NEW SHOPPING CENTER LOOKING TO LOCATE IN BRENHAM
The Brenham City Council heard a presentation this (Thursday) afternoon on a new shopping center looking to locate in Brenham. Brad Combs with Hutton Real Estate said his company is looking to develop a retail center to be called Woodridge Crossing at Hwy 36 South at Salem Road. The property, just south of the Lowes Building Center, is mostly undeveloped. He said they intend to bring in a number of retail stores and restaurants that are not currently in Brenham. The cost of the entire development is estimated to be $21 million and it is expected to open in the Fall of 2018. Combs said his company is looking to enter into a Chapter 380 agreement with the city to develop the project. He explained that stores in cities like Brenham have a lower sales volume than those located in larger markets, but the construction costs for the center are the same.
A Chapter 380 agreement would allow the city to offer various financial incentives including property tax abatements, loans or grants, commitments for infrastructure, or payments of portions of the sales tax generated by the project. Council members went into executive session to discuss what the city may offer, but said no action would be taken today on the matter.
I find it very funny how the comments are going on this article… I made one of the first on here when i originally read it and still feel the same way… This new “shopping” area is going to be terrible for Brenham. Most of these comments on here are all very self centered, take care of me type attitude. “I have to go to college station or houston” Everyone is only looking out for themselves and not looking at the big picture or the future.. If the city council would start PLANNING for something like this now and look to making it happen in 10 years give or take I would probably have a more positive feeling toward it.. The infastructure around this area is not ready for this.. First off the streets around this area need to be improved to handle the higher volume of traffic, drainage and runoff need to be addressed, the area already floods with heavy downpours. Then one must consider the additional water and sewer. These examples are the tip if the iceberg, I’m not going to even get started on who’s going to pay for it because i can PROMISE that the taxpayers are going to end up footing the whole bill… For everyone that thinks this is great, stop thinking about yourself for one minute and look at the big picture… SO AGAIN I say this is NOT what Brenham needs.
Thank-you. If all of the self centered people would get off of their knee and stand tall; then they would see the big picture too.
*Hey “Realist” a Ross, TJ Maxx and Kroger is also in the works so get ready!
Somerville, Burton, Caldwell and Snook have a need for new residents plus we need the empty space for our new neighbors with positive outlooks on life rather then all the negativity and complaining in the years to come oh and crowded streets on 36 near our Mall for now ( Walmart ) so hurry and pack your bags and move to a quitter town.
It will be here soon so avoid all the traffic and headaches that you’ll suffer from not wanting Brenham to grow plus bring new jobs and competitive wages oh and new friendships!
#lifeis2short… #changeiscoming…
Really – A Target, Hobby Lobby , and Academy?? Our community does not fit the profile for these businesses . We really just need a NEW grocery store.
The traffic congestion in the proposed area is already heavier than the roads were designed for, so why is it that the city planners are not promoting expansion in the hwy 36 and 577 intersection area. A new shopping center with possibly another HEB store in this area would benefit the population on that side of town and at the same time relieve traffic on 36 south. I also don’t understand why so many people seem to think that Wal Mart is the center of our universe.
That would be nice but the reality is that, from a retailer’s perspective, this market is not large enough to support another HEB. In these small markets retailers must cluster together to be successful and that usually means near Walmart. They open stores all over the US so they have a formula for success. Without it, they will not come here and we lose tax revenue.
Thanks for the correction on the misunderstanding information because that didn’t seem very logical.
We are a growing town and if we keep turning jobs down over keeping Brenham a small town it will let others choose to move elsewhere and shop, eat etc.
As for the Mexican restaurants that was commented on I bet you eat there once a week like the rest of us and not because it’s all we but because the owners and staff are very welcoming and the food is always good with a great smile!
I think we lost a big opportunity for jobs when the city choose not to let Samsung build here a few years ago out by MIC and they moved it to Dallas when our community really would of had a great boost!
