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Developers pitch 'Manor Town Square' as council adopts downtown strategic plan
Summary
Developers unveiled a mixed‑use 'Manor Town Square' on US‑290 that would include a public square, city hall site and library; the council separately approved a Catalyst Commercial downtown strategic plan and directed work on a tax increment reinvestment vehicle for implementation.
Developers presented a conceptual plan for a large mixed‑use development on U.S. Highway 290 east of Manor, and the City Council adopted a downtown strategic plan the same night that staff said will guide implementation.
Paul Hardy of Metropolitan Development said the proposal, informed by Shenandoah Development Group, centers on a civic‑oriented public square framed by mixed‑use buildings and would reserve space for a future city hall and library. "By doing that, we increased our green space throughout the development from, it was almost 7% to over 25% right now," Hardy said, describing a shift from an originally dense residential plan to one with more commercial activity and parks.
The presentation showed a three‑zone concept: a commercial corridor along 290, a public core with the square and public facilities, and mixed residential and a proposed medical district to the south. The team said the site would have multiple access points to ease circulation and proposed a large roundabout and pocket parks to improve pedestrian safety and shade.
Separately, the council considered and voted to accept the downtown strategic plan prepared by Catalyst Commercial, a document staff and consultants said contains about 50 recommendations to guide downtown revitalization. Scott Jones and Jason Claunch of Catalyst described the plan as the starting point for zoning, infrastructure and architectural steps; Claunch said an implementation piece — including a project and financing plan tied to a tax increment reinvestment vehicle — will be developed next. "Specifically, as it relates to the implementation plan, we'll have a project and financing plan, as part of the TIF for the TERS," Claunch said, using the council's terminology.
Council discussion asked how historic downtown sites would be recognized; staff said landmark designation currently depends on property owners and that the city could pursue a marker program. Councilmember Massimo moved to approve the downtown plan and to direct consultants to complete a downtown tax increment reinvestment zone; the motion passed.
What happens next: developers said their design team will refine building layouts and engineering before formal zoning and platting steps. Staff said implementing the strategic plan will require follow‑up steps, including legal review, public hearings, drainage and infrastructure studies, and a financing plan to set priorities and funding sources.
