Plaza Broadway…To be, or not to be”

The future of the building that was once a K Mart located at Centerville and Broadway in Garland is now in dispute. Stripped by thieves and vermin infested, it had been abandoned for several years. Developer Carlos Quintanilla has filed plans with the City’s Planning and Zoning commission to create an indoor marketplace with 110 small businesses. He is the developer of a similar enterprise located at I 30 and Buckner in Dallas, which is also a former K Mart. Quintanilla prevailed in a lawsuit he launched against the owners of that property and has moved on to Garland with plans for a more upscale operation.

When a building plan does not comply with current city zoning ordinances, the developer must apply for a Special Use Permit. We’ve been told that Quintanilla’s plan falls into the category of “flea market”. Quintanilla applied for an SUP several years ago for the same property and was denied by the City Council. This time he’s trying to comply with current zoning regulations by modifying his initial plan to be in compliance, thereby avoiding the need for an SUP. Having done so, he has yet to receive the building permit he will need to build out the interior and complete the project.

The building has had a new exterior paint job and new flooring on the interior. Store spaces have been marked off on the wood flooring and we’ve been told that more than half have already been reserved.  In the meantime Quintanilla waits for City Hall to issue his building permit so partitions can be installed and electrical work completed.  He hopes to be open for business by Thanksgiving, so tenants can take advantage of what will be left of the Christmas shopping season.

The Plaza Broadway property is located in City Council District 4, but Councilman B.J. Williams will not comment on the matter, though he did state that he is unaware of the status of Quintanilla’s application for a building permit. District 3 Councilman Stephen Stanley explained that according to Quintanilla’s initial plan the project would fall into the category of a flea market and the City Council would most likely not approve the plan. Quintanilla insists he has modified that plan to fit current zoning guidelines.

With partitions that reach from floor to ceiling, wood flooring, locking storefronts and annual leases, the proposed market would not resemble a flea market in our opinion. It’s difficult to understand why City Officials seem to prefer an empty building to a vital, tax revenue producing marketplace. Quintanilla seems to feel that their negativity is prejudicial, but such matters are difficult to determine.  We’re hoping for a positive outcome, for both Carlos Quintanilla and for the citizens of Garland.

Nancy Ghirla

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