Rowlett: Crystal Lagoon

[Tnexster]

Can Crystal Lagoons' man-made oases wedge Texas vacationers away from golf courses? This guy thinks so

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/econ ... guy-thinks

Acres of Caribbean blue water lined by broad promenades and luxe cabanas. White sand beaches -- some serving as launches for swimmers and kayakers, and some designed for relaxing with a fruity cocktail -- slope into a sparkling sea.

But can you picture all that plunked down in Texas, a state where most of the lakes are man-made?
Executives of Crystal Lagoons, the company building a showpiece eight-acre water feature at the planned $1 billion Bayside development on Lake Ray Hubbard, say it’s not just possible, it’s the future.

“You have a great opportunity to provide beach life to people in driving distance from their homes,” said Uri Man, the U.S. CEO of Chile-based Crystal Lagoons.

[tamtagon]

Why not include a couple acres of lush jungle under a dome?

[Tnexster]

Developer behind Cabo-inspired lagoon, $1B project puts Bayside eateries on the menu

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/ ... er-1b.html

The Dallas-based developer behind the $1 billion Bayside mixed-use project — which will feature a Cabo-like, blue-hued lagoon — has begun cobbling together his restaurant mix that will surround the lagoon adjacent to Lake Ray Hubbard.

By the end of the year, Kent Donahue told the Dallas Business Journal he'd like to start unveiling the restaurants on the menu for the mixed-use development in Rowlett, which sits 15 miles east of downtown Dallas.

[Tnexster]

Not so much about the Rowlett project but these things are obviously gaining traction in Texas.

The Lone Star State to get two new blue lagoons to anchor master-planned communities

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/ ... ns-to.html

[The_Overdog]

In my opinion, Texas waterfront is a woefully underutilized asset and lake access is even more segregated than North vs South Dallas when compared to oceanfront access in most states. So I think these lagoons, if they catch on and can be maintained, will be one of the biggest game changers Dallas will see in a long time.

[dollaztx]

In my opinion, Texas waterfront is a woefully underutilized asset and lake access is even more segregated than North vs South Dallas when compared to oceanfront access in most states. So I think these lagoons, if they catch on and can be maintained, will be one of the biggest game changers Dallas will see in a long time.

I can see these lagoons eventually being built in most lakes throughout DFW. So many people here without much to do outdoors or nice nearby beaches. Certainly just the Rowlett one isn't going to cut it.

[Tnexster]

Lagoon-anchored $1B development near Lake Ray Hubbard snags landscape architect

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/ ... j=77035281

[Tnexster]

New developer on Rowlett's $1B Bayside project puts Crystal Lagoon plans in flux

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... plans-flux

[jrd1964]

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... ystal.html

Meritage and K.Hovnanian will be building 'affordable (less than $300,000)' housing as part of Bayside's residential area. Just over 100 homes in that price range will be built between the 2 builders.

[Waldozer]

No game changer in Rowlett, it seems.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... side-plans

[itsjrd1964]

Ever since seeing the graphics for the Bayside artwork, it makes me think of the artwork on the full-page ads back in the 1980s for Faulkner Point. And most of us know how *that* ended up....

[Tnexster]

In other words, they can't make the numbers work. The lagoon would have made that a "go to" property for the entire metro. I love it when they come in later and dumb everything down.

[DAFW]

this is......wow... I have no words for this.

[cowboyeagle05]

Based on the actual products they have built out so far at the site I could tell it was going differently than the glitz and flash they proposed originally. The architecture and overall feel of what they are actually building right now are close to what we have seen everywhere else in DFW. No real differentiator and not like the concept renderings at all. City councils are always likely to get swayed by flashy renderings that show life as we would like to to be never with any reality. The bank obviously came calling and said no office tenant is gonna care about your lagoon so we aren't paying for it.

[Warrior2015]

Based on the actual products they have built out so far at the site I could tell it was going differently than the glitz and flash they proposed originally. The architecture and overall feel of what they are actually building right now are close to what we have seen everywhere else in DFW. No real differentiator and not like the concept renderings at all. City councils are always likely to get swayed by flashy renderings that show life as we would like to to be never with any reality. The bank obviously came calling and said no office tenant is gonna care about your lagoon so we aren't paying for it.

