Downtown Richardson apartment project breaks ground, 281 units planned

A 281-unit apartment project is turning 3 acres at 110 E. Polk St. from a surface parking lot and two older buildings into a new residential anchor for downtown Richardson, with move-in expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.

High Street Residential and Tokyu Land Corporation broke ground on the four-story community April 6. The development will include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 590 to 1,340 square feet, a mix that points to a broad tenant base rather than a single niche market. The project also is designed with a clubroom, co-working areas, a resort-style pool, grilling stations, fire pits, a fitness center, bike storage, a dog-wash station and a package room.

For renters, the question is whether 281 new units can make a dent in housing pressure near the city core. It will add supply in a part of Richardson that has been steadily drawing more attention, especially for people who want to live within walking distance of Main Street and the Central Trail. The scale of the project means it is more likely to broaden options at the margin than to reset rents across Collin County, but it does add one more sizeable cluster of apartments in a market where downtown living has become more desirable.

City officials have framed the project as part of a larger shift in the CORE District. Richardson City Manager Don Magner said the development fits the city’s vision for downtown and reflects “a dynamic transformation” in the district. Tokyu Land US Corporation executive vice president of U.S. investments Ben Cherney said Richardson’s diversified technology-driven employment base and continued downtown infrastructure investment made the location attractive. High Street Residential principal Kevin Hickman called the project “a catalyst for the future of Downtown Richardson.”

The city’s Tax Increment Financing support will help pay for public improvements around the site, including a full reconstruction of Polk Street from Interurban Street to Greenville Avenue. That work is expected to bring new bike lanes, sidewalks, street parking, water and sewer lines, storm drains, pavement markings, signage, lighting, landscaping, hardscaping, tree grates, street furniture and irrigation.

Richardson also said the financing will help fund a new public green space and 75 public parking spaces in a shared garage. Combined with direct access to the Central Trail and proximity to Main Street, the plan is meant to make the block more walkable while still accommodating drivers. As more residents move in, the nearby business mix around downtown is likely to tilt further toward cafes, restaurants and service-oriented storefronts that benefit from steady foot traffic.

The project adds another visible sign that downtown Richardson is being rebuilt block by block, with housing, infrastructure and public space all moving in the same direction.