Five agreements with developer Griffin Swinerton will help progress Pflugerville’s Downtown East project, an effort almost seven years in the making to develop the Pfluger Tract. City Council passed the contracts at its meeting Nov. 12.
About the project
Downtown East will develop 29 acres at the northwest corner of FM 685 and East Pecan Street to create a new public space occupying the heart of Pflugerville. The project site will include a new city hall, a recreation center and a mixed-use development.
An update from City Council in April broke down the expected trajectory of Phase 1 of the project, which includes:
- Extending Main Street eastward to FM 685
- Constructing a new city hall
- A multi-generational recreation center
- A civic plaza, including outdoor gathering spaces, a stage and performance area
- Additional parking and infrastructure
Pflugerville entered a preliminary development agreement with Griffin Swinerton last November, which established the goals for Phase 1 of the project.
The update
City Council approved five contracts with Griffin Swinerton including a memorandum of understanding for the recreation center. The MOU establishes the inclusion of 10,500 square feet of retail space within the new recreation center. The developer will manage and lease the retail space.
Also passed at the meeting is a purchase and sale agreement for infrastructure construction and a license agreement. An amendment to the preliminary development agreement revised the schedule and cost of the project, bringing the revised preliminary development costs budget to $12.4 million.
The last contract with the developer includes $8 million to fund a multi-level parking structure for the project.
What’s next?
The revised schedule shows the design and approval process will run through next June, with staggered construction dates. Construction on related infrastructure will begin at the end of the year; and work for city hall and the recreation center will begin in April, which is estimated to wrap up at the end of 2026.
Funding for phase 1 of the project is estimated at $204.7 million, according to City Council's April update. General obligation bonds, certified obligation bonds, right-of-way acquisition funds, developer financing for retail and potential grant funding will help pay for the project.
