A publication of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
www.bayareahouston.com
Issue 90 – July 17, 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 18 cities and Galveston and Harris counties.
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COMMERCIAL / OFFICE / INDUSTRIAL New Development / Construction … Alliance Industrial Co. plans to build Fairport Logistics Park in La Porte, 11010 W. Fairmont Pkwy. & 11020 W. Fairmont Pkwy. Three Class A buildings are planned totaling 513,137 SF, available for sale or lease. Up to 294,037 SF is available in two of the buildings. Specs: 32’ clear height, ESFR, dock high and ramp doors, car parks, trailer parks and shared truck court. Building A is 141,495 SF, rear load, divisible to 35,000 SF. Building B is 152,542 SF, front-load, divisible to 57,000 SF. The third building is sold. Carson 225 Manufacturing District is planned in La Porte at 12042 N. P Street. Two Class A manufacturing buildings are planned: 36,000 SF and 48,750 SF. They will be purpose built for fabrication, manufacturing, and industrial users requiring high-power infrastructure. Specs: PEMB construction, tilt-wall, 30’ clear eave height, ESFR, 1,200 amps, 20-ton crane-ready capability with 20’ hook height, and oversized grade-level loading. There are 14 acres available for BTS, and, in the future, there will be outdoor storage yard opportunities. Carson Fairmont is planned for 7501 Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena. The Class A building will be 120,392 SF, 32’ clear height on 9.37 acres. Other specs: front-load, auto parking and trailer parking spaces, ESFR, dock-high doors, drive-in ramps, office, and 130’-195’ truck court. Available for sale or lease is Red Bluff Crossing -- planned to be built on Red Bluff Road in Pasadena, just northwest of Genoa Red Bluff Road. The Class-A 424,596 SF building will be 40’ clear height with 79 dock doors, 4 drive-in doors, 56 x 50’ column spacing, 86 trailer stalls, 3,549 SF office, ESFR, 245 auto parks, 8,000 amps and cross-dock. There is no date yet on the construction start or expected completion. Prologis broke ground on the final phase of the 300-acre Port Crossing Commerce Center in La Porte. Two buildings are planned - 120,000 SF and 109,000 SF. Specs include 3,000+ SF office, 32’ clear height, and dock doors. At completion, the campus will have 11 buildings totaling 2.7M SF. Delivery is anticipated late this year. Lovett Industrial broke ground on SouthPort 45, the 668,077 SF industrial development on an 82-acre site on Scarsdale Blvd. between SH 3 and I-45 in Houston. Three buildings are on the way – 395,659 SF cross-dock, 176,452 SF front-load and 95,968 SF front-load; clear heights are 32 to 36 ft. Completion of the industrial park is expected in the third quarter.
Calder Road Business Park developers have completed the first two phases of the project in League City. The 15,050 SF building at 2811 Calder Rd. is available to lease, all or part. Another building in the business park at 2809 Calder Rd. has 3,630 SF available after leasing to two tenants, one being 7,600 SF to VirtuPlay Zone, a venue for families that features virtual reality, sports simulators and interactive games. In the third phase, a large pad is available for BTS. Lummus Technology, a low-cost green hydrogen technology provider, broke ground recently on a pilot plant for Advanced Ionics’ cutting-edge electrolyzer technology. The pilot will be located at Lummus Technology’s R&D facility in Pasadena. Now available for industrial users in La Marque is a megasite with more than 400 acres. It’s adjacent to Interstate 45 on the east side and a five-minute drive to the Port of Texas City. The site is zoned for heavy industrial and is ideal for rail-served development, advanced manufacturing, midstream operators, distribution centers, and big box warehousing. Rail access is expected to be available around 2029. It will be served by the Texas City Terminal Railway Co. which interchanges with the two largest Class 1 railroads in North America -- BNSF and Union Pacific Railroads. Del Papa Distributing Co. is adding about 92,000 SF of controlled-environment warehouse space to its 1220 I-45 campus in Texas City. Changing product portfolio and automation are drivers for the expansion – read about it: Galv. Daily News
Aerospace and Aviation News … Texas Southern University opened its 20,000 SF hangar and satellite campus at Ellington Airport. A partnership with the City of Houston and the Houston Airport System, this campus will help the university become a premier destination for training pilots and aviation professionals. The first building at NASA’s 240-acre Exploration Park is on schedule for a fall 2026 opening. The 400,000 SF Texas A&M Space Institute on Saturn Lane will serve as a collaboration hub … a resource for researchers to explore beyond the lower Earth orbit, back to the moon and on to Mars. $300M Multiple Award Construction Contract – seven companies were selected to compete for construction work at NASA Johnson Space Center. The contract includes a new 38,000 SF maintenance building as well as work to revitalize aging buildings at JSC. The contractors selected are from Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington, D. C. Intuitive Machines is one of three vendors to win a $148.3M contract from NASA for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program; this one is to ferry sensors to the moon’s surface. It’s the sixth award won through NASA’s CLPS program. The other recipients were Astrobotics, based in Pittsburgh, and Firefly Aerospace, based in Austin, TX. Read more here: HBJ In March, NASA awarded a contract to Intuitive Machines to deliver science and technology to the moon. The $180.4M CLPS contract is the fifth award that IM received; this mission will utilize the larger cargo lunar lander, Nova-D. Known as the IM-5, the mission is expected to deliver seven payloads to a location near the Lunar South Pole. Houston-based Venus Aerospace announced the closing of its funding round, which raised $91M to evolve its rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) from a functioning prototype to a scalable propulsion system with multiple applications. The company envisions a wide variety of uses for the design, including powering up aircraft to Mach 6 straight off the runway, orbital transfer vehicles for satellites in space, and as the engine for future spacecraft capable of landing on extraterrestrial worlds like the moon. Read more about it: Space.com HBJ Axiom Space closed a $525M funding round, securing even more private capital following the company’s $350M initial announcement earlier this year. The investment will go into continued development of Axiom Station, its planned commercial space station, and the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), the spacesuit that the company is designing under a NASA contract. Earlier this year, Intuitive Machines landed $175M from investors with the goal of establishing a “solar system internet independent of Earth”. Read more: HBJ Did you know that ten years after opening, the Houston Spaceport is now driving $2B in economic impact?
Acquisitions, Leasing and Other Transactions … Red Bluff Distribution Center at 5475 Allen-Genoa Rd. in Houston - 162,180 SF - recently sold. It’s 100% leased to E320 Containers. Industrial property of 43,000 SF at 4725 Lawndale St. in La Marque recently sold. Hunter Stockard and Wyatt Huff / Partners Real Estate negotiated the deal for the buyer and seller .
The Gulf Coast Ammonia plant in Texas City was acquired by Yara International ASA through its Yara North America Inc. subsidiary. The project is currently in commissioning and should continue to ramp up toward full production and stable operations by years end. ILA Local 24 purchased 66 acres of the Avera-owned property along Bay Area Blvd. between Fairmont Parkway and Spencer Highway in La Porte. The site is for the future development of a new Hiring Hall. Rick Kight represented the property owner in the transaction. Paton Engineers and Constructors leased 24,000 SF of industrial space at 218 N. Preston Ave. in Pasadena. Finial Group / Jason Gibbons and Tyler Holt represented the landlord. LS Cable & System USA opened a logistics hub at Port Crossing Commerce Center in La Porte. The company’s business is busduct prefabricated power distribution systems which are used in data centers. Austin Hose plans to build an 85,000 SF facility on Spencer Highway at Bay Area Blvd. in La Porte. The 10.57-acre property was sold by Avera with Rick Kight representing the property owner. The Exploration Co., a European manufacturer of spacecraft, opened its Rapid Innovation Lab at 310 Genesis Blvd. in Webster. The company leased 3,500 SF.
Healthcare News … HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake on Medical Center Blvd. in Webster recently opened its new blood cancer unit, part of the hospital’s program which provides diagnosis, care and treatment for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, including access to stem cell transplants. All American Orthopedics has a new 16,400 SF building under construction at 700 E. Medical Center Blvd. in Webster.
Office … A project is proposed in Nassau Bay at 2050 Houston Methodist Dr. Two 25,000 SF buildings with office space ranging from 1,000 SF to 12,500 SF could be available next summer. Galen College of Nursing leased 48,000 SF at 455 E. Medical Center Blvd. in Webster for a new private nursing school. This is Galen’s second campus in the Houston market and the fifth in Texas. The Clear Lake campus offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Galen is owned by HCA Healthcare Inc. who also just acquired Houston-based College of Health Care Professions in May 2026. The landlord was represented by Jason Kieschnick / Zann Commercial. Coming Soon: League City - Parkside Kids Clinic of League City will open soon at 100 Perkins Ave. Now Open: Houston – Behavioral Innovations opened at 920 Clear Lake City Blvd. (Autism service center). Webster – First Priority ER at 16660 SH 3. MyCHN Webster (offering primary and general medical care and more) at 17500 SH 3. Pasadena – Legacy Community Health is open at 1951 Southmore Ave. League City – League City Family Clinic at 1930 SH 3. Deer Park - Applied Behavior Partners at 113 W. 12th St. (helps children with autism and developmental disorders).
