Business Development Update - Issue 81 - June 30, 2023

A publication of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

Issue 81 – June 30, 2023

www.bayareahouston.com

In this Edition...

Commercial/Office/Industrial Development Retail / Hospitality Development Residential Development Infrastructure News and Everything Else!

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) is a member-driven organization that provides leadership to stimulate regional economic development and employment in a range of industries such as specialty chemicals and plastics, advanced manufacturing, maritime, aviation, aerospace engineering, healthcare and biotechnology, and tourism. BAHEP partners with 280 member companies, 18 cities, Galveston County, Harris County, Houston Airport System, and Port Houston in southeast Texas to foster economic vitality through regional collaboration.

Please feel free to pass this e-newsletter along to others who would enjoy it, and kindly credit Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.

Commercial / Office / Industrial Development Manufacturing – La Porte-based Packwell has broken ground on a new 725,000 SF resin packaging facility at Port Houston’s Bayport Industrial Complex. The facility is expected to handle 20,000 export containers annually when it becomes operational in early 2024. Established in 1986, Packwell is a plastics bagging and logistics company that handles polymers of all categories, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and other specialty chemicals. The Bayport facility is the latest addition to Packwell’s 1.5M SF facility network across greater Houston.

Port Houston is the nation’s number one port for resin exports, handling 59% of all resins exported from the United States in 2022.

In April, Kao Corporation broke ground on a new tertiary amine production plant in Pasadena to meet growing demand for sterilizing/cleaning applications and a wide range of other industrial applications. The derived tertiary amines to be produced at the plant are used as basic ingredients in hair conditioners, dishwashing detergents, disinfectants, and many other household products. The $250M plant is being constructed at 5101 Underwood. The project is expected to create 60 new jobs and 300 construction jobs. Kao employs about 33,500 people worldwide and has 135 years of history in innovation.

New development / construction – •

Southeast 45 Logistics Park, a development by Junction Commercial Real Estate, is under construction at 5115 S. Shaver Street in southeast Houston. Specs: 169,677 SF, 130-ft. truck court, 32’ clear height, divisible to 42,120 SF, front load, 32 dock-high and two grade-level doors, and ESFR sprinkler system. It’s an 11.83-acre site that’s one mile to the Gulf Freeway and two miles to Beltway 8. Delivery is scheduled for October 2023.

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Global investment firm GTIS Partners will develop an approximately 484,000 SF industrial project in Pasadena at Beltway Green. The development will consist of a 355,071 SF, cross-dock building and a 128,999 SF rear-load building on a 26-acre site near the southeast corner of Beltway 8 and SH 225. Features will include 36 ft. and 32-ft. clear

heights, respectively, and combined parking for 382 cars and 93 trailers. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter and to be complete in summer 2024. Powers Brown Architecture is a project partner.

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CenterPoint Energy plans to move its longtime Galveston service center to Santa Fe on the northwest corner of FM 1764 and FM 646, where it acquired about 18 acres.

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Dirt work has begun for a new industrial facility at 2602 Genoa Red Bluff Road in southeast Houston, very close to Beltway 8. The 146,595 SF building on nearly 12 acres will have BTS office, 33 dock doors and two drive-up doors, 31 trailer spaces, 101 car parks, 32’ clear height, ESFR sprinkler system and 3-phase power. Availability is January 2024.

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Tannos Development Group LLC is ahead of schedule on the $23M, 107,000 SF office building at 1715 S. Friendswood Drive; build-out will begin in the spring.

Healthcare news – •

Kelsey-Seybold opened its recently completed 16,000 SF South Shore Harbour Clinic at 3625 E. League City Parkway. This facility will provide primary care such as family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine. Additionally, a two-story, 33,000 SF location on the west side of League City will open in 2024.

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Kelsey-Seybold is under construction at the Clear Lake clinic, 1010 S. Ponds, between El Dorado Blvd. and Bay Area Blvd. in Houston. That building is being expanded while two more buildings are also under construction – a 116,000 SF facility with an ambulatory surgery center and a 32,000 SF cancer center. At completion, the buildings will be renamed the Bay Area Campus.

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BioLife Plasma Services opened a facility at 1011 S. Ponds in Houston. The company is an industry leader in the collection of high-quality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies.

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HCA Houston ER 24/7 opened a new full-service location at 225 E. Parkwood Ave. in Friendswood. The facility is part of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake.

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Bayou City Dermatology is building 20,000 SF at 750 N. Texas Avenue in Webster.

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Houston Physician’s Hospital plans 60,000 SF of medical buildings at 507 N. Texas Avenue in Webster.

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CLS Health is expanding its Webster campus with a 4-story, 100,000 SF, medical office building that’s under construction at 905 W. Medical Center Blvd. The facility is expected to open this fall and will accommodate cardiology, oncology, pain management and orthopedic services. The first floor will be dedicated to outpatient surgery, urgent care, and ambulatory surgical care.

