What do you do with a vacant downtown lot? The City of Cedar Hill has ideas.

In a unique approach to economic development, the city is turning a vacant downtown lot into an interim park. The goal is to showcase the potential of the 2.68-acre site to become a dynamic mixed-use hub. The city will kick off the effort with a Community Celebration Aug. 22.

The “forward-thinking” activation puts the property to work today while “building visibility, generating activity, and helping prospective partners envision what the site could become,” the city said in a release.

In its former life, the site was the Phillips lumber yard and hardware store. More recently, Jim Lake Companies had it under development for offices, restaurants, residential and retail space. The mixed-use development stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its ownership transferred back to the Cedar Hill Economic Development Corporation, officials said.

Cedar Hill is inviting residents, visitors and prospective development partners to a key downtown property it hopes to see developed. [Photo: Cedar Hill]

Now the property at 104 S. Broad St. will serve as a gathering space while awaiting permanent mixed-use development featuring restaurants, retail, entertainment and open space.

“This is an opportunity to show both the community and potential developers what this site can contribute to the future of Downtown Cedar Hill,” said Henry Florsheim, director of economic development. “We are creating energy and value at the site today while continuing to pursue the right partner and a permanent development that reflects the community’s vision for downtown.”

A lively kickoff for a temporary park

Set for Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m., the free, family-friendly event will feature coffee, mimosas, food trucks, live music from Maya Piata and Band and “a community toast to the future of the property,” the city said.

A colorful interactive asphalt mural, shade structures, outdoor seating and a public art installation with more than 450 feet of banners will be unveiled at the celebration. The Cedar Hill Farmers Market, typically held at another nearby downtown location, will move to what the city calls “the Phillips Property” for the day, continuing until 1 p.m.

The event will highlight the property’s ability to support markets, community events, pop-ups and other downtown experiences.

Growing a dynamic downtown

The activation comes out of the city’s “Heart of the Hill Downtown Action Plan,” adopted in early 2026 following nearly a year of input from residents, businesses and community stakeholders.

The plan identifies the Phillips Property as one of downtown Cedar Hill’s most significant development opportunities for mixed-use and an anchor for the whole area with frontage on Belt Line Road.

The plan also highlights other city-owned properties downtown. The first group includes several adjacent lots in the city’s historic square with Babe’s Chicken serving as the anchor. There also is a 6-acre area southwest of Phillips and bordering railroad tracks dubbed SPARTS District for sports, arts and entertainment uses. In addition, there is an 8.5-acre site south of Phillips tagged for mixed-residential use. According to the action plan, the properties are within a tax increment financing district, which helps foster opportunities for public-private partnerships.

The city said it is seeking partners to expand a dynamic downtown experience and transform the Phillips Property into a community and economic anchor.

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