Did you miss an issue of the Business Development Update? Current and previous editions can be found here: https://bayareahouston.com/business-development-update/
RETAIL / HOSPITALITY / MIXED-USE Development News … Main Street Commercial Partners, developers of The Shops of La Marque, have announced several tenants for the new retail development on 17 acres off the Gulf Freeway and FM 1764. Anchors are HomeGoods, Marshalls, Burlington, ROSS, PetSmart and Academy Sports + Outdoors. Construction will begin this summer with completion expected in mid-2027. At build-out, the center will total around 200,000 SF.
IKEA opened its 93,000 SF store at the Center at Baybrook, 19801 Gulf Freeway in Webster. Located in Clear Lake Shores and Kemah, the Marina Bay Harbor expansion project is underway at 323 W. Sixth St. 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. It’s scheduled to open in January 2027. Also, a new 5,000 SF ship store will open in May 2027. The Seabrook Town Centre project ($85M development) has broken ground on 19.5 acres at 3111 Bayport Blvd. The site is between SH 146, Repsdorph Road and Lakeside Drive. Planned are 320 apartments and close to 28,500 SF of retail, restaurant and office space. The residential piece is called The Edge at Seabrook Town Centre. It’s planned for four stories, with two courtyards, pools, gyms, and pickleball. The units are one, two and three-bedrooms ranging from about 700 SF to 1,440 SF. Retail tenants signed up are Pomodoro’s Cucina Italiana, Neighborhood Tap, Starbucks, Thai Bistro and Donald’s Donuts. More leases are in the works! Two retail buildings total about 20,000 SF and there’s one more – 7,500 SF -- along Lakeside Drive plus four pad sites fronting SH 146. More later! Some details have been released by Landry’s Inc. about Boardwalk Bay, the new water park being built on the Kemah Boardwalk. Construction is underway; plans are to open in the first quarter of 2027. Here’s what we know: it will be a pirate shipwreck theme with eight rides and a kids play area with lots going on. The site is the former Flying Dutchman restaurant. There will be more details later. A new project – The Edge - is planned in Friendswood on 4.6 acres. It will consist of three office buildings. The building at 401 W. Edgewood is 12,110 SF; at 391 W. Edgewood - 3,558 SF and 395 W. Edgewood Dr. - 7,638 SF. The Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake hotel will temporarily close starting July 31st for renovations to the property. Construction is expected to take 12 months; the hotel will reopen as the Compass by Margaritaville Nassau Bay. There will be more announcements soon. What’s Happening in Friendswood? Take a look here: Friendswood Storymap The Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation recently purchased approximately four acres of property along FM 1764, adjacent to Big Horn BBQ and directly across from the new CenterPoint Energy Service Center currently under construction. That property will be combined with about two additional acres of City-owned land located immediately behind the site, creating a six-acre development opportunity called “The Cattleman's District”. The city will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified developers and then enter into a development agreement for the site. The current concept includes a hotel, a Mexican restaurant, and a walkable town center featuring specialty retail, all designed with a cohesive Texas ranch and cattle brand aesthetic. Stay tuned! The City of Kemah is exploring a conceptual plan for a $71M destination development on 30 acres that is in early planning stages. Phase l of The Kemah Town Center would include a sports/event/community center on 9 – 11 acres, 90,000 to 120,000 SF and up to eight basketball courts convertible to 16 volleyball courts and 24 pickleball courts. There would be flex space for conventions, exhibits, community gatherings and small-scale performances. Phase ll would include 200,000 SF for hotel and retail space, walkable spaces, dining, golf cart access. We’ll keep you posted. Hope Center Sportsplex is planned at 1821 FM 528 in League City, not far from the Gulf Freeway. It’s across the road from the new Midline community. The $10M project will be built by Wycoff Development; plans are to break ground soon and complete construction in about a year. There will be six multiuse courts for sports such as basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and pickleball. The facility will serve all children in the area. Home2 Suites by Hilton is underway in Kemah on Solomon Road which is between FM 518 East and League City Pkwy (SH 96). Social District, a soccer-themed sports and dining district, is under construction in Houston at 8003 Hall Road near the intersection of BW 8 and SH 35. The spec 120,000 SF project will include a mix of restaurants, retail, coworking and sports facilities spread over 10 buildings. Earlier this year, work began on two outdoor soccer fields (17,688 SF). Developers are working to bring a Florida soccer company here that has a history of partnering with youth sports programs in Miami. There are 49 flexible commercial spaces available for retail and restaurant tenants ranging from 750 SF to 11,200 SF. There’s much more about this project here: Hou Chron Main roadways are under construction at the $78M Lilac Field mixed-use business park in League City. Alexander Grene Development plans seven retail buildings totaling more than 70,000 SF plus 16 small warehouse units totaling 220,000 SF. The first phase calls for 20,000 SF of retail and at least 30,000 SF of warehouse space. The 24.5-acre project is at the intersection of League City Parkway and Isla Vista Drive, near SH 146. Construction is expected to be complete this fall (maybe October) for the opening of Schafer’s Coastal Kitchen in Nassau Bay. The former 10,000 SF Luby’s at 1600 E. NASA Pkwy. is being totally renovated to accommodate the bar area seating for 140, dining area for 100, two private dining rooms for up to 80, a 3,000 SF kitchen and a 400 SF kitchen focused on food deliveries. About 125 full and part-time jobs are expected.
