When we built the Real Estate Gallery for Muir back in 2015 the plan was always for Town Lake Dr to extend to hwy 6. We also bid a huge aquatic center in Mid Town that I guess never got built. So these aren't new ideas or goals, I think Muir had plans for this stuff all along.

still curious who designed this?

maroon barchetta said:

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Don't dare them

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Bitcoin mine wasn't bad enough? We'll show y'all!

Another proposal for baseball - this time from a PRIVATE developer, seeking incentives from the city.

https://wtaw.com/college-station-city-council-is-asked-to-invest-in-a-55-60-million-dollar-baseball-complex/

https://wtaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CScoun100925baseball.pdf

Quote:

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College Station city staff is asking the city council to take another swing at developing land that was rejected as a data center.

Background information for next Thursday's council meeting (October 9) does not identify the company that wants to build a $55 to $60 million dollar baseball complex behind the Costco store.
The proposal asks the council to contribute at least $15 million dollars and either give or lease 80 acres of land.

What is nicknamed Southern Roots baseball would have a 3,800 seat stadium and eight more all turf fields.

The developer also proposes building an integrated baseball academy where 100 students would also take junior college classes on site.

The city's chief development officer (CDO) told the council to consider how this project might impact the previously approved addition of baseball fields at Veterans Park.

Additional information from the CDO says "The City has been engaged in ongoing discussions with Southern Roots for over a year, initially exploring a site outside the City limits near Millican Reserve. While that location offered potential, its position outside the City's jurisdiction introduced risks that were difficult to mitigate. The current proposal reflects a strategic shift to a site within the City limits, offering improved infrastructure, visibility, alignment with broader development goals, and reduced risk."
Background information from those associated with Southern Roots shows proposed layouts of the complex in the "Wellborn Area", which the city's CDO says was near Millican Reserve.

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What about the fact that they promised us the ability to have citizen input while developing a PLAN and VISION for this area -before- making decisions on what to build there? They are doing what they did for the data center and ignoring their promise.

WTAW this am :
https://wtaw.com/formal-pitch-to-the-college-station-city-council-to-participate-in-a-more-than-55-million-dollar-baseball-complex/

Land donation- I get that part. City probably shouldn't own it in the first place, but they do and I get it.

$15-20 million of a $55 million project ? That's a bridge too far imho.

Is this in addition to or instead of the Veteran's Park project?

EBrazosAg said:

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WTAW this am :
https://wtaw.com/formal-pitch-to-the-college-station-city-council-to-participate-in-a-more-than-55-million-dollar-baseball-complex/

Land donation- I get that part. City probably shouldn't own it in the first place, but they do and I get it.

$15-20 million of a $55 million project ? That's a bridge too far imho.

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How about a 15million dollar loan, to be paid back to the city in five years (with interest).

histag10 said:

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If it wasnt for soccer at VP, id never go to TXB or that Starbucks. But during the season, I go multiple times per week and its where I usually end up fueling up.

TXB is a madhouse on Saturdays when there are youth sports at VP.

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Exactly! I love that TXB. Those hotels are packed with folks attending stuff at A&M too. Perfect location. These sports facilities are so great for the economy. Don't forget Airbnb money! So great for the economy.

Yes, I think I said it on another thread. There are independent minor league teams (think A ball) in similar (or even smaller) metros in Texas. Attracting one of these teams would be great, IMHO. With the turf fields, maintaining them would not be near the nightmare grass would.

Thank you for the detailed synopsis. Everything about that makes sense to me.

What's the recourse on the loan if the borrower goes into default? That would be my next question.

EBrazosAg said:

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WTAW this am :
https://wtaw.com/formal-pitch-to-the-college-station-city-council-to-participate-in-a-more-than-55-million-dollar-baseball-complex/

Land donation- I get that part. City probably shouldn't own it in the first place, but they do and I get it.

$15-20 million of a $55 million project ? That's a bridge too far imho.

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The Southern Roots deal is:

• Initial Cost: 80 acres and $15m - $20m
• Recurring Cost: None
• Return: Weekday access to 9 ball fields (for free?)

The Veterans deal is:

• Initial Cost: $??m (I've heard between 20 and 35) plus the remaining open land at Veterans Park
• Recurring Cost: Maintenance
• Return: Ownership of 3 ball fields, including a championship field

I don't believe 3 fields will be enough for local ball, so I believe the Veterans deal will not solve the whole problem and we will be back discussing this again almost immediately. I also know that rectangular fields are in high demand, and practices for young kids go later than their typical bedtimes due to lack of fields, even after putting 2-3 teams per half-field. I think it makes sense to keep Veterans land available to expand for rectangular fields, rather than splitting the next set elsewhere.

I have no idea what it takes to maintain fields, but it is more than zero, and if someone else takes that on while we retain access it could work out for us well in the long run. But we have to mitigate the downside risks.

When you add all this together (the $$, the land, the maintenance and the lack of sufficiency), the cost for the 3 fields at Veterans is actually really high.

I like the Southern Roots deal but with a few adjustments. I think $1 leases or gifts of 80 acres in trade for free access undermine the fairness of the deal. We don't have a great record with promises and intent. Everything should be clearly documented, and it should provide mutual benefits for both sides. A good measuring stick for this is if we would provide this same exact deal for a second group wanting to do the same thing.

• The 80 acres should be under a long-term land-lease at a fair lease rate. This allows the city to regain the land in the case of default or reuse the land after the end of the arrangement. Or it should be sold at fair market value outright and just added to the tax rolls.
• The city (or clubs, or whoever) should pay for access at a fair rate. This allows the users to look elsewhere if fields aren't maintained well, helps the business offset the lease and maintenance, and doesn't unnaturally lock out competition.
• IF the city provides incentives, they should be in tax incentives, not cash, and should be subject to performance metrics.
• IF the developer insists on cash and the city is amenable, I feel an additional concession is necessary from Southern Roots in order to level the playing field, so to speak.

Don't disagree with your analysis. Never said I thought Veterans was a better model. What happens if the borrower defaults and the lender gets the complex ? Probably same thing you have at Veterans if not worse. Just something to be aware of. Schools and cities build all these facilities but then don't talk about annual maintenance or turf replacement cost in 7-12 yr.