KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
August 31, 2022
By Natalie Cook Clark
From new business developments to fast-growing master planned communities, Katy is experiencing massive growth. Still, with a strong economic growth and influx of newcomers, Katy takes pride in holding on to its small-town charm.
Photo courtesy of Cane Island.
“The City of Katy is a vibrant and growing community,” says Katy Mayor William “Dusty” Thiele. “We pride ourselves on maintaining a small-town atmosphere and strive to keep the traditions and heritage of Historic Katy alive.”
City of Katy Building More Entertainment, Businesses
One of the most exciting new developments in progress is the Katy Boardwalk off of Kingsland Boulevard and just south of I-10. It’s near Katy Mills and when completed will have a conference center with hotel, dining, and commercial space. Luxury residential lofts, the Boardwalk Lofts are already open. The centerpiece for the development is a 90-acres lake and nature preserve.
Popular Katy restaurants like Scholars and Scoundrels and Brett’s Barbecue Shop will be some of the businesses going into the Boardwalk Crossing area in the District at 24566 Kingsland Boulevard. 1776- The Steakhouse will also be opening. They are a fine dining restaurant and newcomer to Katy.
While this project has experienced delays, construction recently resumed on the next phase of the trail and expanding the roads around it. The convention center and hotel haven’t shared any recent updates.
“There is much activity taking place between Highway 90 and I-10 to Woods Road and we are seeing a lot of interest in that area for commercial development,” says Mayor Thiele. “We are looking forward to the development of Pederson Tract as well.”
Mayor Thiele is hopeful that new commercial development to the west of Katy will stimulate the local economy and provide job opportunities for Katy citizens.
While so many new business projects experienced delays during the pandemic, city drainage projects never did.
“Drainage projects are always a priority for the City of Katy and were never delayed during the pandemic,” says Mayor Thiele, who says that the few city projects that were delayed are now back on track.
Newcomers flock to Katy like in the fast-growing master planned community of Elyson. Photo credit: Elyson by Newland.
Katy ISD Works to Keep Up with Residential Developments
In addition, to city and business growth Katy is seeing an increase in residential communities. Katy ISD is adding new schools to keep up with the growth.
“The Katy Independent School District provides excellent education opportunities and the City of Katy and Katy ISD continue to work together to meet the educational needs of our children,” says Mayor Thiele.
Elementary #45 (25600 Longenbaugh Road) and Elementary #46 (25615 Clay Road) are both scheduled to open Fall 2023. Junior High #18 and High School #10 will be located at Longenbaugh Road and Katy Hockley Road bordering Elyson.
Steve and Elaine Robertson Elementary. Photo courtesy of Cane Island.
Steve and Elaine Robertson Elementary, the District’s 44th elementary, welcomed students this year in Cane Island. The popular master planned community continues to grow and is about 70% complete, but the developer says it’s difficult to pinpoint a build out schedule as future growth depends on market conditions.
Thousands of New Homes Planned for the Katy Area
To date there have been 1,499 home sales and they predict 2,100 homes at build out. Just this year there have been 168 home sales.
To the west side of Katy and into Fulshear, Cross Creek Ranch continues to develop and bring new homeowners to the Katy area. The community still reaches into Katy ISD territory with schools such as Jordan High School.
Cross Creek Ranch currently has over 4,900 homeowners living in the community. Upon completion, an estimated 6,000 homeowners will call Cross Creek Ranch home. The final 4 sections are anticipated to be delivered to builders in 2023. This year a total of 275 families have moved into their new construction home in Cross Creek Ranch.
The community has and continues to experience significant road development to meet the growth.
The Texas Heritage Parkway opened in August 2021 which connects FM 1093/Westpark Tollway to I-10. Cross Creek Ranch has access to the Texas Heritage Parkway via Fulshear Bend. A second access point (Morgan Spur) is anticipated to open by the end of this year. Westpark Tollway/FM 1093 is now 4 lanes to downtown Fulshear. FM 1463 is in the process of being widened.
The northwest quadrant of Katy continues to see vast growth. Communities such as Elyson and the new Sunterra contributed to Katy ISD’s need to build new schools in that area.
A new super Target is well under construction at 99 and FM 529. More businesses and entertainment will come around it. Photo: Google Maps.
Elyson at 99 and FM 529 opened in 2016 and currently has 1,900 homeowners. The master planned community developed by the same people behind Cinco Ranch anticipates having 6,000 at completion. FM 529 is planned for an expansion to meet the demand of such growth.
They welcomed 483 new families to Elyson in 2021 and an additional 275 families to date in 2022.
In addition to the three new Katy ISD schools being built to boarder the community, Harmony School of Excellence opened this school year off Elyson Falls Dr.
Elyson has many new businesses opening in 2022 including Target, Ballet Elle, Contemporary Eye Care, Scholars and Scoundrels, and Alchemy Bake Lab.
Sunterra, along Pitts and Clay Road, is currently in phase 1 of their development. There will be a total of approximately 7100 homesites at buildout. So far, they have built 500 homes with 211 now lived in.
To meet the growth and anticipated traffic, developer Land Tejas has partnering with Waller and Harris counties to expand Clay Road between Bartlett and Pitts road.
And other developments continue to build and add the Katy’s growth like Katy Lakes, Camillo Lakes, and more. The city will continue to expand services to meet the growth.
“The City of Katy’s public safety departments, public works departments, parks department, social services department, and administration departments strive every day to meet the needs of our citizens,” says Mayor Thiele.
What new businesses or residential developments are you excited about?
“The City of Katy takes great pride in the services we provide our community,” says Mayor Thiele. “The health, safety and welfare of our families are our priority.”
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