This makes alot of sense. I will admit, I was kind of disappointed, but I don't really get my hopes up to high around here anymore sometimes. The mayor and city council seemed upset. I heard of some private partnership agreement or something agreeing on building the lagoon. The mayor said that the new proposal isn't apart of the agreement

[itsjrd1964]

Rowlett leaders formally reject Bayside plans without a show fountain, crystal lagoon at Lake Ray Hubbard

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... ay-hubbard

[itsjrd1964]

Meanwhile, work continues on the Bayside portion of the development, despite the city and developers still working out things.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... ay-hubbard

[Dmkflyer]

At least little Rowlett stands up to developers to do what they think will be better for their community while Dallas must rolls over and let’s developers do whatever they want

[itsjrd1964]

Rowlett sues over Bayside, stands by expectation of 'world-class destination' at Lake Ray Hubbard

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... ay-hubbard

[Tnexster]

Good for Rowlett, hope they prevail.

[Matt777]

Rowlett sues over Bayside, stands by expectation of 'world-class destination' at Lake Ray Hubbard

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... ay-hubbard

Yay, Go Rowlett! Hope they win. If only Dallas held developers responsible the way Rowlett is...

[R1070]

Good job Rowlett. Dallas can learn from this!

[Tnexster]

Rowlett announces new deal to restart stalled development with Crystal Lagoon along Lake Ray Hubbard

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... ay-hubbard

[Mgreen15]

Rowlett announces new deal to restart stalled development with Crystal Lagoon along Lake Ray Hubbard

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... ay-hubbard

Awesome news! As a nearby home owner, I’m curious to see what type of impact this development will have on home values in the next 5 years.

[Tnexster]

I'm just glad they stuck with it and are getting what they were originally promised.

[Tnexster]

Surf’s up: Wave pool, Crystal Lagoon among plans unveiled at town hall for new $1B Rowlett development

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/rowlett ... evelopment

[Tnexster]

Construction starts on Rowlett’s crystal lagoon project on Lake Ray Hubbard

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... y-hubbard/

Architectural drawings show a smaller lagoon than in previous plans but with a separate wave pool.

“We look forward to building all of the quality amenities that will include a resort hotel, convention center, surf park, and public trail along the beautiful shores of Lake Ray Hubbard,” Marc S. English, the project’s co-developer and president of Sapphire Bay Land Development, said in a statement. “It will be a game changer for Rowlett!”

Sapphire Bay is planned as a 117-acre, $1 billion mixed-use development.

[tamtagon]

So, why did Dallas sell this land?

[Thymant]

So, why did Dallas sell this land?

I think something like this at this location would be more directly beneficial to the residents of Rowlett, Rockwall, and Garland than what it would a majority of Dallas residents so therefore I doubt the City of Dallas would have pushed for such a risky development like this. So maybe they just sold it for the quick cash.

[Tnexster]

So, why did Dallas sell this land?

Interesting question, I never stopped to think that Dallas could have developed this land much the way Cypress Waters was developed.

[Hannibal Lecter]

So maybe they just sold it for the quick cash.

Bingo.

[cowboyeagle05]

They wanted the cash for the park's budget. It was a trade-off kinda thing. Develop it as a Dallas property and wait on the returns if development ever happens which would feed into the overall taxes or sell it to Rowlett and fund the Dallas Pool system upgrades they were in terrible need of. It was all about the Pool system upgrade plan. Honestly, I am fine with it since it's so disconnected from Dallas in the first place. I think the short return was for a better need.

[muncien]

They wanted the cash for the park's budget. It was a trade-off kinda thing. Develop it as a Dallas property and wait on the returns if development ever happens which would feed into the overall taxes or sell it to Rowlett and fund the Dallas Pool system upgrades they were in terrible need of. It was all about the Pool system upgrade plan. Honestly, I am fine with it since it's so disconnected from Dallas in the first place. I think the short return was for a better need.

I agree. Even with the massive success of Cypress Waters, a good portion of the $$$ actually flows into Irving, Coppell, Grapevine, Flower Mound, etc. as many of the residents go to those places to shop. Also, many of the workers move to neighboring cities instead of Cypress Waters proper. I suspect similar behavior out in Rowlett.