An old Richardson shopping center soon will get a $3.7 million face-lift.

The Richardson Heights Shopping Center was built in the 1950s, when the city was being transformed from a small farm on the outskirts of Dallas to a busy suburb.

The retail strip, on the southwest corner of Central Expressway and Belt Line Road, has changed little since that time.

Now the center will be modernized with new facades, a fountain, ornamental lighting, brick paving, outdoor seating and landscaping.

"We're going to start updating the buildings and putting up stone in early May," said Corey Duhon, president of leasing for Shafer Property Co., the owner and developer of the property.

A key feature of the new design will be adding elevated facades to the flat, one-story storefronts to give the center more visibility from Central Expressway.

Shafer Property, which bought the center in 2005, considered two renovation options – one for $1.64 million and more extensive upgrades costing $3.73 million.

They chose the more expensive design when the city offered to help pay for some of the renovation costs.

Richardson will kick in $872,695 for the project in an economic development agreement approved this week by the City Council.

The more upscale design should attract higher end retail stores, said Mike Wanchick, a Richardson assistant city manger.

"It will end up being a much better project," he said.

Mr. Duhon said the city's commitment was an important factor in the company's decision.

"I think it was key," he said.

The economic incentive is similar to one that the city entered into in 2005 to help renovate Dal-Rich Village, another aging retail center at Belt Line and Coit roads.

The city contributed $243,850 for the $1.9 million project.

The Richardson Heights Shopping Center renovations will be done in four phases and should take a year to 18 months to complete. Over 200,000 square feet will be redesigned.

A Starbucks Coffee will open in the center this fall, Mr. Duhon said.

The company is negotiating with other tenants, he said, including an office supply store, a consumer electronics retailer, a grocery store, a national bookstore and several restaurants.

Mr. Duhon said the shopping sits at a key gateway to the city.

"There's a demand for higher level retailers in that pocket of Richardson," he said.

This is one of several aging retail areas in Richardson that are getting some TLC.

Last week, Simon Property Group announced that it would demolish a major portion of the Richardson Square Mall in June. A 130,000-square-foot Lowe's store will open at the site in spring 2008.

An L.A. Fitness Center is under construction at an old retail center on the northeast corner of Belt Line and Plano roads.

The old Canyon Creek Shopping Center is being transformed as part of the II Creeks urban-style residential-retail development at Lookout Drive and Custer Parkway.

The updates to Dal-Rich Village are expected to be completed this summer.