On Tuesday, February 23, 2021 the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to start the development of the Fort Bend County EpiCenter project. The 230,000 square foot facility will be constructed on a 51.75-acre site near the southwest corner of US 59/ I-69 and State Highway 36 in Rosenberg.
The county started discussing the need for a large indoor facility at the County Fairgrounds campus as far back as 2015 when projects for a facilities bond election were being considered. The Commissioners Court later authorized a feasibility study that was completed in 2018 that showed that market demand exists to support the facility.
The facility will be able to host a variety of event types, including public/consumer shows, graduations, sports and recreation, spectator events, community/civic events, agriculture/livestock/equestrian shows, festivals and fairs, conferences and it will also serve as an operations center and evacuation emergency shelter for hurricanes or other disaster events.
The project will be built utilizing a public private partnership delivery method often used for developing similar facilities. The county will lease the property to a private entity who will construct the project and lease the building back to the county. The county will retain ownership of the land and will own the building when the debt is paid. Total development costs are approximately $120 million dollars and the project is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The county plans to have a public ground breaking ceremony in the near future and will provide regular construction project updates and progress photographs on the county website.
Press Contacts:
Grady Prestage Vincent Morales Jr.
Commissioner, Pct. 2 Commissioner, Pct. 1
281-403-8000 281-344-9400
grady.prestage@fortbendcountytx.gov vincent.moralesjr@fortbendcountytx.gov
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