Council hears developer request and staff recommendation to extend Floyd Casey park/development deadlines to Nov. 30, 2025

Turner Brothers representatives and city economic development staff told the Waco City Council on Dec. 17 that horizontal site work is underway at the 72‑acre Floyd Casey redevelopment but that water connection issues and construction sequencing have delayed completion of portions of the Master Development Agreement deliverables.

Assistant Director of Economic Development Jeremy Pesina reviewed the original Master Development Agreement (MDA) terms: the project envisions about $100 million in private capital investment, 259 single‑family lots, multiple multifamily and commercial pads, and a performance‑based incentive package (including a Tax Increment Financing grant up to $19.2 million, infrastructure reimbursements up to $4.0 million, and a sales‑tax reimbursement grant up to $2.25 million). The MDA set a contract completion date of Nov. 2, 2024; staff said the project is not in compliance as of that date.

Turner Brothers’ Director of Development Jonathan Garza described current progress: horizontal work (utilities, water, sewer, storm) is under way; builders have contracts for the single‑family lots and expect vertical construction to begin in early Q2 2025 for some parcels. Garza said the developer requested a 180‑day extension but was open to a longer date if staff and council preferred a single final deadline.

City staff presented a recommendation to extend the deadline to Nov. 30, 2025 and proposed amendments to the MDA that would (1) keep the existing 15‑year term and payout caps for the TIF and sales‑tax grants unchanged, (2) require three street namings honoring Hispanic heritage (up from two already committed), and (3) require antique street lighting and heritage plaques on the developer portion of the proposed heritage trail. Staff asked the council for guidance; no formal council vote was taken during the work session.

Why it matters: The project includes the city’s largest current park investment (the city is planning roughly $25.3 million for the new park) and is a large housing and commercial development for South Waco. The incentive payments are performance based, meaning the city reimburses the developer only after completion of qualifying improvements.

Council members expressed support for the project and for a single deadline approach to avoid multiple extension requests. Several council members emphasized the desire to see vertical construction occurring on the site (visible progress), and staff and the developer described regular biweekly coordination meetings and added construction crews to accelerate work.

What remains unresolved: No council action was taken in the work session; staff will return with ordinance or resolution language and a formal extension request for council consideration. The recommended Nov. 30, 2025 date will be negotiated and finalized with Turner Brothers in the coming weeks if council directs staff to proceed.

Evidence: Presentation and Q&A with Turner Brothers and city staff (presentation began at 00:22:36; staff recommendation delivered at approximately 00:33:39).