INPUT SOUGHT ON MIXED-USE PROJECT NEAR HOHLT PARK

  

Brenham residents are invited to give their feedback on a mixed-use development project on the north side of Brenham.

A survey is open for the public to give its preferences on what could be included in the North Park Development, to be located on 7 acres off of North Park Street within walking distance of Hohlt Park.  Input is needed to help guide what features are part of the long-term project, which currently has plans for office space for lease, a public green space with outdoor amenities, boutique hotel, dining and golf simulator stations.

The project is being privately funded through a locally-led investment group.  The land is owned by North Park Development LLC, which belongs to Ken and Katie Burch.  Katie Burch, principal architect and owner of PlanNorth, says this development is meant to highlight the city’s best assets and address what it still lacks in order to give both locals and visitors a place to truly see why Brenham is special.

The first phase of the development is the office building project, which is currently out to bid for the core and shell of the building.  Phase II, which is the focus of the survey, is scheduled for groundbreaking later this year along with Phase I.  A third phase calls for future development, but what that looks like will be influenced by what is supported in the second phase.

The influence for Phase II is centered on indoor/outdoor activities and food and beverage options.  The boutique hotel is planned to have 50 spaces, be run by a hospitality management company, and highlight the trades that went into building it.  For food and drink, the hotel lobby will complement the possibility of a standalone restaurant, one either new to town or expanding locally.  The indoor golf simulator is smaller in scale than a BigShots or Topgolf, and is more akin to a golf suite that offers avid golfers a place to work on and analyze their swing, while also providing a space for special events and parties.  The multipurpose public green space will connect directly to Hohlt Park with two walking trails and will have a turfed plaza, hummingbird garden and creek-like detention areas.  The design of the buildings is intended to fit in with the existing landscape and respect the site.

Burch says the responses to the survey are vital to defining what the North Park Development is and making it the best it can be.

The survey includes questions on demographics and on project specifics, such as the basic amenities desired, the importance of locally-owned businesses versus chains, defining good parking and outdoor seating, and architectural preferences.  The survey will close on June 11^th, and results will be shared later.

There are other ways the community can get involved with the North Park Development beyond the survey.  Updates on when certain pieces of the project go out to competitive bid will be shared on social media for any local contractors wanting to participate.  An emphasis is being placed on hiring and collaborating locally, working with local businesses and vendors to support the project.  Opportunities to collaborate with experts in horticulture are being explored.  Families who are in the building trades are encouraged to reach out so they can be honored in the hotel building.

If anyone has further comments other than what they put down in the survey linked above, they can contact PlanNorth’s Sam Stevens at sstevens@plannorth.com.