[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6562905,"mediaKeyId","3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1","parentId",3241101,"title","Developers pitch HEXA co‑working and tech incubator for vacant DeSoto buildings; board to review lease/incentive details","audioSeconds",331,"startMs",7137000,"endMs",7468000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1&start=7137&end=7468","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1/thumbnail_7137000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562905/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/Developers-pitch-HEXA-coworking-and-tech-incubator-for-vacant-DeSoto-buildings-board-to-review-leaseincentive-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562905-43b42779c0550ac5e15045a3beee3b86/orig.mp4?Expires=1776030772&Signature=Z7aEyfLiv3cTN6cvNRDqQpIRqWlQYZrPKlG~kDT3sKuVvP6fXnCYOoBsBNTkjwZbVwSGpPdu9IW39GNiGwav8DfVJLbXnrwqRTe3w~TUT0wj1ychIFuOjLZTMr1WB9fet6RlNDTE5tTRj2J0QntQSgeJMO3Iarmg94lyyobJtTbDM5WPhLBHgLAcyX-iq6UGqJQtdkstLMSBmpDuj5vI-N~prrd2Zc1wWMwH1TMXXqITEMqrAiis1Vl02IobHpM1S7rUoZiqHzC1m9fHserwTZuwnznBJUyl4b37UhmzMkd8mfAu4sbG~8NATu-Qpe0Trr6cQFRIAyBsJjot-imV~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeSoto","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","Developers from HEXA Development presented a proposal to convert two city‑owned vacant buildings on the Hampton Road corridor into a co‑working and tech incubator hub, pitching both a revenue model for the city and a subsidized pathway for start‑ups and small tech firms.

“We think that as a smart man once said, genius is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Xavier Egan, a management partner with HEXA Development, describing the company’s approach of combining co‑working inventory with a venture studio and accelerator partnerships.

EDC staff said the buildings are currently vacant, need varying levels of repair, and that the proposed model would have HEXA act as master tenant and operator; the city would receive rent and the EDC could reinvest a portion of that rent in a revolving fund to underwrite early‑stage local firms. Matt Carlson said the model could allow the EDC to “buy back the space” for early‑stage firms by underwriting rents for a limited period while companies grow.

Board members asked for clarifying information before committing: which party would pay for structural building repairs versus tenant fit‑out; sample lease rates for hot desks, dedicated desks and private offices; the length of time the EDC would subsidize start‑ups; and a plan for what happens when incubated companies outgrow the facility.

HEXA said its Richardson facility opened in April 2020 and has remained largely occupied; in DeSoto the firm proposed a low/medium/high set of investment options to retrofit the smaller city buildings. Staff said they would return with a final proposal that enumerates lease terms, improvement responsibilities, projected rental revenue and any requested incentives.

Board members praised the concept as a way to create affordable executive and entrepreneurial space and to cultivate local tech and aerospace firms, but they emphasized the need for full financial terms and a draft operating agreement before approving incentives or lease arrangements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeSoto - Economic Development - May 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","HEXA Development proposed converting two city‑owned, vacant buildings into a co‑working/tech incubator hub with a model to use rent receipts to seed a revolving fund to subsidize start‑ups; the board asked for detailed lease, improvement and incentive terms before moving forward.","taxTitle","DeSoto, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",4572,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562909,"City council asks DeSoto board to clarify ‘Healthy DeSoto’ scope before approving $100,000 exploratory work",3845,2915000,6760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1&start=2915&end=6760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1/thumbnail_2915000.jpg","/articles/6562909/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/City-council-asks-DeSoto-board-to-clarify-Healthy-DeSoto-scope-before-approving-100000-exploratory-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562909-0c69bd7846a4a507e1538d194da9c48d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776030772&Signature=VXV~bTe5gnN2rOv6IAuxdGSR49c1y5SjBqNE4SE~jMLBc0D~sBSvaV173llFfb9eH2WQsy00BwfiVvSuqxuqRmTzUZSpzFJzV~lUBZ47XNojLgjdJSVOUJ6uYFmt50kAE1w1lPpsEE3agoy9PTQ4XimyHYxMCzEJCYr3j23ECeiwesfFbF~o9AkiOAgNWpAvwmDZrgBhj0KBWLFgRMZW8VnN5uo29fH9kbPniilhESpUzKdK1o8Yg1TirlmkjtJBQALKYJhRKudcIrHlNvQEYhzQ52WDMsHK5gZ7IpgjHjomdTx6RUWZ8vxYpz~zJA4ruEQANhQp4VsTJTtkMxC8Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members and council representatives pressed the Healthy DeSoto subcommittee for a tighter explanation of what the proposed $100,000 engagement would deliver and how it would advance the city’s health and economic goals.

Dr. G.P., a subcommittee member and physician, summarized the committee’s intent to analyze community health needs and asked for permission to hire outside expertise to develop a roadmap. Several council members said the council voted to defer action at its recent meeting because the presentation to council lacked a concise “what are we buying?” narrative.

“We don't know what we don't know,” a subcommittee member said during the discussion, describing the group’s goal to identify gaps and recommend next steps rather than to endorse a single development outcome.

