Waco Development

70,575 Views | 827 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by Wichitabear
Wichitabear
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Yes It was the smokehouse. Thank you. I know it is not there anymore. So there is another one?
Bearicade
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Anyone know what Under construction in front of Hollywood Theaters on 84 ? Also, what was the name of the bbq joint near there that opened up over a decade ago?
I know you believe you understand what I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!
hill02
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Rib Crib. Don't know what's coming now.
beardoc
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Wichitabear said:

Yes It was the smokehouse. Thank you. I know it is not there anymore. So there is another one?
Was this the home of the Big Bear? Well worth the walk from Brooks.
Wichitabear
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No. Unless I'm not sure what you are talking about.
GhettoHEBear
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Morosos is the best pizza in Waco and it's not even close.
Baylor Mafioso
bankerbear
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Hat Creek Burger
WILLIS
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Hat Creek sux
UBBY
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https://www.wacotrib.com/news/city_of_waco/construction-on-riverfront-development-pushed-back-to-sept/article_7e3f75c0-665a-5f03-b5c9-2c13e99fefa3.html


After a cheaper-than-expected environmental cleanup for the riverfront Brazos Promenade development site, the Waco City Council learned Tuesday the private developer working on city-owned land is not expected to start construction until September next year.

The first phase includes at least 264 residential units, a parking garage, street spaces and a new farmers market site. University Parks Drive would also be reworked in the process.

The second phase includes a 110-room hotel with meeting space, new sidewalks and streetscapes. The third includes a restaurant or music venue alongside more walkable streetscapes, and the fourth focuses on restaurants, a riverfront venue and connections to various spots.

Officials set aside $8 million for environmental remediation, but the work came in at about $2 million. The unspent portion will go back to the downtown Tax Increment Financing Zone that provided the money. Some is expected to be awarded for other work related to the development.
Grinnin bear
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Wow, this really is going to take 10 years to get done.
- Sometimes you just gotta grin and bear it.
UBBY
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Waco is expected to draw more than 2.6 million visitors in 2018, said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau, at a Waco City Council meeting July 3.

Waco attracted more than 2.5 million tourists in 2017 and more than 2 million in 2016. Visitor numbers for 2016 more than doubled from the 789,140 visitors in 2015, which in turn was up from 606,000 in 2014 and 564,000 in 2013.

Waco population:

1980 - 101,261

1990 - 103,590

2000 - 113,726

2010 - 124,805

2017 - 136,436[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco,_Texas#cite_note-5][/url]

The Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of McLennan and Falls Counties, which had a 2010 population of 234,906. Falls County was added to the Waco MSA in 2013. The US Census 2017 population estimate for the Waco MSA is 268,696.
UBBY
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Grinnin bear said:

Wow, this really is going to take 10 years to get done.
Yeah, 2030 is when things could look quite different around town.

Downtown riverfront projects, Downtown Heritage Square Project, mall type area on loop 340, expansion of I-35.
boxster
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UBBY said:

Waco is expected to draw more than 2.6 million visitors in 2018, said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau, at a Waco City Council meeting July 3.

Waco attracted more than 2.5 million tourists in 2017 and more than 2 million in 2016. Visitor numbers for 2016 more than doubled from the 789,140 visitors in 2015, which in turn was up from 606,000 in 2014 and 564,000 in 2013.

Waco population:

1980 - 101,261

1990 - 103,590

2000 - 113,726

2010 - 124,805

2017 - 136,436[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco,_Texas#cite_note-5][/url]

The Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of McLennan and Falls Counties, which had a 2010 population of 234,906. Falls County was added to the Waco MSA in 2013. The US Census 2017 population estimate for the Waco MSA is 268,696.
Weird that Falls County was added to the Waco MSA...doesn't feel like the communities in that county are that closely linked to Waco.
UBBY
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boxster said:

UBBY said:

Waco is expected to draw more than 2.6 million visitors in 2018, said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau, at a Waco City Council meeting July 3.

Waco attracted more than 2.5 million tourists in 2017 and more than 2 million in 2016. Visitor numbers for 2016 more than doubled from the 789,140 visitors in 2015, which in turn was up from 606,000 in 2014 and 564,000 in 2013.

