By Ann Marie Shambaugh
ashambaugh@neighborsgo.com

When Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel heard that the Ebby Halliday, Realtors office on Plano Road might relocate to Garland, he took quick action to keep the 65-year-old company in his city.

Ebby Halliday, Realtors worked with the mayor and renewed their commitment to Richardson Monday with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 10,150-square-foot office at Highway 190 and Shire Boulevard.

“We do not want Ebby Halliday [relocating] anywhere other than another location in Richardson,” Slagel said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The new $10 million building — which is expected to open its doors in the spring of 2011 — will provide office space for more than 100 real estate agents. Employees from the current Richardson office and the Garland office on Shiloh Road will combine forces at the new office.

The company has had an office in Richardson since the 1960s, and 99-year-old founder Ebby Halliday said it was important for her company to maintain an office within Richardson city limits.

“We’ve had a presence in Richardson for many, many years,” she said. “We like the leadership, and we like the city council.” 

Ebby Halliday, Realtors has more than 35 offices in Dallas and surrounding cities, but the new office in Richardson will be among the biggest and most high tech, said Jefflyn Williamson, a project manager with Jefflyn & Company.

Williamson said she looked at several properties for the new office in Richardson and Garland, but they settled next to the Shire Shopping Center because of its high visibility along an expanding highway.

The new office is expected to primarily serve the Richardson, Garland, Murphy, Sachse, Wylie and Rowlett communities. 

Ann Marie Shambaugh is the Richardson/Lake Highlands/Far North Dallas neighborsgo editor and can be reached at ashambaugh@neighborsgo.com or 469-330-5689.