Leon Valley’s long-discussed plans for revitalizing Bandera Road are moving forward with development of the former Fiesta Dodge dealership and monuments to boost the city’s identity.
City Council voted Oct. 16 to enter into an agreement with SRS Real Estate Partners to develop the 13-acre site at 6300 and 6320 Bandera Road, empty since a nationwide car dealership collapse five years ago.
The action comes about a month after the council agreed to allow more uses for the land, and it paves the way for a project that’s expected to include a new car dealership.
The Austin-based developers also want to bring a commercial fleet vehicle sales business to the site and a “destination restaurant,” the city’s economic development officials said last month.
The restaurant hasn’t been announced, but officials said the developers’ clientele includes Mama Margie’s, Chili’s and Cheddars, among others.
“Fiesta Dodge redevelopment is finally a reality,” Mayor Chris Riley said. “An Enterprise full-service car facility, in addition to a destination restaurant, will not only attract people back to the area, but will add additional property tax and sales tax revenues into our city.”
The developers will contribute to a hike-and-bike trail connecting the complex to the Leon Valley Ridge subdivision, Riley said.
“After five dormant years, we are looking forward to this revitalization project along Bandera Road,” she said.
In other news, city leaders said anniversary festivities for Leon Valley and the Huebner-Onion Homestead were a success. The Leon Valley Historical Society held a dinner Friday to commemorate the homestead’s 150th anniversary, while the city celebrated its 60th anniversary Saturday at Raymond Rimkus Park and the homestead grounds.
At the park, city leaders gave medallions to families with longtime roots in the community, as well as former mayors Irene Baldridge and Marcus Semmelmann.
An authentic stagecoach, chuckwagon, racing pigeons, blacksmith, hayride, food and entertainment were also part of the festivities.
Councilwoman Kathy Hill, a co-chair of the event, said preliminary numbers show the society doubling its proceeds from last year’s fundraiser. Much of the funding will be used for the restoration of the 1862 homestead, she said.
The celebration will continue on Wednesday with the dedication of a plaque to commemorate the Evers School Well in front of the Leon Valley Conference Center.
The well served the 1894 Evers School, the first school in Leon Valley, near the northeast corner of Huebner and Evers roads, and was thought to have been used to 1924, when the Leon Valley School opened on Bandera and Grissom roads.
The plaque dedication will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. beside the well at the Leon Valley Conference Center at 6421 Evers Road.