HOUSTON—The Board of Directors of the East Montgomery County Improvement District announced the sale and delivery of more than $159 million in sales tax revenue bonds for the construction of a new 210,000-square-foot convention center and 813-space attached parking garage at the Valley Ranch Town Center in New Caney, Texas.
Designed by Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects Inc. (HHCP), the convention center will feature a 55,000-square-foot ballroom/exhibit hall, nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting space, and approximately 25,000 square feet of pre-function and lobby space and outdoor courtyard. It is expected to have a nearly $1.73 billion economic impact over the next 30 years, according to EMCID.
“The I-69/Grand Parkway corridor is absent of many key services that have held back our community’s growth for decades,” says Frank McCrady, president and CEO of EMCID, via an announcement on the EMCID website posted in 2020. “Today, retail has come a long way, as has industrial. The Grand Parkway has made us accessible for many outside our backyard. A part of our focus is expanding our impact at EMCID by helping attract major corporate relocations, employers that will bring high-paying jobs, and increase our ‘day-time traffic population,’ which drives sales tax and success throughout our region. The idea is to create the critical pieces that make the greater Porter/New Caney area a destination for many, but more importantly, a place where locally all can work, shop, play, and even graduate at home! We should be at the top of the list of major employment relocations, and this investment will certainly help move the needle.”
Brenda Webb, chairman of the Board, says EMCID’s current facility, The Atrium Center, which has a combined 15,000 square feet of leasable space, has turned away business on a constant basis because it is small for many events with more than 200 people. This becomes a lost opportunity for nearby restaurants and hotels.
The plans also include space for a future full-service conference hotel to connect to the convention center.
The Board selected Spaw Glass as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) on the project and local subcontractors whenever possible. Construction on the facility is expected to begin this month.
“We have worked tirelessly with the architects, engineers, research groups, and Valley Ranch developer, Signorelli Company, to ensure the center’s location and nearby future amenities will draw visitors and additional restaurants and retail, a layout that is top-notch and implements fantastic ideas from other conference centers, and programming that meets the needs of regional groups seeking space for their events,” says McCrady. “So far, the Board has already approved an entertainment project, Lumos Social, that will be located near the convention center, and we are in talks with several higher-end restaurant brands that would not have initially had interest in our area but do now expressly because of proximity to a conference center. Our community will also get the benefit of having those brands to dine from.”
The project is expected to create more than 500 direct and indirect full-time jobs at stabilization, and approximately $35.1 million in sales, hotel, and venue taxes to the district.
Needs to include a concert hall where the many 501(c)3 community arts musical ensembles can perform. The 59 corridor has always lacked a large-format Fine Arts venue.