Plano Approves $2M Purchase of Harrington Homestead for Nonprofit Hub

The Plano City Council approved a $2 million real estate contract on March 9 to purchase the Harrington Homestead at 1601 Alma Drive, setting the stage for a ConnectPlano nonprofit hub that the city says will bring multiple organizations together under one roof to better serve residents.

The purchase cleared the council as part of the March 9 Consent Agenda, according to the city's official recap of the meeting. ConnectPlano is framed in city communications as a collaborative space where nonprofit organizations will be co-located, while reporting by the Plano Star Courier described the initiative as a public safety program "designed to help residents play a role in keeping their community safe."

Notably, the city committed to preserving the historic home already standing on the 1601 Alma Drive property. The official city recap stated plainly that "the historic home on the property will be preserved as part of the development," though no timeline, cost estimate, or preservation standard was specified in council materials made publicly available.

The March 9 meeting also saw the council extend the Regional Composting Program agreement with the North Texas Municipal Water District through 2030. Under that program, Plano receives yard trimmings from five member cities, processes them into compost and mulch, and sells the finished product through Texas Pure Products, diverting organic material from landfills in the process.

Key details surrounding the Harrington Homestead purchase remain to be confirmed, including the source of the $2 million in funding, the contract's closing timeline, and which specific nonprofit organizations have been identified as future tenants. The city has not yet publicly named partners or outlined the full scope of services ConnectPlano intends to provide.

Residents seeking more information can contact the city directly at askplano@plano.gov.