DeSoto to proceed with High Street development

by Daphne Brown of of DeSoto TODAY

In what could be his final action as a DeSoto City Councilman, Gordon Mayer initiated a motion for the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation and Trammell Crow to partner up on the Town Center Catalyst Project.

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Mayer, who leaves office this week under term limitations, made the motion during the council's May 15 regularly scheduled meeting.

“We've come a long way to get here,” Mayer said. “This will do a lot for DeSoto. I'll be watching as this comes together.”

DeSoto City Councilman Carl Sherman seconded the motion, which authorized DeSoto City Manager Jim Baugh to execute a purchase and sale agreement with DEDC for the sale of the project. Additionally under the agreement, DEDC would sale the project to TCC High Street Development, LLC. The council voted 7-0 to accept the motion.

The project had been previously referred to TCC DeSoto Development, LLC, but the motion also changed the name to TCC High Street Development, LLC. Baugh said Trammell Crow felt more comfortable with the name change.

In introducing the item for discussion, DeSoto Mayor Michael Hurtt said, “I can't think of anyone more immersed in this than our city manager.”

Baugh said in the development agreement, there is a provision that the schematic design cannot exceed $16 million.

“This is the last of the major pieces of paperwork,” Baugh said. “We agree to give the property to DEDC with conditions that DEDC will give the property to Trammell Crow in order to give it back to us.”

Baugh explained that a vital part of the agreement is that certain businesses would not be considered as part of the development.

“There will be no check-cashing places, tattoo parlors or subsidized housing or renting for the life of this project,” he said. “We felt strongly to put that in the language of the development agreement because the community felt so strongly about that throughout this whole process.”

The residential property for sale would be offered at a first-class market rate, he said.

“This was as strongly as we could word it to make sure the concerns of our community were met.”

Hurtt told councilmembers, “this is your opportunity to make sure what you want is in this,” Hurtt said. “This represents all they've worked for in the last two years.”