Icon Midtown

"It's not just another shopping center. We're creating an authentic urban experience," says Paris Rutherford, president of Dallas-based Icon Partners. "It will become an authentic place, a district in the city."

Rutherford says the project's name reflects the positioning in the metroplex, the sweet spot between the far northern suburbs and the heart of Downtown Dallas. Rutherford, Icon chairman Daniel Robinowitz and three architectural firms huddled over the design about 18 months. The planning began with the parking component and took six months to complete. "Weaving that parking into the project has been a science," Rutherford says, adding each component far exceeds city requirements. "It truly has been a collaborative effort."

Streetscape

"Many are new to Texas," Rutherford says, adding deals are being negotiated for about 40% of the retail space. "The guts of what makes the commercial side work is what we're negotiating right now." He says construction financing is in the process of being secured, now that preleasing is far enough along.

Rutherford says the first wave of tenant announcements will be ready to parade in 90 days. United Commercial Realty/ChainLinks of Dallas is preleasing the retail space. CB Richard Ellis' local team has reeled in the office assignment. Icon's team is taking on the residential component.