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Clear Lake NASA Ventures, owned by Dr. Khan Le, plans a 60,000 SF mini-hospital and a three-story medical office building on 4.24 acres. The state-of-the-art facility will be located at 555 E. NASA Parkway at Sarah Deel Drive in Webster. There will be a surgical hospital with minor emergency room capabilities to accommodate inpatient and outpatient surgeries. A portion of the facility will be leased to an orthopedic surgeon.

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Houston Methodist Clear Lake’s 24/7 emergency care center at 1310 E. League City Pkwy. at South Egret Bay Blvd. has opened. The facility offers access to x-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds.

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HCA Houston Rehabilitation Hospital Southeast has opened its new facility at 4801 E. Sam Houston Pkwy. South in Pasadena (Beltway 8). There are 31 private rooms, fully equipped gym and transfer simulator, and activities of daily living (ADL). Inpatient rehabilitation is for individuals who require a higher level of care following an extended illness, stroke, surgery, injury or trauma.

Aerospace News – Phase 1 at the Houston Spaceport is filling up fast, and there are now plans to start Phase II. This phase will be about 300 acres with the cost of infrastructure in the $80M range. Expected groundbreaking is in the next 12 to 18 months.

There will be parcels for more aerospace companies and land for a hotel, restaurants and retail centers – because the spaceport will be a destination. Eventually, a terminal will be built for people to board the hypersonic jets to reach faraway destinations … it’ll be a fast trip!

Also planned is the Aerospace Institute which will be a continuation of Phase 1 that included San Jacinto College’s EDGE Center and other higher education institutes that offer training for students who want to work in the aerospace industry.

The Aerospace Institute will continue that idea but will involve more local colleges. A 10,000 SF area in Phase l has been reserved for smaller companies to lease space so they don’t have to build their own facility. https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/development/2023/05/15/ready-to-launch-houston-spaceport-museum-planexpansions-as-astronauts-prep-lunar-mission/ Did you know that Houston is home to more than 350 companies involved in aircraft or space vehicle manufacturing, research and technology or other air transportation support activities? The region’s trade in aircraft, spacecraft and parts totaled $1.3B in 2021.

And the award goes to …

NASA awarded a contract worth up to $719M to Space & Technology Solutions, a joint venture led by Intuitive Machines, Inc. with KBR Inc. The contract is intended to support work related to the Joint Polar Satellite System and NASA’s Exploration and In-space Services projects division. The satellites circle the earth from pole to pole and cross the equator 14 times daily. They measure conditions in the atmosphere, in oceans, and on land. Information collected supplies data to help the National Weather Service monitor and forecast weather, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards and enable scientists and forecasters to study long-term climate trends.

Read about it here: https://houston.innovationmap.com/intuitive-machines-kbr-nasa-satellite-2659887032.html and https://www.globenewswire.com/en/newsrelease/2023/04/18/2649624/0/en/Intuitive-Machines-Bolsters-Orbital-Services-Business-Line-With-719-Million-NASA-Award.html Acquisitions and other transactions – Reed Vestal and John Erck / Junction Commercial Real Estate represented an affiliate of the company’s private equity division in the acquisition of 10.8 acres of land on Red Bluff Road in Pasadena. Representing the seller: Steven L. Dolgener / Home Smart.

Property at 4949 NASA Parkway in Pasadena was recently sold. The 2.653-acre property fronts Clear Lake, features an approximate 180’ pier and is adjacent to Clear Lake Park. No word on plans for the property yet but we’ll keep you in the loop. Development details later! The seller was represented by Will Florence / Marcus & Millichap.

MEP Green Design & Build opened its new headquarters at 915 Gemini Street. The firm offers engineering design services and mechanical contracting for new construction.

A 60,680 SF multi-tenant industrial property on 10.64 acres located at 3321-3411 Westside Drive in Pasadena recently sold. Representing the buyer were Clay Pritchett and Zane Carman / Partners and for the seller, General Property Services 1, Ltd. M Turner Properties purchased 27,500 SF of land at 1118 Pasadena Blvd. in Pasadena. Lisa Boggan / Qualified Properties for the buyer; for the seller: Misty Renner / Bacon Realty Group and Wayne Rutledge / Rutledge Commercial Real Estate.

Galveston County Commissioners approved the sale of 8.79 acres at Broadway and 54th Street in Galveston to Wingfield Partners. No word on what the plans are for the commercial-zoned property.

A 43,000 SF fabrication and distribution property at 4725 Lawndale St. recently sold in La Marque. Representing the seller Baucom Property Leasing were Cary Latham and Wyatt Huff / Partners; Anthony Heins / Heins Properties represented the buyer, Wolf Capital Partners.

JMK5 Holdings purchased Gemini Plaza, a 158,976 SF 6-story office building on seven acres at 1150 Gemini in Houston near the NASA Johnson Space Center. The seller, Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., will lease back two floors totaling 45,360 SF for at least two years. The company produces customized weather forecasting for business aviation. Since 2014, more than $6 million in capital improvements have been completed at the property. The building has a corporate cafeteria with a large dining room and surface parking at a ratio of 4/1,000 SF. Dealmakers: Cary Latham, Walt Huff and Dan Boyles / Partners for the seller; Noah Kruger / Savills for the buyer.

