A former landfill site that has been vacant for decades will be the location of a major supermarket in Buda.
Multiple city and Hays County entities have finalized a partnership with H-E-B to develop a new store on the southbound access road of I-35, north of Main Street.
The new retail destination is expected to create at least 50 full-time equivalent jobs within a year of opening.
The big picture
The partnership with H-E-B was made between the company; the city of Buda; Hays County; Hays County Emergency Services District No. 8, or ESD 8; and the Buda Economic Development Corp., or Buda EDC.
All partners conducted thorough reviews of the site to ensure public safety and proper investment due to its former use as a landfill, according to the Buda EDC, noting that H-E-B will develop the site to be safe and accessible through environmental repair and roadway improvements.
The company will complete a traffic impact analysis to assess what roadway improvements will be needed to increase traffic flow in the area, including upgrades to the Old San Antonio Road connector.
H-E-B will repurpose at least 60% of the existing Buda store, located at 15300 S. I-35, for businesses that will generate retail sales tax within 18 months of the new supermarket.
The breakdown
The city and county approved an incentive package that will help offset the estimated $30 million land remediation cost, according to the Buda EDC.
The package will provide H-E-B with $20.1 million over 30 years, funded through sales and property tax rebates. The rebates will be generated from sales and property taxes collected from the project.
The city and Buda EDC will reimburse up to two-thirds of the expenses, up to $12.1 million. Hays County and the ESD will provide funds up to $4 million each.
Construction on the project is expected to begin this year with locally sourced construction materials.
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