The Stretford is a 14-story, 72-unit condominium project being built in southwest Tyler near Loop 323, adjacent to The Cascades golf course. At approximately 180 feet in height, it will be one of the tallest buildings in that part of Texas and has already become a noticeable addition to Tyler's horizon. Viewtech, Inc. began construction of the Stretford in January 2005 for Tyler-Stretford LLC, with construction expected to be complete by March 2008.
The Stretford is built entirely of steel, concrete resting on a standard drilled-pier foundation. Each floor is a post-tensioned flat slab. Exterior wall construction consists of a metal wall framework clad with natural Travertine and granite.
Standard units in the Stretford range in size from 1,999 square feet to 2,343 square feet, and the 14th floor will have penthouses that will be 4,300-plus square feet each. The upscale interior of the Stretford will have hardwood, carpet and tile flooring, granite and marble counter tops, 10- to 12-foot ceilings, an indoor swimming pool, security cameras, a fire-sprinklered interior, keyed access doors, and an enclosed parking garage.
Mike Loinette, Viewtech, Inc., project manager, says that "the biggest challenge facing the job was overcoming the wettest spring and summer on record." The rains during the spring and summer of 2007 caused schedule delays of approximately two months, and Loinette continues, "We had to do a lot of things out of sequence, and spent a lot of time mopping, sweeping and protecting, but we feel that we minimized the time impact and kept the project moving. The credit for achieving this feat goes to the project superintendent, Raul Ortega."
The market base for the Stretford is expected to consist of local professionals and retirees moving to East Texas who would like a primary residence in the area, and the Stretford will also be used as a second home for people who like to vacation in East Texas.