I’m looking forward to all the new stores and restaurants coming really soon!!!
Please stay safe and positive wherever your travels take you these days.
There is some real misinformation here. FACT-This project will be worth millions and it will pay property & sales tax. FACT-the City will NOT finance it with loans/grants. FACT-the developer pays for infrastructure, including part of Salem Rd. FACT-the City will NOT pay any part of the sales tax to the state… shoppers pay sales tax as usual. FACT-Currently, this property produces less than $4,000/year in taxes (public information). A retail development will generate construction jobs immediately, hundreds of permanent jobs with top quality retailers and pay hundreds of thousand of dollars in taxes (think about revenue to the hard pressed school districts). All of this at no charge to the citizens. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose so let’s get behind this and tell City Council.
I am a resident of Washington County and want to see our community prosper. I much prefer to have a commercial development paying taxes and adding a source of revenue that will give citizens relief from increasing taxes.
I’m sorry, it appears your comment refers to a different article entirely, as your ‘facts’ seem to directly contradict the goals of Hutton Real Estate, as stated both in this article, and in the audio excerpt of the company representative’s statement to the Council. Or perhaps you didn’t read the article all the way through?
Last paragraph; “… financial incentives including property tax abatements, loans or grants, commitments for infrastructure, or payments of portions of the sales tax generated by the project…”
The key word is “may” include. That does not mean they are included.
True, but Hutton’s rep was here SPECIFICALLY to ask CoB to agree to a 380, which includes all of the above. Why would they ask for it if they weren’t hoping to receive it?
Have heard all this talk before and will only believe it when I see it !! BR and Reckless Spending and Reckless Planning I agree with Erick go live in one of the small little towns that surround Brenham if you want small town life. I am ready for some changes around here as long as it isn’t another Dollar Store, Mexican Restaurant, another Resale Shop, Precious Pretty Shop downtown, etc ………
Shopping center would be great!! We need a choice other than Walmart! Tired of going to College Station and Houston!!!
Brenham’s economy needs a boost, and this would be a good one. If a community is not growing, it will die – like Navasota and others around us. We can’t stop the growth anyway – Houston is coming whether we like it or not. Best if we can plan wisely for it, so we’ll get the most benefit from it. We must support this well-planned project, with a proven developer, that will employ many people and keep more retail sales here. Just think of all the retail business that goes outside the county, supporting the infrastructure of Houston, College Station, etc. That money is needed in OUR community! I see here that men are asking for Academy or sporting goods stores. Do you realize how many local women go to larger cities for Hobby Lobby, not to mention their kids who go there for school projects? Women are the biggest spenders – let’s keep their money here.
Before you start wishing for stores and food chains, why don’t you read what the want the city to do:
1) on the property taxes, the norm is no taxes for 10-15 years.
2) they want the city to finance the project with loans and grants,
3)they want the city to pay for all the infrastructure,
4) they want the city to pay part of the sales tax to the state.
All of this is so they can make a big profit at the city expense! For those of you who cry that tax rates are to high now, the cities burden will be greater and yes your taxes will go up, and up!!
The idea is the money would stay here, sales will increase, subsequently sales tax revenue will increase, offsetting any incentives offered by the city. It is a quite common incentive and in most cases does increase employment and tax revenue.
It is imperative for the citizenry to be involved, ask questions, know what the city is giving away and what it is getting in return.
At this stage of the negotiations, the development group cannot divulge names of any certain or even potential tenants. Though it can describe target market and demographics.
Before anyone goes yay or nay to this development find out what is being offered by both sides.
It seems odd that the City cannot lower their tax rate to provide relief to home and business owners yet at the same time, provide generous benefits to non-Brenham companies wishing to build in the city limits. If the City has enough spare cash to offer such incentives, should they not first look to helping their current citizens or business before others? Brenham is going to grow, with or without such incentives.
