Rapid population growth and gaps in local services were highlighted in a feasibility study for the Manvel City Center project presented to City Council at its Oct. 5 meeting.
What residents need to know
After acquiring the 160-acre property in 2017, the city abandoned a previous plan to dedicate more than 60% of the site to tournament ballfields following community pushback over limited public input and concerns about taxpayer burden, according to a social media post from Mayor Dan Davis.
At its Aug. 3 meeting, City Council moved forward with the City Center project and approved Houston-based real estate firms KHJR Collaborate and Midway as the development team for the first phase, documents show.
For the first phase, the development team conducted a 12-week study to determine the project’s costs, funding options and business opportunities, and gather community input to guide development without burdening taxpayers, documents show.
Diving in deeper
At the meeting, the team presented market and economic impact study findings showing Manvel’s population doubled from nearly 10,000 in 2020 to 20,700 in 2025 and is projected to reach 42,000 by 2035.
The study also found that the city’s median household income is $118,000, above the state average, while its resident workforce grew nearly 19% in one year, city documents show.
Findings point to growing demand for services, including:
The city also loses an estimated $250 million annually in consumer spending to neighboring communities on retail, dining, lodging and sports facilities, according to city documents.
Also of note
A survey conducted by the team found residents want to balance future development with preserving Manvel’s character and history, documents show.
Respondents emphasized several priorities, including:
Adding gathering spaces, recreation, dining and entertainment options
Establishing a recognizable downtown and stronger community identity
Avoiding a "concrete jungle” and uncontrolled population growth
What’s next
The developer is planning a town hall to gather community feedback, but a date has not yet been determined, city documents show.
