Grapevine Economic Development
On Tuesday, November 19, a new double-branded hotel was unanimously approved by both the Planning & Zoning Commission and Grapevine City Council. The new development will bring 201 hotel rooms and multiple amenities to the Crossroads shopping center under the Hilton flag, expressed as Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites. The two brands will share a lobby space and resources in order to maximize efficiency on a three-acre lot that once held two restaurants.
Throughout the public hearing, representatives of the City were optimistic that such a sizable investment in the area might signal a resurgence for the entire center. While nearby restaurants are still performing well, several buildings along Crossroads Drive have stood vacant for years; including the former Outback Steakhouse and TGI Friday’s that will be demolished to make way for the new hotel.
“I want to thank you for your efforts,” said Councilman Paul Slechta, addressing developers during the public hearing. “Crossroads is a challenging area, and I’ve always thought ‘What restaurants could go there?’ Now, you’ve gone outside the box to bring a hotel… I’m excited that you looked at this particular location, because this may be what we need to kind of kickstart that area, to attract more businesses.”
He wasn’t alone in that opinion. Hitesh Jariwala, COO of Pegasus Hospitality Group in Irving, Texas, has been dreaming about this project for years. According to him, it wasn’t feasible until the City amended its hotel ordinance to reduce the minimum room count from 300 to 200.
“My family’s favorite restaurant was [California Pizza Kitchen]. We probably ate there a couple hundred times.” Jariwala said. “I always wondered if a hotel was an option for these two restaurant pads, but because of the City’s requirement that hotels have 300 rooms it just wasn’t possible. So, thanks to [City Council], when you changed the hotel code, this became a possibility.”
Jariwala’s group currently operates four Hilton-branded properties in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, with another under construction in Coppell and a Fort Worth property slated to start building in Near Southside soon. The Grapevine property would sit neatly in the geographic center of the Pegasus portfolio, which spans from Denton to Greenville with the nearest site being a Homewood Suites in Trophy Club.
The approved concept would stand at 5 floors, covering 117,505 square feet. In order to meet requirements for approval, the property will include a pool, a fitness center, a dedicated outdoor space for guests, and a spa or wellness center. The majority of those amenities have been described in full detail on their submitted plans, but representatives said they are still conducting market analysis to determine what form the wellness center will take.
Either way, the new use will have a tremendously positive impact on the area.
“Welcoming Pegasus to Grapevine marks an exciting step forward for the Crossroads area,” said Garin Giacomarro, Director of Economic Development. “Supporting this area has been a key focus for us over the past year, so having a passionate developer like Mr. Jariwala bring such high-quality brands to Crossroads is incredibly meaningful. It’s a smart investment that turns yesterday’s vacancies into tomorrow’s opportunities. Replacing those vacant lots with an attractive use that provides a steady supply of customers is a huge win for the economic potential of this key commercial center in the heart of Grapevine."
Renderings in this article represent a proposed product. Final plans are currently under review.
About Type Six
Centered on service, uncompromised in design, Type Six Design & Development is an innovative, full-service architecture firm with proven expertise in retail, multi-family, office, and hospitality industries. Providing a comprehensive approach to any scale of project, the diverse team led by James Lusty and Hayes Hinkle, delivers a client-driven experience focused on exceeding customer expectations. Based in the Arlington Texas Entertainment District since 2015, the cornerstone of Type Six is simple: going to the next level to provide next-level results.
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