The city of Garland and GroundFloor Development have partnered to renovate and rehabilitate a historic bank building in Downtown Garland. As part of a larger redevelopment and infill project, GroundFloor will renovate and revitalize this historic building, restoring the first-floor retail and looking to transform the upper stories into new mixed-use capacity.
The five-story Garland Bank and Trust building, Garland’s third addition to the National Register of Historic Places, was constructed in 1966. The building’s construction prioritized modern architectural features, taking after a mid-century modern approach involving a Cordova Shell exterior among other contemporary finishes. Situated near State Highways 66 and 78, major entrances for Garland at the time, the building’s height was a strategic choice with signage remaining lit at night to attract motorists. In the period surrounding the building’s construction, Garland Bank and Trust was historically significant as it also provided many construction loans for a variety of important Garland developments.
After passing through multiple hands over the years, with a banking component remaining a consistent use, the building is now home to Chase Bank. GroundFloor Development will retain Chase as its anchor tenant, and the first floor will see additional commercial spaces.
The entire multiphase initiative comprises six acres of space that will be completely revitalized. The project includes redeveloping the former Wyatt Cafeteria into The Draper, a three-story, 155-unit apartment complex. The site of a prior motor-bank for Chase Bank will be redeveloped into 25 units of townhomes. Both developments will include a variety of amenities for residents and will benefit greatly from additional mixed-use space in the bank tower.
Revitalizing the bank building and bringing in new tenants will require extensive renovations. The renovations include a significant amount of asbestos remediation. The result will be a modern mixed-use development that will complete The Draper.
“An important part of The Draper is to bring the Garland Bank and Trust building back to life. We are excited to preserve this part of Garland’s history and to play a part in the renewal and revitalization of Garland’s Downtown area,” said Brandon Bolin, founder of GroundFloor. “Partnering with the city, we hope to see this historic building put to new and innovative use.”
GroundFloor is currently looking for additional tenants for additional square footage in the soon to be renovated bank tower. Residents and patrons of the larger project will be walking distance away from various shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in the newly renovated Downtown Garland Square. They will also be close to the Downtown Garland DART station, where workers will have access to the entire DFW metroplex.
“The Draper exemplifies what Garland is about: redeveloping areas in need of new energy while highlighting the history and authenticity of Garland. We’re happy to provide support to GroundFloor on this project, especially as it complements our recent bond project and redesign of our Downtown Square,” said Ayako Schuster, director of Garland’s Economic Development Department.
Redevelopment and infill projects have become a priority for the city of Garland, recognizing that Garland is largely built out. The city also recently approved an Economic Development strategic plan that highlights the need for additional adaptive reuse, placemaking and revitalization efforts throughout the city. Such projects are currently in the works and will be announced in the coming months.
About: Garland is the 13th largest city in Texas and reported an estimated population of 240,854 as of July 2022. The community was incorporated in 1891 and is today a major manufacturing and industrial hub for the DFW metroplex. Garland is the third most populous city in Dallas County and enjoys convenient access to downtown Dallas via public transportation that includes two DART Blue Line stations. Located adjacent to northern and eastern Dallas, Garland is a culturally diverse city with a rich history. The community celebrates a vast array of shopping, arts, outdoor activities and special events. Learn more at GarlandEDP.com.
About: GroundFloor Development is an urban multifamily and mixed-use development firm with offices in Austin and Dallas. Since its inception in 2009, GroundFloor has focused on adding value to urban environments by developing new multifamily and mixed-use projects, as well as renovating architecturally significant structures that connect with the history of the community. Learn more at GFDev.net.