It’s time for another update on What’s Going on in Prairie View, Texas?
Hi, I’m Sherri Echols, Broker Associate with RE/MAX Bryan – College Station. Things that we can see include that $80 million dollar expansion at Flowchem, they are quietly building away! Next, the Checkers gas station and restaurants are going in on the southeast corner of University Drive and Highway 290, I’m not sure what the targeted opening date is but that project looks pretty far along don’t you think? We can also see that new apartment complexes have gone up on both sides of Owens Road between University and James Muse Parkway. The cricket complex looks a little different every time I stop and check it out. I wonder when it will finally be complete? Things we can’t see are the hotel and student housing coming up on this northeast corner of University and Highway 290 where Frenchy’s used to be. No ground broken yet but waiting with bated breath! Housing is scheduled to go in on the Norris property behind the old bus station on Highway 290 Business. Best use evaluation is going on regarding the South West corner of James Muse Parkway and Highway 290. Will residential be best or something else?
A $1.4 Million dollar grant has been awarded to a bidder to put in water and sewer, improving the infrastructure for all the growth that is to come. I know you are remembering that I have almost all the land between the cricket complex, highway 290, and the football stadium listed. You may have seen my new signs up on that wrought iron fence. I’ve had some calls from interested parties and am working on a contract on one of the listings right now so with any luck I might have something new to report next update! Reata Creek is a new residential area going in Hempstead with 2 acre lots and $500,000 plus homes. Heading north on Highway 6 from Hempstead we see the development going on in that west corner, and two new Chevron Stations a few miles apart. Also just about all the land on either side of Highway 6 is listed meaning more development is going in that direction. No doubt due to the traffic Highway 36A will bring through the area. That traffic can go north up highway 6, west toward Brenham, and east, right through Prairie View. This quiet little corner of the world is about to get very busy, like it or not.
And finally, we need to talk about student housing a little more. The current Prairie View A&M Development Plan goes through 2021 and lays out a 12,000 student enrollment by 2021. In 2014 there were 8343 students and in the 2018/2019 school year there were 9516. 2019/2020 enrollment isn’t published yet but we can see enrollment is headed steadily toward this goal. 4-5 years ago there was a 4500-bed shortage for student housing. Since then I believe apartments with approximately 2000 bedrooms have been built. However, enrollment is already up about 1200 which by 2021 will be about 5200 more bedrooms needed. Then there will be another University Master Plan that will include more growth. If you are interested in participating in some development in the area, please give me a call. I would absolutely love to serve you! This has been Sherri Echols, y’all here in Waller County really should Sell With Sherri!
