A publication of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
www.bayareahouston.com
Issue 91 – October 30, 2026
In this Edition... Commercial/Office/Industrial Retail / Hospitality Development Residential Development Infrastructure News and Everything Else! BAHEP is a member-driven organization dedicated to stimulating regional economic development and employment in Southeast Texas. Founded in 1976, BAHEP works with over 350 investor companies, local governments, and educational institutions to attract, retain, and expand industry in the region. Our members include business partners encompassing 17 cities and Galveston and Harris counties.
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COMMERCIAL / OFFICE / INDUSTRIAL New Development / Construction … The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees has approved a lease and development agreement with Power LNG LLC. Plans are to develop a $240M small-scale, modular liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, storage, and fuel bunkering facility on Pelican Island. The site is 30 acres on the east side of an 82-acre port-owned property on the deep-water harbor. The facility will serve LNG-powered vessels operating in the Galveston, Houston and Texas City ship channels. This positions the port to serve the growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel. Advocates say LNG fueled vessels emit lower levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides than those burning traditional marine fuels. The project is expected to create 25 permanent jobs and another 30 full-time equivalent contract positions along with construction and waterfront labor opportunities. Commercial production is projected to begin in Q4 of 2028. It will be the first liquefied natural gas bunkering facility on the Gulf Coast. GDN LNG Pelican Galveston LNG Bunker Port, a joint venture between Navergy Infrastructure Partners and Seapath Group, could break ground on Shoal Point in Texas City by the first half of 2027. By 2030, the facility could begin fueling cruise ships, container vessels and other maritime customers. The small-scale natural gas liquefaction, storage and bunkering facility is being built on 140 acres of city-owned industrial property. The land is just east of Texas City’s major petrochemical complex and only six miles from the Houston Ship Channel where it opens to the Gulf. Construction is expected to take 30 to 36 months and employ about 250 workers. The project will create about 50 permanent jobs. GDN LNG Shoal Point Two light industrial warehouse projects are planned by RD DevCO, LLC in Deer Park. The first is located on nearly 23 acres in the 5100 to 5400 blocks of Red Bluff Road. Three buildings ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 SF will be developed. The second project is a 26,000 SF building on 8.78 acres at 4811 Red Bluff Rd. Both projects are scheduled to be underway in 2027. Unit Cold Storage freezer warehouse is being built in Seabrook. The 72,000 SF facility will be located at 5760 Old Highway 146, between SH 146 and Old Highway 146. The Bayport Container Terminal is a mile away. There will be 10 private units, 7,200 SF each with 28’ clear height and independent temperature control. Each has its own loading docks, office space, and choice of four-rack configurations depending on needs. The concept is to serve smaller local businesses and regional operators needing temperature-controlled storage near Port Houston and the greater Houston market.
Aerospace and Aviation News … Intuitive Machines (IM) secured a $600M+ deal to develop three commercial satellites for an undisclosed customer over the course of about two years. IM will design, manufacture, and support several spacecraft for a critical communications infrastructure mission. IM then secured a new contract with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California that will use the company’s IM 300 “spacecraft bus” for an EAGLE-VSWIR Earth observation mission, scheduled to launch in 2028. Hou Inno IM
Space Center Houston is outgrowing its current facilities. The museum plans to kick off the $50M first phase of the master plan in Q1 2027 with a refurbish of outdoor exhibits, including Independence Plaza where most exhibits are located. The renovation will wrap up later in 2027. In 2028, to focus on education, an Advanced Training Facility will be built -- it will include a pool to simulate the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab plus a robotics lab and classrooms. The master plan also includes building a new gallery south of the current building to house a spacecraft. There will be more details on this later! HBJ SCH Recently, Venus Aerospace opened a $3.9M test range on five acres at the Houston Spaceport to test the Venue Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine, the company’s flagship technology. They may be looking for sites to bump up their manufacturing output as they line up customers. HBJ Venus Aegis Aerospace won its second Department of Defense (DoD) task order—known as the DHSTO 2 contract—to design, build, test, and operate payloads at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The scope of work is analyzing, integrating, and operating military and defense payloads aboard NASA missions, commercial space stations, free-flyers, and cislunar missions. HBJ Aegis
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Astrolab are teaming up to launch the HPE Spaceborne Computer-4 to the lunar South Pole on Astrolab’s FLIP rover in late 2026. This will be the first high-performance computer to run on the moon’s surface. HBJ HPE-Astrolab
Acquisitions, Leasing and Other Transactions … Wabtec Inspection Technologies leased 25,000 SF at 110 Magellan Circle in Webster. Averitt a new 219,000 SF facility under construction for their distribution and fulfillment services. Location is 11030 W. Fairmont Pkwy in the Fairport Logistics Park in La Porte. Miba Industrial Bearings leased 48,800 SF at Sens Road Business Park in La Porte. Atlantic Pacific Equipment leased 20,200 SF on 6.2 acres at 2910 Pasadena Freeway. The tenant was represented by NAI Robert Lynn. Junction Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord. Axial Fans leased 14,000 SF at 310 and 320 Anders Lane in Kemah. The Italian-based company is a manufacturer of industrial cooling fans for the LNG industry. Construction of the buildings will be completed near the end of this year. Alterra IOS acquired several industrial outside storage properties in the Houston area, including two at 2801 and 2805 Sens Road in La Porte. Partners Real Estate, Virtue Real Estate Partners, Lee & Associates, and CBRE all worked on the deal.
