la Frontera In the News

Round Rock Leader

February 18, 1999

City P&Z expected to vote on La Frontera, Hickerson PUDs

by Jodi Berls, Leader Staff

Round Rock's Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday was expected to consider adopting two large planned unit developments, one that has aroused neighboring residents' objections and another that has drawn no fire as yet.

The Hickerson tract PUD No. 36 and the 350-acre La Frontera PUD both were scheduled for decisions on Wednesday.  City staff had recommended both for approval.

La Frontera, the biggest PUD the city has ever considered, has drawn no opposition, possibly because developers have taken pains to explain their plans in advance and work with neighbors before the proposal went to the commission.

Slated to begin construction as early as April on nearly 350 acres at the northwest corner of Interstate 35 and FM 1325, La Frontera is expected to feature a large shopping center, as many as a dozen campus-style office buildings that could be as tall as 10- or 12-stories, midrise apartment buildings and hotels.

A preliminary study conducted by Charles Heimsath, president of Capital Market Research, indicates the total La Frontera project could be worth $450 million when it's built out in a projected 10 years.  At the current Round Rock property tax rate of 38.5 cents per $100 property value, La Frontera could add about $1.7 million to the city's revenue, all by itself.

Heimsath warned that property values and tax rates are likely to change multiple times over the next 10 years, but said the study "does give a very general sense of the tax base that could be generated."

The shopping center portion, being developed by Developers Diversified REIT and David Berndt Interests Inc. of Irving, is expected to be about 700,000 square feet of retail space, including a theater with at least 16 screens, 11 restaurants and a variety of anchor stores.

The shopping center would front on both Interstate 35 and FM 1325, on the east side of the tract, wrapping around Garden Ridge Pottery.

Opening of the center has been scheduled for fall 2000.