It should also be asked-has the City Council afforded Brenham based developers the same opportunity for Ch 380 Agreements? Has any Brenham based developer asked and been denied the same opportunities? Though these agreements are, on the surface, amazing economic development tools-the real question to ask: what is the true cost to current home and business owners? In the end, someone has to pay for the grants given and reduction in property taxes granted under these agreements.
amen. but that is what they do best “spend someone elses money”
The 380 incentive is open to everyone. Let’s not discriminate against a developer that wants to build a $21M investment because he happens to be from another town. If there was more development of this type in Brenham to increase tax revenues maybe there would be some tax relief to us homeowners. There is no cash from the City to a developer. The developer has to invest his own money up front with the opportunity to earn back only a percentage over a very long period of time. Immediately, this City will be the beneficiary of a much greater tax revenue than is currently generated on the undeveloped land. It is a win-win to have public/private partnerships and most small towns are salivating to get this type of development.
That is true that these agreements are open to anyone. However, you now have the situation in which Shopping Center X is being given an advantage via the City subsidizing and competing against Shopping Center Y which is not. The fact that this company has already run the numbers shows that there is a market in Brenham. And that market makes sense financially for them to invest. The main point being, instead of giving one company a boost via the 380, reduce the tax rate in Brenham so that all property owners are given a benefit.
I think this is a great opportunity for our city, and I hope the city council sees that. In addition to being able to shop locally,spend our dollars, and collect sales tax to benefit our own community, I would think a center like this would employee several hundred people. And we’ve learned recently how important it is to have a diversified economy, so Brenham can continue to thrive if one of our mainstay businesses suffers a downturn. I’m all in, bring on Hobby Lobby and Chic Fil a!
Everyone needs to tell their council representative that you want this new retail and this new tax base for Washington County!
I hope they plan to install a traffic light at 36 and Salem Road then. AND upgrade the condition of Salem Road and it’s lack of proper drainage too. Wonder where the deer will go that currently live in that wonderful little wooded area?
They’ll go deeper into the country, like they did when they got run out of the then-vacant land behind the Bluebonnet Center, ten short years ago. Which brings to mind a great comparison; does anyone else now commenting remember the development and history of the Bluebonnet Center?
And by the way, there is a plan to put a road through from the industrial park over to the intersection of SH36 and FM109. Salem Rd. will get a stoplight after due process (careful what you wish for, i.e., the subdivision that prompts it), and Salem Rd. is in better condition now than almost any point since I started driving it when it was gravel. Yes the RR-Xing is pretty rough, but that crossing has been reworked dozens of times. It’s an awkward crossing, though, and a long-term solution has yet to be found. I imagine once a couple hundred homes fill the hay meadow on the other side of the tracks, enough motivation will be generated to fund some more satisfactory solution.
Ha! Love the comments and agree with both sides.
I try to support the Ma and Pa stores, but Ma and Pa turned into Grandma and Grandpa and retired.
We long-time Brenhamites will continue to support our local businesses.
Anyone who is thinking about opening a business needs to understand one thing.
Retail is not the way to go. Start a service-related business. You can’s get your drain unclogged from Amazon…yet.
Bring a Target to Brenham. Another couple if clothing stores would be nice also: Kohl’s, Etc.
Say yes!!!!
wow but it will dollar stores and mexican food its the brenham way and pay 10 dollars an hr lol
A good hometown restaurant would be great and yes an academy too!!
We don’t need an Academy!
Why not? Because we have WalMart and Hibbett Sports? Or because you don’t have a need for an Academy?
People want to shop local but they must leave Brenham to get the goods they need because It is not here. That also means sales tax dollars leave Brenham. A project like this will be a huge addition to the ad valorem taxes which benefit the entire county, especially our schools! This project is as much about economic development as it is about meeting the needs of the residents.