Waco population:

1980 - 101,261

1990 - 103,590

2000 - 113,726

2010 - 124,805

2017 - 136,436[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco,_Texas#cite_note-5][/url]

The Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of McLennan and Falls Counties, which had a 2010 population of 234,906. Falls County was added to the Waco MSA in 2013. The US Census 2017 population estimate for the Waco MSA is 268,696.
Weird that Falls County was added to the Waco MSA...doesn't feel like the communities in that county are that closely linked to Waco.
Yeah not like it's gonna add anything to the population. Most of the Falls County towns have decreased in population, especially Marlin.
Beardown1919
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I think it's a clear sign of how tough things are in Falls County. Generally the MSA decisions are made based off of how many people commute from one area to the other for work. My presumption is that this means that Falls County residents have surpassed that threshold by driving to Waco/McLennan County for work.
Bobby Tables
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Beardown1919 said:

I think it's a clear sign of how tough things are in Falls County. Generally the MSA decisions are made based off of how many people commute from one area to the other for work. My presumption is that this means that Falls County residents have surpassed that threshold by driving to Waco/McLennan County for work.

That's the likely reason. The transit runs a daily route out to Marlin and a Chilton every morning and evening.
Wichitabear
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It was right across the street from Allen, that side street
Wichitabear
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Crap I wanted it to start this year. It is really going to be nice when completed
Wichitabear
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It was really good in the early 70s and it was called the smokehouse. I wrote a lot of checks there and gained a bunch of weight.
trey3216
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Wichitabear said:

It was really good in the early 70s and it was called the smokehouse. I wrote a lot of checks there and gained a bunch of weight.


Checks? Guess you thought they wanted money
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
Tenacious D
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Waco hotel occupancy rate ranks 1st in state

https://www.wacotrib.com/news/city_of_waco/waco-hotel-occupancy-rate-ranks-st-in-state/article_e55f31dd-94c3-599d-8ba6-e0f967f12ba4.html

With a tip of the cap to Chip and Joanna Gaines, their Magnolia Market at the Silos and a stimulated economy, Waco officials announced this week the city leads the state with an 82.7 percent hotel occupancy rate.
Source Strategies Inc., which keeps track of hotel occupancy rates, reported Waco topped the list for the quarter that ended June 30, recording a 7.1 percent increase in Waco's hotel occupancy over the 75.6 percent reported from the same quarter last year.
Midland came in second at 77 percent, and the Austin-Round Rock area was third at 76.3 percent.

Waco's hotel occupancy has been in the top five cities in the state since 2016 but has never been No. 1, said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In response to the high hotel demand, there are seven hotels with a total of 795 rooms either under construction or with a permit to build issued by the city of Waco, Pendergraft said. The hotels will be completed over the next several years, with the Hilton Garden Inn at 5800 Legend Lake Parkway expected to open in September.
There are 4,026 hotel rooms in Waco, the highest number Waco has had, despite the recent demolition of a La Quinta and an Executive Inn that are in the process of being replaced. Area hotels reported $86,544,429 in revenue last year, Pendergraft said.
Waco has become a tourist destination, thanks in no small part to Magnolia Market at the Silos, which attracts 33,665 visitors weekly, Pendergraft said. Baylor University, sporting events, conventions and corporate meetings also contribute to the high hotel occupancy rate, she said.
"Nobody can say the true effect the Gaineses have had on the market, but at 33,000 visitors a week to the Silos, they are clearly having a strong impact on the market," Pengergraft said. "Baylor is also a big driver in the market, and MCC and TSTC all generate a lot of overnight activity. Corporate meetings, sporting events, generally more economic activity are factors, but what is really different from years past is Magnolia and the increase in tourism is the new factor in the market."
Justin Edwards, general manager of the Waco Hilton, said he sees the so-called "Magnolia effect" almost daily. He said there was a woman from England staying this week at the Hilton who came to town just to see the Silos.
"I think they have definitely made Waco cool," Edwards said, speaking of the Gaineses, who featured Waco and its sights on their "Fixer Upper" reality TV show.
Edwards said he is not surprised Waco is on top of the hotel occupancy list because of the positive turnaround in its image, which has prompted more tourists and a growth spurt.
"It has definitely been a strong growing year and it has been a good year for us," Edwards said. "But Waco has seen that cycle before where everyone is running high occupancy and a bunch of new permits come in and then the market is going to be increased by the significant increases in rooms. Now it is supply and demand and then it flips to too much supply. Speaking honestly as a hotelier, I am not too excited about all the new properties coming into town.
"Competition is good. It improves quality and service for everyone because we have to step up our game. But on the flip side, you have to make the demand for the rooms grow at the same rate or as fast as the supply in the market."
Besides the Hilton Garden Inn, La Quinta Del Sol is under construction at 911 S. 10th St., a Springhill Suites Waco is under construction at 115 Interstate 35, an Aloft Hotel is being built at 900 S. 11th St. and a Hyatt Place is under construction at 5400 Bagby Ave.
Also, permits have been issued for a Tru by Hilton at 2408 Marketplace Drive and for a Residence Inn at 2424 Marketplace Drive.
UBBY
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https://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/million-square-feet-of-development-potentially-on-horizon-in-waco/article_4b34789d-f568-5948-8518-85efa93eb315.html

