Denton EDP Blog

 

From the rocky demolition in 2007 to the currently exciting renewal, Fry Street has been the talk of the town for quite some time now. Though one of Denton’s shortest streets, it’s also one of the most well known. The street is famous for its sandwich shops, an open-twenty-four-hours coffee house, pizza by the slice and dollar-a-beer bars. Outlining a University of North Texas campus corner, the area is in the midst of a significant face-lift and the unveiling is near. The construction is really starting to take shape, and it’s no longer a mystery what’s in store.

 

Sterling Fry Street, owned by Houston-based Dinerstein, is an apartment complex that dares to be different. Touting the phrase “revitalized student living,” they offer modern cabinets and countertops, wood and stained concrete floors, high ceilings, included stylish furniture, state-of-the-art appliances and even a 42-inch flat-screen TV. And, they’re not just aiming to be ‘cool;’ Sterling is also in the process of gaining the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for their environmentally friendly initiatives.

 

In the complex’s 194 units, the appliances are all Energy Star; the light bulbs are compact fluorescents that produce less heat, use 75% less energy and last 10% longer. The dual flush toilets, EPA WaterSense faucets and high efficiency shower heads team up to use 30% less water, and the Merv 8 air filters paired with low-VOC (volatile organic compound) carpets, glues, and other materials make way for cleaner indoor air. High performance windows and insulation cut down on energy used in controlling the temperature of rooms, which is both good for the pockets and the environment.

 

It doesn’t stop inside either; the community offers on-site recycling, preferred parking for hybrid vehicles, and both a “bum-a-bike” and ride-share program for fuel and atmosphere savings. Though not necessarily environmentally relevant, but equally as inviting, the community offers a pool plaza with tanning deck, a two-story athletic center, and courtyards with barbecue areas. In addition, they have rooms with easels to rent and a professional music room with a piano for the artistically inclined, a Mac-and PC-computer center with free Wi-Fi, study rooms for students, and social game rooms stocked with Wii and X-box.

 

It’s everything that is incredible about off-campus living with the benefit of being just a short walk away from class. And as if the deal couldn’t get any sweeter, Sterling is not just fantastic housing; it also sits nicely on top of 10,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space. It is not final which restaurants and/or stores are going in, but leases are in the works and Alex Payne, owner of Axis Realty Group, a Denton-based and Denton-serving commercial real estate company, is diligently finalizing those for summer openings. The apartments have been pre-leasing since early fall, and the accompanying parking garage is already complete. There’s no doubt that come August, the parking garage will be full, and the neighborhood will be alive and well. But it didn’t always seem that way…

 

In 2007, a proposed plan by United Equities (UE) called for a tear down of some of the city’s staples sending many into an uproar. The construction for the project never saw the light of day, however. UE proposed to Denton’s City Council the building of a CVS Pharmacy with a drive-through lane on the iconic corner of Hickory and Fry. The idea didn’t fly with the Council, so after the company refused to budge when amendments were suggested, the whole thing was quickly squashed.

 

After a period of silence, controversy was met with comfort in July of 2010. Dinerstein came to Denton with a plan that everyone could live with. Council members were relieved to work with a company that was both cooperative with City staff members and conscience of the needs and wants of its prospective community.

 

There were several required amendments to the Fry Street Overlay District (the set of zoning rules laid out in 2000 to protect the character of the 4.3-acre square that is formed by Fry, Hickory, Oak and Welch Streets). The proposed building height was taller than what was historically allowed in the guidelines, but Dinerstein was met with little opposition in the end. Teaming with Axis, they began Sterling Fry Street’s construction in early 2011, and it has been on track ever since.

 

The project, in its entirety, deemed “new urban,” plans to generate $700,000 a year in city property tax revenue. The restaurants and retail will most certainly create jobs for Denton residents; the apartments already have and will continue to do so. The commerce will be a welcomed addition to the area.

 

 

 

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