Allen council authorizes negotiations with Kalahari Resorts for large resort and convention center

The Allen City Council voted to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute land and lease agreements and an economic development incentive package with Kalahari Allen Texas LLC, a preliminary step toward a proposed resort and convention center on about 120 acres at Stacy Road and Highway 121.

Dan Bowman, executive director of the Economic Development Corporation, described the project as a family-owned, mixed-use resort that would include an indoor and outdoor water park, a roughly 900-room hotel, a 165,000-square-foot convention center, a 100,000-square-foot family entertainment center and multiple food-and-beverage outlets. Bowman said the project budget is approximately $900 million and now looks likely to approach $950 million. "We're looking at a 38-year term" for the…