Healthcare News … The Sealy & Smith Foundation awarded $130M to University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to expand the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute. This gift brings the foundation’s commitments to UTMB’s cardiovascular efforts to $180M in total. This new grant will go to three major clinical, research and infrastructure projects. UTMB will use $80M for its planned inpatient cardiovascular hub at Jennie Sealy Hospital; $43M will be used to create an outpatient cardiovascular center within UTMB’s renovated Primary Care Pavilion. The remaining $7M will go into relocating and modernizing interventional radiology services. HBJ UTMB
Coming Soon League City – • Houston Hand and Foot Orthopedics is building a 1,992 SF office at Parkway Medical Plaza,1320 W. League City Pkwy. Webster – • Now under construction - All American Orthopedics is relocating to a 16,250 SF building at 700 E. Medical Center Blvd. • CLS Health began Phase l site work at 1000 W. Medical Center Blvd. for a 25,000 SF surgical center and medical office building. • Texas Oncology is relocating to 20985 Gulf Fwy, the building is being renovated. Now Open Houston • URBN Dental at 1840 E. NASA Pkwy. League City -
• The Heights of League City at 2620 W. Walker St. (skilled nursing). • Parkside Kids Clinic of League City at 100 Perkins Ave. Webster • HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake Medical Group -- A new family medicine clinic offering preventative care, routine health screenings, management of chronic conditions and treatment for common illnesses at 251 W. Medical Center Blvd.
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RETAIL / HOSPITALITY / MIXED-USE Development News … Phase I of The Edge at Seabrook Town Centre is well underway, with multifamily buildings now rising and the next retail phase around the central green space preparing to begin. Upon completion, there will be 320 multifamily units; pre-leasing is expected in August 2027 with the first 60 units delivering later in 2027. Pomodoro’s Cucina Italiana and Neighborhood Tap, a new craftbeer-focused concept, are expected to flank the central green, creating an active gathering place. Available retail: 2,500 SF, another 2,500 SF next to Starbucks, and 5,000 SF. Two freestanding commercial parcels fronting the Grand Parkway/SH 146 corridor remain available, presenting opportunities for complementary retail, restaurant or service uses. The first retail construction will commence in January 2027. Ace Hardware plans to build a 13,700 SF store at 3625 E. League City Pkwy. The targeted opening is May 2027. Tractor Supply Co. opened a new store in League City at 2640 SH 3. Wellby Financial broke ground on a five-story, 102,246 SF headquarters at 19130 Gulfbrook Drive just behind Baybrook Mall. The project includes a branch on the first floor and connecting garage with capacity for 400 to 500 employees. Completion is planned for October 2028. The Shops at La Marque broke ground in August on the nearly 200,000 SF development off the Gulf Freeway and FM 1764. Some of the tenants are HomeGoods, Marshalls, Burlington, ROSS, PetSmart, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and James Avery. Completion is expected in mid-2027. Nearby, there’s more activity. AutoZone just opened a new store across the street on FM 1764, just down from the Shops at La Marque. Texas First Bank and Dollar Tree are also under construction near the Shops at La Marque site along FM 1764. A mixed-use development is planned at Grand Oak Village in League City. The 16-acre site is on the corner of Calder Drive and Link Road, just east of the Gulf Freeway. Performance League at Grand Oak Village is a proposed development of 45,000 SF for medical, wellness, fitness, retail, food and beverage. Brockway Commercial is partnering with JDM Group Company LLC and local investors. There is also interest from assisted living groups to partner in the development. Other businesses now at Grand Oak Village are Slate Table + Bar, PJ’s Coffee, Forum Studios, Pet Suites and Mindful Health opening in the spring. HBJ Grand Oaks Construction continues at Boardwalk Bay, the new water park being built on the Kemah Boardwalk. The waterslide and shipwreck-themed park will be completed by the beginning of Q2 2027. The site is the former Flying Dutchman restaurant. Plans are to have the boat storage expansion done by year’s end at Marina Bay Harbor, 323 W. Sixth Street in Clear Lake Shores and Kemah. The new 5,000 SF ship store will open by summer. Complementing the existing 65,700 SF facility, this project brings a 63,990 SF dry storage facility featuring 288 slips, doubling the marina’s capacity. This will be the only dry boat storage in the Galveston area capable of serving vessels over 50 feet.
