Hines had planned to start work on the Lakeside Resort &Residences project last year, but returned it to the drawing boardfor a redesign by a new architect. Heath Johnson, project managerfor Houston-based Hines, says the redesign of the one-timecondo-hotel has resulted in a more user friendly project for thenine-acre tract at 2900 Lakeside Pkwy. and is a better fit for theland. "The new one, as a whole, blends in better with the overalllandscape and maximizes the use of the development site," Johnsonexplains. The hotel will be up and running in late 2009.

Johnson tells GlobeSt.com that the development team is planninga March 24 presentation to the planning and zoning commission andcity council to begin the process to amend its master plan and arezoning to allow multifamily development in the 1,600-acreLakeside District. He estimates it will be at least the fourthquarter before construction could start on a condo tower, whichwill be designed for up to 65 residences.

The destination conference center resort targets small tomedium-size business groups and one-off travelers from the nearbyDallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Atlanta-based RabunArchitects' hotel design is ell-shaped with seven- and nine-storywings. Among the new features is a rooftop-terrace restaurant onthe seven-story building. "It has lake views that no other propertyis able to achieve," Johnson says.