ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Chamber of Commerce Downtown Initiative (Downtown ABI) today launched an interactive map to track and promote the $100M+ in real estate development projects taking shape in the center city. The new tool may be found on the Map page of this website.
Spearheaded by an anticipated $66M, 206-room, four-star convention center hotel, expected to open in late 2021 or early 2022, downtown Abilene is seeing a strong uptick in development activity.
The map includes only activity that has been generally disclosed and excludes several unannounced food/beverage projects. Users will find details and images of included projects by selecting a location pin on the map.
According to Downtown ABI executive director Steve Dieterichs, project stages represented include those in the conceptual, pre-development and construction phases, as well as buildings for sale or lease.
“Opportunities exist for developers, investors, retailers and corporate employers to jump in, up and down the development spectrum,” Dieterichs said.
“The bar and restaurant sector remains strong, but we’re beginning to see much more retail and mixed-use development,” explained Dieterichs. “Our deep focus on residential development is also beginning to pay off.”
Dieterichs said the realm of opportunity for deal participation ranges from sponsors to limited partners to Opportunity Funds, noting that downtown’s SoDA District is a federal Qualified Opportunity Zone, eligible for tax advantaged investment.
Interested parties can get a full overview of downtown Abilene real estate development activity by contacting Downtown ABI at (325) 704-5301.
About Abilene, Texas. Located two hours from Fort Worth and recognized as the gateway to West Texas, Abilene is a community with moderate but steady growth and a population of nearly 125,000. Abilene’s economy is well diversified between energy, higher education, manufacturing, healthcare, and aviation and aerospace. The United States Air Force recently announced that Dyess AFB in Abilene will be home to two squadrons of the B-21, the nation’s next generation strategic bomber, a development that is expected to result in 1,200 new jobs.
About Downtown ABI. Established as an affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in 2018, the primary goal of the Downtown Abilene Initiative is to build confidence in downtown Abilene as a destination to live, work, play and, most importantly, invest. Implementation includes promotions, economic/community development and instilling a design sensitivity that is only satisfied when the physical appearance of downtown matches the vision of downtown developed by the community.