Restaurants, Cafés, Coffee and More … Houston – • Kirby Ice House is now open at 530 Bay Area Blvd. • Lorena’s Wine Bar is now open at 11510 Space Center Blvd. • Clutch City Cluckers is coming to 1806 W. Bay Area Blvd. • For us banana split lovers, Dairy Queen at 16190 Old Galveston Road is back open! • Original Chopshop, Keke’s Breakfast Café, Lovesac, Piada Italian Street Food, Pepper Lunch, P.Terry’s – All are coming to Baybrook East by H-E-B!
Nassau Bay – • A new Kolache Factory is coming soon to 1740 E NASA Pkwy. • Schafer’s Coastal Kitchen will open soon at 1600 E NASA Pkwy. Deer Park – Zaap Thai Street Food is now open at 8035 Spencer Hwy. -- 2,647 SF. Pasadena – • Tacos Frontera’s will open its fourth location at 2536 Spencer Hwy. • Hawaiian Bros is planned at 4061 Spencer Hwy in November 2026. League City – • Magnolia Proof (upscale cocktail lounge) is coming soon to 4550 W. League City Pkwy, 2,500 SF. • Fiamo Pizza is now open at 6205 W. Main St. Friendswood – • Good Good Thai Kitchen is now open at 146 W. Parkwood Ave. • Parkwood American Grille – 4,800 SF - is now open at 2131 W. Parkwood Avenue, brought to you by the team behind Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House. The menu includes Gulf seafood and premium cut steaks among other items. • Pearl’s BBQ is now open at 4321 Friendswood Link Rd. Texas City – Smokin’ J’s Homemade Burgers & BBQ is now open at 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway. La Marque - Bayou City Wings is building out their space next to HOTWORX along FM 1764. Webster – • Abu Omar Halal is open at 105 West Bay Area Blvd. • Ale & Ivy will open soon at Flyway, 335 Royal Tern Way; 13,000 SF & a patio. • Pie Lover Alert! House of Pies is open at 160 W. Bay Area Blvd, 3,868 SF. • The Peach Cobbler Factory is now open at 20911 Gulf Fwy. • Woody’s Hideaway, an affiliate of Little Woodrow’s, is now open at 20801 Gulf Fwy, 12,580 SF. • Refresqueria is now open at 2920 W. Bay Area Blvd. • El Tiempo Cantina is reopening soon at 20237 Gulf Fwy. • Preslee’s Southern Comfort Eatery will open at 17886 Hwy 3 in Webster, formerly The Hop nightclub. Preslee’s will seat up to 120 inside the 6,800 SF restaurant and about 200 on the 5,000 SF patio. The menu includes your favorite comfort foods. • Juicy Joint (Halal food truck serving Wagyu burgers and gourmet hot dogs) is now open at 1806 W. Bay Area Blvd. • Chef’s Table is now open at 16856 Galveston Rd. • Build-out is underway for the 14,683 SF 88 King Buffet to be located in the Clear Lake Center at 20740 Gulf Freeway. • Everest Indian Kitchen will open soon at 111 W. Bay Area Blvd.
