Urban West Ventures is converting a nearly 75,000-square-foot structure on Woodlawn Boulevard in Denison into commercial space for up to 16 small businesses. The project aims to repurpose a building that has sat vacant and deteriorating since 2013.
The property previously housed Gibson’s Discount Center and later operated as a Trailblazer call center. Tony Kaai, president of the Denison Development Alliance, noted that the call center employed approximately 400 people for many years. After Trailblazer departed in 2013, the facility functioned as a warehouse and distribution center before falling into disrepair.
Alex Mickle, a principal at Urban West Ventures, stated that the redevelopment focuses on providing both office and storage capabilities for specific trade sectors. Mickle identified contractors, subcontractors, and kitchen and bath vendors as the primary target tenants. These businesses require a home base for administrative work alongside warehouse space for tools, materials, and vehicles.
Mickle indicated that workers involved in the nearby Preston Harbor project are a key demographic for the new space. He noted that local storage would allow tradespeople to keep equipment close to their job sites. “All of the carpenters and electricians and the trades people that are going to be working on that Preston Harbor project... that’s our target.
I can store all my stuff locally and be just a couple minutes drive to the job site,” Mickle said.
