The Houston Community College board of trustees approved Jan. 23 the $3.6 million purchase of 41 acres along Texas Parkway to relocate the HCC–Southwest Missouri City Center from Sienna Plantation. The new location, which borders the future Lexington Boulevard extension south of Missouri City City Hall, will hold a 75,000-square foot building funded by 2013 capital improvement bonds. More than 150 percent of current course offerings will be housed in the new location as well as space for two university partners to offer programs that move beyond an associate's degree. Negotiations with future university partners are still ongoing, according to HCC. Chuck Smith, HCC chief facilities officer, said the location next to Missouri City City Hall is ideal, as it will allow the college to use the Missouri City Branch Library at 1530 Texas Parkway. "The great thing about the new location is that it provides a ready-made campus in that we have an agreement with the county to use the existing library and the city to use the existing community center to support students," Smith said. Joe Esch, executive director of economic development in Missouri City, said the relocation of HCC to Texas Parkway is expected to serve as a catalyst to spur revitalization efforts along one of the city's aging corridors. "The relocation of the HCC–Missouri City campus to Texas Parkway will support the continued growth of the city as well as be a positive catalyst for growth and vitality along Texas Parkway," Esch said. "This gives HCC the ability to move its presence closer to its student base, gives us a focal point for development along Texas Parkway and allows the previously nontaxable land HCC owned in Sienna Plantation to be developed and placed on the tax rolls of Fort Bend County and Missouri City." Once the relocation is complete, the Sienna campus will be sold to Fort Bend County and the adjacent tract of land will be sold to a private developer, according to HCC officials. The relocation will be finalized when officials ratify the final letters of intent, according to HCC.