Orange is moving forward on the Eagle Point commercial development as the city council will conduct a public hearing to create a reinvestment zone. The zone will allow for tax abatements.
Eagle Point is to include a medical center with attached small hospital with an emergency room and up to 20 in-patient rooms.
The Houseman Companies owns the land, which is about 250 acres. Gisela Houseman is donating 20 acres to be used for the medical complex and for the city to build a boulevard. Houseman has also donated utility right-of-way easements of five acres.
Local physician Dr. Marty Rutledge, who is spearheading the medical project, has said the facility will be named in Houseman’s honor.
The City of Orange Economic Development Board of Directors will also meet to vote on the reinvestment zone. The board meets at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday before the council meeting at 5:30.
City council business Tuesday relating to the Eagle Point development has a vote to hire Fitz and Shipman engineering firm to conduct surveying and civil engineering. The work is needed for the city to extend water service along Highway 62 from the Texas Department of Transportation offices southward to the back of the Cloeren Company driveway.
The planned lines will bring water to the new development. The city has built a new water plant and water tower to serve the area along Highway 62.
Eagle Point is at the southeast corner of Highway 62 and Interstate 10. The city has budgeted economic development money to build a four-lane boulevard into the acreage. The boulevard will give access to the highway and interstate.
Public Works Director Jim Wolf will ask the council to reject the recent bids to construct the boulevard. In a memo to the council, he said the four bids were more than budgeted. The lowest qualified bid was for $2.8 million.
The EDC board and the city council meet in the council auditorium next to the Orange Public Library.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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