BY HALEY VELASCO
What’s next
Sales tax allocations as of January for each year
Measuring the impact
Despite having about one-tenth the population of League City, Webster’s sales tax allocations—the amount of taxable sales occurring within the city—have come close to matching League City each January since 2016.
As development continues, major projects remain in the pipeline, including IKEA, Sprouts and the rest of Flyway, which has about nine parcels available, according to its website. With Webster’s ongoing contributions to development in Houston’s Bay Area, Brian Freedman, president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, said the city will continue to be a “major player” in the regional economic development space. “All the cities down here have their focus areas of what they want to develop, and how they want to see it developed,” he said. “Webster’s doing exactly that.” Coming soon Ale & Ivy • Opening early 2026 • 335 Royal Tern Way, Webster Slick City Action Park • Opening in April • 20750 Gulf Freeway, Webster IKEA • Opening in the summer • 19801 Gulf Freeway, Webster HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake expansion • Expanding by late 2026 • 500 W. Medical Center Blvd., Webster Sprouts Farmers Market • Opening in 2027 • 1001 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster Gauchos Do Sul • Opening TBD • 415 Royal Tern Way, Webster Sunset Amphitheater Houston • Opening TBD • 901 Royal Tern Way, Webster
$3.5M $3M $2.5M $2M $1.5M $1M $500K $0
League City
Webster La Porte
Friendswood
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Population changes
2020 11,229
2024
While Webster ranks higher in sales tax allocations, it has the smallest population compared to neighboring cities. Population figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 and 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, reflecting 2016 to 2020 and 2020 to 2024 data.
Webster
12,366 119,398 41,030 36,730
League City Friendswood
105,410 39,893 35,340
La Porte
SOURCES: TEXAS OPEN DATA PORTAL, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
In comparison
[return of investment] for the taxpayers.” By contrast, Webster has used Chapter 380 agreements, otherwise known as financial incentive agreements, for Great Wolf Lodge, American Furni- ture Warehouse and Chicken N Pickle, according to city documents. While Vela did not cite a specific incentive, she said the city’s “certainty and responsiveness” often set it apart.
League City typically avoids offering incentives by choice of its elected officials, Economic Develop- ment Director Scott Livingston said. League City Mayor Nick Long added that “new development must pay for itself.” “The taxpayers are not willing to subsidize private development,” he said. “The city will certainly consider economic development incentives, but the project must pay for itself and create a significant
SOURCE: CITY OF WEBSTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT
EXPERIENCE PERSONALIZED CARE
20% OFF COMPOUNDING MEDICATION FOR NEW PATIENTS
Compounding Shop Pharmacy Serving Texas Since 1982 11845 Wilcrest Dr Houston, TX 77031
19
BAY AREA EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook