Photo gallery: construction progress at Lake Highlands Town Center development

by John P. Meyer

Driving back and forth to Pegasus News World HQ over the last several months I've noted ongoing progress with a major development happening to the east of the intersection of Skillman and Walnut Hill (nee Kingsley). From the signs attached to the chain link, I learned that the project was dubbed Lake Highlands Town Center.

The developer's website provides a glimpse at what the final build-out will look like when completed: potentially quite an upgrade from the aging apartment complexes that were demolished to make way for the new mixed-use residential, retail and office facilities.

(To my eye, the final product will have a kind of Las Colinas visual going for it.)

Before going out with my camera to photograph the grounds, I spoke with Ben Hidalgo of the Prescott Realty Group. Ben said that it would be best if I took my photos from outside the secure construction site perimeter, as there might be bad feelings on someone's part if I got mowed over by an earthmover and became a permanent part of the foundation. So the photos you see here are all taken from the sidewalk running up and down along Walnut Hill.

I commented on the dredging out of the creekbed, and Ben informed me that there is a 10 - 20 ft. deepening of the channel going on, which will result in a quite impressive water feature. There will be a 20 acre park along the shores of the completed "lake," along with a hike-and-bike trail that will eventually connect to the White Rock Trail.

Currently, the construction crews are still working on "ground prep," having completed the asbestos abatement and demolish-to-code work which preceded this on their agenda. This stage will include switching out of sewer lines, gas, cable and electric.

Construction of roads is expected to commence in April.

In regard to my query regarding final completion (to the point where people will actually begin using the property), Ben stated: "We anticipate Phase I (Ed. note: referring to the south side of Walnut Hill) to begin operating fall 2011. We plan to begin vertical construction at the beginning of 2010 after we finish the current land and infrastructure improvements."

Sounds like a plan. Let's just hope the money stream keeps flowing.

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