Robust Plan Sets Out to Expand Downtown
The city council approved a transportation master plan including $415 million of projects, with the city’s half-cent sales tax levy for transportation paying for $125 million of that total, along with other downtown projects.
ROUND ROCK, TX—This city has numerous projects under construction as it continues to attract residents to its city limits. The city council approved a transportation master plan in January 1999 and it includes $415 million worth of projects. The city’s half-cent sales tax levy for transportation will pay for $125 million of that total, GlobeSt.com learns.
There are other projects planned to expand downtown and attract visitors to the area. One of the latest projects is the Ruby Hotel being constructed by Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors. The $5.5 million boutique hotel will be located on three acres at 304 Fannin Ave. along Brushy Creek in downtown. The hotel is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2019.
“Our preconstruction team has worked closely with the architect and developer over the last year. We are thrilled to see the product of that effort take shape and create a unique addition to the downtown Round Rock community,” said Kristy Attaway, vice president and regional manager of Hill & Wilkinson’s Central Texas office.
At 24,000 square feet, The Ruby Hotel will have 39 guest rooms and a fitness center in two new buildings on the property. The project also includes renovating an existing home into a meeting space and bar, as well as refurbishing the existing pool. The design of the hotel will stay true to the character and history of the surrounding downtown neighborhood.
“The Ruby’s biggest features are the natural elements surrounding it,” said Spencer Cook, project manager for Hill & Wilkinson. “There are a lot of very large 100-year-old Live Oaks on the site and both buildings are built on a bluff that overlooks Brushy Creek.”
While touring the property, the developer and operator, Alexa Management, found love letters on the ground addressed to “My dearest Ruby”. The developer embraced the name and has built the brand of the hotel, including the aesthetics and logo, around the idea of who Ruby might have been.
“A boutique hotel perfectly complements our efforts to position downtown as a destination for visitors and locals alike,” said Round Rock mayor Craig Morgan.
Page is the architect on the project.
“Round Rock is transforming into a tourist destination,” Attaway tells GlobeSt.com. “The Ruby is the first boutique hotel in downtown and the historic significance will bring a distinct atmosphere to the area.”
Round Rock, with a population of approximately 105,000, is located 15 miles north of Austin in the Central Texas hill country. It is the 31st largest city in Texas and one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, according to 2010 US Census Bureau data.
The city has become a major center for economic growth in Central Texas, with industry clusters in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and computer/software development. Major employers include Dell, Sears Teleserv, Emerson and Texas Guaranteed Student Loan.
Round Rock ranks in the top 10 among cities in the state for sales tax collections through October 2011, due in large part to the impact of Dell’s Texas sales. Its property tax rate is one of the lowest in the region, GlobeSt.com learns.
Also, residents pay one of the lowest combined average monthly utility and tax costs in Central Texas, while achieving an 80% satisfaction rating from its utility customers. GlobeSt.com learns that Round Rock is partnering with Cedar Park and Leander on a regional water project that is expected to provide water needs to serve a projected future population of 250,000 to 300,000.
The city was the winner of the comprehensive planning award from the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association and a 3CMA savvy award for community visioning.
Dell Diamond, the city’s stadium and conference center, has drawn record crowds since opening in 2000. Construction of the $25 million facility was financed by $8.4 million in revenue bonds backed by Round Rock’s hotel-motel tax revenues and cash from RSR Sports, owner of the Round Rock Express, the Triple A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. It was named top Double A stadium by Baseball America in 2004. (The Express moved to Triple A in the 2005 season.)