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First of series on business development in our District

[ Read Part 2 ]

East Aldine Town Center

For entrepreneurs and other business owners looking to set up shop in the Houston area, East Aldine is a prime spot due to its location and proximity to some of the city’s top destinations, transportation hubs, services, and amenities.

East Aldine is ideally situated within a 15-minute southward drive of downtown Houston. It’s 1.75 miles from the Hardy Toll Road, 1.89 miles from Interstate 69/U.S. 59, two miles from Beltway 8 and 6.5 miles from Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Port of Houston

It’s 18 miles away from the Port of Houston, a 50-mile long complex that is one of the world’s largest ports. More than 200 million short tons of international cargo were handled in 2018 at the port, which is in the midst of a major expansion project

East Aldine is also in a Foreign Trade Zone because of its access to the port, and part of the district is classified as an“opportunity zone” by the state of Texas. The program offers federal capital gains tax abatements to those who invest in eligible capital.

Parts of East Aldine are considered a“free trade” zone under the state Constitution, a status that provides direct or deferred tax benefits to businesses.

Bush Intercontinental Airport

Bush Intercontinental Airport, through which 45.3 million passengers traveled in 2019, was recently recognized with the highest ranking among U.S. airports in the World’s Top 100 Airports category and placed as second-best airport in North America. The airport is also an official port of entry for import/export goods.

Many import/export goods flowing through Houston are transported by freight trains as part of “their” journey; the Union Pacific Settegast Yard, is a short 10 miles away.

Also, businesses — whether industrial, wholesale, retail, or in another category — can find space in East Aldine to set up operations. The area includes some 2.3 million square feet of industrial space, around 1.2 million square feet of office space, and approximately 477,000 square feet of retail space.

The district’s new industrial development was built with desirable features for businesses such as larger space requirements, higher clear heights, cross dock loading configurations and wide interior bays. The development is close to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and major highways.

In the second quarter of 2022, East Aldine saw an influx of new business leases from top companies across industries. The top three new business leases in East Aldine in the second quarter were:

  • A 194,439-square-foot Walmart distribution center
  • A 50,730-square-foot space by Logistics and supply chain management company DB Schenker.
  • A 26,847 square foot space by hotel operations, development, and project oversight company Hospitality Solutions.

Within the boundaries of the East Aldine Management District, the civic and consumer atmosphere, along with government services, have recently improved noticeably — especially as the local population grows.

In the last decade, the number of residents climbed by more than 10,000 to 159,529 people in 2021. It’s expected to reach some 168,508 in 2026.

The East Aldine District participated in $43 million worth of water and sewer infrastructure improvements in coordination with Harris County and the Texas Water Development Board, while an additional$35 million went to providing safe and reliable drinking water and sewer service to both homes and businesses in the area.

The newly expanded East Aldine Town Center meets some important needs as home to the Lone Star College’s East Aldine campus and branches of the non-profit HOPE Clinic and non-profit BakerRipley Community Center.

New restaurants and shops, some within two blocks of the Town Center, are moving in to meet consumer demands and higher traffic patterns.

The District landscapes medians, funds branded street signs and public art in major intersections, provides nuisance abatement and supplements Harris County Sheriff’s Office patrols with round-the-clock, tailored overtime shifts for deputies.

The District conducts business seminars at the Town Center for local proprietors and others considering a business move into this dynamic area.

For more information, contact Director of Economic Development Lance Dean.

— By Deborah Lynn Blumberg