Grapevine City Council approves new townhouses at SH 360

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Labeling the Flower Mound Town Council and staff support on Monday for the Lakeside Crossing Development as enthusiastic is an understatement.

Council members passed both the rezoning request and the financial Chapter 380 Agreement for the 12-acre mixed-use development located just south of Lakeside DFW, between FM 2499 and Northwood Drive.

The environmentally-protected north-south central area features an intermittent stream surrounded by natural green-space.

“This [approved rezoning from Agricultural and Campus Commercial] will make the property all one zoning,” said Doug Powell, executive director of Development Services. He added that the developers had showed a “good-faith effort” to amend the previous concept plan concerns voiced by Planning and Zoning Commissioners during the May 5 meeting.

The heart of the development is the Unscripted Hotel, located at the north side of the development. The Flower Mound location will be the first ground-up build for the Dream Hotel Group brand. The New York-based hotel group is partnering with Flower Mound’s own Scott Tarwater’s Newstream Hotels and Resorts, the Newstream Commercial development group and G&A Consultants to construct the entire project.

Mayor Pro Tem Don McDaniel pointed to the developer’s addition of pedestrian and vehicular connectivity to the Lakeside DFW development to the north, as well as the peripheral building and plaza placement to maintain the natural center.

“The buildings were placed to take advantage of the ephemeral stream and the southern outcroppings,” he said. The hotel and interior office buildings’ views overlook the whole central natural setting green-space.

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bryant also pointed to a requested exemption by the developer was to add, not reduce, parking spaces, plus burying existing utility lines.

In addition to the hotel, Lakeside Crossing will include approximately 100,000-square-feet of retail, office and restaurant space, in addition to approximately 15 luxury townhomes. The overall design of Lakeside Crossing will have a unique design incorporating stone and wood architectural features echoing its natural surroundings. The Unscripted Hotel DFW will be the first building developed.

“The inspiration behind the design elements was to preserve the views– from the inside to the outside; and, from being surrounded by nature on the lower levels, up to being in the tree canopy on the highest levels,” said Randi Rivera with G&A Consultants in her presentation for the 66,000-square-feet, five-story hotel.

“The Dallas/Fort Worth area, specifically the Town of Flower Mound, is one of the most exciting and welcoming places in the U.S.; and, it’s our goal to introduce new concepts that reflect and enrich the place it calls home,” said Jay Stein, CEO, of the Dream Hotel Group.

Responding to Council member Jason Webb’s question about how the hotel will be marketed to draw its guests to Flower Mound, Newstream Commercial President Tim Nystrom replied the target visitors are Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z populations.

“It will have a social gathering that emphasizes connectivity and an upscale lifestyle brand that values fewer high-quality things over accumulating more; and, a ‘being alone together’ communication style,” he said.

He added that being only two green-lights from DFW International Airport will attract business travelers– especially from Japan dealing with Kubota Tractors. It will also attract Flower Mound residents’ family visitors, “staycationers” and overflow guests from Great Wolf Lodge and the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine.

In a telephone interview from Colorado, Scott Tarwater said: “It’s truly a dream come true. We are just thrilled at the result.”

Unscripted DFW will be his 80^th hotel built from the ground up– including the Flower Mound Courtyard by Marriott at The River Walk– but it’s the one he’s most proud of; because it’s on his family’s homestead.

“[Mayor] Tom [Hayden], [Town Manager] Jimmy [Stathatos] and Doug Powell and his whole staff have really been a dream– no pun intended– to work with,” he said. “They worked day and night to help make this work. Everyone on all sides have worked for a common goal.”

The anticipated groundbreaking is scheduled for either November or December 2017, with an opening in the first quarter of 2019. Unscripted DFW will feature 134 guest rooms– including two king- and queen-suites each– plus a full-service restaurant and 24-hour room service, a rooftop lounge and terrace bar, a pool with surrounding patio area, plus nearly 4,000-square-feet of meeting space.

“The Lakeside Crossing Development will be a wonderful addition to the Lakeside Business District; offering a mix of office, retail and restaurant space, all located in a setting that has been carefully designed to take advantage of the natural beauty of the site,” said Director of Economic Development Andrea Roy. “Already, the project has provided the opportunity to retain some of our existing growing businesses that would have otherwise relocated to meet their expanding space needs.”

The willingness of the developers and town staff to work together and bring a quality project to Flower Mound sets a positive precedence for future developments.

“Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be,” said Tarwater.