Leander City Council discusses potential next steps for Bryson Farmstead redevelopment

A closer look

• Through an agreement with Williamson County and the Texas Department of Transportation, the city received 6 acres of Bryson Farmstead to preserve, repair and repurpose, said Tony Bettis, capital improvement plan project manager, at the briefing. This redevelopment comes through the 2008 Memorandum of Agreement obligation.
• The city received 2 established acres with the farmhouse, barns and associated structures, and an additional 4 acres of pasture, according to city documents.
• Also included under the agreement was $1 million from the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, which will be used to generate a preservation plan for structural rehabilitation of the historic buildings and conduct the work identified in the plan.
• The city is working with Fisher Heck Architects, who are tasked with providing preservation and further repurposing plans for the 6 acres.

City staff presented two different concept plans for the redevelopment of Bryson Farmstead:

• One plan includes a roundabout and fewer parking spaces.
• The other plan includes more parking spaces with no roundabout.
• Bettis said the difference between the two plans is six or seven parking spaces.

However, the city is looking into using the property to conduct business for the Leander Chamber of Commerce, which would be raising the funds for redevelopment, officials said.

What officials are saying

Council and city staff weighed in on different ideas for the redevelopment of the 6 acres.

“This is a fantastic place to bring the two pieces together that would allow, if approved, the Chamber of Commerce to develop this land in conjunction with the city to bring a really nice thing and a place that we can gather as a community,” Council Member Becki Ross said.

City Manager Rick Beverlin mentioned the idea of potentially having hotel space near or adjacent to the property.

“Maybe somewhere in proximity, if there is a hotel convention center opportunity, that could also compliment the Farmstead and the function of the chamber as the Convention and Visitors Bureau ,and possibly booking events,” he said. “Having meeting space in proximity, adjacent or near, and also on-site with [the Farmstead], that would really be knocking it out of the park, killing, like, three birds with one stone.”

No solid plans for the redevelopment of the 6 acres on the Bryson Farmstead property were identified at the briefing workshop, but the city is moving forward with possible next steps.