In spring 2014, the city of Sunset Valley's first official wedding venue plans to open its doors.

The city and local firm Ross Hospitality Group, LLC held a ground breaking ceremony Oct. 17 for The Brodie Homestead. Ross Hospitality's President Dan Ross said preserving the historic structure built sometime in the 1890s has been a priority for both his company and the city.

"This whole area, before it was developed, was a 500-acre ranch and Brodie Lane was a little two-lane dirt road," he said. "I remember driving my kids by here years ago before there was any development, and everybody remembers the donkeys [on the] working farm ranch. It's just an iconic piece of not only Sunset Valley, but of Austin," he said.

Juliana Ross, his daughter, will serve as The Brodie Homestead's general manager. The father-daughter team restored and operates The Allan House, another historic property-turned wedding venue in Austin.

Members of the Sunset Valley City Council and the Austin Historical Landmark Association attended the ground breaking.

"I feel like it's going to be good for the city and also for the retailers that are here," Mayor Rose Cardona said.

She noted there are no wedding venues in Sunset Valley aside from City Hall, and she expects the new business will bring in significant revenue. Ross Hospitality is also enabling Samuel's Diamonds, a retailer currently located across the street from the shopping center, to move into the homestead property as a tenant since it lost its lease, she said.

"It's just kind of a one-stop deal here," Councilman Jeff Burdett said, pointing out visitors to the Homestead will likely buy gifts in the adjacent shopping center and patronize local restaurants.

About 40 percent of weddings held at The Allan House are destination weddings, in which the bride and groom are both from out of town, Dan Ross said, noting guests will likely stay in local hotels. The venue will also be available for corporate retreats.

Construction on the parking lot has already begun, and workers will soon begin adding supports to stabilize the walls and roof of the barn. The project will involve building additional floors, installing air conditioning, renovating the barn's interior and landscaping. Finally, a rock wall will be added to shield the property from traffic on Brodie Lane, he said.

Ross Hospitality plans to renovate the 7,000-square-foot barn using the structure's original wood in addition to limestone, stained concrete floors and "rustic-chic" crystal chandeliers, Juliana Ross said. The venue will be able to accommodate as many as 350 guests.

More information about the project is available at www.brodiehomestead.com.