Thousands expected to move to Bastrop in next 5 years
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas is seeing a population boom with no signs of slowing down.
Small communities outside Austin are seeing major growth as more people move to the area, and some are leaving the big city for better prices.
Over in Bastrop, the city is expected to grow by about 40% over the next 5 years. That’s easy to see if you are driving through the area.
New developments are popping up, and that means there is a need for more restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses.
Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo Trevino said it’s important that the city maintains its historic downtown, but she said planning and preparing for future growth is important as well.
“Let me tell you what the number one growing pain is, it is the grocery store,” said Carrillo-Trevino. “It is that H-E-B is ridonkulously packed.”
Carrillo-Trevino said she has worked with developers to help ease the burden of the growing pains and one of those developments is Sendero.
Pearl River Companies broke ground on the 75-acre mixed-use development on April 10. Once completed, the development will feature new dining options, a new hotel, retail and housing, as well as a health and wellness center.
“As the population grows we definitely know there is a need for that,” said Mason Mote, co-founder of Pearl River.
Mote said it was an easy decision to break ground in Bastrop as the growth continues.
Sendero will be located at the corner of 969 and Highway 71, an area seeing immense growth.
When communities grow there is also a need for more schools, and Bastrop Independent School District is working to stay ahead of the growth with new schools being built or planned.
“Since 2020 we have grown by about 2,000 students,” said Bastrop ISD spokesperson Cassie Balderas.
They are expecting to see about 3,000 more students over the next five years.
“You have to plan way in advance to start building those schools, to start planning attendance zones,” Balderas said.
The latest school to be build is Adelton Elementary which will be home to about 500 students.
The school is being built right next to a large development where some homes are being built, and there is space for many more.
Jason Bray is a realtor in downtown Bastrop. He said he’s seeing a lot of people move to the area.
“It is not as expensive as it is in Austin, that is why people want to be here,” Bray said.
Bray has lived in Bastrop for years, and he said it’s a special place that many people are finding offers a little of everything.
“You have the small town city charm, mixed with big city amenities so that you don’t have to leave,” Bray said.
