Anthem Development broke ground this week on Lofts iThirty, a 340-unit luxury apartment complex at 6302 Greenbelt Parkway in Garland.
The $64 million transit-oriented development will feature four-story buildings, resort-style pools, outdoor dining areas, a pet spa, and a dog park.
Officials with Anthem Development, a Beck Ventures company, met with stakeholders and supporters Tuesday morning at the project site 12 minutes east of downtown Dallas. The developers recently announced plans to redevelop the old Valley View Mall site for a luxury project near Preston Road and Dilbeck Lane.
It Takes a Village
Developer Scott Beck of Beck Ventures said he was excited about the Garland project. The land was originally intended to be a Sam’s Club and came to fruition through a partnership of the developers, the City of Garland, Walmart, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
“It really does take a village to do something like this,” Beck said. “This property has been sitting here for years. What is remarkable is the leadership of the City of Garland and the staff to recognize the fact that something better could be done here at this site. We’re happy that ultimately Walmart and the city chose us … to be able to capitalize the project and work within the vision plan that the CIty of Garland put forward.”
Ross Frankfurt, CEO of Anthem Development, said developers determined what stakeholders wanted and what would benefit the community.
“That was the first thing that Councilman [B.J.] Williams told us: ‘If you’re going to do something here, do it right,’” Frankfurt said. “I think that’s what we’ve accomplished.”
The first units will be available in about 13 to 15 months, with a “total completion” date projected in about 18 to 20 months, Frankfurt told daltxrealestate.com.
Lofts iThirty Community Partners
Mayor Scott LeMay said the city made a strategic effort over the past decade to make developers want to work in Garland.
“We’ve been doing this for a while,” he said. “Ten years ago, we just began talking about projects of this scale. It really does take a lot of partners to pull this off. A term we throw around a lot is ‘highest and best use.’ I think we’ve certainly found that here, but what really makes these developments work is the details that are put into them.”
Alicia Frye is CEO of Jonathan’s Place, a nonprofit that provides housing and resources for children who have been affected by abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Twenty years ago they expanded from Dallas to Garland, strategically choosing a safe location across the street from what will become Lofts iThirty.
“I’m extremely protective of the children in our care because the people who were supposed to protect them did not,” Frye said. “When Anthem came knocking, I was a little skeptical. I was worried that the neighborhood would change and we would lose that tranquility. After working with them and looking at the plans and seeing where their heart truly was, I felt at ease. We welcome you all to the neighborhood. We’re thrilled to have you as partners.”
