TxDOT's project plans to expand 377 to four lanes and add features like sidewalks, medians and left-turn lanes to accommodate traffic needs.
ARGYLE, Texas — Where once was the site of a bustling auto repair shop now sits a plot of dirt littered with rocks and piles of discarded building scraps.
Fifth Gear Automotive President Ricky Jordan called it a sad sight to witness as he surveyed the area.
Jordan chose to open the company's second location in Argyle, right off U.S. 377, because he loves the community.
"I've lived in this area for 35 years," Jordan said. "This was really an up-and-coming place that needed car repair. There wasn't a lot here."
Prior to opening the location in 2020, Jordan said he was aware that the Texas Department of Transportation had plans to expand 377 that would impact part of the property.
"We understood that there was going to be some road expansion that affected the parking lot, so we did a lot of due diligence prior to buying it," Jordan said. "...We worked with the county to make sure we go compliant with all of the affected parking and fire lane issues.."
TxDOT's project includes expanding 377 to four lanes and adding features like sidewalks, medians and left-turn lanes to accommodate the traffic needs as the population in the area continues to grow.
In a statement, a spokesperson for TxDOT said: "TxDOT acquired a portion of the property in 2019 from a previous owner. The acquisition affected the business parking lot, but not the structure itself, so there was no plan to demolish the building. In cases where parking lots are affected, the owner and/or tenant could determine the feasibility of revising their site plans to add more parking in other areas. The tenants on site in 2019 were offered relocation benefits due to the parking impacts. At the time of acquisition, Fifth Gear Automotive was not a tenant."
Jordan said, once the dealings to accommodate the road expansion project were handled, his company was able to open its auto repair operation in the building in 2020.
"Everything was smooth and fine," Jordan said. "...Last year, in late 2024, we get the demand letters that we're going to get eminent domain and we're going to lose the building."
Eminent domain is the legal ability of a governmental agency to force the sale of property to the government for public use like roads, railroad tracks and power lines. It's an ongoing, and growing, concern in North Texas as the state expands infrastructure to meet the demand of a fast-growing population.
Jordan said that notification came from Atmos Energy. He said the utility company stated it needed to run gas lines through the land where his shop stood in order to support TxDOT's 377 expansion project.
"They let us know late last year that an easement was coming, but we really didn’t understand we were going to lose the building until the very end and we didn’t understand timelines until the very end," Jordan said.
According to Jordan, he was required to vacate the property by Jan. 31. The shop wasn't actually torn down until mid-June.
"It was very frustrating because the building then sat here until June doing nothing, which would’ve helped us a lot if we could have continued operations until they actually needed to tear the building down," Jordan said. "That would have saved me months of at least staying in business.”
A spokesperson for Atmos shared this statement with WFAA: "Atmos Energy is required to perform this pipeline replacement project in accordance with TxDOT’s widening of U.S. 377. We always prefer to acquire property rights through negotiation. When that is not possible, the courts have a process for acquiring the easement and compensating the landowner. We value the communities we serve and always strive to treat property owners with courtesy and respect. We are available to landowners to answer questions they may have regarding the project."
Jordan was unable to provide documentation of his correspondence or any payments from Atmos or TxDOT due to legal concerns, but he said the impact on his business has been significant.
"It's basically cut our business in half and taken us to a point where it's an investment to stay in business, not a profitable venture," Jordan said.
He said his former shop employed more than 16 staff members and serviced thousands of customers in the area. The business has relocated to a space about two miles away, right off of Highway 407, where there is a temporary office and the process of rebuilding has begun. Jordan said the "best-case scenario" is they reopen at the new location in Argyle in early 2026.
"I’m excited about the investments that we’re making in this area," Jordan said. "We need larger roads and better infrastructure to support a growing city and town, but we need to be very mindful of the businesses and how it impacts the people around."