How we got here
Located at 9669 Grogans Mill Road in The Woodlands, the GE Betz property is an 11.6-acre tract of land purchased by The Woodlands Township in 2015 for $15.2 million, according to prior Community Impact reporting.
A building on the property was demolished in 2023, and the township approved seeking an official appraisal on the land in April following the demolition. The land was then added as part of the priority list for the township’s ad hoc economic development committee during the township’s fiscal year 2024 budget discussions.
A discussion was held at the township’s May 16 meeting, where board members requested legal counsel to bring any deed restrictions that would inhibit action on the property.
In their words
“I think it is lacking in fiduciary judgment to rush to dispose of an asset that is really not replaceable,” board director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said. “So I will be voting against it. I think that it is not in the best interest of the taxpayers and the residents to unload this.”
“I find it somewhat hypocritical to talk about what is in the best interest of the taxpayers financially and talk about not selling this asset when this asset sits and generates no revenue for our taxpayers, and it generates no revenue on the tax rolls,” board director Kyle Watson said.
What’s next?
Discussion of the GE Betz property was done in executive session, but the vote to seek proposals on the property was approved with only Sekula-Gibbs opposed.
The request for proposal will allow independent contractors and developers to submit proposals for how they would modify or improve the land. Once the bidding period is closed, the township will then look over those proposals and make a determination on what actions the board would like to take.
