DCTA to issue national RFQ for Old Town transit-oriented development; anchor building cost estimate ~$40 million

The Denton County Transportation Authority plans to issue a national request for qualifications to find a developer partner for a transit‑oriented development on property it owns adjacent to the Old Town rail station, DCTA CEO Paul Christina told the Lewisville City Council on the evening the agency presented its draft plan. The RFQ will ask firms about experience, proposed approaches to finance and deliver the project, and what public incentives they would require.

The RFQ follows DCTA’s purchase of the site with Federal Transit Administration grant funds in 2018–2019 and more than a year of working with city and county staff to refine a vision for mixed use development around an anchor building that could include a DCTA headquarters, Class A office space, ground‑floor retail and public plaza space. "Total estimate for that anchor facility, just this one right there, is just over $40,000,000," Christina said, adding DCTA has about $8.5 million in grant funding and a remaining gap of roughly $32.3 million.

Christina said the RFQ will be open nationally through DCTA’s procurement portal and that the agency is working with consultant partners to reach firms experienced with transit‑oriented development. He described the agency’s goal as a "set the market" development: an iconic, catalytic anchor on the east side of the railroad that could spur additional investment in Old Town.

DCTA staff highlighted constraints the RFQ will ask respondents to address, including a major sewer line that runs through the site, a planned regional stormwater detention facility and the DART‑owned right‑of‑way where DCTA operates under long‑term lease. Christina said avoiding DART property in design will reduce complexity and risk for prospective developers.

DCTA presented a draft timeline that foresees release of the RFQ before the end of summer, a multi‑step evaluation (submittal review, scoring, interviews, negotiation), and — if schedules and coordination with needed infrastructure fall into place — a potential ribbon cutting for the anchor facility at the end of 2029. Christina said market responses may vary: "Maybe your vision isn't market viable at all and you need to be thinking about other things," he told council members.

Council members and staff discussed national outreach and timing; Christina told the council the RFQ will be publicly available and the agency expects fair national exposure. City staff and the working group convened by the DCTA board will remain involved in coordination on stormwater and connectivity between the proposed site and existing Old Town development.

A closing point from Council highlighted regional planning momentum: the North Texas regional bodies are exploring new ways to fund transit‑oriented projects, which could create additional capital options in coming years.

If selected, a developer will enter contract negotiations with DCTA; Christina said DCTA may proceed with smaller pieces if the full vision is not market viable but that owning the site gives the agency flexibility and time to seek catalytic outcomes.