Leasing activity – •

437,000 SF – Blue Triton Brands leased at 225 Logistics Center, 2818 Pasadena Fwy. / SH 225.

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227,300 SF – Proactive Supply Chain Group leased at Bayport 146 Distribution Center in Seabrook near the Port of Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal. The 455,000 SF facility was recently completed at 5803 Old Highway 146.

Transwestern represented both sides - Carter Thurmond for the tenant; Brian Gammill, Nick Peterson and Darryl Noon for the landlord.

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Two transactions at Red Bluff Industrial, 1033–1037 Red Bluff Rd. in Pasadena. CBRE represented the landlord. o 95,000 SF – International Distribution o 59,000 SF – Patriot Aluminum

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16,400 SF - Pennsylvania Tool Sales and Services, a supplier to heavy industrial and manufacturing companies, leased at 16920 Texas Ave. in Webster. Jason Gibbons and Doc Perrier / Finial Group represented the tenant.

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15,000 SF – CobbFendley leased a building at Rex Road Industrial Business Park in Friendswood. Michael Keegan and Andrew Laycock / Partners represented the landlord; Lucian Bukowski and Abby Alford / CBRE for the tenant.

Two more 15,000 SF buildings have been completed and are available. Negotiations are in the works for a 20,000 SF building that’s underway. All the buildings are free-standing with 3 phase / 480 volt power and grade level doors. The property is less than two miles from the Gulf Freeway.

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8,000 SF – OEC Group, a Taiwanese-based global logistics company leased office space for 23 employees at 1300 Hercules.

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KULR Technology Group Inc announced the opening of a new research and development (R&D) center in Webster to accommodate for increasing battery development engagements in 2023 and beyond. The company’s sales, marketing, project management, quality control, and customer care divisions will continue to be headquartered in San Diego, however, the Webster facility's design could accommodate future expansion. https://www.kulrtechnology.com/kulropens-new-research-and-development-center-in-texas/

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Two transactions for Lawrence Business Park in Kemah – Wayne Rutledge with Rutledge Commercial Real Estate was the broker in both transactions. o 3,800 SF - CRM ONSITE CONCRETE SOLUTIONS o 6,000 SF - RCM Supply

Did you miss an issue of this Business Development Update?

Current and previous editions can be found here: BAHEP Newsletter

Retail / Hospitality / Mixed-Use Development Development news – •

A new waterfront mixed-use development by Highland Resources! Highland Center is planned to be built in Seabrook on Clear Lake. The project includes a 13-story, 238-unit apartment building and a 5,200 SF restaurant with a 3,150 SF outdoor dining deck overlooking the lake. The property totals 3.1 acres on two lots at 3805 and 3813 NASA Parkway. The residential tower will be L-shaped with a 9,860 SF amenity deck and pool on top of the 182,000 SF, 500-car parking garage. Development cost is estimated to be between $70 - $75M. Most of the units will be one bedroom but studio and three-bedroom units are in the mix, too. The boat slips will be refurbished for residents or for rent. Construction could begin in the first quarter of 2024 and is expected to take two years to build.

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Seabrook Plaza, the mixed-use, waterfront development, is still moving forward. Here’s what Fischer Acquisitions and Development has planned for the property along NASA Parkway at Repsdorph Road: 170-room Compass by Margaritaville hotel which will connect to a 10,000 SF event center with an additional 10,000 SF of outdoor space, a 7story apartment tower that will also include 76 one and two--bedroom condo units, and 20,000 SF of waterfront dining.

Parking on the 1st and 2nd floors. Work is underway.

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West League City Crossing is under construction at League City Parkway and Bay Area Blvd. Two buildings of 11,085 SF are available; tenant mix will include a pet spa and grooming, a veterinarian, dentist, fitness, bakery and restaurant.

More details later.

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The League – a proposed mixed-use development on 44 acres in League City by CJ Development. The first of five phases is currently in the design and permit stages. Phase 1 will have six-story buildings with retail, restaurants, offices, multifamily apartments and a wet retention pond for fishing and kayaking. More on this project later!

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Update on Dickinson’s Water Street development -- REME William Cole, a joint venture company, plans a resortstyle destination with upscale shops and restaurants anchored by a boutique hotel. Project cost is about $70 to $80M. The 20-acre project is on the site of former Sussan Fine Furniture, 3820 Gulf Freeway South. Water Street will feature 30,000 SF of office space, perhaps for medical businesses, and an event space of 25,000 SF is planned. Under construction are 8 single-family, beach house-style homes ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 SF, priced $550’s to $650,000.

The Water Street development is inside a tax increment reinvestment zone. https://www.galvnews.com/news/water-streetaims-to-make-dickinson-a-destination-developer-says/article_3c2d248b-317a-55b0-992f-192393cc86be.html

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The first retail tenants were announced for La Marque’s former Gulf Greyhound Park, now a mixed-use development

by Jerome Karam / JMK5 Holdings LLC. Seven acres of the 88-acre site were purchased by Main Street Commercial.

