Economy has impacted timing, says developer
By HELEN ERIKSEN CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

The LaCenterra retail center development in the heart of Cinco Ranch, is preparing to expand despite the sluggish economy, developers say.

The 34-acre mixed-use project, which opened its first phase in spring 2007, is being built in three phases over several years, developer Woody Mann Jr. of Vista Equities Group said. Facilities include upscale retail, office and medical leasing space. The planned expansion will include about 250 one-and two bedroom residential units.

“We’ll definitely proceed with the second phase of the development, but the timing has certainly been impacted by the state of the economy, as has the status of most development in the planning stage,” Mann said. (more…)

The city of Katy will present its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Katy Heritage Park, 5990 George Bush Drive, on Nov. 20, beginning at 5 p.m.

The event will include photos with and letters to Santa, children’s activities, family entertainment, holiday treats and “a chilly surprise for all the kids.”

The event is coordinated through Katy’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Plans were unveiled at the Katy Area EDC General Assembly meeting on Tuesday August 12 by Clay Development & Construction for the development of two new business parks and construction of a 148,000 sq. ft. industrial spec building west of the Katy city limits. Clay Development has acquired the Stonegate Business Park (Stonegate) located east of Pederson Road between I-10 and US 90 and a 175 acre rail-served tract located north of US 90.

Clay Business Development Manager Charlie Christ made the presentation at the meeting. “We are developing Stonegate with a focus on distribution space from 17,500 sq. ft. to 148,000 sq. ft. on parcels from three to 25 acres and a total of 40 acres are available,” noted Christ. (more…)

July 27, 2008, 10:59PM
2008 Houston Chronicle

The Houston-Galveston Area Council will hold five public meetings in August to explain the four new “managed lanes” that will open in October in the middle of the Katy Freeway.

The lanes will be open to high-occupancy vehicles and buses for free during rush hours and to toll-paying drivers at any time. In other places, the arrangement is called High Occupancy Toll, or HOT, lanes.

The meetings start at 6 p.m.:

•Aug. 14: Kendall Branch Library, 14330 Memorial, Houston
•Aug. 19: Katy Elementary School cafeteria, 5726 George Bush, Katy
•Aug. 21: Memorial Church of Christ, 900 Echo, Houston
•Aug. 26: Cinco Ranch Library, 2620 Commercial Center, Katy
•Aug. 28: Heights Branch Library, 1302 Heights Blvd., Houston

Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Katy residents looking to help save the environment by recycling their soda cans and milk jugs have a new location to drop off their materials.

The city has placed a large green-and-yellow container from Abitibi Bowater for aluminum and plastic recycling at the back corner of the Social Services building, 905 Ave. C. Two other containers for paper recycling are also available at the same location.

The city of Katy does not offer curbside recycling, said Jamie Wolman, community specialist for the city’s parks department.

“We are hoping this effort will be an indication of how interested our citizens are in recycling,” said Wolman, adding that the recycling effort is a pilot program.

In addition, residents can now recycle outdated phone books through a partnership between Abitibi, Consolidated Communications, Wal-Mart and Keep Katy Beautiful.

A paper recycler has been placed on the northeast corner of the Katy Mills Wal-Mart parking lot and will be available until Sept. 1.

For information, call 281-391-4726.

July 16, 2008, 6:18PM

A new upscale outdoor mall featuring national and local retailers is headed to the Katy area. Simon Property Group, the owners of Katy Mills Mall, is planning to build a 1.1-million-square-foot mall on the north side of the Katy Freeway near the Grand Parkway and Mason Road.

According to plans on the company’s Web site, www.simon.com, the first phase of the mall development will feature an open-air, town center-type of shopping center.

Scheduled to open in 2012, the outdoor mall will include traditional and fashion department stores, big-box stores, specialty retailers and restaurants.

Officials have not said when construction will begin.

Katy-area economic leaders expect KBR project to spur growth
Engineering company plans campus at I-10, Texas 99

By HELEN ERIKSEN
Chronicle Correspondent

Local business leaders are upbeat after KBR’s recent announcement that it would develop a campus in the Katy area, because they say it would generate new jobs, boost the economy and put Katy on the map.

During a meeting of the Katy Area Economic Development Council Tuesday, members praised Lance LaCour, council chief executive officer, for his guidance, leadership and effort in sealing the deal.

“I just can’t tell you how big an event this is for the community,” said council chairman Woody Mann. “I want to publicly acknowledge Lance and everything he did in that effort.”

The global engineering and construction company disclosed details of the development to the public in a recent press release. (more…)

May 15, 2008, 12:28AM

Officials with the Texas Children’s West Campus will break ground today on the new West Houston/Katy hospital.

The $220-million, 490,000-square-foot medical complex will be built on 55 acres at Barker Cypress Road and the Katy Freeway.

Texas Children’s is building the medical facility in response to rapid growth in the Katy area.

The project’s first phase is an outpatient building scheduled to open spring/summer 2010 and will offer 15 pediatric specialty services.

The project’s second phase, scheduled to open fall/winter 2010, is an inpatient facility which will include a pediatric emergency room, 48 inpatient beds, surgical suites, and advanced imaging services.

In subsequent phases, 48 in-patient beds will be added.

By ZEN T.C. ZHENG
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Fort Bend County officials Tuesday approved the designs and project cost estimates for the expansion of three Katy-area roads despite two county commissioners’ concerns that the prices far exceed what voters had approved.

The three roads — Greenbusch, Katy-Flewellen and Katy-Gaston — are among 47 projects in the $156 million mobility bond package voters supported in May 2007.

Of those, 27 are in unincorporated areas and coordinated by the county, and the rest in the jurisdiction of municipalities. Ron Drachenberg, assistant county engineer, said the three Katy-area roads are among 17 county-sponsored projects under contract for design.

The expansion would rebuild a 2.7-mile segment of Greenbusch from Falcon Landing to Pin Oak, a 1.5-mile stretch of Katy-Flewellen from Katy-Gaston to Pin Oak, and a 1.7-mile section of Katy-Gaston from Cinco Ranch Boulevard to FM 1093 — all currently two-lane country roads with open ditches — as four-lane boulevards with divided medians, curbs and gutters. (more…)

May 1, 2008, 9:52AM

Retail center, rehabilitation facility and hotel set to open in ‘08

By KIMBERLY PIÑA
Chronicle Correspondent

As the city of Katy continues to attract more families and tourists, new businesses are responding to the population growth, and several construction projects are under way.

A retail center, a new nursing and rehabilitation center and the city’s second hotel are expected to open this year.

Plans are also in place to construct more business and professional buildings along the perimeter of Katy Mills mall, a hotspot for commercial growth. (more…)