Frisco Development Watch • The Mix

If You’ve Driven the Tollway at Lebanon, You Know the Spot (And Why This Moment Matters)

Published Jan 29, 2026 • Read time: ~5 minutes

If you’ve driven the Dallas North Tollway at Lebanon, you know the spot.

For years, it was a daily reminder that big projects can stall hard: an unfinished pit, a half-started dream, and a lot of frustration from locals who just wanted the land to become something worth driving past.

I live about three miles from this site. I’ve watched it sit. And now, watching real construction activity finally move forward, it feels like Frisco is turning a page.

Some sites become landmarks for the wrong reasons. This one is finally about to become a landmark for the right ones.

What is The Mix?

The Mix is a master-planned, walkable, mixed-use district planned for the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and Dallas Parkway in Frisco.

The vision is bigger than “a shopping center” or “some apartments.” This is positioned to blend park space, retail, jobs, and housing into one connected place — a district that feels like a destination, not a stoplight.

What’s planned at The Mix (the headline features)

• 112 acres of mixed-use development along a prime Tollway corridor
• 16+ acres of open space with a central park core as the anchor
• 375,000 SF of upscale retail and dining across an elevated urban plaza + retail streets
• A high-end grocery anchor (reported in coverage as Whole Foods)
• 2,000,000+ SF of Class A office
• 114,000 SF of medical office
• Two hotels, including a large business hotel with major meeting space + a boutique hotel facing the park
• 3,000+ residential units, including urban living and townhomes

That mix of components is what changes the feel. When you combine jobs, park space, dining, a grocery anchor, and housing — the result is a district that actually holds attention.

Mixed-use done right isn’t about “density.” It’s about convenience, energy, and the kind of place people actually choose.

Why locals care: the Wade Park chapter and “the hole”

Before The Mix, this same land was expected to become Wade Park — a major destination-style project that never fully materialized.

The unfinished underground garage excavation became the most visible symbol of the stall, and locals gave it a nickname that stuck.

That’s why the current progress matters. This isn’t just a new concept. It’s closure on a long-running Frisco storyline — and a reset on one of the most high-profile corners in the city.

What this means for real estate nearby

1) Walkability becomes a premium lifestyle.

North Dallas is built around cars. When you create a true park-centered retail district, neighborhoods within a short drive tend to become more desirable for buyers who want convenience without giving up space, schools, or quality of life.

2) Jobs and amenities concentrate in one place.

Office and medical space bring steady daily demand. Retail and dining bring the weekend energy. Together, that combination can reshape where people want to live and how they choose neighborhoods.

3) “Near The Mix” becomes a filter buyers will use.

As the project fills in, you’ll see more buyers and renters ask for proximity, commute ease, and lifestyle access. That matters if you’re planning to buy, sell, or invest over the next few years.

What I’m watching next

• Retail and restaurant announcements as phases deliver
• Grocery anchor timeline and opening targets
• Traffic flow improvements around Lebanon and Dallas Parkway
• Phase milestones for infrastructure, open space, and the underground garage

Want the best neighborhoods near this corridor?

If you’re considering a move to Frisco, I’ll send you a simple shortlist of areas within a 5 to 15 minute drive, plus current inventory and price ranges.