PLANO, Texas — On Monday night the City of Plano voted to approve a rezoning that would overhaul Shops at Willow Bend.
The city's Planning and Zoning committee voted to recommend the rezoning in January and city council voted 6-2 to make it official.
"It's just the reinvention of the mall. A lot of the core elements will still be the same," said Christina Day, the city's cirector of planning.
The city cites declining attendance and a growing number of vacancies at the mall for the decision to rezone the mall from regional commercial to planned development. The new zoning designation provides an entirely different set of uses and development standards. Plans call for demolition of half-a-million square feet of the mall. More than 400,000 square feet of the mall will remain intact along with three large anchor stores: Macy's, Dillards and Neiman Marcus.
"[The developer] came to us and said they want to reinvest and ensure the future of the property," said Day.
The newest element to the overhaul is residential. New plans call for more than 900 housing units, which include town homes and multi-family units. The plans also call for a high-rise hotel on-site with other retail mixed in.
"We're excited for [the developer] to start this and make this the special place we know it can be," said Mayor John Muns at the city council meeting.
The two nay votes for the rezoning cited concerns that Centennial's plans did not conform to the city's comprehensive plan, especially as it relates to housing units.
"This development will not bring people who want to put down roots," said one resident who spoke during public comment.
Irene Lam of Plano Antique Mall is excited for changes to the mall. She says more housing means more traffic for her antique mall and vendors.
"They are going to have to come here to buy something to decorate. That would help us," said Lam.
The developer can start putting together plans for redevelopment of the site. It is unclear when demolition and groundbreaking will begin. When rezoning was first approved by Planning and Zoning CEO of Centennial Steve Levin wrote to WFAA "We look forward to continuing the momentum to a reimagined destination the community can be proud of...".