Renovation and restoration are reshaping one of Irving’s most charming areas. The district — with its parks, plazas, vintage feel, historic homes and even a stop on the Trinity Railway Express — is a great place to be, and newcomers are buying into the vision.
Just take a walk down Main Street to see the momentum. During the past several years, restaurants including Big State Fountain and Grill and Di Rosani’s have opened or remodeled, while mainstays like Villa’s and Glory House Bistro continue to offer downtown dining. Currently under construction, with plans to open within the next few months, a new Laotian and Thai eatery called Sapp Sapp will join the party.
Main Street Gallery
Art is coming as well. Plans are underway to remodel one city-owned building at 129 S. Main St., to house a new Gallery on Main where people can gather for coffee, art and conversation in an interactive environment. The project also will include a new outdoor plaza in place of the city-owned building at 127 S. Main St.
“Irving’s Downtown Heritage Crossing District has the landscape to make it yet another intriguing, affordable and vibrant neighborhood in Irving,” said Irving City Manager Chris Hillman. “We have a strong focus on the area as we make significant investments, while striving to retain its heritage. As examples, the Innovation Center is about to open in the former Irving Central Library, with the new Irving Museum and Heritage Center opening next year. The Delaware Creek housing development is well underway with beautiful new single-family homes. In the next few years, we will continue to see tremendous progress.
More Developments
Irving’s historic Heritage Park also is evolving. Nestled in the downtown center, upgrade plans call for renovation, expansion, additional parking, a gazebo and an amphitheater.
Within walking distance from downtown, The Delaware at Heritage Crossing is Irving’s newest master-planned community. When completed, the first phase of the project will offer 40 new single-family homes along picturesque Delaware Creek and its trail system. Close to Irving’s Downtown Heritage District, two more phases to the community are planned. K. Hovnanian Homes is the builder.
Renovation of Irving’s historic homes is on the upswing. Buyers are purchasing and remodeling these Craftsman-style homes to meet today's standards while enhancing the neighborhood’s appeal.
Additional opportunities are coming up. The Irving City Council recently approved a resolution to take bids on Heritage Crossing land the city owns. The city had set aside nearly 10 acres that now is recommended for residential development. The city will offer the tracts in multiple groupings and also will include single-lot offerings to encourage a variety of homebuilders to participate in the revitalization. In addition, the city will offer a five-acre tract to a developer to build single-family homes on multiple lots. For those interested in renovation projects, there also are three existing single-family residences within the district that will be offered. If renovation is not feasible, the city will allow new housing to be built on these properties.
The city also will offer 0.2 acres at 124 S. O’Connor Road for commercial development. It currently is a public parking lot, but the location at the intersection of O’Connor Road and Second Street is ideal for business because of high traffic counts and its prime location. Visit CityofIrving.org/LandBank for more information on the properties.