HEB IS COMING TO TOWN...YEA!!!!! HEB to LJ is Official Story Lake Jackson officials approved a $3 million tax reimbursement deal this week that clears the way for HEB to build an 80,000 square-foot store on land across from Lake Jackson Intermediate School. The company has acquired 16 acres in the 38-acre area and will remove 47 remaining duplexes to build the store and surrounding retail space. “We are absolutely thrilled because they are helping us redevelop the old government area in downtown,” said City Manager Bill Yenne. “There have been efforts over the last 40 years to try to redevelop the area.” The economic development agreement includes a $5 million reimbursement package for infrastructure improvements to the public right of way and new property, personal and sales tax. “The city will reimburse HEB for redevelopment of the Oak Woods Addition for up to $3 million from the half-cent 4B sales tax,” Yenne said. “We will also split property tax with them at 50 percent and sales tax at 50 percent up to $2 million.” The city believes it will cost at least $3 million for the public infrastructure and will sell bonds to get the money. The city can use half-cent 4B sales tax proceeds only toward public infrastructure. “We should have the money available sometime between October and December of next year,” Yenne said. “HEB will submit the bills to us, and any other work and we will then reimburse them.” Beginning in January, the company will take out 47 duplexes. The proposed site will have retail on both sides of the store, a pharmacy drive-thru, fuel center and a car wash. HEB representatives said they will go through almost 40 site plans and the one presented to council this week was only the seventh or eighth. “There will be other development around the HEB parcel, but that is unknown at this time,” Yenne said. “It will probably be a combination of office, retail and urban living.” “We don’t have prototype buildings,” said HEB representative John Rose. “No buildings are the same.” HEB strives to have community involvement in all of it’s stores, which is one reason each building is unique. “We spend about 90 days looking at each site and see what goes in the community, figuring out what they want,” said HEB representative Benjamin Scott. “We build each store from the inside out.” Scott said HEB looks forward to being a larger part of the community. HEB has purchased 100 blocks from the old Oak Woods addition in the old government area of downtown Lake Jackson. As part of the Economic Development Agreement, Azalea, Coral Vine Street, Ivy Drive, Grapevine Turn, Winding Way and Trumpet Vine Street will be permanently closed and the city has agreed to assist HEB in closing these streets. “We will be closing and abandoning all streets,” Yenne said. “They have a completion date of no later than 2016, but they want it to be a year before that at least.” The city made it mandatory for Center Way to stay, but HEB will construct it to look a little different, Yenne said. The company will also construct and dedicate new rights of way and public roads. The proposed entrances and exits to the store are on Oak Drive, Oyster Creek Drive, and two on Circle Way. “We will use the same type of street plates the city is using in the new sections of town and the same street lights you guys use as well,” Rose said. Lake Jackson Intermediate is north of the proposed location and HEB has been working with the school to create a traffic line off of Oyster Creek for dropping off and picking up students. Councilman Gerald Roznovsky expressed concerns about the conservation of trees. HEB officials reassured Roberts they have done a tree study and will be keeping as many trees as possible. “I told you this site plan will change 30 or so times, and now that we have a tree plan, we are going to start looking at that,” Rose said. Councilman Scott Schwertner called the project a great opportunity to expand downtown. “This will create opportunities for our citizens as well as future citizens,” he said. Kellie McKnight is a reporter at The Facts. Contact her at 979-237-
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 14:51:51 +0000
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