Balch Springs EDC approves appraisal funding and $10,000 facade grant; staff previews city-center plan and infrastructure grants

The Balch Springs Industrial and Economic Development Corporation (Type A) on April 14 voted to pay for an updated appraisal of a 14-acre EDC-owned parcel off Interstate 20 and to award a $10,000 facade improvement grant to Executive Hospitality LLC, owner of the Studio 6 hotel, while staff updated the board on a city-center master plan and several infrastructure grants.

Staff presented the appraisal request for EDC land identified in city records as 13049 Interstate Highway 20 (also referenced as 3850 S. Beltline Road). Staff said the parcel was last appraised in 2020 at about $1,400,000 (roughly $2.24 per square foot in that report) and recommended contracting with HS Miller for a current market appraisal so the city can begin negotiations with multiple developers who have expressed interest. The board approved funding for the appraisal and authorization to enter a contract with HS Miller; the motion passed unanimously.

The board also approved a facade improvement grant to Executive Hospitality LLC (Studio 6). Staff said the proposed exterior work would cost about $25,000; the EDC grant would cover up to $10,000 and the business would provide the remaining roughly $15,000. Staff noted the hotel contributes about $52,000 annually in hotel-occupancy tax revenue and has eight employees. Gary Patel, identified as part owner of the hotel, told the board the grant would help “re-make a fresh look to the hotel” and keep the property in better condition.

Why it matters: staff framed the appraisal as a necessary step to set a negotiating baseline for potential development of the 14-acre site, and the facade grant as part of a budgeted program to invest in visible corridor businesses to support retention and tax revenue.

Details of staff updates and planning

EDC staff summarized progress on a year-long city-center master plan developed with Catalyst Commercial. Staff said the plan has cleared technical review bodies and is scheduled for City Council consideration later in the month. If adopted, staff said, the EDC will pursue a zoning overlay for the new city-center area and begin engineering and design work for Elam Road.

Staff reported the regional Council of Governments (COG) awarded an engineering-design grant of $1,600,000 to study Elam Road from Pioneer Road to Peachtree Road; with a $400,000 local match that would yield $2,000,000 for engineering design. Staff said the grant would support pedestrian and safety improvements and help leverage private investment; a developer has proposed a roughly $50 million mixed-use project in the corridor including about 76 single-family and townhome units and retail along Elam Road.

Staff also told the board it had secured a TxDOT grant of up to $900,000 to fund lighting improvements along the Beltline corridor from I-20 toward Mercury Road. Staff said the project will be paired with streetscape work the council recently approved and that a traffic signal at Beltline and Mercury is included in the capital plan but remains contingent on equipment delivery and final HOA/common-area approvals in the Canyon Ridge subdivision.

Collector road / I‑20 access and right-of-way negotiations

Staff described ongoing negotiations with property owners, an adjacent church and a contractor to secure the right-of-way and access from I-20 for a planned collector road tied to a larger development. Staff said negotiations will include a mix of negotiated donations and requests for assistance from property owners; no eminent domain action is planned. Staff said an amended development agreement is under review by the developer and its attorney and that staff expects to present an updated agreement to the board when revisions are complete.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes for the Type A regular meeting of March 17, 2025 — motion passed unanimously (votes recorded as yes from David Ruffino, Ivan Guo, Felicia Riddick, Gwendolyn Gardner and Brandon Jackson).

- Approval of funding for appraisal services for EDC-owned land at 13049 Interstate Highway 20 / 3850 S. Beltline Road — motion passed unanimously. Staff recommended contracting with HS Miller for a current appraisal; the motion authorized staff to execute the contract (contractor name and vote record below).

- Approval of a facade improvement grant to Executive Hospitality LLC (Studio 6) at the Balch Springs corridor location shown to the board — motion passed unanimously; grant not to exceed $10,000; proposed project cost about $25,000 (business to contribute the remainder).

What the board did not decide

Board members discussed timing and next steps for platting and construction on the city-center parcels; staff said platting, amended agreements and TxDOT approvals remain outstanding and that construction timing is likely late 2025 or early 2026 depending on those approvals. No formal action was taken on use of EDC budgeted funds for the collector road at this meeting beyond continued staff negotiation and the intention to bring a final agreement forward.

At the meeting’s close the board approved the motion to adjourn; the meeting ended at approximately 6:58 p.m.

Source quotes

- "This is a proposal for appraisal services, as it relates to the EDC on land, 14 acre parcel off of I‑20," said EDC staff presenting the appraisal request.

- "This facade improvement grant would help us to re-make a fresh look to the hotel," said Gary Patel, part owner of the Studio 6 property.

Next steps and scheduling

Staff said it will return with the finalized appraisal once HS Miller completes the report, will draft and route the facade-grant contract for execution once improvements begin and will present the amended development agreement and collector-road funding details when developer revisions are complete. The board’s next Type A meeting was discussed for May 19 and June 16 (third Monday cycle); staff will circulate final meeting dates and documentation to board members.

(Reporting by the Balch Springs EDC staff briefing and meeting transcript.)