I would fully agree with tom !! When we need to go shopping ( 4 kidos) we have to make a trip to CS/Bryan or head in to Houston. I would love to be able to shop in Brenham. Just about every time we go to either CS/Bryan Targets or the Target on 290 in Cyprus GUESS what we see other family’s from Brenham !! Brenham prides it self on great sports programs, Little League, Youth soccer , Youth Football, ect But there is not a sporting goods store that sells affordable youth sporting goods. ( acadmy!) I know this is an old link but there are plans out there by other developers that want to bring in more retail/restaurants http://www.newquest.com/pdfs/Brenham_Town_Center.pdf
I totally agree !!! Brenham needs more than just Walmart.
A Chapter 380 agreement would allow the city to offer various financial incentives including property tax abatements, loans or grants, commitments for infrastructure, or payments of portions of the sales tax generated by the project.
The developers are asking for the City to pay a portion of the building costs, tax reductions and sales tax rebates, in other words for the citizens to buy into the development BEFORE the first store is open.
Charles, not sure where you get your information but there seems to be a lot of misinformation out there. The City is NOT paying for any portion of the buildings and they are NOT buying into the development before the first store opens. Hutton puts their money where their mouth is. They build 100% at their cost and are able to earn back only a portion of their investment through partial tax abatement over a long period of time. Communities everywhere are doing public/private partnerships with great results. Our community will benefit from greatly increased real estate and sales taxes the first year the project opens. It will be a nice change for taxes to come from a source other than residents.
Tax Abatement === Equals === You, The Citizens Paying Taxes Will Pay !!!!
Please see last paragraph in the article, which directly contradicts your assertion.
I agree 100%
Citizens Will Pay For Center, It sounds like you do not understand a tax abatement. Right now the taxes on the undeveloped property are about $4,000./year. Once developed, this property will PAY hundreds of thousands of $$ in taxes in the first year. When the tax abatement period ends, this property will PAY even greater taxes. Absolutely nothing is paid out of pocket by the citizens. Do you prefer to have the city raise your property taxes to generate revenue or would you rather have a retail development generating tax revenue? Easy answer for me.
In that case everyone who builds anything should get a “get out of jail free pass” and not have to pay property taxes when they build a house or a small mom and pop business; on real property and business equipment/inventory, for the first four years if that is what these guys are getting.
Just to clarify, there is no “free pass” for this development It will pay hundreds of thousand of $$ in taxes in the first year it opens. This will benefit our county, including the schools. 380 agreements are provided in the State of Texas help provide economic development from commercial and retail projects that produce jobs and tax revenue. Unfortunately, that does not happen when we build our homes. I am happy to let a commercial development pay more taxes so maybe we get a break from tax increases.
Academy!!!! Please!!!!!
It is obvious that with the close proximity Brenham is to Houston, that growth is certain to happen.
I feel this type of project would be in line with the change and growth that Brenham will experience in the future.
I have mixed emotions about this. I love the idea but maybe not so close to my home.
I agree; I think Chappell Hill would be a much more suitable location for an ambitious new development.
I love Chappell Hill but, unfortunately, it is not realistic to think this development would happen there. Retailers need to cluster around each other to increase their success. In a small town that cluster is usually near Walmart. This development in Brenham will be great for all of Washington County because a rising tide lifts all boats.
Unless I’ve completely misunderstood the developer’s stated intentions, a ‘retail cluster’ is exactly what they could bring to Chappell Hill. So I’m not really sure what your argument is. Dollar General located in Chappell Hill and Burton without a Walmart next door, or really without any retail close by. I wonder why?
Yes it’s about time
Couldn’t DISAGREE more…. This is NOT what Brenham needs. If you want new shopping and more places to eat then move…. There are plenty of big cities out there with all the shopping you can stand.. Brenham is too big now.. no need to add more to it.
BR. You are why none of our young people want to say in Brenham after high school or come back after college. I’ve lived here my entire life, raised 4 children and can’t figure out why Brenham hasn’t grown more than it has. I do not want to go to college station, Houston, Katy or any other city to shop or eat out when we can have some of the same business here. If you want small town life then I suggest you move to Burton, Chappell Hill, RTC, Somerville, Giddings, Snook, etc..
