Plans for Lakeside Village unveiled to homeowners

At the Moviehouse & Eatery on Thursday evening, August 24, Lakeside DFW homeowners learned details of plans for Lakeside Village, the 35-acre parcel located south of The Lakeside Tower.

Planner Kevin Sloan of Kevin Sloan Studio presented the proposal that features up to seven lake-view restaurants, a north-south street replete with shops and sidewalk dining, single-family villa homes, residential towers, and multiple ways for the public to enjoy views of nature and the lake.

Sloan described the “garden-like” north-south street as the place-making center of the project, full of “charms.”

On the western side, “approximately 50 percent of the street will be porous to the lake, nature, and preserved trees.” Sloan used a diagram to illustrate the view corridors along the project’s half-mile stretch of lake-view property. Several are illustrated in the slideshow below.

The eastern side, the planner said, will feature the best of a mixed-use, pedestrian friendly urban street.

Lakeside Village A PRIMER PUBLIC LAKE VIEWS LAKE-VIEW RESTAURANTS SOUTHERN TRAIL STREET LIFE AMPHITHEATER VILLA HOMES At the southern end of the street, the two sides will dovetail in “an enclave surrounded by restaurants with lake views.”

“It will appear to be a traditional plaza at grade,” Sloan explained, “but concealed beneath will be a multi-level parking structure (accommodating up to 450 vehicles).”

At the first level below grade, Sloan said restaurant-goers will be able to walk directly out to the terraces of the restaurants. The parking enclave will be open above and on the sides, allowing light to stream in.

North of the restaurant plaza, a triad of mid-rise buildings on the east will surround a community green where the lake will be visible through the trees.

During his segment of the presentation, Richard Myers, managing partner of Realty Capital (master developers of Lakeside DFW), suggested the central building in this location would be ideal for a hotel.

Just across the street from the green, an amphitheater embedded in a treed, natural slope will offer a seating area for concerts and relaxing while serving as a staircase for those seeking a way to the trail below.

The popular Sunset Point will be preserved and the boardwalk will extend southward, reincarnated as a trail meandering between trees, over ravines, and around outcroppings.

On-street parking will provide ample spaces for those visiting Sunset Point (alleviating the parking challenges faced by homeowners on Edgemere).

Sloan’s diagrams also depicted how two tree-lined streets will connect Lakeside Parkway to the north-south street through two rows of villa homes (approximately 3,000 sq. ft. in size).

He noted 140+ existing trees will be preserved to create a lush front yard for the homeowners and a shaded path for a trail. (Myers later explained that these detached villa homes are expected to fetch $1 million and up.)

The plan, Myers emphasized in his segment of the presentation, included input from residents collected at meetings (and through on-line surveys) in 2011 and 2012 as well as at sessions in June.

He pointed out that a club — recommended by many Lakeside DFW homeowners in June — had been incorporated into the plan.

Located facing the Lakeside Dog Park, it is expected to include a pool, work-out room, and other party facilities as well as a parking lot.

Many questions followed the presentation. Myers and Jimmy Archie, managing partner of Realty Capital, answered questions as best they could; many concerned Lakeside DFW issues.

As far as timing of the Village project, Myers said construction could start as soon as the summer of 2018. First, however, the project will require zoning modifications.

He encouraged residents to participate in the public hearings to come and to continue providing their input by commenting on the website or by contacting Realty Capital directly.

“Feel free to critique us,” he said. “There’s no way we can all agree on every detail of a plan this big.”