The Howard Hughes Corporation® 261-Acre Mixed-Use Development Reaches Key Milestone on Path to Become North Texas’ Next Great Employment Hub and Family-Friendly Community
June 26, 2019 – The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE:HHC) announced today that it has received zoning approval for Monarch City, its newest 261-acre mixed-use development project located in Allen, Texas. This approval allows for a walkable urban community that will be the first of its kind in Allen. Current plans include 10 million square feet of development, including office, residential, retail and hospitality with an abundance of amenities and park space.
“This is a very special project and a perfect fit for Allen,” said City of Allen Mayor Stephen Terrell. “Monarch City will enhance the family-friendly environment that makes Allen one of the most sought-after places to live in North Texas, while providing quality jobs to fuel our growth as a regional economic center. We are excited to work with Howard Hughes on this important and innovative addition to Allen.”
Located approximately 15 miles north of Dallas, the Monarch City site is one of the largest undeveloped land parcels at a major highway intersection north of the city. Offering direct access to Highways 121 and 75, it will attract corporations choosing to relocate to or grow within the region.
“Approval of this form-based ordinance by the Allen City Council is a landmark decision,” said Mark Bulmash, Senior Vice President of Development of The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Through our partnership with the City of Allen and Howard Hughes’ 40+ years of experience of developing successful master-planned communities, we will be able to provide a progressive and flexible development approach, allowing future tenants to shape a campus to suit their specific needs.”
The Allen City Council’s approval of form-based zoning is a first for the city. This zoning ensures quality standards, while allowing future flexibility to accommodate the evolving needs of the city and future tenants.
“The zoning approval for Monarch City brings a first class mixed-use opportunity to the Allen community,” said Dan Bowman, Executive Director of the Allen Economic Development Corporation. “The long-term development plan is sustainable with planned central park and entertainment amenities that are critical to maintaining Allen’s amazing quality of life. It will also create quality jobs that allow our current and future residents to live, work and play within the same community.”
Monarch City will also embrace and seamlessly integrate with the existing environmental landscape. Its current full-scale development plan includes a network of neighborhood parks and plazas, water features, pollinator habitats and trails that connect to the Six Cities Trail System.
“Monarch City will be a comprehensive development with over 6 million square feet of office planned and designed to satisfy the needs of out-of-state companies looking to relocate to the area, as well as local firms,” agency office leasing representative and JLL Managing Director Jeff Eckert said. “With this zoning approval, Monarch City is now available for pre-leasing for office tenants looking for Class A office space to start or grow their business in this prosperous community.”