Argyle MDD reviews Retail Strategies' ICSC report, debates contract value and plans developer roundtable

Harrison, an MDD staff member, briefed directors on a Retail Strategies report included in the meeting packet that summarized conversations the firm held at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Red River conference in Dallas. Retail Strategies' representatives Madison and Megan were not present and are scheduled to give a fuller presentation at an MDD meeting in May.

Harrison said the report lists several retail "users" that expressed current or ongoing interest in Argyle, including fitness operators (Crunch Fitness and EOS Fitness), restaurant concepts such as Velvet Taco and Zaxby's, bookstore concepts and other potential uses. He said Crunch Fitness indicated it prefers either 25,000 to 50,000 square-foot second-generation spaces or ground-up locations in higher-demand markets. "Their goal is to follow-up with these interested brands," Harrison said.

Directors discussed whether the MDD and town should do more to help fill existing vacancies and to coordinate with local developers. Several directors urged staff to reach out to local property owners and developers to identify available sites and to consider how to make tracks shovel-ready. One director raised cost-effectiveness questions about the Retail Strategies contract, noting the MDD currently pays $45,000 per year and that the contract runs through June.

Harrison acknowledged the $45,000 annual payment (the board had paid the contract for the current fiscal year beginning in July) and said staff would verify the timing of future payments and work to ensure the town is getting value from the contract. Directors said they want clearer deliverables and a report before any contract extension is considered.

The board directed staff to organize a developer roundtable to hear directly from developers about barriers, priorities and needed infrastructure. Staff proposed holding the event in the evening to accommodate working stakeholders; board members discussed timing and suggested avoiding council or P&Z meeting dates. The plan is to hold training for MDD directors about statutory authority and best practices first (a workshop at the April meeting), then host the developer roundtable in mid‑April or shortly thereafter, and to begin policy development in May.

No formal vote was taken on contract renewal at this meeting. The action items recorded were (1) staff to schedule a developer roundtable and (2) staff to prepare a training/workshop on MDD authority and incentive policy options for a future meeting.