Three of the seven pad sites have been leased to McDonald’s, Chipotle and Raising Cane’s. Three additional restaurant tenants are still in lease negotiations including a national full-service restaurant(s). Construction for the project’s infrastructure could begin by year’s end. The site is on the corner of FM 1764 and FM 2004 and across the road from Walmart and Sam’s Club – there’s a large regional trade area in all directions. Main Street Commercial owns several other properties in Galveston County, including in Texas City, League City and Kemah.

Karam has an additional eight and 1/2 acres under contract and plans to sell another 17 or 18 acres, while retaining the rest for a Las Vegas-style concert and event arena. Read more: Redevelopment of former Gulf Greyhound Park signs first retail tenants - Houston Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

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Work is progressing on The Edge at Seabrook Town Centre, a development by HS Development Group. The $80M project includes a four-story, 322-unit apartment complex and 19,000 SF of retail and restaurants surrounding a central plaza and event lawn. The location is on 19.5 acres near the roundabout of Repsdorph Road just west of SH 146.

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A 13,987 SF retail center has been completed and is available in Nassau Bay at 1740 E. NASA Parkway.

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Construction for Great Wolf Lodge, a 532-room resort, indoor water park and conference center in Webster, can clearly be seen from the Gulf Freeway and NASA Bypass.

It’s on a 27-acre site and really big!

Acquisitions and other transactions – More than 175,000 SF of retail and restaurant space on 33 acres, both sides of the Gulf Freeway just north of Bay Area Boulevard, were purchased by Ashita Investments, a League City-based investor. The acquisition included stores and restaurants such as Rooms To Go, The Burger Joint, Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and Charles Schwab.

Read more here about all the activity in this area -https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/04/18/ashita-investments-baybrook-retail-acquisition.html A 15,000 SF Kroger shadow-anchored retail shopping center at 250 South Egret Bay Blvd. in League City was recently sold. The Lagos Retail Group of Marcus & Millichap arranged the sale.

Baker Katz purchased a 20,000 SF property at 18980 Gulf Freeway on the perimeter of Baybrook Mall. Plans are to redevelop the property. Last year the company acquired a 108,000 SF shopping center at the Gulf Freeway and FM 518 in League City. Ben Brown / Baker Katz represented his firm; seller represented by Lewis Property Co. AMOCO Federal Credit Union purchased a +/- 1 acre site on the northeast corner of W. League City Parkway at Bay Area Blvd. This property is adjacent to a planned retail center – West League City Crossing.

Leasing and other activity – Premiere LUX Ciné 12 plans to open a completely renovated movie theater in the first quarter of next year at Mainland City Centre, 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway in Texas City. The theater will feature luxury lounge seating, expanded food and beverage menus and state-of-the-art laser projection systems.

2,000 SF - Immerse Studio Suites leased at 3514 Burke Rd. in Pasadena. Representing the tenant: Ricardo Saucedo – RE/MAX 5Star Realty; for the landlord: Wayne Rutledge - Rutledge Commercial Real Estate.

2,880 SF - Weeks Marine leased at 601 Cien Rd. in Kemah. For the landlord: D’Ann Fleming – RE/MAX 5-Star Realty and for the tenant: Wayne Rutledge – Rutledge Commercial Real Estate.

1,600 SF – Nassau Bay Pharmacy & Wellness leased at 18044 Upper Bay Rd. Representing the tenant: John Guess lll and John Guess IV / The Guess Group and for the landlord: Wayne Rutledge / Rutledge Commercial Real Estate.

Dutch Bros. ground leased a 1.2-acre retail pad site on League City Parkway and Hobbs Road. Rebecca Le and Heather Nguyen / NewQuest for the landlord; Greg Slusky / Sluco Realty Services for the tenant.

For those who love exotic hand-made boots, hats, Western apparel and fashion accessories, Lucchese Bootmaker has opened a 4,000 SF store in the lifestyle center between Gloria’s Latin Cuisine and Kendra Scott at Baybrook Mall. This is the second Houston location and Lucchese’s largest retail store.

Dick’s House of Sport, a brand of Dick’s Sporting goods, will host a grand opening July 7-9 at 18650 Gulf Freeway at Baybrook Mall. House of Sport is an experiential concept the retailer debuted in 2021 and has since expanded to a total of 10 stores in eight states. Stores are opening at Baybrook Mall and in Katy; these two are the first Texas locations and part of 12 House of Sport stores the retailer plans to open in the next two years. Depending on the location, the stores feature climbing walls, batting cages, running tracks, golf bays and fitness equipment available for visitors’ use. They also offer services such as bike repair, golf club tuning, and baseball glove steaming and shaping. Read more: Dick’s Sporting Goods in Katy, Baybrook Mall to reopen as 'House of Sport' stores - Houston Business Journal (bizjournals.com) Dollar General unveiled its DG Market concept at 914 Bayou Road in La Marque. The DG Market concept offers fresh produce and meat, along with Dollar General’s typical merchandise. DG Markets offer the top 20 items typically sold in grocery stores and about 80 percent of produce categories carried by most grocers.

