Developer Durkin Properties LLC, in partnership with Greenway Investment Company, Catalyst Urban Development and Fobare Commerical announced a new name and branding strategy this week for the Main Street area and its businesses.

Introducing Richardson’s Core District, a historic place on Main Street between Central Expressway and Greenville Avenue.  “THE core” will include construction of more than 20,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, 300 multi-family and 100 single-family homes and the addition of new parks.

“The importance of this area is that we want it to be a place, a place that people go to, a place that people all over the metroplex are talking about and saying what are you doing tonight? Lets go to main street,” said Manasseh Durkin, president of Durking Enterprises.

The name, “THE core” was selected after several months of research and evaluation by design firm Dodd Creative Group, which worked with Main Street area property and business owners as well as other community leaders to develop a concept and logo for the downtown area.

Durkin Properties plans to develop several projects on and around Main Street that will include a mix of retail and multi-family buildings and will coincide with a mixed-use development proposed for the northeast corner of Main Street and US 75. Both projects are expected to launch late this year.

This July, the City of Richardson will also start construction on a Main Street Redevelopment/Reinvestment Project that includes the reconstruction of Main Street between US 75 and Abrams Road along with wider sidewalks, lighting fixtures, picnic tables, benches, two new park areas and trees planted along both sides of Main Street and the construction of tree-lined medians. The City’s new public safety campus is also under construction in the area. The planned completion date for the road work is October 2020. Fire and police offices that are part of the new public safety campus should start to open this summer and fall.