by Nicole Bradford
Pearland City Council on Monday encouraged a building planning to put apartments in Town Center to get feedback from nearby neighborhoods.
“We’ve got an empty, 12-and-a-half-acre tract of land back there we’ve got to find the highest and best use for,” Mayor Kevin Cole said during a Nov. 13 discussion with Planning and Zoning and the developer. “We like to defer to our neighbors.”
A townhome rental community was initially proposed for 11200 Broadway St., but after feedback in September, Houston-based Pelican Builders switched gears to four-story, urban apartments.
“P&Z told us their preference was to see a larger scale project,” Pelican Builders spokesman Derek Darnell said. “It was really about density and complementing Town Center.”
“We don’t mind calling the HOAs and sitting down with their board members,” Darnell said.
The original proposal was for roughly 124 detached rental cottages. The apartment development would have roughly 325 units with an estimated value of $70 million, vs. the original 124-unit, $47 million proposal.
“It’s hard to argue with an additional $23 million of estimated value on the ground, which is a cherry on top of the sundae,” Councilman Adrian Hernandez said.
Councilman Rushi Patel was not in favor of the project.
“I understand some of my fellow council members are saying that at $1,800 (per month), this is affordable for teachers; for one bedroom, it seems pretty steep to me,” he said. “I think the west side has enough (apartments).”
The builders responded that one-bedroom units would be closer to $1,300 per month.
“I’ve heard the opposite,” said Hernandez, who also lives in west Pearland. “People are looking for more options over there. There are people who work in the area and want to live there and it’s not an option for them.”