The Texan has plans for a yet-to-be announced site in La Marque. The convenience store chain was founded in 2008 and sells fresh foods and a large selection of gifts. The Texan is known for fresh sandwiches, salads, made-to-order burgers and daily lunch and dinner specials. And, like its rival Buc-ee’s, The Texan features plenty of fuel pumps and clean bathrooms. Stay tuned for updates.

MEP Green Design & Build opened its HQ at 915 Gemini St. (engineering & mechanical contracting).

Have you looked at our flip book of Hot Projects? BAHEP Hot Projects Restaurants, cafés and more – Santa Fe – • Fish Place Seafood Café opened a new restaurant at 12240 SH 6; they’ve been in business for more than 17 years.

• Hubcap Grill & Bar will open at 12405 FM 1764, most likely by early summer. A 3,000 SF outdoor patio and deck will be added to the existing building.

• Whataburger is planned for 4206 Avenue T. Construction could begin by the second quarter this year.

• Big Horn BBQ is under construction at FM 646 / FM 1764.

Kemah – • Fish and Chips Houston (British pub) opened at 609 Bradford Avenue.

• Th Prsrv (The Preserve) is open for reservations only at 709 Harris Avenue.

League City – • Miru Seafood will open soon at 2490 S. Gulf Freeway.

• Salad and Go opened a second location at 1930 W. League City Parkway; the other location is at 2590 E. League City Parkway.

• Kelley’s Country Cookin’ is back open at 1502 W. Main Street.

• Scooter’s Coffee Shop is under construction at 2030 E. League City Parkway.

• Crust Pizza is now open at 1921 W. League City Parkway.

• Tim Hortons is said to be looking on the West League City Parkway for a new location. Parent company, Restaurant Brands International Inc., has more than 29,000 restaurants in over 100 countries.

• Black Rock Coffee will open at 2494 S. Gulf Freeway.

• Yannis Gyros and Kebobs plans to relocate to 1601 W. Main St. • The Spot plans to open this summer at 2502 Gulf Fwy.

Friendswood – Great Harvest Bakery & Café signed a lease for 2,800 SF at 212 S. Friendswood Drive in the One Sixty One development on FM 518 at West Shadowbend Avenue. The bakery is known for its signature bread, baked fresh daily, and will offer sandwiches, salads, soups, baked sweets and more. It’s the first location for Galveston County; there are plans to add locations in coming years, with the next likely in League City, as reported by the Galveston Daily News.

La Marque – Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken plans to open in a former restaurant location at 6608 Interstate 45. The Virginia-based company specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers and chicken and waffles.

Houston – • Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken opened at 2410 Bay Area Blvd.

• Swig plans to open at 2409 Bay Area Blvd. at Houston’s University Plaza. It’s a drive-through that offers ‘dirty soda’ combinations which is a beverage in which soft drinks (Sprite, coke, Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke) are mixed with cream, juice and other flavors. Swig will also offer sweet treats, too.

Clear Lake Shores – Galveston Bay Brewing opened at 902 Marina Bay Drive.

Webster – • Poke Chef at Baybrook Passage, 19325 Gulf Freeway, is open.

• Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux (8,500 SF) is open at 1250 Fairway Drive.

• Dirty Dough has been added to the tenant mix at Shops at Baybrook.

• kPot will open at 20794 Gulf Freeway.

Pasadena – • Hippo Burgers is open at 5409 Crenshaw Rd. • Charleys Cheesesteaks and Wings is open at 5116 Fairmont Parkway.

• Mambo Seafood will open at 3481 East Sam Houston Pkwy S, • Black Rock Coffee Bar opened at 4030 Spencer Hwy. • La Michoacana Plus (yogurt, Ice cream, desserts) and Prime Meat Market is now open at 2536 Spencer Hwy. Dickinson – Gordo Ninos expects to open a third location in the Dickinson / Bay Colony area this year.

Nassau Bay Summer Moon (coffee) will be opening soon at Nassau Bay Town Square.

Texas City – Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill opened at 12930 Crystal View Blvd. The restaurant overlooks the 12-acre Crystal Lagoon in Lago Mar. Fishing Booker, an online booking company that helps find fishing destinations, recently ranked Galveston as the 2nd best fishing destination in the U.S. for 2023.

In case you’re wondering, San Diego was #1 and Panama City, FL was #3. Read more here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/galveston-best-fishing-in-us-17707799.php Just for fun – Several Zero-G Experience events are coming to Ellington Airport at 11602 Aerospace Avenue starting in June. Check the Zero-G Experience webpage for more details.

Lone Star Flight Museum has something new on display – NASA’s Crew Compartment Trainer-2. It trained astronauts for more than 35 years and will now be an interactive display for museum visitors. Earlier last year, the museum received a NASA space shuttle simulator, also on display.’

Space Center Houston: HPALab summer family accelerator - The one-day summer family accelerator on Friday, July 21, will provide families the chance to participate in fun training through Space Center Houston’s Human Performance Accelerator Lab (HPALab).

