Round Rock is logging its second straight year of strong commercial development as shown by 29 new commercial building permits submitted to the city through the first half of 2013-2014 fiscal year. Local experts are seeing the trend as reason enough to call the recession, which still lingers in other areas of the country, a closed chapter in the city’s history.
The number of building permits is a prime indicator of economic health for a city, and Round Rock’s Planning and Development Services Department reviewed a steady stream of them between October and March.
The city reviewed 29 new commercial permits worth about $77.8 million in the first half of the 2014 fiscal year, according to city records.
Bass Pro Shops, a major fishing and outdoors outfitter, applied for the most valuable commercial permit, which was worth $13 million, according to city documents. Bass Pro will build an Outdoor World location alongside the Round Rock Premium Outlets near the intersection of I-35 and University Boulevard.
The 104,000-square-foot business could help bring in $400 million in taxable sales in its first decade of operation, both inside the store and from nearby businesses, which equals about $5 million in tax revenue for Round Rock, according to the city.
Click to read entire article Steady growth of commercial sector signals strong economy (Community Impact Newspaper, 8-6-14)
