Asbestos removal underway at old Ferris Professional Plaza

FERRIS – After being vacant for more than five years, the 20,000-square-foot Ferris Professional Plaza is on its way out.

This past week, Horsley Specialties, Inc. begin the process of removing asbestos from the facility, which used to be a nursing home for the city of Ferris.

After previous investors failed to maintain the building, the city reclaimed the property five years ago.

The city reached an agreement with Canyon Creek Development in November last year to grant the property to them under the condition they absorb the costs of demolition for the property.

According to November city council agenda, the economic development corporation incentive goes up to the appraised value of the land.

If demolition costs exceed the value, a forgivable loan by the city will be used to fill the gap.

Jordan told the Economic Development Board, he estimated asbestos abatement cost more than $100,000 for the developers.

Once the building is demolished, a mixed-use development will be built alongside the roadway, complete with seven residential lots, two commercial lots and two town homes.

Melvin Barnes of Southern Star Builders said the project was part of a multi-lot development of 19 residential lots by the Ferris Independent School District Administration Building.

Having already collaborated with Canyon Creek on the Midtowne homes in Midlothian, Barnes told EDC board members he believed an identical development could similarly benefit Ferris.

He said wanted to see what he could do to bring more rooftops into the city.

“I was building those houses in Midlothian and kind of seeing that market,” Barnes recalled, “I’m Ferris born and raised. I went to my partner and said I think mv hometown is a perfect place for our product.

“It’s got a nice, old-town feel to it, a bunch of the houses are craftsman-style homes. I think it would revitalize the city.”

Barnes said the lot sizes would range from 1,700-2,300 square feet and would be one or two stories depending on the buyer’s needs.

And with the added foot traffic next to the administration building, Barnes said that would also benefit the commercial spaces they have planned for the development.

“Our thing is we don’t have a floor plan. When customers are interested, they come, sit down with us and tell us their dream home.

“Then we bring our architects in and we design it to what you guys are wanting, and we try to budget the build according to what your allowance is.

“You’re getting a custom home, but you’re not paying custom prices,” Barnes continued.

“You’re not going to see two of the same houses on the street – or in the same neighborhood, for that matter.”

Barnes anticipated demolition will take four weeks – he said it would depend on the weather. If it rains or storms, it may cause delays for their project.

Regardless, they do plan to lay out three spec homes in the next few weeks, and two others as soon as demolition is complete.