Development

On July 7, the City of Lubbock hosted a public meeting to hear residents’ thoughts and concerns about large-scale data centers. As city officials try to balance the potential benefits with the risks, a majority of the approximately 70 members of the public who spoke at the meeting were against allowing data centers in the city.

Last night, the City of Lubbock hosted a nearly-4-hour meeting to discuss the potential development of large-scale data centers, with comment from about 70 members of the public. Our Samantha Larned reports that while city staff have recommended policies to support further control over developments, some citizens say that concerns over enforcement remain unchanged.

Lubbock city leaders are asking for citizens’ opinions ahead of a public meeting to discuss the subject of large-scale data centers. Over the next week, the City is taking an online survey to gauge public opinion on large-scale data centers before the meeting. You can find a link to fill out the survey here.

The agreement with the Department of Justice and U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, filed in court Tuesday, settles the 2023 lawsuit alleging that owners of the development engaged in deceptive advertising and targeted Hispanic residents with predatory loans and seller-financed mortgages.

Newly-dubbed Pickering Park in downtown Lubbock is intended to create a more walkable community and help drive new development in downtown. The project broke ground yesterday and construction is expected to be complete in nine to ten months.

After seven years, the Lubbock County Expo Center is expected to present a plan to its oversight board today, in hopes of being approved by commissioners later this month. Rather than combining with the city's Civic Center renovations downtown, the proposal keeps the project in North Lubbock. But our Samantha Larned reports it calls for a $32 million bond, with approval from Lubbock County voters.

After seven years, the Lubbock County Expo Center is expected to present a plan to its oversight board Thursday in hopes of being approved by commissioners later this month. The proposal keeps the project in North Lubbock, but includes a voter-approved bond to meet necessary funding.

Lubbock’s city council heard a presentation this week analyzing zoning across the city. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on a 2026 project to address some of the inconsistencies between property zoning and land use. Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp devastated by July 4th flooding by the Guadalupe River, plans to partially re-open next year. Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro reports that will come with new regulations and training required by the state.

Economic uncertainty, inflation, strict state limits on property tax collections and uncertainty around future federal funds have crimped local budgets.

Just five years after Lubbock’s city council voted to establish roadway impact fees for developers, an all new council has reduced them to nothing. Developers argue the costs passed down to new homes and businesses were inhibiting new growth, but former city leaders say they enacted impact fees to make sure Old Lubbock isn't left behind.