The Woodlands Edition | May 2025

BY JESSICA SHORTEN

Also of note

Why it matters

Newman said he has waited until this year to develop the land he owned on Robinson Road until realignment was completed. “The thing about Oak Ridge North is that it’s directly o of I-45, so the location is phenomenal,” Newman said. “In the real estate business, it’s all about location; and you want to control sites where people have to go by your site.”

and redevelopment eorts are key to ensuring the city is able to fund larger community proj- ects such as sidewalks, park expansions and the creation of new amenities. The city collected $3.3 million in sales tax revenue in 2024, according to budget docu- ments, and it has averaged around $3 million annually since 2022. “Sales tax is 75% plus or minus of our annual budget, so that pretty much funds everything the city does,” Neeley said. However, some residents shared concerns that the district may only increase trac issues along Robinson Road once the Plaza District is completed. “It’s like they say, ‘build it and they will come,’ and I’m not sure we can handle even more trac once [the Plaza District] is done,” said Joleene Custer, a resident along Robinson Road.

Sarah McClure, director of economic devel- opment for the city, said the city has been marketing to potential businesses since work rst began on Robinson Road in 2023 to garner interest. “We do exist, and we are going to have space, but right now we don’t. So we’re trying to go more the retail route, but it’s really been the fast-casual restaurants [the city has pursued],” McClure said. The Blue Ox Group has also begun actively seeking potential commercial and retail part- ners for the Plaza District, which will act as the central hub for the city, McClure said. “A lot of it has to do with just bringing a family-oriented center to Oak Ridge [North],” Savery said. “We’re trying to get dierent concepts, whether that’s like a pickleball or volleyball court—something that brings that trac outdoors.” Neeley said the creation of the Plaza District

Oak Ridge Business Park Flexible space: 12,680 square feet Retail: 11,000 square feet Industrial: 19,350 square feet

ROBINSON RD.

I N S O N R D .

SOURCE: NEWMAN CRECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Next steps

Old railroad crossing New railroad crossing

Once the Plaza District is complete, Neeley said the city is hoping it will attract new residents by providing retail and lounging opportunities. “We’ve got three- to ve-bedroom houses, so of course we’re looking for young families to move in. And when they look at places to live, they want to see what’s around them; they want to have amenities that are close by,” Neeley said.

Savery said construction of the Plaza District is set to begin by December once the roadway is ocially completed by the end of May. However, Neeley said one potential delay is the planned railroad crossing relocation. Union Pacic Railroad ocials said the railroad crossing shift could take up to nine months, and as of press time they said work would begin May 23-25.

ROBINSON RD.

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD

SOURCE: UNION PACIFIC RAILROADCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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