Developers break ground on Pecan District’s first phase

City leaders and developers popped champagne Friday as they turned dirt on the first phase of the planned Pecan District.

Live music welcomed guests who came out to celebrate the start of construction on the 272-unit Elliott apartment complex, located at the corner of Old Austin Pflugerville Road and South Heatherwilde Boulevard.

Developer Cid Galindo said the Pecan District, which he said will eventually host housing, dining, shopping and office space in a walkable area, will create an “economic engine” that will transform the western gateway of Pflugerville.

“We’re going to bring the kind of economic activity that we’re seeing on the east side and that’s going to create balanced growth in the city,” he said. “It’s very undesirable for a city to have any part of it fall into disrepair or fall into decline and we are going to make sure that doesn’t happen in Pflugerville with the project.”

Galindo said the mixed-use development will create more office space to draw new employers and companies as well as create daytime activity to support existing businesses.

“It’s going to be a place where the community can gather to meet neighbors to talk and to create an identity for the community,” he said. “That’s what this project is really about.”

Developers said the urban-style apartments planned for completion in 2020 will offer modern, market price housing. Each apartment will come with up-to-date fixtures and expansive balconies.

Mayor Victor Gonzales said he is looking forward to seeing an undeveloped part of the town where he grew up take on new life.

“While you might think of this as a nice big greenbelt, it is also offering some additional opportunities in terms of this particular project which we’re looking forward to having,” he said. “We have a number of ways to attract residents to Pflugerville which adds to the economy and adds to the robustness of what Pflugerville is all about.”

School board President Vernagene Mott recalled memories of the area where Shetland ponies once grazed and previously hosted the first Deutschen Pfest. She said the apartment’s location will complement nearby attractions like the Pfield stadium. With the school district’s administration nearby, she said she looks forward to opportunities for the district to partner with officials of the development to enhance district programs.

“Today we witnessed a dream that’s going to be transformed into reality,” she said. “This new development will give a vibrant look, a different feel, a bold impression of this western gateway to our fine city.”

Source: https://www.statesman.com/news/20181026/developers-break-ground-on-pecan-districts-first-phase