Arlington City Council members praised the redevelopment plan for the shopping center formerly known as Lincoln Square.
Trademark Property Company CEO Terry Montesi said possible retailers are watching to see how the Fort Worth-based company overhauls the run-down shopping center — and whether they'll move in.
"They know what we do, but they're still skeptical because Lincoln Square is stigmatized — certifiably, nationally stigmatized," Montesi told council Tuesday afternoon. "They do trust us; however, there's a little more skepticism than normal with this site."
City leaders long encouraged the shopping center's former owner, ShopCore Properties, to invest in the shopping center or sell it.
Mayor Jim Ross said that was one of his first calls he made in office. He thanked Trademark leaders for the work they did — especially on a complex case in a tough development market.
"We knew from the get-go the tremendous complexities associated with redeveloping the old Lincoln Square area. The long-term leases, the box retail, the short-term stuff — everything going on with it was a nightmare," Ross said.
Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Company’s vision for the 40-year-old shopping center is a walkable, mixed-use community that holds apartment units, new retail and shopping and a hotel with up to 200 beds. The redesign also comes with a new name, “Anthem” – one that company leaders say signifies the honor, pride and unification that the makeover will bring.
The plan would redesign Lincoln Square into a gateway for the entertainment district off Interstate 30. Trademark plans to keep BoomerJacks, Olive Garden, Raising Cane’s and bank space. The company also plans to keep Studio Movie Grill but redesign the facade for an art deco look.
Andrew Piel, District 4 city council member, said Anthem owners could likely buy out long-term leaseholders and further expand the development to the west side of the project area. Additionally, city leaders are interested in building a deck park over Interstate 30 that connects Anthem to the Champions Park shopping area.
"If this development goes well, it'll make people more likely to want to consider assisting us with funding to do that long-term," Piel said.
The redevelopment plan follows years of complaints from business owners and city officials over Lincoln Square’s outdated design and slumping vacancy rates.
Planning and zoning commissioners unanimously approved Trademark's rezoning request during a Feb. 21 meeting. Though they added several stipulations, commissioners who spoke praised the shopping center’s new owners.
Ignacio Nunez, a commissioner and former council member, said the planning process for Anthem was long, but worthwhile.
“We have an opportunity tonight to move Arlington along this path of redevelopment at this intersection of Collins (Street) and I-30 to keep more of our youth, their talent and their entrepreneurship here in Arlington,” he said.
Plans for new retail in the shopping center include space for a grocery store and a nextdoor liquor store. Commissioners asked for size restrictions on the liquor store and wording that would require the shopping center to attract a higher-profile grocer like Trader Joe’s.
Commissioners also asked for assurance of a luxury hotel with a full bar. The planned hotel would not include a kitchen or room service, but instead rely on restaurants that will be steps away from the lobby.
“We find that it creates one, an interesting experience and, two, it also really promotes the restaurant operators,” said Jeff Johnson, Trademark’s managing director of development. “That’s their lifeblood.”
Trademark Property Company held multiple in-person meetings with residents and shop-goers.
A survey sent out in 2022 garnered more than 1,500 responses, according to Monica Luera, Trademark vice president of development. Community feedback on the plans told Trademark that people were interested in greenspace, more restaurants and fewer apartments. Original plans held space for up to 900 apartments; the most current plan caps apartments at around 600 units.
“We need to be able to maintain this big public space because we know that’s a need for Arlington,” Luera said in an interview.
Got a tip? Email Kailey Broussard at kbroussard@kera.org.
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you.
