Have you driven through Grogan’s Mill Shopping Center lately?

It’s mostly empty. It looks ripe for redevelopment. There’s an Initial Land Use Designation (ILUD) on that grocery store property, which is actually owned by Randall’s, that says it has to stay a grocery store - per George Mitchell’s concept of the villages.

But there’s one entity that could change the ILUD to whatever it wanted: The Howard Hughes Corporation.

The old Randall’s in Grogan’s Mill is for sale. When the price is right, HHC could purchase it and put a big apartment complex there. Commissioner James Noack already expanded the intersection with a double turn lane, not justified by the traffic from that direction. Commissioner Noack held no hearings with local residents, and had no conversations with the Township board before moving ahead with this major change.

At a recent appearance with James Noack, Jim Carmen of the Howard Hughes Corporation confirmed that his company intends to put high density projects up on remaining land.

The Woodlands loses its unique character if that happens.

Big government is not responsive to The Woodlands residents. The Woodlands is unable to veto actions by the county or by developers. The Woodlands represents much less than half of Commissioner Noack’s district, and only a sliver of the Precinct 2 and Precinct 4 commissioners’ districts. If the commissioners or county judge roll over The Woodlands’ wishes, The Woodlands can do little about it.

In the City of the Woodlands, however, residents have 100% control in electing the city council. A home rule city is authorized by the State of Texas to govern itself, subject only to the constitution and general laws of the state. Any action not specifically prohibited by the state constitution or state statute may be codified in a home rule city, including term limits, and recall procedures.

Big government ends where home rule cities begin.

So, instead of replacing the shopping centers with apartment complexes, what could The City of The Woodlands do with Grogan’s Mill Shopping Center?

Cities have many economic tools at their disposal to revitalize languishing areas. The City of the Woodlands can set up various economic development incentives for specific zones such as tax abatements, tax increment financing, and grants, among other options. A city could make sure the village shopping centers stay shopping centers and also revitalize those areas when needed by providing incentives for new business enterprise.

Residents of The Woodlands can maintain their high quality of life with the hometown villages, trees, and pathways that make this community the #1 place to live by incorporating on November 2, and then continuing down the path to become a home rule city.