New Shopping Center In Orange?

Orange EDC looks at grants for shopping center

The City of Orange Economic Development Corporation will have a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers for spending $2 million for a proposed shopping, plus a 10-year rebate on a portion of sales taxes for the stores that locate there.

The public hearing will allow citizens to give their views on the expenditures for a 43-acre project off Interstate 10 west near MLK Drive. The $2 million for “infrastructure,” according to the EDC agenda, will go to Cadance Development of Houston, which was incorporated August 22, 2024.

In a request for the EDC incentives, Matt Maglothin of Cadance said the entire project should cost in excess of $50 million, including the purchase of the land, design, paving, and construction.

The plans are for the retail center to have 125,000 square feet with room for six to eight retail spaces for things like restaurants, shops, and services.

The proposed grant by the city EDC board of directors includes giving a 33 percent rebate on city taxes collected from each business for 10 years.

The shopping center design submitted to the city has the shopping center along Interstate 10 west of Crawdad’s convenience store and the old Luby’s. The center’s 43 acres will spread north behind Community Christian Church all the way to Sikes Road. Truck loading sites for the retail stores will be in the back along Sikes Road.

The EDC board will vote on the proposed agreement after the public hearing. Then the Orange City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the same chamber next to the public library, 220 Fifth Street. City rules require the council to approve the deal during two separate votes at different meetings.

The city Economic Development Corporation is separate from the Orange County Economic Development Corporation.

Board members for the city EDC are appointed by the Orange City Council. Three of the seven board members are required to be city council members.

Kimberly Manning is president of the EDC with other members Reginald Broussard Jr., Dustin Yu, Margaret Hope-Adams, with city councilors Mary McKenna and George Mortimer, plus Mayor Larry Spears Jr.

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