A 1.97-acre tract at 2955 E. League City Pkwy is planned for a multi-tenant commercial center that will house dental technology operations, 3D printing research and professional office space.
Restaurants, Cafés, Coffee and More … Deer Park – Stomp’s Burger Joint is coming to 3811 Center St.
Em Café (coffee shop) is open at 8361 Spencer Hwy.
Dickinson – Stella’s Fresh Brunch at 3227 Gulf Freeway is now open. This is the restaurant’s second location in the area. Nassau Bay – Kolache Factory will open this year. iWok (robotic Asian eatery) will open at 1400 E. NASA Parkway. Pasadena – Tacos Frontera (authentic Tijuana-style taquerias) will open this fall at 2536 Spencer Hwy. La Marque - O’Faye’s Beverage Lounge at 405 Laurel Street (coffee, drinks and light bites). Hartz Chicken Buffet at 3519 Texas Ave. La Porte – Lance’s Twisted Turtle Grill and Pub has opened at 1023 S. Broadway St. Seabrook – • Dutchman Grill & Oyster Bar is open at 3300 Bayport Blvd. • Zane’s Original (burgers) is open at 910 Hall Ave. • Margarita Jones is open at 1818 NASA Parkway at SH 146. Friendswood • Mama’s Bistro Café and Bakery opened at 1302 S. Friendswood Dr. • La Catrina Taqueria & Cantina opened at 709 W. Parkwood Ave. Webster – • West Coast Sourdough is open at 528 W. Bay Area Blvd. This is the first Texas location. • Dutch Bros has plans to open a second location in Webster at 19677 Gulf Freeway. Completion expected June 2027. • Wingbay (chicken) is open at 820 W. Bay Area Blvd. • Gauchos do Sul (Brazilian steakhouse) is open at Flyway, 415 Royal Tern Way. • The Peach Cobbler Factory (1,500 SF) will open soon at 20911 Gulf Fwy. in Webster. The Nashville-based sweet spot serves 12+ Southern cobblers (and ice cream, of course), 12 kinds of banana pudding, and much more Texas City – • Luna Rosa Cocina & Cantina opened at 3336 Crystal View Blvd. • Dunkin’ Donuts is open at 3310 Palmer Highway. • Smokin J’s Homemade Burgers & BBQ is open at 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expwy. (burgers, wings, BBQ -- brisket, pulled pork, Boudin, ribs and sausage) • Pecan Jacks Ice Cream & Candy Kitchen opened at 3336 Crystal View Blvd. at Lago Mar. (specialty ice creamery and handcrafted candy kitchen) League City – • Cava (Mediterranean, Greek inspired cuisine) is open at 2915 Gulf Freeway South. • Papa’s Pizza opened at 248 S. Egret Bay Blvd. • Hawaiian Bros (island grill) is open at 1320 E. League City Pkwy. • NearBite Banh Mi and Coffee (sandwiches, rice plates, dessert and drinks) is open at 241 S. Egret Bay Blvd. • Summer Moon Coffee at 1340 E. League City Pkwy. and Java w/Jesus (coffee) at 1025 E. Main St. are both open. • Wayside Coffee Co. and League City Scoop will open this summer at 610 E. Main St. Houston • The Rice Box (Chinese & American dishes) will open soon at Baybrook East, 114 El Dorado Blvd. • Dubai and Dips (Middle Eastern desserts) opened at 1131 Clear Lake City Blvd. • Kirby Ice House will be opening soon at 530 Bay Area Blvd. The building is 8,800 SF with a 3,500 SF shaded awning area and 9,000 SF of outdoor space. Kemah – • Skinny Rita’s Cantina and Grille Kemah (organic, low-cal Mexican food) is open at 609 Bradford Ave. • Cuban Café is open at 903 FM 518 E.
