BY RACHEL LELAND
By the numbers
One more thing
In addition to attracting new businesses to the area, the city of Kemah is also investing in beautifying the area along Hwy. 146—a move that aligns with city leaders’ previous statements to reestablish the city as a destination for tourists. In August, the city approved the Kemah Beacon Project—a landmark sculpture that will be built in Joanne Blackledge Memorial Park in collaboration with the University of Houston’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, according to agenda documents. The city hopes the sculpture will serve as a landmark for Kemah, similar to a
Hwy. 146 tra c impact
Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and construction impacted traffic volume in the area.
Tra c volume in Kemah and Seabrook Hwy. 146 and Nasa Parkway
Hwy. 146 and Marina Bay Drive
37,204
10K 20K 30K 40K
27,719
29,921
CLEAR LAKE
GALVESTON BAY
146
22,429
14,895
13,862
0
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
2018
A
RINA BAY DR.
N
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
lighthouse, that can reflect the city’s waterfront identity and brand.
Seabrook and Kemah sales tax revenue
Kemah
Seabrook
146
Managing the impact
Hwy. 146 construction start/finish
MARINA BAY DR.
$3,975,469
$3,285,650
$4M $3M $2M
In Seabrook’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget, the city proposed reestablishing its “Shop Local” program with special initiatives to help revitalize businesses that were struggling following the closure of Hwy. 146. Both Seabrook and Kemah experienced a slight dip in sales tax revenue throughout the project’s timeline. However, city leaders remain optimistic about recaptur- ing those losses. “Through the end of August, we’ve actually hit a record number of sales tax that we had not hit before in the city,” Garcia said. Garcia also alluded to upcoming efforts to launch a strategic plan for the city, aiming to unify and guide future development and maintain Kemah’s appeal as a family-friendly destination. “People want to come back to Kemah,” Garcia said. “People feel safe coming to Kemah.”
N
$1,954,712
$2,435,225
$0
Fiscal year
Seabrook economic development investment 2018-19 $718,029
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
$621,135
$352,612
$500,000
$700,000
$1,031,025
$2,172,810
RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF KEMAH /COMMUNITY IMPACT
$1,933,990
SOURCE: CITIES OF KEMAH AND SEABROOK/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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