Photo Credit: The Mix renderings
After more than a decade of anticipation, frustration, and countless jokes about “the hole on the toll,” Frisco residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Construction has officially begun on The Mix, a multimillion-dollar mixed-use development that promises to transform the infamous Wade Park site into a vibrant community hub.
On January 16, city and development officials gathered at the corner of Dallas Parkway and Lebanon Road to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Mix. “Finally,” exclaimed Mayor Jeff Cheney, capturing the sentiment of many Frisco residents who have been waiting for this moment for years.
The Details
Spanning 112 acres, The Mix is set to become a unique destination offering new jobs, experiences and homes for Frisco residents. The development will feature an upscale grocery store (TBD), an 8-acre park, a 400-key hotel, 375,000 square feet of retail space, 3 million square feet of residential space and 2 million square feet of office space.
A Troubled Past
Before it was The Mix, the site was known as Wade Park, a once-promising mixed-use development that broke ground over ten years ago. Wade Park was envisioned as the crown jewel of Frisco’s “5 billion dollar mile,” but the project came to a screeching halt in 2017 when its owners went bankrupt. What was supposed to be a bustling center of activity turned into a gravel pit and a large hole, mockingly referred to as “Lake Lebanon” by locals.
The incomplete buildings and the infamous hole, which was intended to be an underground parking garage, became a symbol of frustration for the community.
Some locals humorously suggested that the large hole could be converted into a community swimming pool, given its size and depth. Others called it “The Tollway’s Black Hole,” a play on the idea that the project seemed to swallow up money and time without producing any results. “The Wade Park Time Capsule” also came up in conversations, with some joking that the hole was a time capsule meant to be opened in the distant future, revealing the remnants of a once-ambitious project.
A New Beginning
Construction on The Mix had already begun before the official groundbreaking, with crews working to demolish the remaining structures from the Wade Park era. The parking garage project will continue into the new development, becoming a 3,000-space underground garage with unparalleled access to the Dallas North Tollway.
The most recent news from The Mix included a new incentive agreement approved by Frisco’s City Council in October. One of the requirements for developers to receive the funds in the agreement was to finish “the hole.”
Mayor Cheney expressed the community’s relief by noting that the council frequently receives inquiries about the toll project. He shared their excitement about finally having an answer and beginning the project’s rebirth.
So, Frisco, it looks like the days of driving past an embarrassing blemish are finally over. The Mix is here, and it’s ready to turn that infamous hole into a beacon of progress and prosperity. Let’s just hope this time, the only thing that gets buried is the memory of Wade Park.
