What readers need to know
The cost and timeline for the project still remain unknown as discussions are in the early stages, city officials said.
An idea for the site, which is located near Del Bello Boulevard and Manvel Parkway just east of Hwy. 288, includes combining different elements of recreation, retail and mixed use properties, according to a proposed plan from architecture firm PGAL.
The concept, titled “Village Park,” is an updated idea from one originally proposed in 2019 and includes retail and dining, a farmers market pavilion, a parking garage, a hotel and convection center, Manvel City Hall and a civic center, 10 total sports fields, wetlands, and an indoor sports center, among other additions, documents show.
The new design also includes an additional 90,000 square feet of retail space compared to the original concept, documents show.
Outside of some funding for design, the project is one that has not been budgeted for and would likely require a bond to build, officials said. It would also likely come in phases over the course of 10 to 20 years.
How we got here
City Manager Dan Johnson said at the meeting city officials earlier in the year had opted not to sell the city-owned land, viewing it as an opportunity to develop something for the community.
The plan was originally brought to council in 2019 where three ideas were presented, PGAL CEO Jeff Gerber said. However, those plans have not picked up momentum since then.
“We’ve had several discussions over the years, but the one thing we haven’t had is money to develop this,” Johnson said.
According to a presentation from Gerber, those three concepts were:
- The urban commercial option, which included denser development along Del Bello Boulevard with a mixture of commercial and cultural elements, as well as Manvel City Hall acting as the focal point of the area. The creation of a plaza and square were also included.
- The Village Park option, which included commercial development along Del Bello Boulevard and more recreational elements mixed into the city buildings and commercial structures. It also included a lake, a farmers market and other cultural elements.
- The Central Park option, which called for Manvel City Hall being the focal point along Del Bello Boulevard with a visitors center at the corner. A city green and outdoor theater flanked by gardens and a lake, and more open recreational elements were also included.
What they said
Most of the feedback from council related to the number of sports fields included in the plan and potential challenges related to filling out the 90,000 square feet of additional retail. While some said they were concerned that it could be too much, others said they felt it was more important to focus on bringing in the right businesses.
Mayor Dan Davis said he wanted to get stakeholders involved in the project and build it out in phases. For him, he said getting the cost and presenting it to the community in a transparent way were his priorities.
Council member Jerome Hudson said he wanted the center to be a place to bring the city’s various subdivisions together and “put Manvel on the map.”
“Right now it’s on the map ... but we don’t have a so-called identity,” Hudson said. "I think any kind of projects that we’re going to go from here with should be focused on how to bring the subdivisions together.”
What’s next?
With Dec. 2 being the last meeting of the year for Manvel City Council, city officials will look to hold another planning session in early 2025, Johnson said. That session will cover several different city priorities, including the potential city center development.
An official date for the planning session was not set at the meeting.