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Boardwalk Ice House is open at 409 Bradford Ave.
Things to do … • Now open at Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Airport – Made in Texas: 116 Years of Texas Aviation History. www.LoneStarFlight.org
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Opportunity! The Galveston Construction B2B Expo is Wednesday, August 12th from 2pm to 6pm. It will be held at UTMB Levin Hall – 1006 Market St. in Galveston. It’s a great way to connect with Galveston County contractors who are working on major projects including Davie Defense’s $750M waterfront expansion! Information and registration here: Galveston Construction B2B Expo
Cruise News … Carnival Cruise Line announced the Tropicale will homeport here in 2028; this will expand options for passengers sailing from Galveston by adding capacity and greater variety to the market. On another note, the Disney Magic will leave Galveston in mid-2027, relocating to the Pacific Northwest. No news yet on the replacement ship for the Magic. In its summer 2027 lineup of destinations, the Disney Cruise Line announced the return of a Marvel Day at Sea adventure departing Galveston with a Caribbean destination. Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas will move from Galveston to Fort Lauderdale in 2027.
Acquisitions and Leases … Taco Realty LLC sold a 2,422 SF building at 4061 Spencer Highway in Pasadena to Hawaiian Bros Island Grill. Andrew Alvis and Diandra Breen / NewQuest for the seller and Eric Broussard / Resolut RE for the buyer. A 20,500 SF shopping center at 112 SH 146 in La Porte was purchased. Justin Miller / Marcus & Millichap negotiated the transaction. Partners Capital acquired Lakeside Shopping Center, 45,130 SF, at 2450 E. Main Street and 103 Davis Road in League City. It’s 94% occupied. Brixmor completed the sale of Spencer Square, a 181,888 SF center anchored by Kroger, in Pasadena. The 80-key Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 2710 E. NASA Pkwy in Seabrook was sold to a new owner. Webster’s Baybrook Village, a 279,000 SF shopping center at 1507 W. Bay Area Blvd., was sold to Fidelis Realty Partners. CBRE National Retail Partners represented the seller. Pasadena’s Fairmont Preston Plaza, 106,000 SF, at 4802–4930 Fairmont Pkwy. sold to a new owner. JLL represented the seller. The shopping center was 89% leased at the time of sale. JKZ Fairmont Preston LLC bought Fairmont Preston Plaza at 4802 – 4930 Fairmont Pkwy. in Pasadena. It’s 106,000 SF and is anchored by Planet Fitness, Cosmic Air Adventure Park & Arcade and Dollar Tree. Creatorspace leased nearly 6,000 SF at 1199 E. NASA Parkway in Houston. This is a makerspace that connects the community with equipment and tools. Its member base includes fine artists, sculptors, musicians, sewists, cosplayers, graphic designers and more. Creatorspace specialties include 3D printing, woodshop, welding, electronics, pottery, laser cutting, forge, sewing, machining, graphic arts, metal arts and more. Classes are currently at 144 Park Avenue in League City while build-out is wrapping up. Sprouts Farmers Market (grocery store) leased 23,024 SF in Webster at Baybrook Gateway; 1001 W. Bay Area Blvd. They are open! Crunch Fitness Gym leased space in the former Kroger at 3410 Gulf Freeway in Dickinson. They’re open! Woody’s Hideaway (sports bar) leased 12,500 SF at Bayway Village in Webster at 20801 Gulf Freeway. Plans are to open end-of-year. The entertainment will include golf bays, pool tables, karaoke, dartboards, ping-pong, yard games, food and a bar. Edge Realty Partners / Kristen Barker and Michael Gordon represented the landlord; David Stukalin and Stephen Tou / The Retail Connection negotiated for the tenant. Clutch Sports Bar & Grill leased 6,800 SF in the Point NASA shopping center in Webster at 1020 W. NASA Parkway in August. It will be adjacent to Whiskey River South country and western dance hall and bar. Lamont Brands relocated back to Webster leasing 13,270 SF at 910 Gemini. The company does embroidery, screen printing, engraving, vinyl, ecommerce, and fullfillment. Bed Bath & Beyond will open a co-branded retail location in space operated by the Container Store at 18760 Gulf Freeway, which is Baybrook Mall’s power center. The merger will see the expansion of core departments of The Container Store, such as kitchen, bath
