la Frontera In the News

The Round Rock Leader

October 25, 1999

Progress on La Frontera continues, national retail interest growing

by Bill Frisbie, Leader Staff

As internal road and utility infrastructure begins to emerge at the La Frontera business and residential center, so have requests from national retailers desiring a piece of the 800,000 square-feet commercial space. Although no building permits for La Frontera have been issued during the two past weeks, city chief building inspector Mark Remmert said that "tons of them (requests) are coming in for review."

Recent inquiries have stemmed from such merchandisers as Marshalls, PetCo and Bed, Bath and Beyond. In September, the city issued La Frontera commercial permits for Old Navy clothing retailer, Rack Room shoe retailer and Ulta III retailer.

The commercial development will include an eight-story, 300-room hotel - expected to be the largest in Williamson County - as well as seven restaurants. In addition, all final zoning approvals are now in place for up to four million square-feet of office development. The first office site, a 200,000 square-feet office building, is slated for construction in the first quarter of next year.

"Class A office and retail space is happening in Round Rock," said 1998-99 Chamber of Commerce Chairman John Moman. "The city is reviewing several sets of plans for retail at the La Frontera development."

A building permit can usually be issued in 60 days. Meanwhile, all La Frontera project roads are under construction and should be completed by March 2000. The network of internal roads will finalize the northwest portion of a loop around the Interstate 35 and FM 1325 intersection.

"The first thing they (La Frontera) are doing," said Round Rock Mayor Robert Stluka, "is developing roads through that area and building the site road and utility infrastructure before they start building, which I think is an excellent idea. (This is) the way it ought to be done so there's some relief before things get built."

In addition to major office and retail sites, construction on an apartment complex is scheduled to begin in January. The 411-unit project will include a four-level parking garage. A 16-screen movie theater is also part of the La Frontera blueprint.