Construction is underway at Katy Asian Town, a new mainstream Asian shopping hub coming to the Greater Katy area.

“The demand for a diverse community is increasing in the area,” said Josie Lin, leasing broker for the property. “There’s a lot of new construction happening, and a lot of people are coming here from different areas of the state.”

Katy Asian Town will be located at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and I-10, next to the University of Houston’s new 45-acre Katy campus. Katy Asian Town is expected to open in late 2017, and the property features over 15 acres of retail space, three buildings with about 150,000 square feet and parking, Lin said.

Nationwide Asian supermarket chain H Mart will be anchoring the development, Lin said. The store will feature fresh produce, meat and seafood, as well as a food court, according to the Katy Asian Town website. There are two other H Mart locations in the Greater Houston area.

“H Mart is a great representation for Asian communities in the area,” Lin said.

Developers hope Katy Asian Town will be a landmark for the city, similar to Chinatown in Houston, she said.