and closet with small appliances and textiles, while adding new areas customers know from Bed Bath & Beyond, such as dining, bedding and curtains. Tecovas opened a location at Baybrook Mall – boots, leather goods, apparel and accessories. Opening Soon -Webster – MTW Portrait Studio at 20710 Gulf Fwy. League City – Hotworx at 2125 E. League City Pkwy. Friendswood – Playdate Café (indoor kids play space and coffee shop) will open this fall at 116 Hunters Lane. Houston - Lovesac at 148 El Dorado Blvd. Now Open -La Marque – Forge Power Sports (utility vehicles, golf carts, mini bikes, 4wheelers, and more) at 15033 Delany Road. Friendswood – EverElle Boutique (women’s clothing and accessories) at 607 S. Friendswood Drive. HeartCore (fitness offering high energy, low impack workouts) at 2114 El Dorado Blvd. The Gilded Page Literary Lounge at 313 S. Friendswood Dr.(bookstore and event space, coffee bar, wine service and pastries from Roland’s Swiss Bakery). NAWA Coffee House at 2210 S. Friendswood Dr. Foxtail Boutique (women’s clothing) at 313 S. Friendswood Dr. League City – Texas Dept. of Public Safety driver license office at 1202 SH3. Pawtopia (pet store) at 3020 Marina Bay Drive. Prime IV Hydration & Wellness (1,751 SF) at 1911 W. League City Pkwy and Hobbs Road; Leni Sandoval / NewQuest and Richard Buxbaum / Radius Realty Advisors negotiated the deal. Clear Creek Run Co. at 4951 Marina Bay Drive. Baskin Robbins at 2925 Gulf Fwy South. Vega Rods (fishing supplies and apparel) at 1857 W. Main St. Coastal Teas at 2047 W. Main St. The Back Nine Golf at 2640 E. League City Pkwy. (indoor golf simulator open 24 hrs./day). Deer Park - Faithfully Her Boutique at 5002 Luella Ave. PlainAnSimple Off-Road & Truck Accessories at 413 Center St. Mustang Cat at 316 Georgia Avenue. PSI Pressure System Corp. at 4804 Railroad St. Sal’s ClubHouse at 502 Center St. (indoor golf destination). Boba Club (Vietnamese coffee, Taiwanese chicken and more). Houston – J.Jill is open at Baybrook Mall. VEG ER for Pets at Baybrook Mall, 18980 Gulf Fwy. Webster - Haraz Coffee House, 2,193 SF, is set to open at Baybrook Passage, 19403 Gulf Freeway. FS8 (pilates, tone and yoga) at 935 W. Bay Area Blvd. Tee’d Up Indoor Golf (7,000 SF) at 105 Magellan Circle in Magnolia Court Business Park Texas City – Sweet Mia’s Boutique at Tanger Outlets, 5885 Gulf Fwy. La Porte – White Water Express Car Wash at 1007 SH 146. Dickinson – Beck’s Home & Garden at 901 FM 646.
Have you looked at our flip book of HOT PROJECTS? Hot Projects
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT Forestar, a D. R. Horton affiliate, is developing a 90-home community on a 30-acre tract on Davis Road in League City. A model cottage unit is debuting at the Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort at 401 E. Beach Drive in Galveston. A new residential development is proposed in La Porte at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems and SH 146. The subdivision would include 204 lots. There will be two access points, one from SH 146 to the west and one from Wharton Weems to the south. Will keep you posted. Section II of Bay Village is planned in La Porte; the homes are elevated and start from $299’s. Various plans include three or four bedrooms, two baths, and range from 1,436 SF to 2,122 SF. Bayway Homes is the builder. Work began on The Bristol, a luxury independent senior living project, at 650 and 800 N. Friendswood Dr. Included are one and two-bedroom units ranging from 790 SF to 1,161 SF. Construction is well underway on the Dakota at Kemah, a multi-family project at the corner of Lawrence Road and League City Pkwy. Included are 10 three-story buildings consisting of 229 units – one, two and three bedrooms. Amenities include private garages. Transactions … Texas City’s Veranda Apartments, 200 units, and Stone Ridge Apartments, 248 units, sold to a new owner.
