The Woodlands Township and the Economic Development Zone recently agreed upon a $100 million expansion for The Woodlands Mall that would see the development of a mixed-use commercial center, dual hotels, and parking garage.
In a 5-1 vote on November 16, The Woodlands Township and the Economic Development Zone approved the agreement with The Woodlands Mall Associates LLC.
The 15-acre parking lot south of the mall’s Macy outlet will be developed into an expansive, 80,000-square-foot open-air retail center; a full-service, 200-room hotel with convention space a la Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriot; a select-service, 125-room hotel alike Comfort Inn, Double Tree, and Holiday Inn; and multilevel parking garage with availability of a minimum of 1,200 spaces.
The Woodlands Mall expansion is set to take place in two phases over the course of 10 years. The first phase of its development, to be ready by end-of-year 2028, will see 45,000-square-feet of retail space and possibly two of the hotels.
Phase 2 of the development is required to be competed by the end of 2023, per the agreement.
“It has the potential to be a substantial economic impact on our community and our region,” said Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development.
According to the Houston Business Journal, Staley was unaware of the plans until the meeting, but is overall supportive of the project.
Elsewhere in The Woodlands, Kirby Ice House recently opened its third Houston outpost in the area. Here, visitors will find the longest bar in Texas measuring up to 141 feet in length. Other features include 10,000-square-feet of cozy, wooded indoor space complete with 61 “oversized” HDTVs, and 51 rotating beer taps.
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