POPULATION BOOM The city of Manvel’s population more than doubled over the past decade.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES’ TAKES ON DEVELOPMENT
solidi ed for the development, men- tioning Lowe’s and Target as exam- ples for other retail locations that could be attracted by the new HEB. Jung also said the city held precon- struction meetings with McDonald’s and Whataburger for the area. Finally, city o cials highlighted a proposed future downtown area adjacent to Valencia that would fea- ture a new city hall and main city service buildings and an expansive sports complex. The 160-acre area would feature a series of multiuse sports elds alongside retail space for hotels, an amphitheater and other community spaces, accord- ing to a Dec. 5 feasibility study for the project. The study, conducted by The Sports Facilities Advisory for archi- tecture design client PGAL, shows an estimated investment of $63.9 mil- lion from the city for the complex, which has no stated timeline yet. Current council o cials touted the project as an opportunity to create a sports tourism destination that will attract visitors from across the state, boosting the local economy and pro- viding a walkable downtown space for current residents. Davison said the project, which had its design recently approved and may see ground work start in the summer, is facing some criticism from citizens and council candidates. “For a period of time, [taxes] would in fact, admittedly, go up, but it would also come right back down,” she said. “Whatever the rst build- ing that goes in [the development] will be the most expensive because you have to build the road to get to it, and therefore it’s a process.” Redefining rural While the new developments are intended to capitalize on the city’s growth and service the new
11,432
137% overall population growth
If elected, how would you lead the city’s development process going forward?
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“I’m proud to be part of what [the council has] decided for [residents],
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because this is what they asked for. I would continue to ask the council, ‘Are we going in the right direction?’” LORRAINE HEHN
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT
population’s needs, city o cials have acknowledged criticisms from some of Manvel’s citizens that may see the rapid changes as a threat to the city’s small-town rural identity. In an online survey conducted mid-March on the Community Impact website, some residents expressed disapproval with the city’s growth. Respondents shared concerns with increased taxes and tra c, with some saying that rapid development could be overwhelming. “While development and growth is necessary, too much, too fast can end up choking the heart out of the city,” Manvel resident Tish Raiford said in the survey. Former Council Member and cur- rent mayoral candidate Dan Davis said the growth should remain methodical and considerate. He said residents want the city to remain rural in nature. “There’s ditches in our city that haven’t been mowed in 40 years; there’s roads that constantly are getting potholes because of the traf- c ... [and] things that have been neglected for the sake of growth,” Davis said. However, of the 28 responses Community Impact received in the
seven-day period, more than 70% generally support the growth. “[I’m] looking forward to not hav- ing to go to Missouri City or Pearland to shop and have eating options much closer to home,” Manvel resi- dent Frank Boley said in the survey. Longtime resident Harry Opliger said Manvel maintains its rural atmosphere despite the city’s rapid development process. He described the part of town he lives in as “Old Manvel,” where he bought several acres of land to build his home. “Just this morning I woke up, looked out the back, and some- body’s cows were walking around the neighbor’s yard,” he said. “It’s country life, and that’s what makes this town so neat and diverse.” Opliger said he is satis ed with the development he has seen in the 23 years he has been a resident. “I think good times are ahead of us,” he said. “You know, it just takes a little bit more work—more re ning of the processes, you know. Got to work out some of these growing pains, as with any growth is growing pains.”
“We can’t forget what the current needs of the community are. So you’ve
got to bring in people; you got to have the conversations
and not just wait for them to come to you.” DAN DAVIS
“I believe we can have rural and subdivisions in the same city. ... If we
continuously ght about what it’s not going to be, we can never get to the resolution of what can be.” EUGENE HOWARD
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
SOURCE: COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023
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