New UTMB Facility Nearly Complete
Economic Development team welcomes end of long journey
to court UTMB and beginning of a great new medical care
center for the city

Over the next few months, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) will complete construction on its new Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes. Located at 2240 Gulf Freeway South (near the intersection of I-45 and FM 646), the two-story, 110,000-square-foot facility will be taking patients by early 2010. The facility is UTMB's largest investment off Galveston Island in its 125-year history. It is the largest of its 20-plus Houston Bay Area clinics and locations.

The Specialty Care Center will comprise: advanced imaging services, ambulatory surgery center, breast health center, weight management center, an orthopedic and rehab center, a pelvic and continence center, and surgical specialty care. (Parking will be free.) UTMB estimates it will serve more than 75,000 patients by 2015.

In addition to the advanced medical care it offers League City residents, the Specialty Care Center will employ at least 100 professionals. Also, with 30 acres of land still undeveloped on UTMB's plot, the League City Economic Development Corp. (LCEDC) anticipates an entire medical campus to develop around the Specialty Care Center. For vendors and medical service companies, the location is roughly halfway between the UTMB Galveston facility and the Houston Medical Center.

The LCEDC started courting additional medical facilities in 2004. It was aided by tremendous population growth in the area — there are now nearly 350,000 people within a 10-mile radius. League City is also home to a highly educated workforce. In fact, the gross payroll for UTMB employees already living in League City is more than $68.5 million.

Click here to learn more about UTMB healthcare.

By The Numbers: Feeling TIRZy
$12,700,000

Revenue generated (and reinvested) by TIRZ at Interstate 45 and FM 646 since 1999

A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) is a way to encourage new commercial development by financing infrastructure improvements through the generation of additional taxable value. In 1999, the League City Economic Development Corp. advocated a TIRZ near the new Victory Lakes development. (It has since expanded across I-45 to the League City Town Center.) The $12 million generated so far has paid for new roads and associated utilities and drainage. Without it, the area and League City may not have seen more than $215 million in “big box” retail sales in 2008. (That doesn't include the sale from numerous small retailers located there.)

Municipal Improvement District

Better roads, improved water and sewer lines and upgraded parking facilities may be on the way for League City, thanks to the newly created League City Improvement District. Authorized by the Texas Legislature earlier this year and recently signed into law by Governor Rick Perry, the new district offers League City businesses the opportunity to secure additional services and improvements beyond those already provided by the City.

“The League City Improvement District represents a valuable, flexible new means of ensuring that our community can retain our existing businesses while continuing to attract new commercial and industrial enterprises,” according to Dale Hardy, president of the League City Municipal Improvement District and owner of GeoSurv, a local business. “Municipal management districts like this one have been successful in encouraging business growth and revitalization in other communities, and we expect similar results for League City.”

The new district, which includes all property zoned commercial or industrial in League City, allows property owners to form alliances that can fund projects and services above and beyond those already offered by the City. Along with infrastructure projects like roads and water and sewer lines, eligible uses for district resources include improvements to parks, lighting and signage, beautification, and public safety.

Used by communities throughout the Houston-Galveston region, management districts like the League City Improvement District have proven to be an effective economic development tool, contributing to a diversified economic base that helps protect property owners against higher taxes while enhancing cities’ ability to retain and attract businesses. Other Houston-area locales utilizing management districts include Nassau Bay, Dickinson, Pearland, Old Town Spring and The Woodlands. Houston has utilized the districts to spark renewal in several areas including Midtown and Downtown.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

RETAIL SPACE
151 - 395 Main St. (League City Towne Center)

Located near the corner of Highway 3 and Main Street, this retail space is offering 33,783 sq ft of retail space. Palais Royal anchor store.

More Info

OFFICE SPACE
Interstate 45 & FM 646

The Bay Colony Professional Office Building is offering 1,200-22,789 sq ft of prime two-story office space. Exterior and momument signage and ample parking is available.

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PROPERTY / LAND
Walker & SH 96

Located near the intersection of Highway 3 and SH 96, this plot has a total of 56.28 acres direct access to the highway. Property is sourounded by land zoned for commmercial use.

More Info

Click here for more properties and spaces available in League City

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