la Frontera In the News
Round Rock Leader
Newcomers' Guide
February 26, 2001
La Frontera builds promises of economic prosperity
by Marcial Guajardo, Leader Staff
When area leaders speak of La Frontera, they often use words such as "sophisticated effort." "Overwhelming" and "multi-million dollar development" to describe the construction project. Shoppers though, have been busier stocking up their carts than talking about it as they got a taste of all the promise La Frontera brings this year.
Highlighting a five-year effort to transform barren ranch land into a bustling business hub, developers of La Frontera opened portions of the retail, office and residential construction project this year, with the majority being new stores that cased in by opening before the Christmas holiday rush. More than just the run-of-the-mill strip center, the $70 million, 328-acre complex could become one of the state's biggest money-makers, combining with nearby Dell Computer Corp. to change Round Rock into a bustling business power.
"Welcome to the Sales Tax Capital of Texas," said City Manager Bob Bennett, referring to the FM 1325/Interstate 35 intersection La Frontera will anchor. "What you see here is a significant piece of the state's economic engine."
Analysts predict the intersection will bring in more than $365 million in tax dollars during the next six years, with La Frontera expected to create more than 2,000 new jobs. Spurring much of that. The project's retail portion, La Frontera village, consisting of shops such as Old Navy,
Sam's Club and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, is expected to contribute more than $5 million a year in sales tax revenue.
La Frontera's location and many amenities also attracted business people to pick it to build a 411-unit apartment complex, a 295- room Marriott hotel and, so far, two office complexes. Those office buildings, including one being built by billionaire Red McCombs' development firm, will anchor La Frontera's 100-acre "net.plex" office park, which aims to bring in Internet-based and other high-tech companies as tenants.
In July, the first stores in La Frontera Village opened to the public. Later, stores such as Barnes and Noble Bookseller, Lowe's, Marshall's, Sam's and Starbucks Coffee followed.
In October, state and local elected officials joined with project developers in a ribbon-butting ceremony for La Frontera Village, which will actually be finished this spring. State rep. Mike Krusee hailed the cooperative effort taken to get the project built.
"You all have created a model for moving a community forward that is envied not only throughout Central Texas but across the nation." Krusee told developers. "People all over this country are looking at what you have accomplished over the past decade. It's an amazing accomplishment.
