BlackStone Communities is asking local officials in the town of Prosper to sign off on an ambitious plan for a 143-acre mixed-use project known as The Marco, envisioned as an Italian-inspired village. The proposal would remake land at the northeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and US 380 into a large-scale, master-planned community with a strong emphasis on placemaking and destination-style design.
According to coverage cited from Community Impact, BlackStone Communities’ concept centers on a public square designed to serve as the project’s focal gathering place. The master plan calls for a blend of retail, residential, hospitality and entertainment uses built around that civic core, with the intent of creating an integrated environment where residents, visitors and workers can engage in day-to-day activities within the same walkable district.
A defining feature of The Marco is a man-made lagoon and canal network totaling more than 15 acres of water. The plan indicates that these canals would be large enough to accommodate boat navigation, giving the community a resort-like element and distinguishing it from more conventional mixed-use developments. The water feature is positioned as the central organizing element, with residential, commercial and entertainment components oriented around it.
The Marco’s residential program is structured to offer a range of product types, with the total number of units capped at 4,400. Within that cap, mid-rise apartments could account for as many as 2,500 units, while high-rise residential buildings, consisting of either condominiums or apartments, are limited to a maximum of 400 units. The plan also allocates up to 500 units for a retirement community, signaling an intent to attract multiple demographic segments, from traditional renters to seniors.
Beyond housing, the proposal includes a meaningful concentration of office, commercial and entertainment uses. BlackStone Communities’ concept includes office condominiums aimed at smaller businesses, potentially appealing to professional services firms or local enterprises seeking ownership rather than leasing. In addition, preliminary site plans show two larger office campuses, each with its own dedicated parking fields and positioned to accommodate corporate headquarters or major office users.
Hospitality and cultural amenities are also embedded in the vision for The Marco. The proposed program includes a hotel to serve both visitors and business travelers, as well as a performing arts venue intended to provide cultural programming and event space. Retail space is planned to support the residential and office populations and to activate the public square and waterfront areas, reinforcing the mixed-use nature of the project.
At this stage, BlackStone Communities is working to secure the town’s adoption of the plan, a necessary step before the Italian village-inspired concept can move forward toward entitlement, detailed design and eventual construction.
