(Seguin) — The waiting may soon be over for a massive retail center, that’s expected to bring new stores, restaurants and more to the city of Seguin.
The Seguin Town Center project is being developed on Interstate 10 by New Quest, the same company responsible for the massive Creekside Project in neighboring New Braunfels. The Town Center project has been on hold for years, but it was announced during Tuesday’s State of the City presentation, that the project is finally moving forward.
Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen says this is a big deal for Seguin.
“Fifteen years ago, or so, we got really excited, and we worked on a deal with a developer to buy this huge piece of property, that’s about 530 acres. We worked with Texas Department of (Transportation) to put in roadways and access roads and curb cuts to get ready for that development. And when we do that, I tend to think, oh my gosh, that’s going to happen tomorrow, right? It’s 15 years later and it’s happening,” said Dodgen.
Dodgen says New Quest has a great track record of producing high quality retail and multi-use developments. She says the Town Center project will greatly enhance an already fast-growing retail sector in Seguin. She says Town Center bring in many of the kinds of shopping and dining options that people have been seeking for years.
“Yes, it is the same ones who developed in New Braunfels, and that is doing all of that development. We’re trying to do it very smartly and with exactly what we want and how we want it to be. But that’s what you’ll be seeing. You’ll be seeing more things come here. Some of the things that you want (are coming). We can’t tell you what they are, because we are really not sure what they are (at this time). But the next year to 24 months to 18 months is going to be a real game changer, I think, in this area,” said Dodgen.
City Manager Steve Parker, who also spoke during the State of the City presentation, says they are working closely with New Quest to move this project forward. He says New Quest is actively working to lock in the retailers that will be coming into this new space in Seguin. He says it will include a mix of large box stores and other retailers.
“You’ve got to have enough tenants to make this worth their while to put in the roadways. It is very expensive drainage. It’s a very flat piece of property. These development deals do not happen without incentives. So, the city’s got to work with them. At the next council meeting, you’re going to see some agreements go back to adopt a general land use plan for this development and also start the process of what incentives may be entitled to them. And it’ll be a sharing. It won’t be coming out of your property taxes. This will be what’s not on the ground now. And if they were to develop a Lowe’s and a movie theater and a (Texas) Roadhouse and a Target and those types of things, that we would share in a portion of the property taxes and sales tax generated. until they’re able to recoup some of their costs to make it worth their while to be able to finance that project. These deals don’t happen without that, but we’re starting that process, and you’ll see that at the very next council meeting. But it also depends on how quickly they can get letters of intent and get everything negotiated,” said Parker.
The Town Center development was easily one of the biggest announcements made during Tuesday’s State of the City presentation. The Town Center would be built along the Interstate 10 West access road, between State Highway 46 and FM 464. It is a massive piece of property that stretches all the way back to FM 78.
There’s already access roads in place for the Town Center project, which should alleviate some of the traffic concerns that have been raised with another new shopping center. Hobby Lobby recently opened up in the Seguin Crossing Shopping Center, along I-10 just east of State Highway 123 Bypass.
There’s currently road construction in that area, and traffic has been a concern for some in the community. Mayor Dodgen says it ultimately hasn’t stopped people from visiting Hobby Lobby. She took a brief hand-raising survey during Tuesday’s meeting.
She says people are excited about Hobby Lobby, as well as the Academy Sports & Outdoors, Five Below, James Avery and other stores that are coming to Seguin Crossing. She says that road work will also eventually be finished by the Texas Department of Transportation and should improve access to that area. But again, city officials stressed that much of the accessibility infrastructure for the Town Center project is already in place.
This massive amount of retail growth reflects the overall growth that’s taking place in Seguin. Its population continues to swell, and that’s bringing new opportunities to the community. The city of Seguin is now the 29th fastest growing community in the United States, with a growth rate percentage that predicted to be higher than what New Braunfels saw during its peak growth period.
