Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Tomball City Council and the Tomball Economic Development Corp. got a clearer look May 12 at what the former First Baptist Church campus could become, but nearby residents made one thing just as clear: they want a say before the project goes any further. The joint meeting centered on Tomball Legacy Square, the planned redevelopment of the roughly 4.6-acre former church campus in Old Town Tomball. The TEDC engaged Webb Management in fall 2025 to study the site’s market demand, operations, economic impact and redevelopment potential for the former sanctuary, the historic 1949 chapel and fellowship hall, according to the agenda packet. The feasibility study recommends turning the campus into three pieces: an 800- to 1,000-seat performing arts hall in the former sanctuary, a visual arts center in the 1949 chapel and an arts education center in the fellowship hall. However, o cials repeatedly said the plans are still early. Lisa Covington, TEDC board president and City Council member, said the TEDC is still working through details such as venue size, funding, parking, green space and operators. Concerns raised as Legacy Square planning proceeds
Legacy Square proposed plans
N. OAK ST.
Sanctuary/theater 36,662 square feet with 1,000-person audience chamber Fellowship hall 30,762 square feet broken into: A Two dance studios that can be combined B Musical rehearsal space C 150-seat theater D Three class or meeting rooms Historic chapel 4,000 square feet of exhibit space, a classroom, storage and admin space
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2A
1
2
2B
2C
2D
3
3
N
PINE ST.
4.6-acre campus
$25M estimated price tag
10,000 square feet of green space proposed
No parking garage, surface parking only
SOURCES: STUDIO RED ARCHITECTS, TOMBALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP., WEBB MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
The presentation also stated taxes will not increase because of the project, and the TEDC is not tearing down the main sanctuary or the 1949 chapel. No vote was taken at the meeting, as it was held for discussion only, and all items were presentation items.
“Just because something is in writing on a website does not mean decisions have been made,” Covington said during the meeting. A TEDC presentation also stated that no nal decisions have been made or approved beyond the purchase of the property and the designation of the project as an arts and cultural destination.
What they’re saying
Keep in mind
Nearby residents said they weren’t opposed to preserving the property or adding arts program- ming, but worried about the project’s scale. Kristin Heck, who lives on Hicks Street, said her home sits directly beside the project, and ooding is already a concern. Another resident, Christina Black, said the project backs up to her home on Commerce Street and raised concerns about noise, crowds and parking. “Parking is certainly an issue, because during these big events, I do have to ... block o my yard just to keep people from parking in it,” Black said. Others spoke in favor of the project, saying Tomball lacks a venue for larger local gatherings. Brandy Beyer, with the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce, said several local organi- zations have to leave Tomball for events because there is no facility in the city that can hold them.
The project remains in the concept stage. Per the TEDC presentation, conceptual recommendations are being presented, studies are ongoing and public input remains important. Future steps include continued community engagement, parking analysis, development re nement and City Council review and approval, per the presentation. Wayne Hall, a TEDC board member, said keeping the property under TEDC control gives Tomball more certainty. “If ... someone else was to buy it, it could ... be a hotel, it could be houses, it could be an apartment complex,” Hall said. “So at least with the EDC controlling it, then we’ll ... know what’s going to go on there.”
I’ve heard a lot about the bene t economic[ly] and to Main Street businesses. … It is a residential neighborhood. ... Please remember we live here. CASEY BERRY, TOMBALL RESIDENT WHO LIVES ON MASON STREET The fact that this ... maybe gives us an opportunity to stay in our community, to have big events, not huge events ... I think it lls that community spirit. BRANDY BEYER, VICE PRESIDENT, GREATER TOMBALL AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
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