May 24, 2005 - ARLINGTON -- A Grand Prairie developer plans to erect a hotel/condominium/retail project worth up to $300 million on the site of the Eastern Star Home on Division Street near the proposed Cowboys stadium.

Developer Hal Thorne envisions a 300-room, four-star hotel, 20-story office/condominium as well as boutique retailers and 77 luxury town houses in the $750,000 to $1 million range.

He hopes to add banks and restaurants to the mix on 30 acres. He plans to unveil details Thursday.

Thorne wants to incorporate the historic 1920s home and its two original wings into the hotel. He said he has had discussions with the Hilton hotel organization and another hotelier he declined to identify.

Thorne has previously built housing developments in Johnson County and practices law in Grand Prairie. He is working with WDG.HABIB architectural firm.

"This will create a real destination," Thorne said.

Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck said Monday that he and other City Council members have been invited to Thursday's unveiling of the plans.

He will keep an open mind for development possibilities there, but so far, nothing's changed on how the Eastern Star home property will be used.

"At this point, I would say that the Eastern Star Home is still one of the pieces of properties that's required for the Cowboys project," Cluck said.

Staff Writer David Wethe contributed to this report.

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