Fairfield Towne Center poised for future retail and dining tenants

Development along Hwy. 290 in the Fairfield area is moving forward with a new Kroger planned at Cypresswood Drive and Fairfield Meadows, a Memorial Hermann hospital planned at Mason Road and a series of pad sites coming in at the Fairfield Towne Center at Mason Road and Hwy. 290.

Work on the row of sites along the frontage road is progressing. Bank of America, Taco Bell, McDonald's and Whataburger opened earlier this year, and two larger, casual dining restaurants and another bank are also in the works.

A second row of larger businesses and retail anchor stores are planned to come in behind the restaurants, with work expected to start on that portion of the project this fall. A site map from developer Edge Realty—which is marked for illustrative purposes only—lists Academy, Star Cinema, Marshalls and Party City among the proposed tenants. These businesses are not confirmed but are used on the map to convey the kinds of tenants the site could eventually bring in.

Tim Fitzpatrick, community development manager with Friendswood Development Company, said work on the site could wrap up in late 2015 or early 2016.

"It's a great thing for the community," he said. "From what I've been hearing from residents, a lot of people are looking for more restaurants and shopping opportunities. These places seem like they fit what Fairfield residents are looking for."

Brian Roberts, president of the Fairfield Homeowners Association, said he understands some residents' concerns about the area being overdeveloped, but said he is optimistic that the Towne Center project will be done right.

"Friendswood has always been very conscientious as far as the homeowners are concerned in regards to what companies come in and how their buildings are built," Roberts said. "Almost all developers parcel off the very front piece of the subdivisions for commercial use. Houston and Cypress are growing. It's inevitable for this to happen."