The city of Plano is set to spend $2 million on Harrington Homestead, a historic house on 3.88 acres of land near US 75, Assistant City Manager Curtis Howard said.
City officials plan to use the land to build a facility that will house ConnectPlano—a hub for nonprofit organizations in the city—while maintaining the original character of the property, according to city documents.
“The historic, prairie style home will be retained as part of the development to provide both a connection to Plano’s past, as well as a landmark to define the future development,” the documents state.
Plano City Council authorized the sale at a March 9 meeting.
The plan
The facility will provide office space at subsidized rates for nonprofit organizations that offer services in Plano, Howard said.
ConnectPlano will also manage day-to-day operations like maintenance, security, technology and the reception area.
“ConnectPlano as a whole is a vision of providing a facility where nonprofits can come in and they don’t have to worry about operational expenses,” Howard said. “They can focus on mission.”
In addition to the main facility, city officials plan to preserve the Harrington Homestead as an event center that nonprofits can use for training and fundraising.
A number of local organizations have already expressed interest in ConnectPlano and are working with city officials to create a governance model for the space.
“We’re looking at bringing these partners together and creating a synergy within our nonprofit community so we provide a more effective and efficient wraparound service model,” Howard said.
Project funding
Plano is purchasing the property for $2 million using funds from the $7.2 million in extra sales tax revenue the city saw in the last fiscal year. Plano City Council opted to direct the funds toward the ConnectPlano property at a Feb. 23 work session.
Plano has operated under a sales tax cap policy since 2008. The policy uses a three-year average of actual collections, excluding audit adjustments, to forecast revenue for budget projections and protect the city from economic swings.
For the current fiscal year, the city budgeted $124.6 million in sales tax revenue but collected $131.8 million, creating a $7.2 million surplus, according to city documents.
Budget Director Karen Rhodes-Whitley said the higher total was driven in part by two large one-time sales tax payments received in August and September.
Looking ahead
Plans for ConnectPlano are still in the early stages. While the city is using extra sales tax revenue to buy the property, city staff are working to secure funding for the construction and operation of the new facility, Howard said.
He said city officials are also meeting with their nonprofit partners on a regular basis to create a governance system for the space.
Now that the property is under contract, Howard expects ConnectPlano to be up and running in two to three years.
“As we see the needs in the city of Plano grow, and we see some of the pressures that we have in modern society, this is really going to be a way to help those folks that are living on the edge, that need assistance,” he said. “We’ll be a better city because of that.”
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