Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum

The Terminal – 4205 Buena Vista Street at Fitzhugh and Katy Trail

Replacing an orange stucco low-rise, The Terminal would be a vast improvement. The proposed building is designed to house 25 for sale condos, averaging 2,500 square feet, on the upper five floors with various eateries and offices below. The “Terminal” name and imagery are meant to evoke a train terminal, paying homage to the Katy Trail’s roots as a train line. The first two stories have a train terminal reminiscence with oversized arched windows and dark brick. The glass will surely make working or eating in these spaces light-filled with excellent views of the Katy (and scantily clad summertime joggers).

What’s also cool about these lower two floors is the publicly accessible cut through from the street to the Katy Trail. It not only enables access, but also grounds the building with the trail. Of course, with eateries and watering holes (the developer packet lists “chia pudding” among other delicacies – whatever that is), Regardless of the menu, I’m sure the beckoning is meant to encourage Katy Trail patrons to jog with more money.

Not all is rosy, there’s a pinch of odd. It took me a while to figure out why a portion of the building’s front stuck out (right). It makes the whole building look like it’s been jostled off its base a little. The reason is that the building has to bend out of the way of the huge electrical tower at left. The needed cantilever effects that part of the building from front to back.

I figure there’s little choice in order to get the interiors to work best and not electrocute residents, but it’s still an oddity to the eye that’s made more noticeable by the change in brick color. The bump out reduces some setbacks above 36 feet (part of the developer asks).

Speaking of developer asks, aside from one tree fewer on the Fitzhugh and Buena Vista elevations, they’re asking for 3.6-to-1 FAR instead of 2.5-to-1. But the added FAR equates to a taller building (that’s still below zoned height) so they can drop the lot coverage from the zoned 80 percent to the proposed 62.5 percent. This should make the connectivity with the Katy that much stronger (as if the chia pudding needed help – ha!).

Note three to Victory Park – all parking, valet, trash and loading will be underground.

CRE_Investor wrote:That looks cool, but I'll be interested to see how the expensive condos right next to the high voltage transmission line sell.

flyswatter wrote:Great! Will be interesting to see how much the HP side of the Trail complains about another "high rise" on the Dallas side. There's no official entrance there for the trail either so this would be a great add.

beepboopdtown wrote:There is a big "Arriving" sign for The Terminal on the property now.

Matt777 wrote:

beepboopdtown wrote:There is a big "Arriving" sign for The Terminal on the property now.

Nice!! I always worry about the high quality developments like this getting killed before I see dirt turn.

Tivo_Kenevil wrote:Yay more luxury housing. /s

Urbandreamer wrote:I wonder if this will affect the Fitzhugh Westbound access to the trail. Allot of people enter/exit there.

Urbandreamer wrote:I wonder if this will affect the Fitzhugh Westbound access to the trail. Allot of people enter/exit there.

LongonBigD wrote:This is starting. Everything is fenced off and Buena Vista has been made a one-way street at this block. They have recently completed the Katy Trail improvements at this intersection (new pedestrian bridge over Fitzhugh and rubber trail added next to existing concrete trail). Trouble is, I can’t enter the Katy trail here for a couple of years now! Nice problem to have, I guess.
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LPG wrote:Anyone have any insight into what they may have pre-sold?

LongonBigD wrote:Interestingly I also noticed the information sign on the vacant lot directly across Fitzhugh from this site is the same developer. Is this stretch of wretchedness turning sooner than later?

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