State Senator Steve Ogden on WTAW

Drunk Driving Crash Damages Headstones In Reliance Cemetery

Multiple headstones were damaged Tuesday night at Reliance cemetery east of Bryan. The Texas department of public safety (DPS) reports a SUV drove off of FM 1179 and overturned after hitting the headstones. The driver was arrested for DWI with an open container, striking what DPS described as highway landscaping, and not having a driver’s license. The driver told the trooper according to the arrest report that he had drank four beers prior to driving and two more while driving. Results of breath alcohol tests were almost one and a half times the legal limit at .115 and .114. Jail records show 29 year old Joel Garcia-Garcia of Bryan is also being held for immigration authorities.

Delay In Considering Giving More Time To Build Bryan Midtown Park’s Indoor Tennis Center

In August of 2023, the Bryan city council agreed to partner with Texas A&M to build an indoor tennis center at Midtown Park. Construction was supposed to be completed by August 2025. Proposals to extend the construction deadline and enter a design contract were pulled from the agenda of the council’s November 12th business meeting. City manager Kean Register made that announcement after councilman Ray Arrington asked to discuss the item during the council’s November 12th workshop meeting. Register said the council could consider a proposed amended contract at their December business meeting. Click below to hear comments from Ray Arrington and Kean Register:   The proposal that was not considered called for extending the construction deadline to June of 2026, based on construction starting by February 2025. The amended contract would have also increased the project cost from $17 million to $18.25 million dollars. The increase in the construction cost is due in part to adding 145 parking spaces, which will also be used by visitors to Midtown Park’s Legends Events Center. A&M’s share of the cost did not change. And the project budget does not include the cost of furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Click HERE to read and download the proposed amended Midtown Park tennis center contract that was NOT considered at the November 12, 2024 Bryan council meeting. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan. Click HERE to read and download a document showing images and schematics related to the Midtown Park tennis center, produced by PBK Sports and SpawGlass Construction and provided by the city of Bryan.

Bryan Council Approves Economic Incentives For A Three Phase Development In The Downtown North Area

The Bryan city council, with no public discussion, approves giving more than $16 million dollars to developers who want to construct a hotel and two other buildings on the north side of the downtown area. City staff says the project is estimated over the next 25 years to create 418 jobs, generate sales tax revenue of more than $510,000 dollars a year, and more than $635,000 dollars of hotel occupancy tax money a year. The developer is paying more than $2 million dollars for the city owned land. The council agreed to give the developer up to $14 million in property tax money and up to $2.25 million in hotel occupancy tax money. The city would also waive up to $300,000 in permit fees. The 15 year economic development agreement includes three construction projects over a seven year period. The first phase, to start by the end of 2025, is the construction of a five story hotel with at least 130 rooms, a parking garage to hold at least 350 vehicles, and a conference center. The second phase, to start by January 2028, is a six story building where the first floor would have retail and restaurant space and the rest a combination of commercial and residential space. The second building would also have underground parking for 400 vehicles. The third phase, to start by January 2030, is another six story commercial and residential building, but without additional parking. The project would close portions of Bryan Avenue, Pruitt Street, and 21st Street. The agreement requires the developer to repay incentives if certain benchmarks are not met. Click HERE to read and download the economic development agreement that was approved at the November 12, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download background information about the economic development agreement. Click HERE to read and download the city of Bryan’s request for proposals for the downtown Bryan development. Click HERE to read and download the response to the request for proposals by the winning developer. Click HERE to read and download the city of Bryan’s news release about the new downtown Bryan development.