Acquisitions and Leases … Homesense will open November 19th at 1529 W. Bay Area Blvd. offering an array of quality furniture & eclectic décor. Homesense is part of the TJ Maxx, Marshalls & HomeGoods family. The store location is the former JoAnn Fabrics. Activate leased a 12,000 SF building (formerly Ethan Allen) on the outer ring of Baybrook Mall. Activate is the world’s first active gaming experience. It offers a unique blend of physical activity and gaming that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Each Activate location provides fun and interactive rooms for players to compete, earn stars and track achievements. The global headquarters are located in Winnipeg, Canada. This will be the seventh location in Texas. Reliable Properties bought a four-store Sellers Bros. grocery store portfolio totaling 145,000 SF that includes a building at 2311 Strawberry Rd in Pasadena. Rockspring Properties brokered the sale. A 25,113 SF retail center in Seabrook sold to a new owner. The property sits on 1.5 acres at 2100 E. NASA Pkwy. Marcus & Millichap represented the seller.
Exhibit … Nov. 13th,10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Nov. 14th, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center. Explore American history through interactive exhibits when the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum comes to League City. Known as a “Freedom Truck,” the traveling museum features hands-on experiences, multimedia storytelling, and museum-quality technology highlighting America’s founding, defining
moments, and innovations. The exhibit is designed for visitors of all ages and is part of a nationwide tour celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Learn more about the Freedom Truck or View it on website Opening Soon Kemah – Home2 Suites will be completed by early Q2 2027. Quick Quack Car Wash opening by Summer 2027. Webster – Towneplace Suites (4-stories, 89 rooms) at 700 Rogers Ct. Openland Credit Union leased 3,319 SF at Webster Town Center, Gulf Fwy and South Texas Avenue. Leni Sandoval with NewQuest and Nick Corkill with eXp Realty LLC negotiated the deal. Deer Park – Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union at 9001 Spencer Highway in early 2027. Vaulted 713 Streetwear (boutique) at 4102 Center St. Houston – GolfTRK will open early 2027 at 2323 Clear Lake City Blvd. in the Bay Pointe Shopping Center. Petfolk at 144 El Dorado Blvd. Seabrook - Mavis Tires at 1902 Bayport. DaVinci’s Wine Lounge at 2900 E. NASA Pkwy. Texas City – Boot Barn is coming to a combined location at 3501 & 3503 Palmer Hwy. League City – Verizon at 2510 Gulf Fwy S. Little Diggers (1,200 SF of clean, soft, sensory sand designed for kids ages 7 and under to dig and build) at 820 SH 3. Twisted Egg Shack plans to open early next year, location TBA. Ivy Kids Early Learning Center at 6705 W. League City Parkway Friendswood – Blitz Flow Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at 709 W. Parkwood Ave. Baybrook Mall – Face Foundrie (skincare studio) La Porte – Back Nine Golf at 3525 Canada Rd. Now Open -Deer Park – Sal’s Club House (golf simulator) at 502 Center St. Friendswood - EverElle Boutique at 607 S. Friendswood Dr. Hardball Academy at 2901 W. Parkwood Ave. Sterling Falls Venue, a luxury wedding and event venue, at 2600 S. Friendswood Drive. Family Animal Hospital of Friendswood at 1506 E. Winding Way. PAWSH at 512 N. Friendswood Dr. The Sweat Box at 105 S. Friendswood Dr. Guaranty Bank & Trust at 1110 S. Friendswood Dr. Legacy Pilates at 607 S. Friendswood Dr. Houston – Creatorspace (non-profit maker space) at 1199 E. NASA Parkway. La Porte - Level Zero VR (arcade) at 1309 W. Fairmont Pkwy. Orbital Engineering at 902 S. Broadway Street. Pilates and Sweet Pea Coffee at 914 S. Broadway Street.
Anchored Restorations, Sassy Sisters, Amora Haus
Baybrook – NECOA showroom (Korean premium water care). Webster - NASA Indoor Soccer at 304 Ibis St. Ikea at 19801 Gulf Fwy. Saunawelt at 18313 Egret Bay Blvd. Baseball Lifestyle 101 (baseball-themed apparel, accessories, and gear) at 500 Baybrook Mall. Coach at 500 Baybrook Mall. Sprouts at 1001 W. Bay Area Blvd. Fast Signs at 512 E. NASA Pkwy. Pasadena – Bricks & MiniFigs at 6005 Fairmont Pkwy. League City – AB Christmas Décor and More at 3202 Marina Bay Dr. The Learning House of League City at 1911 SH 3. Legacy Party Hall at 2047 W. Main St. Unique Boutique at 2450 E. Main St. Nine 24 Studios at 611 E. Main St. UPS Store at 4550 W. League City Pkwy.
