North Platinum Corridor
It’s not every day you encounter phrases like “reimagined destination mixed-use,” “chain of lakes,“ and “halo effect.“ Yet in Frisco, these terms are quickly becoming part of the local vocabulary.
Frisco is celebrated for its dynamic new developments, especially along the bustling North Platinum Corridor. Frisco once had what was called the $5B mile. When that phrase was coined, there were 4 major projects in the works. When the city began expanding north, and the projects began to exceed the initial $5B investments, a rebranding occured. Today, the North Platinum Corridor stretches from Hwy 121 north to Hwy 380 along the DNT, showcasing our city’s remarkable growth.
At the recent sold-out Development Summit, more than 230 Frisco Chamber of Commerce members gained firsthand insights from various developers about our city’s latest and ongoing projects. Christal Howard, President/CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving Frisco’s success, a key factor in making Frisco a highly sought-after place to live and work.
At the event, Jason Ford, President of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, detailed the City of Frisco’s demand for development, emphasizing job creation. As of December 2023, 97,800 Frisco residents commute out of Frisco for work. The goal of the Frisco EDC is clear: to reduce the 86% labor shed leakage by creating quality local jobs. Ford also noted Frisco’s appeal to relocating companies, with several major corporations choosing to call Frisco home in 2023 and 2024.
Frisco Station
While Ford provided a high-level overview, the panelists delved into specific projects. Bill Baumgardner, EVP of Development at VanTrust, gave an update on Frisco Station, a 242-acre mixed-use development surrounding The Star. Since breaking ground in 2016, Frisco Station continues to expand, adding office space, luxury apartments, and hotel rooms, and will soon include a 430,000-square-foot health and wellness district.
Fields Development
Tyler Kleinert, Senior Associate at Hunt Realty, focused on the Fields Development, which spans over 2,500 acres and includes a mix of commercial, residential, retail, and industrial spaces. This development will feature ten distinct villages, each with its own unique character. The topography in the Fields Development is some of the most beautiful in the city and will add to the character of the districts. Notable projects within the Fields Development include PGA Frisco, UNT at Frisco, the Universal Kids Resort, and BSW Health’s new 40-acre campus.
Fehmi Karahan, President and CEO of The Karahan Companies and developer of the Fields West project, also developed Plano’s Legacy West. The Frisco project was described as a “sister” project to Legacy West, benefiting from the older “sister’s” experiences.
Rail District Redevelopment
John Lettelleir and Jason Brodigan from the City of Frisco discussed redevelopment in the Rail District, emphasizing the 2018 Downtown Master Plan’s focus on making the area more people-centric and also noting the Frisco City Council’s top-ten priorities, which include the “Downtown 2040 Vision.” Recent voter-approved bonds are funding significant redesigns, including Main St., Elm St., 4th Street Plaza, and a new parking garage, all aimed for completion before the World Cup matches in Dallas in 2026, which will bring many visitors to the City of Frisco.
The city is also looking to redevelop what is referred to as the “City Block” in the Rail District, with the possibility of co-working space, office space, retail/restaurant and a boutique hotel. Development teams were invited to submit an RFP to plan and develop the site, and the City of Frisco will begin to review the submitted proposals.
It was also noted by many that vibrant downtown areas play a key role in tourism, as well as business attraction and retention.
Rail District Survey
Lettelleir also discussed the rebranding of the Rail District, a project being led by Visit Frisco. Attendees were asked to complete a short survey about their desires for this brand. You can take the survey here. Brodigan shared the city’s webpage for keeping residents and business owners up-to-date on the redevelopment projects in the Rail District.
2024 Community Guide Unvieled
As part of the excitement of the event, Christal Howard announced the unveiling of the Frisco Chamber’s 2024 Community Guide, a print magazine that features development updates and essential information for residents, prospective companies, and visitors. Those at the event were the first to get a glimpse of the newly printed Community Guide, which featured the Omni PGA Frisco Resort on its cover, part of the Fields Development.
What's Next?
The inaugural Development Summit provided invaluable insights to business owners and leaders, and plans for the next summit are already underway.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!
