A new car dealership will be built off Highway 62 South of Interstate 10 in Orange on the acreage known as Eagle Point. The City of Orange Economic Development Corporation will be spending up to $425,000 to build a boulevard into the acreage as an effort to attract more businesses, including a possible big box chain store.
City Economic Development Director Jay Trahan told the City Council Tuesday evening a Dodge-Chrysler dealership is being built on the land owned by the Houseman Company.
Eagle Point has about 250 acres east of Highway 62 and south of Interstate 10. The Houseman Company is donating some land off the interstate access road for the city to give to give as an incentive to attract a big box store to build there.
The boulevard will be four lanes and form an “L” shape across the land to give traffic access from Highway 62 and the interstate.
In addition, the council gave final approval to spending $75,000 for infrastructure like water and sewer, plumbing, and driveway paving for Triangle Rescue Training owned by Ron McAnelley.
He has moved his training school to 3875 Interstate 10 east of the Red Cross building. The training tower has been constructed. The economic development grant is in the form of reimbursement after the money has been spent.
The council also awarded a contract for relocating the city sewer lines at 15th Street at 16th Street near the new Interstate 10 access road. The contract is for $261,331 to MK Construction of Vidor, the low bidder. The money is coming from the Economic Development Corporation.
The sewer lines are being moved to help attract commercial development to acreage at the intersection of 16th Street and the interstate.
The city’s Economic Development Corporation is financed by a special half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2002. State law restricts the use of the money.
Other business during the council meeting included honoring Dean Granger, a former president of the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. Granger recently completed his term limits on the board.
Mayor Larry Spears Jr. presented Granger with a certificate of appreciation for his service.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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