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Orange council approves EDC incentives for three development projects
Summary
The City Council voted to approve three Economic Development Corporation incentives — Gulf Street Industries, Cypress Wood Flex Park and Newton Court LLC — totalling up to $440,000 in potential reimbursements for infrastructure improvements and supporting a $9 million planned capital investment and an affordable-housing project.
The City Council of Orange on Dec. 9 approved three separate incentive motions forwarded from the Orange Economic Development Corporation to support infrastructure work at local redevelopment and industrial sites.
Mister Trahan, speaking for the EDC, described the first item as the repurposing of a former McCoy’s location at 4514 West Lutcher Drive, for which the EDC recommended infrastructure improvements not to exceed $200,000 for Gulf Street Industries. Trahan said the project is intended to enhance the property tax base, create jobs and generate sales tax; the developer hopes for a spring 2026 opening.
The council then approved a second EDC incentive of up to $200,000 for Cypress Wood Flex Park at State Highway 87 and FM 105. Trahan told the council the development represents a proposed $9,000,000 capital investment in a phased buildout (13 buildings in phase 1, 12 in phase 2) intended to support Gulf Coast industry; the $200,000 would fund infrastructure improvements.
A third EDC incentive approved would reimburse Newton Court LLC up to $40,000 toward an estimated $80,000 concrete improvement at 910 12th Street. Trahan said this incentive is intended to support projects that can meet the city’s affordable-housing designation, and the reimbursement would be subject to a performance agreement and confirmation of that designation.
All three motions were approved by recorded voice roll calls. Votes recorded in the transcript included Councilmembers Burge, Mortimer, Childs, Chandler and McKenna for Gulf Street Industries; McKenna, Salter, Chandler, Mortimer and Birch for Cypress Wood Flex Park; and McKenna, Salter, Chandler, Mortimer and Birch for the Newton Court incentive.
The approvals allow staff and the EDC to finalize the incentive agreements and to proceed with required performance documents; the council did not discuss incentive contract language on the record beyond the reimbursement limits and performance condition for the affordable-housing designation.
