The widening and expansion of Hwy. 146 through Seabrook and Kemah broke ground in 2019 and is still on track to wrap up by spring 2024, Mayor Thom Kolupski said.
“We’re three years into that five-year project,” he said. “There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The widening project displaced dozens of businesses along Hwy. 146, but now 26 acres of property adjacent to the highway is available for development. Popeyes, Whataburger, Ace Hardware, Blaze Pizza, Panda Express, Jersey Mikes, Taco Bell, Dutch Bros Coffee and others are all interested in opening in Seabrook, City Manager Gayle Cook said.
“These people need to get on board now,” Kolupski said, noting the land will be snatched up quick.
Cook mentioned work to relocate utilities where Hwy. 146 intersects with Repsdorph Road and East Meyer Avenue has also been completed. The work took longer than expected due to unforeseen complexities.
Additionally, Seabrook is working to create Seabrook Town Center just north of Repsdorph Road on the west side of Hwy. 146. The development includes 315 apartment units adjacent to retail shops and commercial buildings that will be built around a central plaza with direct access from Hwy. 146, Kolupski said.
“We’re very excited about this project. It’ll be a destination point,” he said.
Additionally, officials are working on a hotel planned unit development in the city. It will include a boutique hotel, an extended stay hotel, an expansive meeting space, 20,000 square feet of new waterfront restaurants, and 12,000 square feet of event venue space. It will be built on a podium overlooking Clear Lake with parking below. Compass by Margaritaville will be part of the development, Kolupski said.
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“As you can see, the next few years in Seabrook are going to be pretty exciting,” he said.
In December, Seabrook broke ground on the Pine Gully Wastewater Treatment Plant, a $38 million project to create a new plant after the previous one was wrecked during Hurricane Harvey. Due to grants and other assistance, the city will pay only about $1 million for the project, Kolupski said.
“It’s an incredibly small cost [to the city] to build a state-of-the-art facility,” he said. “We’re very proud of this accomplishment.”
Cook said the project, which is being built out of harm’s way from other future storms, will be completed by spring 2024. LeaAnn Petersen, director of public affairs, said the old wastewater plant will be converted to a park and parking spaces.
Officials in January 2021 also kicked off the Livable City Study—an examination of the Old Seabrook District many residents have said they want revitalized. The study includes looking at how to improve transportation and mobility in the area, and Phase 1 of the resulting project will be to upgrade Main Street, Cook said.
Seabrook is also focusing on improving and expanding trails and sidewalks across the city. With the widening of Hwy. 146, many sidewalks on the east and west side of the project are being improved, Cook said.
Seabrook Intermediate School does not have safe access for those walking to school from East Meyer Avenue. The city is working to create such a path, she said.
On top of that, Seabrook is expanding its trail system by 1.4 miles to the Port of Houston berm in the city. The work, funded by a $131,000 Texas Parks & Wildlife grant, begins in April, Cook said.
After that, the city will work with the Texas Department of Transportation to extend the city’s trail system across Hwy. 146 to tie in with the Armand Bayou Nature Center. That will double the amount of trails available in the city, Kolupski said.
“It’s a great system, and we get great reviews on it,” he said.
Working with Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s office, Seabrook acquired a $2.1 million grant to improve drainage in the Seascape and Baybrook subdivisions. This will mitigate 347 houses from continual flooding, Kolupski said.
The city has several new housing projects that have started. About 214 single-family homes are being constructed or designed today, Kolupski said.
On top of that, 92 multifamily units were just completed in Seaside Lodge, a community for those age 50 and older; a multifamily development of 90 units is underway in Chesapeake Bay; and 300 multifamily units are planned for the Seabrook Town Center, Kolupski said.
“That’s just an indication of how many people want to be here,” he said.
Additionally, the city is working on $500,000 worth of work to improve parks, update playgrounds, and upgrade and create new water features. The city will later install a boat ramp, but in the meantime, one kayak launch has been installed along Main Street, and another is planned for Taylor Lake, Cook said.