Already this year, Waco has seen companies fill 597,000 square feet of space and create 390 new jobs.

Collins said Waco's economy remains robust, spawning $1.4 billion in spending on industrial and commercial development since 2006, a figure that does not include the $260 million price of Baylor University's McLane Stadium or investments in downtown Waco.

In that period, 45 new companies have arrived, and 73 existing companies have expanded, Collins said.
"McLennan County is outpacing the region, the state and the United States in job creation," Collins said.
The county added 4,050 jobs during the 12 months through June.

Collins said Texas is projected to see its population double within 30 years, with growth concentrated in the "Texas Triangle," which stretches along much of I-35 between Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston. The Waco area is taking steps to deal with this growth, Collins said.

It has 11 business parks sporting 15,000 acres, three airports, port accessibility three hours away and a seven-county labor force.

Waco city leaders have implemented a $320 million, 10-year infrastructure upgrade, while McLennan County has earmarked another $30 million, she said.

"If everything goes as planned, every street in Waco will be redone within 10 years," Collins said. "Spending on streets will grow to $25 million annually."

Waco also has a handful of other factors going in its favor, including a cost of living 11 percent less than the national average, Collins said during her presentation.
beardoc
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A different kind of development, but brings in dollars none the less:

https://www.wacotrib.com/sports/ironman-officials-reveal-race-course-anticipate-spectacular-inaugural-event-in/article_c8def6b1-fab1-5390-8301-9b3efffb77bc.html

3000 competitors means even more with officials, media, family, support crew, etc.
Grinnin bear
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Honestly, the momentum surrounding Waco right now continues to blow my mind.
- Sometimes you just gotta grin and bear it.
BearlyHeardFrom
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Double? Ugh. Too may Californians and Yankees.
#LetsGoBrandon
Wichitabear
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Wow
Wichitabear
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Amazing
Bahamabear
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Brian Ethridge said:

Bahamabear said:

TREX said:

Bring back Waterworks!!


Yes, and the Killer B's while at it, maybe even David Garza


Oh my... No love for The Spin or Jack O' Pierce?


I liked the Spin, I know it's unpopular. But I never got into Jack O Pierce
UBBY
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https://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/mini-golf-arcade-sports-bar-planned-for-putters-game-hall/article_d3651978-ddd3-57f5-aca0-7437850ae30b.html

Hoping to create a family fun center downtown, Waco businessman Shawn Reising is working on a combination miniature golf course, sports bar and arcade at Second Street and Mary Avenue, in the growing UParks Village development.

Reising said he has chosen the name Putters for his center, which he plans to open early next year. He is still working on a layout to be spread over 5,000 square feet in the development that is already home, or is set to be soon, to Rush Cycle, Bicycle World, Bolt Boutique, 900 Degrees Wood Fired Pizzeria, Honky Tonk Kid BBQ, Billy Bob's Burgers and J-Petal.

Other plans for Putters include a "classic arcade" and a sports bar featuring at least 25 television screens, some available for console games, and seating for 150, including an outdoor patio, Reising said.

