A family that’s been involved in College Station real estate development longer than the city has been in existence has announced its largest project ever.
Jack and Mary Culpepper have announced the University Square shopping center at South College and University Drive will become Legacy Point, a combination living and retail center.
Plans have been submitted to the city for the first phase. The long-closed Albertson’s store will be demolished. On that land will be The Stack, a five story student housing complex with a two floor underground parking garage. Construction is targeted to start this summer with completion in time for the start of the fall 2013 semester at A&M.
Mary Culpepper visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
News release containing further details & history of the property:
Jack Culpepper, manager of Culpepper Family, LP, announces the initiation of Legacy Point, a mixed-use property, which will include both commercial and residential developments.
The Legacy Point property, at the intersection of South College Avenue and University Drive in College Station, has been in the Culpepper family for more than 40 years, and is the current location of University Square Shopping Center.
The vacant Albertson’s building will be demolished to make way for Legacy Point. Phase I will be The Stack, a student apartment-style housing complex with two underground levels of structured parking. The five-story building will accommodate more than 400 residents and will offer such amenities as a full fitness facility, in-unit washers and dryers, and a central courtyard pool area. The footprint of The Stack will be what’s commonly known as The Mud Lot near St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
“This will be the largest investment in the history of our family in Brazos County,” Jack Culpepper said. “Removing old structures to make way for such an exciting living and retail development across from Texas A&M University will be extremely convenient to students.”
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2012 with completion in 2013.
Collegiate Companies of Irving, Texas, serves as the project’s program manager, providing student housing expertise to this development.
John Cecil Culpepper, Sr. along with his son, John Cecil Culpepper, Jr. purchased and developed the property into University Square Shopping Center in the 1970s. Skaggs Albertsons, one of the first grocery stores to uniquely include a pharmacy and grocery under one roof, served as an anchor. Also opening in the early 1970s was IHOP, which is believed to be the oldest continuing operating restaurant in College Station.
The Culpepper family has developed real estate in Brazos County and across Texas for more than 75 years. The family business, started by John Cecil Culpepper, Sr., built the College Hills subdivision in 1937 — just a year before College Station officially incorporated as a city. The Culpeppers have been instrumental in building Brazos County businesses which may be remembered or still frequented today: Skaggs Albertsons, Safeway, Walmart, Kroger, Mr. Gatti’s, Bonanza, Texas Tumbleweed, Target, Outback Steakhouse, IHOP, Holiday Inn, Homestead Savings Bank, Sherwood Nursing Home, Bealls, HEB, Hastings, Randalls, Montgomery Ward, Britt’s, Zales, Cinema I & II, McDonald’s, Bennigan’s, Oxford Street, Sears, Eckerd and more.
