Would you believe a new JCPenney store at Skillman & Northwest Highway?

Sunday update: We've added the link to the marketing piece here.

In what has to rank as a stunning but welcome development, Trammel Crow Company is circulating a real estate marketing brochure that features a 100,000-square-foot JCPenney store — along with what could be up to a 300,000-square-foot Wal-Mart — as the two anchors of Timbercreek Crossing, the retail development soon to be rising like a phoenix on the 44-acre Timbercreek apartments site at Skillman and Northwest Highway. Joining the mix are Chick-fil-A, Bank of America, and a number of other retailers/restaurants that haven't been announced and/or signed yet.

We've already made a couple of phone calls to track down more information, and we'll update this as soon as we hear something.

And yes, you read that right: JCPenney. New store. Here in our neighborhood.

It turns out the old-line department store/retailer is opening 250 new and relocated stores between now and 2011; the most recent block of 22 new stores includes one in Sherman. Penney's even has a website devoted to their new stores. Another new one is slated for Rockwall.

The new Penney's stores "showcase the company's major brand concepts," according to the Dallas Business Journal (which hasn't yet reported on the new Skillman store, although the Rockwall one is mentioned). Many of the stores feature something called a Sephora Inside JCPenney boutique, a 1,500-square-foot beauty concept, the DBJ says.

The rest of the Timbercreek Crossing site plan marketing piece features a glowing halo hovering over a rather stylish-looking building that turns out to be the Wal-Mart, along with what looks like a mammoth entry feature on the connecting road between Skillman and Northwest Highway.

Word to the wise: If that is going to be the major entrance to this monstrous site, State Farm and Farmers should look for a nearby storefront. There are going to be a hellacious number of accidents there, with people already whizzing along the current connector from Skillman to Northwest Highway. Dumping a lot of traffic out on that connector (even if it's widened) seems like a horrible idea; in fact, I can't believe the city's traffic people will even allow that to occur.

Overall, though, I'd have to say that Crow has done a good job of preventing this site from turning into what might be considered a typical Wal-Mart installation, with a big box and lots of parking and that's all that is visible from the street. And remember, the first reports going around said there might be a Sam's Club/Wal-Mart combo on the site.

The facades of the buildings, which I realize are probably just marketing puffery, still exhibit a pretty decent architectural feel for big boxes, and the Chick-fil-A and Bank of America are essentially facing Northwest Highway and Skillman.

Given what's happening here, along with the apartments that are being torn down just south of the Medallion Target across the street, you have to think we're in for a whole bunch of new retail in this neighborhood pretty soon.

Comments

[jnw32]

Yeah for the Chick-fil-A! It is great.

[nancywilson]

Yes, I talked to a senior level executive a couple of weeks ago, and he said they were definately moving to the Skillman area. They have been looking for a storefront for quite some time. Now that the Valley View mall is closing, they were looking for a profitable location. Glad to know they (JCPenny headquarters in PLANO) think we down in the "hood" have profitable areas.

[Ron]

The new store at the Shoppes at Timber Creek is scheduled to open in October 2009. The company's growth plan that Rick mentioned has stalled because of "unfavorable economic conditions." If contracts have been signed (and I don't if they have been on this particular project), then it's probably a go; otherwise, JCP could possibly delay this and other planned openings.

JCP has wanted another store inside the loop since North Park closed. At the time it closed, I had heard that the mall basically wanted JCP out so Nordstrom could come in so they made the rent very unfavorable. JCP was quite successful at NP for many years, as it was one of the original occupants when the mall opened in the sixties.

[Stuart]

Nancy, last I heard, only the Macy's at Valley View is closing. Did I miss some big news?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/031608dnbusvalleyview.39b424f.html

[naturelova]

This whole project is a terrible immoral shame. I lived at Timbercreek for 14 years. I lived amongst this wonderful area with 44 acres of forest and the Caruth Creek, White Rock Creek and Medallion Creeks running throughout the length of the property untouched until now. Trammell Crow has even decided to change the name of the property to "Timbercreek Crossing". I get it "Crossing" from an urban forest to a concrete jungle.

You get excited over Chick-fil-A? C'mon. I suggest you visit this pristine area. Have you ever seen nature in the middle of Dallas that has remained untouched by development and pesticides for over 35 years? Have you seen red tailed hawks nesting? Night herons nesting? Kingfishers diving? A live stream teeming with fish? Ducks! Ducks! Ducks! That, my friend, would make you very excited.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Trammell Crow made a progressive move and kept the creek and forest area intact and could construct walking trails that could lead right to the White Rock Lake Trails. By keeping this entire area untouched, generations of folks,that live in our area, could enjoy this for years to come. Your kids could feed the ducks and enjoy the park area.Trammell Crow would have a legacy to be proud of.
With this remaining a park, the traffic problems would not exist, the flooding from the the Home Depot would quickly empty into the creek, and not flood the proposed stores.

It is such a shame to bastardize this creek and cut all of the trees to make room for more retail., more retail. Does Dallas need more retail? SO, this will be the legacy of Timbercreek. There will be no timber, no creek, but a much anticipated Chick-fil-A!