He said he hopes Putters appeals to all age groups, from adults wanting a place to unwind to youngsters craving game action.

"There has been a lot of talk about the desirability of an entertainment venue like that downtown, something like a Dave & Buster's, where families can spend time together."

"Something like this will extend people's stay," she said. "They will be more likely to stick around and visit other attractions. But development involves more than visitors. We want locals to have a good time."
Edmond Bear
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UBBY said:

https://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/mini-golf-arcade-sports-bar-planned-for-putters-game-hall/article_d3651978-ddd3-57f5-aca0-7437850ae30b.html

Hoping to create a family fun center downtown, Waco businessman Shawn Reising is working on a combination miniature golf course, sports bar and arcade at Second Street and Mary Avenue, in the growing UParks Village development.

Reising said he has chosen the name Putters for his center, which he plans to open early next year. He is still working on a layout to be spread over 5,000 square feet in the development that is already home, or is set to be soon, to Rush Cycle, Bicycle World, Bolt Boutique, 900 Degrees Wood Fired Pizzeria, Honky Tonk Kid BBQ, Billy Bob's Burgers and J-Petal.

Other plans for Putters include a "classic arcade" and a sports bar featuring at least 25 television screens, some available for console games, and seating for 150, including an outdoor patio, Reising said.

He said he hopes Putters appeals to all age groups, from adults wanting a place to unwind to youngsters craving game action.

"There has been a lot of talk about the desirability of an entertainment venue like that downtown, something like a Dave & Buster's, where families can spend time together."

"Something like this will extend people's stay," she said. "They will be more likely to stick around and visit other attractions. But development involves more than visitors. We want locals to have a good time."


Can Reising put a Top Golf on the other side of the river?
Rivers1017
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Real Estate rumor: Hwy 6 and the railroads tracks. Southwest of Cottonwood Crekk GC, and on the other side of 6 from CCGC. TG has inquired about that tract of land.
baylrballa
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Rivers1017 said:

Real Estate rumor: Hwy 6 and the railroads tracks. Southwest of Cottonwood Crekk GC, and on the other side of 6 from CCGC. TG has inquired about that tract of land.
yes please.
Bear Doc
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Rivers1017 said:

Real Estate rumor: Hwy 6 and the railroads tracks. Southwest of Cottonwood Crekk GC, and on the other side of 6 from CCGC. TG has inquired about that tract of land.
Just looked at a satellite view of that area, would be about the perfect size for a Top Golf... It is somewhat off the beaten path though and there would likely need to be some infrastructure work around it to make it viable.

If we got a Top Golf in Waco, I really would have minimal reason every to go to DFW or Austin again...
Wichitabear
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Dave and Busters would be great
UBBY
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https://www.wacotrib.com/news/city_of_waco/hotels-slated-for-mlk-blvd-after-tif-zone-board-boost/article_55a6293e-b55d-5a30-84cf-51a301d65c12.html

The downtown Tax Increment Financing Zone board on Wednesday unanimously approved more than $3.2 million for public improvements associated with three, four-story hotels slated for Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in East Waco.

The trio of hotels would add major development on the east side of the Brazos River to the tune of 361 rooms, a shared courtyard area, event space and a bar and restaurant in two of the properties. The total cost of the project will be about $21.7 million.

The L-shaped Cambria Hotel between Bridge Street and Taylor Street would include 132 guest rooms, a bar and restaurant, fitness center, 5,400 square feet of event space and a shared courtyard with the adjacent Even Hotel. Even would include 128 rooms, a bar and restaurant, workout space and fitness equipment in each room and 1,900 square feet of meeting space.The restaurant at Even would be called "Cork and Kale" and feature juice and coffee bars.

On the other side of Taylor Street, a 101-room Holiday Inn Express would include a fitness room, pool and a board room with flexible space.

Developers hope to break ground on the project early next year and complete the entire project by 2022. City Economic Development Director Melett Harrison said the project will create 105 jobs and more than $3 million in payroll with development of the hotels. A study of Waco's downtown found that a hotel would benefit the area, especially in light of the city's high occupancy rate.

Bhatka said he is planning another hotel off of Waco's famous traffic circle off La Salle Avenue. Hotel Element, he said, will also break ground early next year.

 
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