Development
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
A $22 million economic development agreement for the Leander Springs project expired in December, which has left community members questioning the likelihood of the widely discussed project. Valued at $1 billion, Leander Springs is a 78-acre mixed-use project—located at the southwest corner of RM 2243 and 183A Toll—that features a 4-acre crystal lagoon at its center and will o er restaurant, retail, entertainment, hospitality, residential and o ce elements. As stated in a 2020 development agreement with the city, Leander Springs developers were required to complete construction on 35,000 square feet of commercial property as well as the lagoon portion by December 2023. Because that deadline was not met, developers and city o cials are now back at the drawing board to re-evaluate the project. Leander Springs project stalled
2243
Leander Springs
The original proposal for Leander Springs included a 4-acre, man-made lagoon and other retail and entertainment components.
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183A TOLL
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RENDERING COURTESY ILAND DEVELOPMENT GROUP
A closer look
Another detail
The city of Leander is allowing the developers to submit an amended proposal to continue with the project. As of Feb. 22, such proposal has yet to go before council. “We can’t do anything until they le some kind of update,” Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle said. DeLisle said she’s not sure the same project that came before council in 2020 would be approved again today. “We are a di erent city than we were the rst time they came around ... council priorities, city priorities have changed,” she said.
The developers, however, are still invested in the project. Andrey Derevianko—CEO of iLand Development Group, the company behind Leander Springs—said the reason the initial development deadline was not met was primarily due to permit- ting delays during the height of the pandemic. “Ultimately, we couldn’t start construction because we didn’t have permits,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.” In a statement provided by the city, DeLisle said, “city sta completed each of the developer’s reviews in a timely manner.”
From the beginning, Leander leaders have been concerned about the crystal lagoon’s water usage. DeLisle said the city’s vigilance has increased over the years, and the initial decisions regarding the project were done at a time when o cials didn’t realize “that water was so precious.” The lagoon’s primary water source was and still is a private well, Derevianko said. He said the well is already installed on the site and has been readied for use.
The takeaway
The project is not necessarily ‘over,’ but we are just at a crossroads right now. We’ll see what, if anything, the Leander Springs team is able to bring back to the city.” CHRISTINE DELISLE, LEANDER MAYOR
“Leander is where we want to be. There’s been so much invested here, [and] we want to continue.” JOHN WEST, ILAND DEVELOPMENT GROUP CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Discussions and meetings between the Leander Springs developers and the city are ongoing, o cials said. Derevianko said there is no speci c timeline for construction because it is contingent on the permitting process. As far as the amended proposal, he said it depends on how fast developers and the city can reach an agreement.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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