Baytown, Texas

goes through an open air courtyard space. “We have an old bank right next door to that movie theater that we’re also planning to renovate, as well,” Davis adds. “And we’re investigating the feasibility of beginning a restaurant incubator right next to the Brunson Theater.” Several new housing projects are also gear- ing up in Baytown. “Trinity Oaks has broken ground,” says Davis. “They’re starting to go vertical on some of their houses. I think it’s going to be a very beautiful development. In the meantime, Friendswood Development Company, on the north side of town has ini- tiated construction on a 1,500 unit, 500-acre, master-planned community. So, Trinity Oaks is on the south and Friendswood, like a bookend, is on the north. This development will have trails and clubhouses and water features and unique signage. It will be a truly exceptional environment. We’ve also been approached by two other planned-unit developments on the Chambers County side of our city that want to go in on the Grand Parkway, which is a massive loop freeway project that TEXDOT is pursuing. Grand Parkway in Baytown, by the way, will be complete within the next year and a half. We’re kind of at the end of the Grand Parkway; it actually comes together not very far from the new conference center/hotel and the Fred Hartman Bridge.” Davis also has a wish list for some future proj- ects. One is a new Nature Center, for which the city has applied for some penalty funds from BP as a result of the 2010, Deep Horizon oil spill. “We’ll find out if we get that money,” Davis remarks. “But whether we do it through that grant or some other way, we’re very committed to begin that project within the next