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DENTON
— Not long ago, longhorn cattle grazed
on the historic hill at the corner of Interstate
35 and U.S. Highway 380.
The
415-acre property on Denton's north side will soon
be home to Rayzor Ranch Town Center, an $850 million
open air shopping mall,
similar to Firewheel Town Center in Garland. Dillard's
and JCPenney have signed on to anchor the mall.
"This
is the biggest project we've ever worked on,"
said Linda Ratliff, director of Denton Economic
Development.
| "It's going to change this side of Denton.
The face of Denton is going to change because of
this."
All
the more reason to celebrate. Rayzor Ranch will
also be home to high-end homes and another shopping
center right across the street.
Denton
Mayor Perry McNeill is hoping that Rayzor Ranch
will make Frisco's Stonebriar Centre—30 minutes
away—less of a regional attraction.
"This
project itself is going to put us on the map, particularly
as far north as Norman, Oklahoma," Mayor McNeill
said.
"I have friends and relatives in Oklahoma,
and what they've been doing is, they drive by here
and go either to Frisco or to Lewisville.
Well, they can stop now."
Plans
for Razor Ranch include a hotel for out-of-town
visitors, department stores like Belk, Dillards,
and JCPenney,
a public park for children, an outdoor amphitheater
and the Museum of Texas Art.
Charles
Ames, CEO of Allegiance Development, is pleased
with the progress being made in Denton.
"We go all over the country developing, but
to find a town like this where they understand what's
going on and the growth
that they need—it was refreshing," he
said.
Denton
City leaders sowed the seed for growth at a groundbreaking
ceremony on Wednesday. Rayzor Ranch Town Center
is expected
to generate $9 million in sales taxes and $5 million
in property taxes every year.
"We're
the ninth-fastest growing city, and it's time for
us here," Ratliff said. "We're excited
about it!"
The
first phase of Rayzor Ranch Marketplace is scheduled
to open in October of next year. |