Grand Living at Tuscan Lakes, a 186-unit senior residential property on the League City Parkway, was sold to a new owner. The property offers independent and assisted living plus memory care services. Berkadia negotiated the deal. University Green Apartments, 194 units, at 1620 Bay Area Blvd. was sold. The property was about 97% occupied at the time of sale.
INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS & EVERYTHING ELSE! Port Houston landed a $48M grant for Bayport Container terminal upgrades including a new container yard, a new exit gate for trucks and a potential third container terminal on Spillman Island, just north of the Barbours Cut Terminal. Port Houston handled 4.2M twenty-foot equivalent units last year and expects to roughly double that over the next decade. The projects are part of Port Houston's Strategic Terminal Operations & Resilience Measures application as it works to accommodate growth at the port over the next decade. The Port will contribute $56M in matching funds for the projects. The Port of Galveston has announced plans for a proposed multi-use cargo handling facility with a $40M berth on a 100acre tract adjacent to the Davie Defense – Gulf Copper shipbuilding facility on Pelican Island. This project could support shipbuilding logistics, roll-on/roll-off cargo and LNG bunkering. The proposed berth would be approximately 1,000 feet long with a 500-foot-long dock. This project is included in the updated 20-year master plan that has up to $2.4B in projects including new cruise terminals, hotels, new retail space and apartments plus other waterfront improvements. Read more here: HBJ On June 1, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the $1B modernization of Davie Defense’s Coast Guard icebreaker production facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur. The U.S. Coast Guard finalized a $3.5B contract with Davie Defense to supply five new Arctic Security Cutters, the first by 2028 and the rest by 2035. Two vessels will be built in Finland; the other three will be built in Galveston and Port Arthur. Read more: HBJ Port of Galveston unveiled its $2.4B 20-year master plan. It includes new cruise terminals, hotels and waterfront terminals. The cruise business is projected to more than double to five million passengers in the next 15 years and triple by 2045. With the increased cruise traffic and that of the tourists visiting the historic USS Texas that will be berthed next to Terminal 16, there’s motivation to beautify the area around the terminals. The area could eventually include three hotels, 600,000 SF of retail and apartments along Harborside Drive plus parks and walkways on the waterfront … per the plan. So much more to read here: Hou Chron and HBJ The Port of Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees (governs the port) will vote on a long-term lease of about 30 acres on Pelican Island to Power LNG Ventures, a proposal that would establish the first LNG production facility on the island. It would be designed to fuel the next generation of cruise and cargo ships and also lay the foundation for broader industrial growth. The estimated investment is approximately $250M; the facility would be capable of producing about 400,000 gallons of liquified natural gas per day and could double production as demand grows. Galv Daily News
Education News … University of Texas Medical Branch and UTHealth Houston students will be able to pursue a dual Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration degree beginning in fall 2026 through the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business. Students can complete a one-year Master of Business Administration at the McComb’s Houston campus, allowing them to earn both degrees in about five years, instead of six. Read more here: Galv Daily News San Jacinto College – A $15.3M grant from Arnold Ventures will be used to support a program similar to CUNY’s (City University of New York) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs. The college aims to raise three-year graduation rates to 50%; they are currently 39.8%. The program combines advising, structured pathways and a comprehensive financial and academic support system. The strategy is to increase the number of Texans with college credentials and align education with workforce needs. There’s also the Promise scholarship program – it’s for students who live in the college taxing district. The new program will start with 900 Promise scholars who are studying natural sciences and are enrolled in one of the four bachelor’s degree programs. HBJ College of the Mainland opened its new Corporate Training Center at 7825 Monticello Drive. This facility will offer industrydriven instruction through specialized labs, flexible training spaces and professional development programs to help businesses
develop employees in technical, leadership and safety areas. Additionally, the 22,000 SF Campus Services Building broke ground on the COM campus. This new building will include warehouse space, mechanic and wood shops, vehicle and electric service vehicle storage – all to ensure seamless operations at the college. University of Texas Medical Branch received a $4M gift from the Sealy and Smith Foundation to establish ISLAND Promise, a scholarship to support UTMB students with tuition and housing. HBJ San Jacinto College launched a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, designed specifically to upskill working professionals while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline. This is a pathway to develop existing talent for mid-level and supervisory roles such as logistics analyst, supply chain manager, transportation coordinator and operations supervisor. College of the Mainland and Texas Woman’s University have joined a consortium that will offer students a structured and affordable route to earn a teaching credential. Students begin their coursework at COM and upon earning an Associate of Arts in Teaching can transfer to TWU to complete a bachelor’s degree program leading to teacher certification in early childhood – 6th grade. COM and TWU received a $96,000 grant from the Charles Butt Foundation and Houston Endowment to support student scholarships, all part of the Houston Teacher Pathways Consortium. Clear Creek ISD students will have an opportunity to enroll in three new courses for the 2026-2027 school year. All part of the Vision 2030 plan that aims to expand student learning opportunities and prepare students for future careers, these courses have been added: Principles of Applied Engineering, Principles of Allied Health, and Aviation and Aerospace. Galveston College will launch a new engineering technology degree and certificate program this fall. The college will offer an Associated of Applied Science in engineering technology and stackable certificates with hands-on training aimed at careers in robotics, electronics, advanced manufacturing, industrial controls and automation for entry-level technician roles.
