Allen residents will see three major improvements to community services after the City Council approved a series of projects this year, according to Community Impact. A new storage building at the Allen Animal Shelter, a 41‑unit townhome community with a dog park, and a hospital expansion adding 25 beds are set to enhance animal care, housing options and health care in the city.
Animal shelter storage upgrade
At a November 10 meeting, the council approved a $105,000 contract with LEMCO Construction & Materials to build a dedicated storage facility at the Allen Animal Shelter, located at 770 S. Allen Heights Drive. City documents note that the shelter currently uses veterinarian space and several dog kennels for storage, limiting its ability to manage donated items. The new building will free up that space, allowing staff to improve daily operations and better serve the community’s pets.
New townhome community
In a unanimous vote on July 28, council members approved a zoning change for a nearly six‑acre parcel near Allen Drive, converting it from a shopping‑center‑type use to a residential development. The plan calls for 41 townhomes, a 5,000‑square‑foot dog park, about 1.5 acres of open space with benches, a masonry wall, landscaping, public parallel parking along Allen Drive, and a 10‑foot‑wide trail that will connect to existing infrastructure. City staff responded to resident concerns by realigning driveway access for better visibility, and Engineering Director Chris Flanigan confirmed that traffic impact studies are not required because the projected trips fall well below the 1,000‑trip threshold.
Mayor Chris Schulmeister said the decision aligns with the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which seeks to diversify housing stock. Senior Planner Kim Yockey highlighted that the site’s shape makes commercial uses impractical, making townhomes a suitable fit.
Texas Health hospital expansion
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen announced a renovation project that will add a shelled third‑floor unit with 25 additional inpatient beds. Media Relations Strategist Deanna Boyd Spangler said the work, expected to cost under $20 million, will increase the hospital’s capacity to meet the growing health‑care needs of Collin County. The expansion is slated for completion in late 2027, and the facility, located at 1105 N. Central Expressway, already offers emergency, cardiovascular, family‑planning, orthopedics, rehabilitation and other services.
What’s next
Construction on the shelter storage building is set to begin later this year, with completion anticipated before the end of 2025. The townhome development will move forward with engineering drawings and permitting, aiming for groundbreaking in early 2025 and phased occupancy thereafter. Texas Health expects the hospital expansion to be finished by late 2027, expanding patient capacity for the Allen community.
Sources: communityimpact.com, communityimpact.com, communityimpact.com