Families will work as teams for hands-on experiences rooted in NASA research such as a simulated spacewalk that will be conducted using scuba gear in a historic pool. The day ends with dinner with a NASA astronaut. 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., For age 11 and older and is capped at a limited number of participants. Registration is $399.95 per person and includes meals and the scuba experience.

Coming Soon Baybrook Mall – Mango (fashion retailer) will open later this year.

Houston –Legendary Venue will open soon at 780 Clear Lake City Blvd. Standing Ovation Theatre plans to open soon at 17380 El Camino Real for a variety of shows including comedies, dramas and thrillers for all age groups.

League City – Sweet Life Confectionery at Walding Station, 100 Perkins Ave. Children of America will open a new location at 6011 W. Main Street.

Now Open Baybrook Mall –National retailer Akira (clothing & accessories). Fabletics (activewear). Curv (plus-size women’s clothing).

Houston – Restore Hyper Wellness-Baybrook opened at 1520 Bay Area Blvd.; another location is planned for 1720 FM 646 in League City. Johnson Fitness & Wellness opened at 19010 Gulf Freeway. AMOCO Federal Credit Union opened a new branch at 1150 Clear Lake City Blvd.

League City – Main St. Bistro relocated to 100 Perkins Ave. Pet Bar Boutique at 2800 Marina Bay Drive. FIT Theorem at 2640 E. League City Pkwy. Rock’s Discount Vitamins-N-More at 831 W. Main St. Webster – Gelato Spot at 243 E. NASA Parkway. Violet K-pop (anime & K-pop) at 575 W. Bay Area Blvd. Urgent Vet at 931 W. Bay Area Blvd. Blackline Coffee at 203 E NASA Pkwy.

Pasadena – F-45 Fitness Center on Fairmont Pkwy near Target.

Friendswood – Dr. T Med Spa at 2111 W. Parkwood Avenue. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming at 3141 FM 528 (a one-stop shop for pets). Hero Cha (boba tea) at 802 W. Friendswood Drive.

Texas City – Brewchacho’s Tacos & Cantina at Mainland City Center, 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway.

Residential Development Texas City may be the chosen location for Latitude Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffett brand of 55+ resort-style communities.

This could be the first in Texas! These developments feature resort-style pools, fitness centers, live entertainment, and arts and learning programs, among others. There’s no information on the exact location at this time but the search is said to be in the range of 1,000 to 1,500 acres to accommodate about 3,000 homes.

Read about it https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/06/05/latitude-margaritaville-community-texas-city.html Changes are coming to Galveston County! Bolivar Investment Group announced plans for a 110-acre beach resort at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula. The site at 1520 SH 87 will feature 90 single-family homes on 15 acres, 117 rental cottages with a clubhouse and two pools, 50 RV sites and five beachside condominium towers totaling 160 units. The first to be built is the Zoo Beachbar & Grill, 41,000 SF, that could be complete by Q1 2024. Also planned is more retail, restaurants, spa and a small private airport. Last year, the newly opened Bolivar Beach Club & RV Resort became a Camp Margaritaville franchise; there are plans to expand. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/galveston-speninsula-beach-resort-opening-2024-17851994.php#photo-23601845 Announced earlier this year in Galveston County is another project at Crystal Beach –The Pearl of East Marsh. Island Sky Investments is the developer behind the 32-unit luxury condo development. It’s on three acres facing Galveston Bay on North Redfish Street next to Stingaree Restaurant and Marina. Specs: two or four-bedroom units from 1,100 SF with an option to buy an entire floor and turn it into one five-bedroom unit. First floor is parking and garages; units will be on the third and fourth floors. From $599,000 to $650,000. The project should deliver in the last quarter of this year. https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/01/11/island-sky-investments-bolivar-condos.html Work has begun on The Albritton in Friendswood, a mixed-use project by Tannos Development Group, LLC. Located at 408 S. Friendswood Drive, the project is 163,000 SF with 11,000 SF of retail frontage, 9,000 SF of small office and local business space on the ground floor and 111 class-A residential units of 620 SF - 1,350 SF on the upper three floors. The multi-level garage will have a pool and sun deck on top.

On both sides of NASA Parkway in Taylor Lake Village and El Lago, there is a lot of residential construction going on -single-family, condominiums and townhomes. The $90M mixed-use development will include commercial office space, retail, restaurants and more! Updates soon!

Townhomes are planned next to the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake in Nassau Bay. Dirt work is underway.

Ivy Point, an active adult 55+ community will be open soon at 2920 W. El Dorado Blvd. in Friendswood.

Developer JMK5 Holdings plans 30 luxury waterfront townhomes at 1203 Twin Oaks Blvd. in League City. The 18.5-acre property was formerly the 314-slip Marina Del Sol. It was rezoned from general commercial to single-family residential.

The project is in the permitting stage. Six three-and-four story buildings will house the townhomes with garages on the first floor. Prices from the $650’s.

Hines, a multinational real estate investment group, is under contract to develop a 159-acre property located between the Wilderness Trails and Creekwood Estates subdivisions in Friendswood. Hines would invest $33M for the major infrastructure that is needed. Planned are 187 single-family homes to be built on 90-foot lots.

