PEDC Newsletter - Winter 2019

DIAMOND BOLT OPENS NEW FACILITY ON KNAPP ROAD

Diamond Bolt, a distributor of industrial fasteners serving the petrochemical & refining industries along the Texas Gulf Coast, opened its new Pearland facility recently. PEDC assisted with the project and began working with the company on its relocation in 2015.

Diamond Bolt constructed a 12,000 square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility on a two acre site on Knapp Road, which is home to approximately ten employees.

HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING OPENS AT UHCL-PEARLAND CAMPUS

Photo credit: Nicole Helpenstill

Classes have officially started in the new health sciences and classroom building at the University of Houston Clear Lake - Pearland campus. UHCL received funding during the 2015 legislative session for the 52,000 square-foot building and the City transferred the south portion of the property to the school system in late 2016.

The building houses both students and faculty from UHCL Pearland and Alvin Community College. Although the building has space for many of the existing programs at UHCL Pearland, the main focus of the building is to accommodate students who are studying to go into healthcare fields such as nursing.

In 2004, City of Pearland officials, PEDC and UHCL leaders formed a partnership to enhance higher education in Pearland. The resulting University of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus, which opened in fall 2010, allows students to complete junior, senior and graduate courses in high-demand disciplines such as business, behavioral science, education and nursing.

LOWER KIRBY INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE

PEDC, the City, the Lower Kirby Pearland Management District (LKPMD) and the Pearland Municipal Management District #1 (PMMD1) continue to work on infrastructure developments in the Lower Kirby District. The City's portion of the improvements are funded by PEDC.

The construction of N. Spectrum -a four-lane curb and gutter boulevard roadway from Kirby east to the TxDOT ditch with landscaped and irrigated median with decorative lighting and traffic signal has been completed. Stemming from PEDC's recruitment of Tool-Flo Manufacturing and its selection of the Lower Kirby District for its headquarters, training and manufacturing facility, this project was a partnership between PEDC, the City, the developer Spectrum 86 Partners and LKPMD.

In 2018, PEDC continued to work with America Modern Green, the developer of the Ivy District. The City, LKPMD and PMMD1 have completed the design and engineering for the construction of the western portion of South Spectrum Drive. Scheduled to begin construction in March, this project, a four-lane curb and gutter boulevard roadway with landscaped and irrigated median with decorative lighting, will include new water and sewer lines and a new traffic signal at the Kirby Drive intersection. The construction of the eastern portion of the S. Spectrum Drive extension was completed in early 2018.

As part of Ivy District's urban mixed-use development in the District, PEDC, the City, LKPMD and the developer are partnering to develop amenity space around the District's east regional detention pond for use as a public park. Roads, water and sewer are currently being installed in the Ivy District.

These improvements continue to transform the 1,200 acre-Lower Kirby District into Pearland's most diverse, mixed-use employment, residential and entertainment part of the city.

PROGRESS CONTINUES ON PEARLAND PARKS

A key component of Pearland's evolution to a more complete city is to provide residents with improved local options for recreation. One of the key initiatives in the Pearland 20/20 strategic plan is to ensure implementation of the Pearland Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Independence Park was one of the many park projects included and approved in the bond election of 2007. Independence Park is one of the oldest and most recognized parks owned by the City of Pearland. Phase I improvements include a reorientation of the entry into the park, landscaping, relocation and replacement of the existing playground, improvements to the existing pavilion, the construction of additional parking and the construction on an amphitheater for special events. Construction is expected to be completed this spring.

Renovations were also completed for Centennial Park last year. Improvements included the demolition of existing soccer fields and the construction of two new lighted softball fields, installation of a new picnic pavilion, and additional parking.

LATEST NEWS

Highway 288 driving another wave of economic expansion

HCA Houston Healthcare South opens $8.5 million medical surgical unit

Shadow Creek Ranch 20 years later: How a unique partnership paved the way for development

International firm Endress+Hauser to build regional center in Pearland

BIZCONNECT HELPS LOCAL EMPLOYERS

Compositech Filters and CapRock Oil Tools BizConnect Luncheon

PEDC's BizConnect program, established in conjunction with the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, was created to discover and address issues that businesses face and place emphasis on building a stable business environment in the City of Pearland. During the 2018 program year, PEDC and the Chamber visited with fifty local employers, hosted seven luncheons and worked with local employers on multiple potential expansion projects.

PEDC TO BEGIN NEW COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN

As our community continues to grow, it is essential that we have a strong economic development vision to guide its development. PEDC has a central role in carrying out the economic development activities of the community and it is imperative that we have specific objectives and goals to work towards in implementing that vision. Now more than five years after the completion of our Pearland 20/20 strategic plan, PEDC will begin developing a new economic development strategic plan for the community this year.

In 2012, PEDC, with local partners in government, education, healthcare and business embarked upon a long-term strategic community and economic development planning process to create a shared vision for the community’s future growth and an action plan to achieve it. The resulting Pearland 20/20 Community Strategic Plan, adopted in 2013 and updated in 2015, contained nine strategies designed to take Pearland to the next level of success both as an economy and sustainable residential location.

PEDC and local community partners have been working since the plan’s adoption to make advances in each of the nine key initiatives.

CITY SUBMITS PROJECTS FOR HGAC TIP FUNDING

In late 2018, the City submitted for Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funds for several priority projects. TIP allows cities to receive federal funding for projects that are determined by HGAC to be a priority in the region. The City submitted the following priority projects for consideration: two additional lanes of the Bailey Road overpass, Max Road expansion from Hughes to McHard, Harkey expansion from 518 to Bailey, and Kingsley expansion from Clear Creek to Beltway. The City also submitted one trail project to connect Green Tee Trail along Clear Creek to Independence Park.

PEDC submitted letters of support for the City Projects along with one County project for extending Pearland Parkway and one State project for widening FM518. Surrounding management districts also provided letters of support for the Kingsley project.

Pearland Developments: Winter 2019