Feature Illustration (above): Concept for a retail/entertainment center in the Negba Group’s Pflugerville mixed-use development. Courtesy: Negba Group.
Posted: 5-15-2019
by Adolfo Pesquera
Pflugerville (Travis County) — Mayor Victor Gonzales teased his audience by going public with a tidbit about a 120-acre mixed-use development during his 2019 State of the City address.
Speaking to a banquet crowd at the Courtyard Marriott Austin Pflugerville on April 2, Gonzales said, “Northpointe, this is a conceptual project which will be a new vibrant project similar to the Domain or Triangle which will offer mixed use and amenity features contributing to the domino effect along (SH) 130.”
Gonzales offered no other details, but in the weeks that followed Austin area media outlets made further inquiries. In response, the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation put out its own statement.
The Pflugerville CDC explained that the project was at a very early stage. The developer has been meeting with local stakeholders to discuss plans for a pedestrian-friendly, self-contained community.
While Gonzales referred to the project as Northpointe, the developer has not yet decided on a name. The community is expected to include “sophisticated retail, elegant dining, programmed entertainment, office space, apartments, hotel rooms, spa and fitness center, hospitality and conference facility,” the Pflugerville CDC said.
The development will also have European-style open-air plazas and landscaped green spaces.
The developer, Negba Group, purchased the land in May 2018, according to Travis County Appraisal District records. In November, Negba Group transferred the deeds to two limited liability corporations–Yama Ventures LLC and Kedma Ventures LLC.
Negba Group is the Austin branch of a New Jersey company, Negba Development LLC. It is run by Tomas Sheleg.
The project site is near the center of the city of Pflugerville, a growing Austin suburb that still has been annexing agricultural land east of State Highway 130 for future development.
Negba’s planned development is on two large tracts of undeveloped land that are south of the Texas Typhoon water park and Hendrickson High School, and north of where Baylor Scott & White recently opened a hospital.
Negba Group’s land holdings are divided by the SH 130 tollway. In order to connect the two tracts, Negba plans to construct a pedestrian bridge across the tollway.
Judging by the conceptual rendering Negba Group has circulated, (see the KXAN report), the pedestrian bridge will be intensively landscaped. It appears it may also function like a land bridge, providing a crossing not just for pedestrians but for animals.
A bridge of any kind over a Texas highway will require extensive negotiations and engineering in collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation, which controls the right of way.
Negba Group has submitted a master plan to the city, but much work remains. The Planning & Zoning Commission is expected to receive a presentation this summer in connection with land use and zoning requests.
adolfo@virtualbx.com
