Development
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
The next stage in the historic J.V. Cardi & Sons Rice Dryer’s redevelopment will soon debut in Katy. The rst phase of The Dryer, a 3-acre revitalization project, began with the Katy Beer Garden, an indoor and outdoor venue that opened last June o Hwy. 90. Now, developer Hadi “Andrew” Nurcahya said he is planning a summer opening for the project’s second phase that he hopes will become a community-centric place for families. Nurcahya said Phase 2 of The Dryer will include a miniature train; a playground; black shipping containers with space for 16 food and beverage vendors; a stage and large TV; and green space with arti cial grass where organizers can host events for free. Phase 2 of The Dryer to open this summer
The details
Looking ahead
Most of Phase 2 is expected to debut by the end of July, but other details— like a quick-service bar in the dryer’s blower room and the second oor of the shipping containers—won’t open right away. Permitting for Phase 3, a three-story building, should begin in 2026, and construction could begin on it in early 2027, Nurcahya said. The building will feature a food court on the rst oor, co-working o ce space on the second and a banquet hall on the third. Beyond that, Nurcahya still plans to preserve the dryer’s historical integrity while out tting the inside with a museum and gift shop run by the Katy Heritage Society as well as a future restaurant in the silos. “That’s why people come here, because they want to see the building inside and out,” he said. “So keeping it as original as possible but still keeping safety and comfort in mind is what we’re trying to do.”
The train is a nod to Katy once being the last stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as the Katy.
KELLY SCHAFLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Painted red with The Katy branded on the side, the development’s miniature train is a nod to Katy once being the last stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as The Katy, according to the Katy Railroad Historical Society. The miniature train, chugging along at an easy 1 mph, will begin by operating solely on weekends, Nurcahya said. For most likely $3 per ride—$1 supporting the Katy Heritage Society—riders of all ages can book a ride online, wait for pickup at the project’s train depot building and take a few laps on a 900-foot-long track around the historic dryers, Nurcahya said. “You can come here and touch the dryer, because you’ve been looking at it, you’ve been driving by on I-10, and you’re like, ‘What is that?’” he said. “You nally can come over here now ... and see it up close and be able to do things around it.”
Secured tenants include:
The Dryer
E. THIRD ST.
Mama’s Kitchen and Tea
A business serving carnival-style foods
Phase 1 Katy Beer Garden
Phase 3
Phase 2
A lemonade stand
A shop oering juices
A crepe shop
HIGHWAY BLVD.
90
N
SOURCE: HADI NURCAHYA COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: KATY GIS COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: KATY GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM COMMUNITY IMPACT
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