The details
Griffin Swinerton partnered with Pflugerville for the Downtown East project, an initiative to create a new heart of the city. The two purchase and sale agreements precede the construction of the recreation center and city hall, and give the city ownership of the buildings as the developer progresses construction.
The city executed the purchase of The Monarch, the multigenerational recreation center, for $81 million and the new city hall for $86 million. Both buildings are within the budget that City Council allocated for the project, Barron said.
The agreements passed 3-2, with council members Melody Ryan and David Rogers voting against. Council member Rudy Metayer was not present.
About the project
The city broke ground on Downtown East on Dec. 2. The site of the project sits on the Pfluger Tract off East Pecan Street.
Phase 1 of the project includes:
- Extending Main Street eastward to FM 685
- Constructing a new city hall
- A multigenerational recreation center, including retail space
- A civic plaza, including outdoor gathering spaces, a stage and performance area
- Additional parking and infrastructure
“[The cafe is] a really unique way for us to engage with our residents, which is a key component of this particular project,” Barron said.
The recreation center also has “a lot of unique features,” Barron said, including:
- A stand-up slide
- Beach entry and aerobics area for the pool
- Indoor turf
- A basketball court
- Inclusive programming
- A child watch area
- A pickleball court
- Lounge areas
Construction started in the fall of last year. The developer will start construction for city hall, recreation center and civic plaza in the next couple of weeks, according to Barron.
“We have this schedule moving forward on time for delivery in November [2026],” she said.