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Dickinson – Ziegler’s Foods at 2308 FM 517 Rd E. Texas City – Dunkin Donuts at 3310 Palmer Hwy. The Family Service Center of Galveston County (a non-profit counseling agency) at 6807 Emmett F. Lowry Expr. Seabrook – Maddie Cakes Snack Cake Bar at 1502 Main St. Bubbles & Tails Lux Studio (pet grooming) at 3136 E. NASA Pkwy. Texas Flex Fitness at 3101 NASA Rd 1. Santa Fe – Birdie’s Golf Lounge at 13031 Hwy 6. Hitchcock – DG Market at 7115 SH 6.
Have you looked at our flip book of HOT PROJECTS? Hot Projects
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT Minto Communities USA closed on a 1,318-acre tract in Texas City that will become Latitude Margaritaville Galveston Bay. For 55+ active adults, this will be a master-planned community of about 3,500 residences. The boundaries are FM 1764 to the south, SH 3 to the west, SH 146 to the east and Moses Bayou to the north. The project is expected to add about $1B in taxable property value, create 1,700+ new permanent jobs and produce millions of dollars in annual economic activity. The community
will feature single-family, villa and cottage homes, along with resort-style amenities. The developers are targeting early 2028 for a grand opening of the sales center and model homes. GDN LMGB HBJ LMGB Hunington Residential plans a third apartment complex, 348 units, at Lago Mar in Texas City. The Vic at Lago Mar will be built at 12130 Central Park Blvd. The apartments will range from 595 to 1,285 SF. Permitting is in progress; the project could break ground early next year. A residential development at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems and SH 146 is proposed for La Porte. It would include 204 lots; access points will be from SH 146 to the west and one from Wharton Weems to the south. A 12-foot-tall masonry sound wall along SH 146 feeder and one that’s eight-foot tall will be along Wharton Weems. Lot sizes range from 6,006 SF to 16,291 SF. Canals of Taylor Lake Condominiums will celebrate a grand opening of the first completed condominium building on November 15th. This is an exclusive collection of 12 contemporary residences located at 119 Kirby Road (at the corner of NASA Parkway) in Taylor Lake Village. Building 5 consists of four three-bedroom penthouse residences of approximately 2,100 SF and eight two-bedroom residences of approximately 1,150 – 1,200 SF. Amenities: open-concept layouts, chef-inspired kitchens, private balconies and elevators. Floor plans for the 3-bedroom penthouses are available starting from the $599s, and plans for the 2bedroom residences start at the $399s. Dakota at Kemah luxury apartments at 2801 Lawrence Road in Kemah are expected to be complete by Summer of 2027. Lakeside Bayou, a new master-planned community in Texas City, broke ground. More than 900 homes on 438 acres are planned. The location is mostly along FM 3436 between FM 517 and FM 646. Did you know that Texas City currently has 15 new or expanding subdivisions in the development process with several currently under construction? Combined … the developments will total 4,919 new homes in Texas City!
INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS & EVERYTHING ELSE! The Port of Galveston will welcome Margaritaville at Sea, its seventh cruise line, in October 2027. The Beachcomber will offer four-to-seven-night itineraries with destinations ranging from Aruba and the Bahamas to Key West and Veracruz. This ship will be the largest vessel in the company’s three-ship fleet and is being developed with more than 15 new onboard experiences. The addition of Margaritaville at Sea continues the Port’s growth as the fourth-ranked cruise homeport in the U.S. with 446 sailings forecast in 2026. Disney Cruise Line confirmed that Magic will return to Port of Galveston for another season. Among other trips, the Very Merrytime holiday cruise to the Bahamas is offered. CenterPoint Energy opened its new 60,000 SF headquarters in Santa Fe at 3400 FM 646, near FM 1764. The new facility will serve as home base for 130 employees and nearly 70 service trucks. This new centralized location will improve response time for outages and maintenance needs. This will be an economic driver for the city! GDN CenterPoint The Port of Houston Authority awarded an $84.6M contract to Russell Marine LLC for work at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. Wharves 5 and 6 will be completely reconstructed to be able to accommodate larger ship-to-shore cranes. This work will prepare for massive amounts of expected growth in the next decade. Negotiations for a fifth cruise terminal are moving forward at the Port of Galveston. It is proposed at Pier 14 just east of the Battleship Texas and would be completed by the end of 2028. The terminal is expected to generate 1,500 jobs and $278M in direct revenue. In addition to the new cruise terminal, the updated $2.4B 20-year master plan includes three hotels, 600,000 SF of retail and new apartments along Harborside Drive, as well as parks and walkways on the waterfront. HBJ 5th Cruise Term POG 5th Cruise Term
Education News … College of the Mainland (COM) opened its new 50,000 SF Public Safety Careers (PSC) building. This new addition provides space for hands-on training opportunities in fire technology, EMS, and criminal justice programs. The building features a 50yard indoor firing range, climbing tower, and EMS simulation rooms. College of the Mainland (COM) in Texas City and Gulf Copper have established two Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs aimed at training students for the workforce for the next chapter of Texas Gulf Coast Ship Building.
Students will train in either Marine Fabrication or Quality Control/Quality Assurance. The program will consist of instruction in COM classrooms, with hands-on experience at the Gulf Copper Shipyard located on Pelican Island. Quality Control/Quality Assurance is a seven-month program; shipfitting, fabrication and structural assembly is a 15-month program. Both provide full-time employment with Gulf Copper, cover 100% of the tuition and are designed to open up further opportunities. This partnership comes as a result of Davie Defense’s acquisition of Gulf Copper, with a nearly $1 billion modernization planned for the Pelican Island shipyard. GDN COM Galveston College has launched a robotics program to prepare students for an increasingly automated workforce. It is offering an Associate of Applied Science Degree in engineering technology and certification with hands-on training in robotics, electronics, industrial controls and automation. The degree can be completed in four semesters; starting wages for graduates range from the mid $20’s to the low $30’s per hour, depending on the industry and position. The program director said if you’re dealing with robotics, automation or an industrial plant, and it has electronics in it, it’s going to need a technician to re pair it. The potential workforce demand extends to welders, electricians and workers in other skilled marine trades. Engineering professionals and project management personnel are also needed. UTMB recently unveiled its new Department of Aerospace & Exploration Medicine. Led by Ronak Shah, the department will focus on training students to treat people who go into environments that are hostile to the body; this will increase as more humans go into space. To study the human body in deep-sea conditions, the university is working to establish a fellowship in undersea and hyperbaric medicine. San Jacinto College has extended its partnership with the national Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). The college’s Center for Biotechnology, located at Generation Park, focuses on emerging programs such as cell and gene therapy, biologics and small molecules. The college offers workforce training, credentials, and associate degree courses. Dickinson ISD High School seniors who qualify will have a guaranteed pathway to the University of Houston-Clear Lake. An unweighted GPA of at least 2.75 can secure guaranteed admission to the UHCL by completing an application and submitting an official transcript. This agreement is the university’s first guaranteed-admission partnership with a school district. New! Galveston County Law Enforcement Academy will begin January 2027 at College of the Mainland (COM). The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) and COM are partnering on this new model. The academy is licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and will operate under the authority of the GCSO. The academy will offer a onesemester, 21-credit-hour program that combines criminal justice coursework with the hands-on training required to prepare cadets to become licensed Texas peace officers. Cadets will receive instruction from law enforcement and public safety professionals from agencies throughout the region. Students who successfully complete the program will earn a Level 1 Certificate and can continue working toward an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice, followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science in Operations Management. For more information: www.com.edu/law-enforcement Texas A&M University at Galveston took delivery of Training Ship Lone Star State, now moored at its home berth on Pelican Island. It will serve as a training platform for future merchant marine officers and as a federal asset for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. It’s 524 feet long and 88 feet 7 inches wide. It can accommodate 600 cadets in training and has a maximum berthing capacity of 760.
