Government
BY GRACIE WARHURST
The Georgetown Customer Service Center, a facility that will centralize several customer-facing city departments, is projected to open in early 2028, Capital Improvements Project Manager Jennifer Bettiol said at an Oct. 14 meeting. The city has plans for a 75,567-square- foot building to accommodate a projected 283 employees associated with relevant departments in the next 10 years. The project is in design and will be a part of the rst phase of the Southwestern University 560 development. With a $56 million budget, the building will be funded through a 2023 voter- approved bond. City advances service center
Zooming out
In collaboration with Southwestern University, Georgetown plans to locate the new facility in the rst phase of SU 560. The development plans to integrate retail, o ces, research facilities, hous- ing, arts, green space and trails on a tract of land directly to the east of the university. Georgetown City Council gave nal approval to a planned unit development amendment for SU 560 on Oct. 28, which changes the base zoning desig- nation for the land from residential to commercial. Phase 1A of the project will develop 67 acres of the 560-acre property, and is in the early planning and design phase. It will include: • 110,000 square feet of o ce space • 45,000 square feet of retail space • 150 apartment units • 110,000 square feet of hotel and conference space • 38,000 square feet for a cultural venue • 35 acres of open space The building height around the center plaza will
188
SU 560 Phase 1A
Southwestern University
29
SOUTHWESTERN BLVD.
N
be 1-2 stories, with buildings along the perimeter going up to 3-4 stories. The amendment included a motion by District 5 council member Kevin Pitts to conduct a future mobility plan to assess area tra c needs. The city is working with SU 560 developer Banbury as planning progresses to coordinate construction, roads, utility and other infrastruc- ture needs. Additionally, Georgetown o cials are working closely with SU o cials to ensure the development is consistent with the city’s land use policies and future planning, city sta said.
The Customer Service Center will bring together the following departments:
Fire and bui ding inspections
Customer care and askGTX
Code enforcement
What they’re saying
Internet techno ogy and systems engineering
Human Resources
Economic deve opment and p anning
“This is the beginning of a very long and very close partnership on a very, very important project that we are going to be
“I think it’s going to be a really wonderful addition to our community, and we’re excited to be a part of it.” JENNIFER BETTIOL, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT MANAGER
intimately involved in as the anchor tenant of this phase.” JOSH SCHROEDER, GEORGETOWN MAYOR
Rea estate
Remote po ice o ce
Possib e data center
What’s next
“There will be more phases and there’s been some very preliminary looks at that, but we’re not in a position yet to describe those,” Adams said at an Oct. 14 City Council meeting. Future phases will be realized through additional PUD amendments, he said.
As for the future of the SU 560 development, potential options for Phase 1B include turning parking lots in the rst phase into sites for commercial, residential or civic spaces, each with an encapsulated parking garage, said Jim Adams with McCann Adams Studio, the project’s architect and urban designer.
City sta will bring renderings and layouts for the Customer Service Center building to City Council early next year, Bettiol said. In the meantime, the city is working on soliciting a construction manager at risk. The building is projected to open in early 2028, Bettiol said.
11
GEORGETOWN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook