Weaver Davis & Jacob Buys 28-Acre Retail Site

The developer bought the site at 8800 Texas 6 South from Johnson Development Corp., Sienna Plantation's developer, and sold 16 acres to the San Antonio-based H.E. Butt Grocery Stores Co. The all-in project costs aren't being released, but similar projects require about $200 per sf to develop. Sienna Village's completion is anticipated for late 2008.

"We've been eying this corner for awhile," says Scott Weaver, principal of the development company. He says another grocery chain had purchased the land, but decided not to go forward with the development and resold it to Johnson Development. "Johnson came to us and asked us if we were interested in taking a run at it," Weaver tells GlobeSt.com. "We said yes. It's the primo site in Missouri City."

Weaver expects Sienna Village will have a healthy occupancy by the time the grocery store opens based on conversations that the team's had with national retailers. He declined to name the prospective tenants, but estimates the center could be 80% leased by late 2008.

Sienna Village also will have "a significant number of restaurants there," Weaver says. "It's a good 2.5 to three miles to the nearest restaurant from Sienna Plantation. A couple of smaller restaurants in that market are doing phenomenally well, but there'll be a greater demand for restaurants out there." Brand + Allen Architects Inc.'s Houston office designed Sienna Village. A general contractor has not been named.

Weaver Davis & Jacob's first project in Sienna Plantation was the 22,000-sf Bees Creek Market, which opened in 2004 at 4225 Sienna Pkwy. The developer also is prepping dirt for the 17-acre Crossing at Sienna Ranch, also along Sienna Parkway. Weaver says the plan is to sell most of the land and retain a four-acre tract for its own development.

"We targeted Sienna Plantation five years ago as a real growth opportunity," Weaver says. "There will hopefully be more developments down the road."