City News … The Seabrook Economic Development Corporation works with businesses, brokers and developers on site selection, permitting coordination and eligible incentives. Programs include small-business development, commercial façade improvements and new construction/development assistance, subject to program requirements and approval. Learn more at seabrookedc.com and seabrooktx.gov/166/Incentives; explore development opportunities at seabrooktx.gov/448/Doing-Business. The City of League City is working to acquire Walter Hall Park from Galveston County. The 86-acre park, right off SH 3, currently features a sports field, boat ramp, and walking trails. This acquisition would allow the city to use the park’s storage facilities for maintenance equipment, as well as rehabilitate the fishing piers and add more features for the public to enjoy. League City City Council approved a $49.76M construction contract for Pat Hallisey Park. This will include 12 pickleball courts, five softball fields, four baseball fields, batting practice cages, two tennis courts, two soccer fields, two playgrounds, a granite trail, memorial garden and picnic shelter. The location of the park is on the city’s west side near Calder Drive and Ervin Street. Opening soon in League City’s Lobit Park are six new pickleball courts – located at 1901 FM 646 E.
League City plans to build a $9M water infrastructure project that will add a water well and a 1M gallon ground storage tank and booster pump station on 16 acres on the city’s west side. Construction will begin in 2027; delivery is 2031. HBJ LC Infrastructure
Dickinson Bayou is being considered as a possible next economic hub for the city of Dickinson. The Bayou Mixed Use zoning district would reshape sections of Dickinson Bayou by allowing certain businesses, such as restaurants and water taxis, to be situated along the waterfront. A recently proposed zoning map wouldn’t change building codes, floodplain requirements or other safety regulations. The City Council accepted the Planning & Zoning Commission’s proposed zoning map for further consideration. The City must complete required public notice before the Council can consider an ordinance formally amending the zoning map and establishing the Bayou Mixed Use district. La Porte’s new City Hall just opened at 604 W. Fairmont Pkwy. Also, a grand opening for the Sylvan Beach Pier was recently held; it had been destroyed in Hurricane Beryl and needed to be completely reconstructed. The Pasadena Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) is undertaking a comprehensive initiative to establish the Pasadena Regional Entertainment District and the approximately 200 acres surrounding the Pasadena Convention Center and Fairgrounds. This is an opportunity to reposition existing civic and recreational assets into a vibrant, mixed-use entertainment destination. The plans include a 40,000 SF expansion to the existing 34,000 SF facility, along with exterior façade improvements and interior renovations. The expansion will provide flexible convention and exhibition space, while the existing facility will be repurposed as breakout rooms and meeting spaces. Design work is in development; construction could begin as early as Q1 2027. Estimated construction is 18 months; the cost estimate is $50M. PEDC is seeking opportunities to attract private development within the district, including a hotel with a minimum of 110 guest rooms and a three-star rating or higher to support convention activity and visitor demand. To further encourage investment, City Council has approved a Chapter 380 agreement which provides a mechanism for the Cty to consider incentive agreements with qualifying developers. Jimmy Burke Activity Center is now open in Deer Park at 500 W. 13th Street. It’s a full service 65,000 SF venue for up to 1,500 attendees. Amenities include a full-service catering kitchen, three ballrooms totaling 24,000 SF, with the largest at 10,000 SF, three breakout rooms and a lot of flex space. The ballrooms offer drop-down screens and projectors, a portable 20 x 16 ft. stage, 72-inch round tables, 8 ft. rectangular tables, chairs and podiums. The city of Santa Fe issued a request for proposal (RFP) to find developers for a hotel, conference center/meeting space, fine dining and other commercial prospects in The Cattleman’s District. The Santa Fe EDC acquired about 4 acres along FM 1764, adjacent to Big Horn BBQ — 12611 FM 1764 — and directly across from the CenterPoint Energy Service Center that opened at FM 646 and FM 1764. The property will be combined with about 2 acres of city-owned land immediately behind the site, creating the 6-acre development opportunity. The city seeks a qualified developer to deliver a walkable town center with a hotel, restaurant and specialty retail, all designed with a Texas ranch and cattle brand aesthetic. If you’re interested, here is the RFP: CATTLEMAN'S DISTRICT City of Hitchcock officials have created a tax-abatement reinvestment zone on about 284 acres along FM 2004 – 8340 FM 2004.The designation does not grant a tax break but creates an area that the city could negotiate future property-tax abatements with qualifying businesses under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. The property is in Hitchcock’s General Industrial zoning district and encompasses nearly 12.4M SF. Incentive requests will be reviewed based on factors including capital investment, job creation, average wages, additional taxable value, revenue generated for the city and the cost of providing municipal services to the project. GDN Hitchcock
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