Board members and the city manager said council members wanted a clearer description of the expected deliverables, the consultants who would be hired and how the study would link to existing regional health analyses by institutions such as UT Southwestern or Methodist. The board chair and staff agreed to repack the presentation and to circulate it to the board before returning to council in a study session.

The council’s request effectively postponed final approval of the $100,000 scope of work; board members asked staff to prepare a concise, step‑by‑step explanation of the goals, the metrics the study would produce and how those outcomes would lead to concrete next steps after six months.

Board staff said the study would produce a community health needs assessment, recommended implementation steps and a high‑level timeline, but that some existing regional analyses may be available and should be reviewed before overlapping work is commissioned.","The Development Corporation’s Healthy DeSoto subcommittee presented a proposal for a six‑month, $100,000 exploratory study. Council members and some board members requested a clearer, concise statement of objectives and deliverables and asked the subcommittee to return with a focused presentation in a study session.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562915,"DeSoto economic development team pushes bio life-sciences strategy, says lack of developed space is primary barrier",1362,683000,2045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1&start=683&end=2045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241101-f1210df60ac8c0fc4d1c9c2dde8a24d1/thumbnail_683000.jpg","/articles/6562915/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/DeSoto-economic-development-team-pushes-bio-life-sciences-strategy-says-lack-of-developed-space-is-primary-barrier","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562915-a2c91958b30d7d54014e8a7eb592abae/orig.mp4?Expires=1776030772&Signature=m1gH1ASegzcUuiBQ8fcufak7TAocExAuyGPoOruUcPeZ0nw-J2LwD1RM9-0Cqx79f54bTrkdUbXSdxdMXNopuxgHlYw1ycjh760tr0BaYvkdYeNbWjtkBN9KL-heiig02NpGHMO1KTznZkVIkvxb9DeAyjmizp7o2It4rfhAcZldqiyAptCA4oSGTxnt0hpxB1vg~TiTCJR9kdfQlzQ8W01LMyqGavrohbnLcupPnEHZOqsw8X-LDzmv1vaP4MTCN5TIrSlWn9CwJQ8tYfGaKrdQGhUPhW6iGn5mlT7c7uuY4OArF5gT5oSFT6lct2Vv7I9lUWUu3rf8VG2C8Nj9Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Matt Carlson, chief executive officer of the DeSoto Development Corporation, told the board that the agency is focusing its economic development work on higher‑paying industries such as bio life‑sciences, aerospace and advanced manufacturing and coupling that effort with workforce training partnerships.

“We're developing strategies to attract professionals in medical technology,” Carlson said, describing work that began in 2023 and continues as the board pursues projects that could bring large payrolls and lower‑turnover jobs to the city.

The EDC report said recruitment activity has included partnership appearances at national trade events — SelectUSA, the ICSC Recon retail show and the BIO International Conference — and outreach coordinated with the Dallas Regional Chamber and other North Texas cities. Carlson said the agency has fielded responses to two requests for proposals that envisioned manufacturing projects valued at about $1 billion and $1.2 billion.

Board members and staff said the biggest near‑term obstacle is a shortage of developed, move‑in ready space. “There is no quick and simple answer … If you can move to market quicker with approvals, great. If we can renovate space that people would want to lease, if we have those spaces, great,” Carlson said, adding that many targeted companies need lab, clean‑room or spec‑built space on a short timetable.

To address that, the Development Corporation has pursued a mix of strategies: creating targeted incentives, working with private property owners to retrofit buildings, acquiring strategic parcels (including the Community Missionary Baptist Church property) and evaluating a “small area plan” to make selected sites shovel‑ready.

Carlson emphasized workforce and training ties as part of attraction efforts. He said a bio life‑sciences cohort run with Panthera and Dallas College just completed an intensive training series and the EDA (Economic Development Administration) recently extended grant funding that could allow additional cohorts. The report also highlighted a new aviation training cohort at Executive Field and continuing human resources roundtables aimed at lowering turnover for local employers.

Antoine Long, economic development manager, outlined small business and entrepreneur supports including work with the Dallas Entrepreneur Center and partner events planned through the summer. Board members urged a parallel focus on smaller development nodes across DeSoto — not only the larger targeted campuses but smaller corners such as Westmoreland and BeltLine, Polk and Pleasant Run, and Cockrell Hill and BeltLine — where developers could more quickly intensify land uses.

Carlson and board members described several recent investments in the city, including solar turbines and Allied Stone, and said the total taxable base in DeSoto is about $7.5 billion. He noted that one large bio manufacturing project could increase that base by roughly 15 percent within 24 months and that average compensation at such facilities could be around $128,000 a year, figures Carlson cited as context for the strategy.

Board members directed staff to continue pursuing a mix of short‑term building retrofits and longer‑term site planning to reduce development friction for targeted industries.","At a DeSoto Development Corporation meeting, CEO Matt Carlson outlined an outreach push to attract bio life‑sciences, aerospace and higher‑paying manufacturing while officials and developers said a shortage of ready-to-occupy space is slowing deals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Developers pitch HEXA co‑working and tech incubator for vacant DeSoto buildings; board to review lease/incentive details

City council asks DeSoto board to clarify ‘Healthy DeSoto’ scope before approving $100,000 exploratory work

DeSoto economic development team pushes bio life-sciences strategy, says lack of developed space is primary barrier