Brenham. Love it it leave it. Change it with your own buck if you want to, but not the tax payer’s buck. You obviously are not a city citizen home property tax paying citizen. When it is time for these businesses, they will gladly come and pay their own way. Just because another city does this type of business, does not mean that the city of Brenham needs to jump in the lake too. We have always been a positive and unique minded city. This outsider mentality will kill our small town city and the reasons that attracted you to our small town. Your out-of-town rolling stone mentality will roll on eventually, and leave the local long city citizens holding the handful of tax problems that you created, as you rolling stones leave town grinning with your bag of money in hand. It is despicable.
I agree BR. People move here because they like the small town. But then their accustomed wants and not needs make them want to change our small town. The only thing that makes it worst is this developer wanting the citizens of Brenham to foot his bills. The only thing worst than that is the ill fated development planning by our city. Have you seen the monstrosity of a dorm that Blinn was allowed to build. How will Old Mill Creek handle the traffic? Have you seen the new neighborhoods with the houses crammed next to one another. I doubt that the city planner even knows what needs to be planned next.
Terry Roberts is retiring so now you’re back to OMC road, CoB’s planners, and Blinn’s “out of proportion” dorm (whatever that means). Just like Blue Bell, you just keep crankin’ along. Thanks for the entertainment.
As for ill-fated… like what? All the multiple additions to the city of Brenham since the 1860s? That house you live in — when it was built, you can bet the neighbors were complaining. Don’t believe me? There’s a very detailed 1881 map of Brenham by Augustus Koch hanging on the wall at City Hall — why don’t you go see if you can locate your house on it?
This is awesome news, I hope they go forward with this plan, New shopping and New restaurants are so needed here. Sounds like a great deal for the city of Brenham and it’s citizens.
Hobby Lovby and Chick-Fil-A…Come on down!
And Academy !
Hobby Lobby, please!
If we stop progress, we’ll end up like Navasota.
Navasota is a really nice town. What you need to say is if the city of Brenham goes not do proper planning and spend our tax dollars wisely; that is why our streets are falling apart. Brenham planner should spend on streets of today. Spend money on citizens of today. Why would you invite more people for supper when you barely have enough to feed the people at the table now? Take care of today’s tax payers first. Take care of today citizens first. These businesses will come to Brenham eventually. Government that cannot plan for citizens of today should just plan to leave today or tomorrow at the very latest.
Unfortunately, these national retailers will not just “show up” in Brenham; they will find another town that wants to work with them on a public/private partnership….and there are plenty other towns that want them! This commercial development will give the city a new income stream to help with shortfalls. Our city works hard to have a nice town but sometimes there is just not enough money to go around. Otherwise, the only place to get the money is to raise taxes on us like they just did. It is simple math.
More like Waller county. Navasota got a new, motivated planner, like Brenham’s, and they are turning things around over in College Station’s newest ‘bedroom community.’ Go drive around and see for yourself.
Navasota had a lack of money for years and their streets deteriorated. Brenham in redirecting tax dollars to unnessacery nonessential tax abatements and projects, and is plaqued by hyper overpaid upper, deteriorated, management that is making these poor planning and tax spending decisions. That is why our streets are deteriorating in Brenham now.
Sigh. Crank crank crank crank, you just don’t know when to quit. Who exactly do you think you’re needling here? Please submit for us the audience a detailed list of all the substandard streets within Brenham city limits and please include references to the engineering standards you judged them by, as well as the engineering reports comparing Brenham’s streets to surrounding small towns’, or just stop complaining about the streets since you never have any specific complaints other than the vague “improper maintenance or development.” Again, we know you don’t like Terry Roberts, we get it already. He’s retiring, so who is your next target?
Unfortunately, locating in Chappell Hill is not reality. Retail tenants must cluster together to create a hub of shopping to increase their success. In small towns they must cluster around Walmart. Those are the rules of the game. That is REALITY.