HTX-SLM: Impact 11/6/2025

Following a geotechnical analysis of the site where Fort Bend ISD’s aquatic practice facility will be built, officials are now projecting an additional $3.5 million cost increase atop the initial $6.2 million cost increase projected in November 2024.

The updated price tag is nearly $10 million more than what voters approved on the May 2023 bond ballot.

Board President Kristin Tassin voiced “great pause” over the price increase and dipping into the district’s bond contingency fund.

The proposal: Nicola Springer, executive vice president and the director of pK-12 projects at Kirksey Architecture, said the estimated cost of the aquatic facility has risen from the district’s original $25.6 million budget to about $29.1 million, mainly because of unexpected site preparation work required for a pool comparable to the district’s current Nate Cook Natatorium. 

Moving forward: The remaining contingency for the aquatic facility is for recommendations in March 2026.

Fort Bend County, Kendleton and Black Cowboy Museum officials broke ground on the soon-to-be new home of the museum in Kendleton.

Zooming in: The groundbreaking comes after Fort Bend County commissioners approved a nearly $4 million construction agreement with Construction Ltd. on Oct. 9 to build a new facility for the museum at Bates Allen Park, located at 630 Charlie Roberts Lane.

Diving in deeper: The museum, which opened in September 2017, will move to a 1.5-acre site with a two-story building totaling approximately 9,780 square feet, a large jump from its 900-square-foot Rosenberg location, according to its website.

Zooming out: Ground was broken last September for the park's new African American Heritage Monument, a project also spearheaded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, Community Impact reported.

What’s next: Construction on the museum will start in December and is expected to take 14 months, McCoy's Chief of Staff Ali Hasanali said.

According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a new Eataly location is coming soon to an existing retail space in Houston.

The details: Eataly’s new location will be located in a 20,050-square-foot building in a hybrid space that combines a mix of restaurants, specialty marketplaces, cafes and grab and go food counters and include a full interior renovation, per TDLR. Construction for the $11.5 million project will begin in January next year and be completed by September.

What else?: Eataly is an Italian eatery and store with 11 international locations, 14 locations in the United States and one location Dallas, Texas, per the website. At Eataly customers can find high quality Italian food and wine, per the website as well as retail items such as uncooked pastas, coffee, olive oil and chocolate.