CITY ACQUIRES NBU SERVICE CENTER

At the July 13 regular meeting of the New Braunfels City Council, the council approved acquisition of the NBU Service Center for approximately $10.4 million. The City eventually will move their public works department there as well as a fire station.

NBU is planning on consolidating facilities to their property off Loop 337 in the future. The municipally-owned utility is also planning on vacating their downtown headquarters. EDF member Douglas Architects will soon be preparing RFQ’s for the marketplace on that facility.

City public works has been located at the former city hall property downtown off Castell Avenue for over 30 years. Comal County Court of Law #2 (Judge Gray) is currently leasing space at the old city hall as well. That court will vacate once the Courthouse Annex is remodeled by GNBEDF member SpawGlass. That remodeling will continue into early 2021.

In addition, negotiations continue with Union Pacific Railroad for their 3+ acre rail yard property behind the old city hall and along Coll Street. All the above parcels total approximately 10 acres and make up the S. Castell development initiative. A pre-development plan was adopted by city council in late 2018 on the plan. The project would serve the Civic Convention Center as well as an eastern anchor for the historic downtown area.