Massive Italian-Inspired Waterfront Development Proposed Near Pr

Massive Italian-Inspired Waterfront Development Proposed Near Prosper-Frisco BorderA 143-acre development featuring a boat-friendly lagoon, hotels, restaurants and as many as 4,400 homes could transform one of Prosper's busiest gateways.Known as The Marco, the proposed development would sit northeast of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. 380 / Univerity.At its center would be an Italian-inspired village surrounded by more than 15 acres of water. Plans show a lagoon and canals designed for boats, along with a 26-foot-wide waterfront promenade.The village center could include a public square, shops, restaurants, a performing arts venue and a waterfront hotel with condominiums. Towers, cupolas and Italian-style bell towers could serve as architectural landmarks.The lagoon would not be purely decorative. It would also function as a regional stormwater detention facility. Most parking and vehicle traffic would be kept toward the development's outer edges, creating a more pedestrian-focused waterfront area.The Marco could include up to 4,400 residential units:- 2,500 mid-rise apartments
- 400 high-rise residences
- 500 age-restricted units
- 1,000 villas, townhomes, flats, duplexes and detached homesThe tallest buildings would generally surround the waterfront village, with building heights decreasing near existing single-family neighborhoods.Plans also call for more than 1 million square feet of office space, two possible corporate headquarters campuses and up to two hotels. A grocery store, market hall, neighborhood services and additional retail could face the Tollway and U.S. 380.BlackStone Communities submitted the rezoning application with authorization from property owner Godwin Investments Ltd. The developer says the mix of housing, offices, shopping and hospitality would create jobs and strengthen Prosper's tax base.The property currently has commercial zoning that generally would not allow the proposed height, density and structured parking. BlackStone is requesting a customized Planned Development district, arguing that the project matches Prosper's long-term vision for a higher-density, mixed-use gateway centered around water.The Marco appeared as zoning case ZONE-26-0009 on the Prosper Planning and Zoning Commission's Aug. 18 agenda.The plans remain conceptual. Rezoning approval would allow the project to move forward but would not guarantee that every proposed feature-or all 4,400 homes-will ultimately be built.