of parking that orient toward the freeway. I feel it just could have been designed in a more pedestrian friendly manner.

[johnfwd]

A large movie theatre is a prospective tenant of the planned Benbrook regional shopping center, as Sandra Baker reports in S-T:

http://www.star-tele...adlines-default

[elpingüino]

Sadly, it looks like Bass Pro is no longer part of the newest site plan. (Compare to the previous one.)

I say "sadly" because that would have been the destination shopping that would have drawn people from all over -- the next-closest are Bass Pro in Grapevine or Cabela's at Alliance -- which would have been a big boost for Benbrook's tax revenue. But in that S-T article, the developers still claim that this will bring in shoppers from as far as Abilene and Waco, so they still must have some big tenants up their sleeve.

The movie theater is definitely an encouraging development, though.

[Volare]

I would kill for a Gander Mountain. Closest one of those is in Corsicana I believe. My favorite outdoor store.

[Joshw]

I would kill for a Gander Mountain. Closest one of those is in Corsicana I believe. My favorite outdoor store.

I much prefer Gander Mountain, also. To me it goes:

Gander Mountain
Cabelas
Bass Pro

[johnfwd]

I also prefer a Cabelas, but don’t think they would want to locate one on the opposite end of the Fort Worth area. Aside from who the tenants are, I think the location for this regional center is excellent. I, for one, cringe whenever I have to go to Hulen mall, simply because of the terrible auto traffic flow in that area. The Benbrook center will be right off I-20 and there are no substandard access roads.

[Corsicana33]

I heard recently that the Regal movie company will open a cinema in this shopping center, have any other companies signed to say they will open a store there?

[JOCOguy]

I was home in Fort Worth last week and was told by an individual (that I would consider a good source) that the Midwest retailer Von Maur and Nordstrom were showing interest in this property. However, with the economy in the unstable state it's in, even the most concrete plans could not really be considered.

[mmiller2002]

There's already plenty of empty retail spaces in the area. We don't need another pasture paved over, IMHO.

[NSFW]

There are many retailers that I would like to see come to the area. Including Restoration Hardware, Weir's, Crate & Barrel, another Apple Store, the University Dr. location is always packed, and an IKEA store. Being that I have the only truck in the family, I hate putting the miles on my truck driving to Frisco.

[mmiller2002]

Didnt I read that Crate & Barrel was going into the vacated Borders store in Chapel Hill? Lots of those other missing retailers could fill vacancies in the area instead of creating more partially filled suburban cement shopping centers.

[NSFW]

Didnt I read that Crate & Barrel was going into the vacated Borders store in Chapel Hill? Lots of those other missing retailers could fill vacancies in the area instead of creating more partially filled suburban cement shopping centers.

Nope, it's The Container Store that's going in there.

[Volare]

Crazy that you have to drive to Dallas to find a C&B

[mmiller2002]

Crazy that you have to drive to Dallas to find a C&B

just crazy!