Developers break ground on new Katy shopping center

KATY, TX (KTRK) -- Now that the Grand Parkway is complete at I-10, you might see more construction in the area. Developers just broke ground on a 150-acre piece of land that will be transformed into Parkwest.

It all started eight years ago, when Monzer Hourani knew the Katy area was on the brink of a boom.

"Katy is the fastest growing place in the United States," says Hourani.

So with the vision and plan for the future, Hourani scooped up that land off I-10 and has waited for the completion of the Grand Parkway.

"The I-10 and the Grand Parkway will be a very strategic intersection, that's why we bought 150 acres," Hourani explains.

Just weeks ago, Medistar broke ground on Parkwest. The new development will include apartments, office buildings, a senior care center, a park, and of course, retail.

"With I-10 having over 120,000 cars per day in a five-mile radius, there's over 210,000 population -- this is what drove us to do this retail development at this corner," says David Stukalin, President of the Retail Connection.

Stukalin will develop 450,000 square feet of retail space right off the I-10 westbound feeder.

"We'll have many stores, but the initial anchors are Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Buy Buy Baby, DSW, Kirkland's, Destination XL," he adds.

Keeping traffic flow for shoppers and commuters was also crucial for Stukalin.

"Having the access of I-10 here, and being visible to the road, and having a good ramp that leads right into the development, and then coming back, you can circulate through Katy Fort Bend Road, the Grand Parkway, or Colonial program. So, we basically gave 360 degrees of accessibility to this shop," he explains.

While the plans for this development are massive, Stukalin says all construction will remain on the property.

"It will not affect the main roadways at all."

The Shoppes at Parkwest will open its first phase in June or July of next year. The second phase will be complete by October 2016. The entire development should be finished in three years.