For the last two weeks, storefront signs for Target, Petco and Dollar Tree have been affixed to the brick and mortar facades facing U.S. 190 and FM 2410, and more are definitely coming soon.
“Everything is going good,” Harker Heights City Manager Steve Carpenter said.
Right now Cracker Barrel and Cheddar’s restaurants are under construction and finishing touches are being put on Dick’s Sporting Goods and Barnes & Noble.
In fact, a lot of those places are hiring new faces in preparation for the store openings slated for the end of this month.
Dallas-based Direct Development broke ground on the 700,000-square-foot shopping center in 2007 and hopes to reap the benefits of an ever-increasing population in and around the Fort Hood area.
Two months ago, the Cinemark theater, located in the Market Heights Shopping Center, opened to the fanfare of the latest Indiana Jones movie during the Memorial Day weekend.
Cinemark theater Assistant Manager Cookie Hardin said it was an exciting time to be associated with the Market Heights shopping center.
“This is a booming area,” she said. “I’m very excited about the retail that’s coming in; the restaurants, the banks. It’s a nice time for Harker Heights.”
In the wake of the Cinemark opening, area leaders found it difficult to contain enthusiasm, especially when talking about the potential revenue to be generated from sales and property taxes.
“We’re all extremely excited about this,” Carpenter said. “This is really a big event for the city of Harker Heights.”
Carpenter added that the economic impact of the 82-acre shopping center would be nothing short of tremendous.
Carpenter estimated the facility will generate between $500,000 and $600,000 a year in property tax revenue, and between $2 million and $4 million in sales tax revenue to the city.
The Heights Market could be the catalyst that spurs more economic growth for Harker Heights and the surrounding area.
“It never stops after this,” Carpenter said. “We are still continuing to generate interest in other properties, not only for retail but for quality Class-A office space to attract quality people. We want these people to be here long term and be part of our community.”
Carpenter said the city is looking at building several new parks in the city, as well as an animal shelter, an activity center and a new library.
At the same time, they are preparing for infrastructure improvements to pave the way for the anticipated growth.
“We still have plenty of challenges left,” Carpenter said.