City News … The City of Kemah secured a $2.6M grant from the Texas General Land Office to continue development and improvements at the city’s 57-acre nature facility. The goal is to promote the area’s ecotourism and provide a habitat for animals, birds and insects indigenous to the area. Conservation group, the Galveston Bay Foundation, unveiled the Gessner Center headquarters at 1725 SH 146 in Kemah. Sitting on 30 acres along Galveston Bay, the Gessner Center will be used as a hub for research, outreach and programming focused on protecting Galveston Bay. Restored coastal habitat and walking trails connect visitors directly with the bay ecosystem. Dickinson – City officials are considering a new zoning map. The proposed map would replace many of the city’s existing zoning classifications with a broader mix of residential, commercial and mixed-use districts intended to better reflect how properties are currently used. Read more here: Galv Daily News Pasadena - Pasadena Economic Development Corporation [PEDC] administers the Facade Forward Grant, a matching grant to support local small business development and city revitalization. This is an initiative available to eligible businesses to apply for funds to complete enhancement and improvement projects that improve the appearance and functionality of their business property's exterior. Matching grant funds may be provided for 50% of the cost of construction and architectural fees, up to $50,000 per project for construction and architectural fees combined. Interested parties are required to read the checklist and guidelines in their entirety prior to completing the grant application. Only projects that haven't commenced are eligible to apply. PEDC Facade Forward Grant Galveston – Work is underway on the $10.3M construction project at Scholes International Airport. This will strengthen the city’s role in emergency response; the airport will be able to support larger aircraft used in disaster response, military logistics and medical transport. The construction project will also position the airport closer to limited commercial passenger service. Stronger pavement on the parking areas and multiple safety-related upgrades are included in this project. Galv Daily News Proposed at Jack Brooks Park in Hitchcock: Galveston County accepted a $501,900 state planning grant for a proposed facility that would serve recreational shooters, hunter education classes and youth shooting sports. It would be built on about 80 acres with trap and skeet fields, a sporting clays course, outdoor pavilion and maintenance building. The planning phase ends in December 2027; the county could then seek additional state funding for construction.
Road News …
TxDOT Begins contract negotiations with Ferrovial/Webber (DBC) for SH 99 Segment B-1 project -• A project website will launch in the coming months. • Anticipated schedule: o Detailed design efforts will begin immediately, lasting well into the second year of the contract. o Utility adjustment activities, including conversations, designs, and even construction, will begin ASAP and last a solid year to clear the way for roadway construction. o Roadway construction cannot start until the contractor’s design packages are submitted and reviewed. Some field activity could be visible as early as spring, but we don’t know for sure until we obtain a more detailed schedule from the DBC in the coming months. • In collaboration with the DBC, TxDOT will begin scheduling stakeholder meetings in the coming months to engage the community as the project ramps up this fall. Some of the key benefits of SH 99, Segment B-1: The SH 99 segment B-1 project will give Alvin's SH 35 Bypass corridor a complete pavement renewal and a new look. It will provide critically needed east-west connectivity for League City. Friendswood will have greater connectivity through Georgetown Parkway and the SH 99 direct connectors. The project will be a catalyst for growth in the surrounding communities of Santa Fe and Dickinson. This segment will further integrate the transportation infrastructure of Brazoria and Galveston counties, while supporting regional economic development for years to come. Read more about the project: Galv Daily News BAHEP is part of Facebook and LinkedIn, providing its members and followers yet another way to keep up with its activities. Like us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BayAreaHoustonEcon Check out LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/company/bay-area-houston-economic-partnership/
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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