LONZA CONTINUES TO GROW  PRESENCE IN PEARLAND

 Lonza, who opened the world’s largest dedicated gene and cell therapy manufacturing facility in Pearland's Lower Kirby District in April 2018, recently completed the expansion of additional laboratory space. The new laboratory encompasses 10,000 square feet and will be used to process new products and will also allow Lonza to employ more technicians. Lonza also has begun construction on additional clean rooms and is in the planning stages for another set of additional six clean rooms scheduled for completion in 2020 in the 300,000 square foot facility to assist with their growth.  Lonza currently employs 310 at its Pearland facility, with plans to employ 400 by the end of 2019.

In addition, Lonza has also acquired a 19-acre parcel of land south of the current facility for possible future growth.

WILMAR OLEO NORTH AMERICA EXPANDS PEARLAND OPERATIONS

Wilmar Oleo North America, a subsidiary of Wilmar International based in Singapore, is a leading agribusiness in Asia. In 2008, the company opened a U.S. office in Pearland that houses sales and administrative functions for their primary product, palm oil. In 2015, they moved the Pearland office to the Pearland Town Center where they lease 5,280 square feet.

PEDC worked with Wilmar, who recently renewed their lease with the Town Center and made a commitment to expand their workforce in Pearland. Wilmar has added additional sales, administrative and logistics personnel and now has 25 employees. 

NEW OFFICE BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Recent commercial permits issued include three new office buildings in Pearland.

Lake Park Plaza, located at 1535 Cullen Parkway, is a 18,000 square-foot building that is currently under construction just north of the intersection of Cullen and McHard.

Innovate Business Plaza, a 24,000 square-foot, two-story office building is under construction at 11611 Shadow Creek Parkway, just east of the Shadow Creek Business Center.

Also under construction are the Pearland Office Condos located at 2743 Smith Ranch Road.  This project contains single-story 1,200 SF office suites.

DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES ON IVY DISTRICT IN LOWER KIRBY

America Modern Green (AMG) is developing the Ivy District at the southwest corner of South Spectrum Blvd. and the SH 288 frontage road in Lower Kirby. The Planned Development is proposed to include office, continuing care retirement center, retail, condominiums, townhomes and apartments.

Infrastructure work is continuing at the site, with water and sewer lines and road and storm sewer construction all nearing completion. The next phase is the construction later this year of the public park and amenities surrounding the lake feature, including a trail, which will serve active and passive recreation needs of those who live, work, or visit within the District and a pedestrian bridge across Clear Creek.  PEDC and the developer are partnering on financing of the public park improvements.

Vertical development will begin in 2020.

SOUTH SPECTRUM WEST EXTENSION UNDERWAY IN LOWER KIRBY

South Spectrum Blvd. is being extended to Kirby Drive from its existing terminus just west of 288. The project is being implemented and funded by LKPMD and Pearland Municipal Management District No. 1 (PMMD1) with partial funds from America Modern Green and PEDC. 

The roadway will be finished in early 2020.

BROADWAY CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The creation of a FM 518/Broadway master development plan is a priority of our Pearland 20/20 Strategic Plan. PEDC recently contracted with Kimley-Horn to develop the Broadway Corridor Development Plan for the segment from SH 35 to SH 288. The study will set expectations for the corridor by documenting issues, identifying options, and recommending ways to promote efficient mobility and spur development and redevelopment.

With TxDOT planning to design the widening of Broadway from five to seven lanes from Walnut to SH 288 in early 2020, now is the time to identify priorities, consider tradeoffs, and discuss planning considerations.

As part of developing the corridor plan, we will be seeking community input on optimizing the Broadway Corridor's safety, functionality, sense of place and market appeal. Input is being collected in two ways: An online community survey will be available from September 23rd to October 18th on the PEDC website at www.pearlandedc.com/Broadway. An Open House will be held on October 8th at Berry Miller Junior High, 3301 Manvel Rd, Pearland, TX 77584, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will include a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m. PEDC would appreciate your input on how to improve this important corridor in our community!

INDOOR AMATEUR SPORTS FACILITY

A key initiative in the Pearland 20/20 strategic plan was the development of a multi-use events center in Pearland. In 2017, PEDC conducted a feasibility study to analyze market demand of multiple different facility types. Based on the feasibility analysis, an indoor amateur sports facility represented highest level of unmet need and market support in Pearland.

PEDC analyzed the indoor sports facility’s development potential, first by issuing a Request for Qualifications seeking submissions from firms to help develop and operate a new indoor sports facility and then launching a more in-depth evaluation process.

PEDC worked with Sports Facilities Advisory, LLC (SFA) to develop a detailed facility program plan, including a construction and start-up cost estimate that is “right-sized” to the market and to Pearland’s budget. PEDC also worked with SFA to complete an institutional-grade financial forecast for the facility, including detailed revenue and expense breakdown and other details.  The operating pro-forma was presented to City Council in June 2019, who recommended postponing the project at this time. 

PEARLAND HOSTS ROSE BOWL PRESIDENT

Pearland High School’s “Pride of Pearland” Marching Band has been awarded the honor of marching in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2020. After a careful selection process involving hundreds of marching band submissions from around the world, the band was selected as one of only 19 bands to be invited. Only nine high school bands from the U.S. were included in this 131st Annual Rose Parade and the Pride of Pearland will be the only band from Texas to march in the parade.

In May, the Pearland Band hosted Linda Farber, President of the Tournament of Roses for a visit to our community.  PEDC and the City assisted during this visit, where Ms. Farber visited with Mayor Reid, toured Lonza's facility in the Lower Kirby District and visited areas of the community impacted by Hurricane Harvey.