$40M Religious Assembly to be Developed; White Lodging Breaks Ground on Hyatt Hotel

By Camelia Bulea, Associate Editor

The City of Austin approved a $40 million project in Southwest Austin at the beginning of October. The Dream City project, proposed by Promiseland West Bible Church, includes a worship center, auditorium and amphitheater.

Pastor Randy Phillips said the development work on the 11-acre religious community would soon begin. Additionally, he expects the amphitheater to be completed by next summer and the worship center could be completed a few months later, according to Austin Business Journal.

The review process was troublesome for the Dream City project, as the initial plan was rejected by the City of Austin because of a zoning designation. Moreover, neighbors were concerned about noise and traffic. The second application was submitted July 6, and the plan was “approved and released” in October 12.  More than a religious facility, Dream City will also include a place for community events or an Alcoholics Anonymous-like place, as quoted by Austin Business Journal.

In other real estate news, White Lodging broke ground on the largest downtown hotel in Austin, the Hyatt Place Austin, on October 26. The 296-room hotel, slated to open in 2013, will be located in the heart of downtown Austin, only 15 minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. A news release from the company states that the hotel will feature complimentary breakfast, a 24/7 guest kitchen with snacks, 42-inc HD flatscreen television and free WiFi. This project is being developed under a joint venture with an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Additionally, Hyatt Place Austin/Downtown is expected to add 250 construction jobs and 95 permanent jobs, which brings the total of White Lodging Jobs in Austin to 1,030, according to the company’s press release.