Waco Launches $1.4 Billion Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Waco has unveiled an ambitious $1.4 billion Downtown Redevelopment Plan aimed at transforming over 100 acres along the city’s riverfront. The 12-year initiative has been designed to enhance infrastructure, expand greenspace, and develop community spaces through a four-phase approach.
Phase One, with a projected cost of $482.5 million, is divided into two components. The first will address improvements to parks, floodplains, and streets, while the second will focus on constructing a new city hall, a city office complex, parking facilities, and retail space.
Phase Two, budgeted at $621 million, centers around the construction of a 386,000-square-foot convention center. The facility will include a 2,000-seat performing arts venue, a digital media studio, and a black box theater. A 350-room hotel is also included in this phase.
Phase Three will see the redevelopment of the Waco Square District into a new Town Center. Estimated at $168.5 million, this phase will introduce 520,000 square feet of retail, residential, and office space.
Phase Four, projected at $131.7 million, calls for the construction of a new 6,000-seat ballpark, with the capacity to expand to 7,500 seats.
The long-term plan reflects Waco’s commitment to revitalization and economic growth through cultural, civic, and commercial investments.