Homes underway in Santa Fe: Hidden Meadows - 35 homes; Tower Road Estates – 60 lots; Maple Landing - 30 lots; Tower Estates - 35 lots; and Centennial Oaks - 99 lots. Among the larger residential developments underway is Mulberry Farms, which features 168 lots with an entrance at FM 1764 and Avenue L. New homes are coming to Texas City: There are 5,000 preliminary plats in the works.

Within a 3-mile central location of Seabrook, El Lago, Taylor Lake Village, and Kemah there are 1,740 new residential units proposed, planned or underway.

In Friendswood, Sterling Creek sections 1 – 6 are done; one remains in development. Avalon – Sec. 1 & 2 are complete.

Acquisitions – Two tracts totaling 350 acres in Texas City were sold to an undisclosed buyer for the development of single-family homes. The land is between Interstate 45 and SH 3 and has 3,400 ft. of frontage on FM 2004. Brokering the sale were Harrison Kane, James Kadlick and Chris Hutcheson / Colliers.

Property of 13.7 acres located at 205 N. Friendswood Drive sold. The property is adjacent to Kroger Grocery and Friendswood Plaza Retail center. The buyer was represented by Liz Bui / eXP Realty; Kelly Hutchinson / Colliers for the seller.

Infrastructure News and Everything Else!

Cruisin’ News …

The Carnival Miracle, a 2,200-passenger ship and flagship brand of Carnival Corp., will homeport in Galveston from fall 2024 to spring 2025, relocating from San Francisco. It will be the fourth ship in Galveston offering nine to 12-day itineraries.

A fourth cruise terminal is in the works. Switzerland’s MSC Cruises, one of the world’s largest cruise lines, signed an MOU with the Port of Galveston to build and operate its fourth home port in the U.S. No timeline has been announced.

Planned is a $53M expansion for Cruise Terminal 25 at Port of Galveston to better accommodate the 6,500-passenger Carnival Jubilee that will arrive in December. In 2022, cruise activity generated 3,500 jobs, $568M in business revenue and $73.5M in local purchases by passengers and crew.

Princess Cruise Lines could make Galveston a home port. After nearly 6 years, this cruise line is back in Galveston with the Ruby Princess; a second ship could be added.

Did you know that more than 30 million people live within 300 miles of Galveston’s cruise port? Unlike some of the northern cities, cruises operate from Galveston year-round.

Already this year, 600,000 people have sailed from the island on passenger ships.

As of late May, only 135 of 355 scheduled sailings have been completed.

If the trend continues, it will be a record-setting year.

Port Houston released the Houston Ship Channel Economic Impact Study from John Martin Associates. The study showed that in 2022, the Houston Ship Channel generated $906 billion of economic value to the U.S., representing a 13% increase since 2018, when the study was last conducted. Marine cargo activity at the Houston Ship Channel terminals generated $439 billion of economic value for the state of Texas.

In 2022, the Houston Ship Channel and its terminals also supported 3.4 million jobs across the nation, including 1.5 million Texas jobs.

The full report can be accessed at this address: https://porthouston.com/about/our-port/statistics/ Projects preserving green space … ➢

You may not know this … Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the United States – 2, 500 acres – and could become even larger. An offer has been made by Harris County to purchase an additional 1,000 acres north of the nature center. The effort is to preserve wildlife habitats and to educate the public about why they are so important for all of us. The nature center has three ecosystems: riparian forest, bayou and marshes, and about 900 acres of coastal prairie. The native ecosystems act as a giant filtration system for the Bay Area; the prairies are critical to the ecosystem yet only 1% of the original land coverage of coastal prairies remain.

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The final phase of Exploration Green will be finished this summer. The project is converting a former golf course into a series of detention ponds. The location is an area bordered by Bay Area Blvd., El Camino Real, El Dorado Blvd. and Space Center Blvd. Exploration Green will provide the community with 500M gallons of stormwater storage; it’s expected to improve flood risk zones and reduce insurance rates in the area. At completion, the project cost is almost $43M; volunteer hours saved taxpayers $6.5M. The grand opening is in September. https://communityimpact.com/houston/bay-area/development/2023/04/03/exploration-green-in-clear-lake-final-phase-set-for-summercompletion/

City News …

Hitchcock – • City Hall has moved to a new location, SH 6 and Delany Road.

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Hitchcock EDC has acquired four new lots available for office and retail. Give them a call if interested.

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In the city’s industrial corridor, there’s a 268-acre tract on FM 2004 that’s for sale with 440’ of frontage along FM 2004.

The industrial corridor is 18.5 miles to the Port of Galveston, 30 miles to Hobby Airport and 6 miles to the Gulf Freeway.

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Another opportunity for industrial projects is the Blimp Base on 78.6 acres on FM 2004 with easy access to SH 6.

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A great opportunity for a mixed-use business park is a 9.54-acre site at 5640 FM 2004 at the entrance to Jack Brooks Park.

Pasadena – • Pasadena EDC is still actively accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Program for businesses located in Historic Pasadena. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ORLgRS •

Also, please check out the Pasadena EDC’s SizeUp Business Intelligence tool where businesses can enter a few data points and see how they stack up and compare to others in their industry in Pasadena. https://bit.ly/3XRZq9B

League City – • A great opportunity for development! This 60-acre site is along Egret Bay Blvd. / FM 270, less than 10 minutes from NASA JSC and 15 minutes from the Kemah Boardwalk. The property is adjacent to a 148-acre nature preserve and provides water access to Clear Lake via Clear Creek. Possible uses include open-air live/work/play center … hotel and convention space … retail / entertainment / dining … integrated mixed-use. Email Scott Livingston for more information: scott.livingston@leaguecitytx.gov

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CEO Magazine is featuring Mayor Nick Long in the June issue. Check it out! Nick Long, Mayor of City of League City (theceomagazine.com)

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League City is looking for a developer for property at 144 Park Avenue. More information can be found here: League City opportunities

Dickinson – WCID#1 bond was approved which means improvement and expansion of water and sewer infrastructure.

Houston – CEO Magazine is also featuring Mario Diaz, Executive Director of the Houston Airport System in the June issue. Please enjoy: Mario Diaz, Executive Director of Houston Airport System (theceomagazine.com)

Education news – San Jacinto College is partnering with Nuro, a leading autonomous vehicle company, to create the state’s first AV technician certificate program. The program starts this fall; it’s a one-year certificate program. Students will merge computer design and automotive engineering skills to prepare for AV industry jobs. Contact: james.ragaisis@sjcd.edu If you didn’t hear … votes cast were in favor of a $250M bond for College of the Mainland in May. This will allow several new buildings to be constructed – a 134,000 SF library and classroom building, a 20,000 SF corporate and continuing education center, a 50,000 SF three-story classroom building and a 50,000 SF public services center plus renovations to many other campus buildings.

College of the Mainland will launch a radiologic technology associate degree program during 2023-2024 school year.

Radiographers assist in interpreting images of the body for patient diagnosis in hospitals, clinics, urgent care center, mobile radiographic units and surgery centers. And they are the largest group of medical professionals in the U.S. … always in demand!

University of Houston-Clear Lake has leased space in the Texas Medical Center – the entire 14th floor at 6624 Fannin Street. UHCL’s undergraduate and graduate programs have always been offered at the TMC; this expansion will foster increased collaboration, internship and networking opportunities plus provide an unparalleled educational experience. The UHCL’s Healthcare Administration program includes bachelor’s degrees in healthcare administration and healthcare services, a master’s degree in healthcare administration, and a joint Master of Healthcare Administration / Master of Business Administration. The first phase will be complete in early fall 2023. Planning for the second phase is in the works.

Clear Creek ISD’s robotics teams broke district records in April and May at the Robotics Competition World Championship. Of the district’s 135 robotics teams, 33 participated in the competitions.

Voters approved all three La Porte ISD Bond propositions by landslide margins. Propositions A, B and C in the $235M bond package will address aging facilities, safety and security, technology, infrastructure and athletics including a new Bulldog Development Centre and Bulldog Stadium to be built on the existing site.

Voters approved a $120M Dickinson ISD bond. Projects include a $68M education complex to serve 1,400 pre-K through 5th grade to be built on 30 acres at the corner of Lago Crossing and Hughes Road in Lago Mar. Included, too, is $1.5M of safety and security upgrades, including technology and infrastructure and access control. The bond also provides a $50M Career and Technical Education facility and upgrades to the existing CTE space at Dickinson High School.

Funded by a $158.6M bond package, a $66M La Marque High School replacement campus will be built at 397 Duroux Road. The current high school is over 50 years old. The La Marque ISD recently completed renovations on 12 of 14 buildings.

Road News …

Here’s some good news … TxDOT announced the agreement to begin the Grand Parkway from League City to Alvin, known as Segment B. A contract for construction is expected to be awarded in 2025 with expected completion by 2030.

TxDOT is still looking for the best way to connect the Grand Parkway from I-45 to SH 146 which is Segment A.

Going out for bid this month is the SH 146 widening from FM 518 to Dickinson Bayou. It’s a three-year project at a cost of $177.8M and will widen the road to six lanes and include new sidewalks and bridges.

Going out for bid in May 2024 is the FM 646 widening, west of SH 3 to SH 146. This is a two-year project at a cost of $72M and will widen the road to four lanes with a raised median.

The bridge connecting Pelican Island to Galveston Island will be reconstructed at a cost of $118.4M. This three-year project will be out for bid in July 2025.

Construction on the major I-45 expansion project from NASA Parkway to FM 518 is set to finish up this summer.

It’s all good! Did you hear that TxDOT expects the widening of SH 146 through Seabrook and Kemah to be complete by the end of the year?

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Economic development doesn’t happen by itself! If you would like to know more about how you can support our economic development initiatives and have the opportunity to work with the region’s business leaders, please contact Membership Director Harriet Pilgrim at 832.536.3255 or Harriet@bayareahouston.com.

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