In a Thursday morning press release, Katy Boardwalk District representatives announced that the group is bringing Colliers Retail Team and Method Architecture as partners in the project. The project is a partnership between the Katy Development Authority, City of Katy and private firms.

“As a public-private partnership, we’re delighted to work with a team of professionals with the experience and vision needed to bring the boardwalk to life,” said the Katy Development Authority President and former Katy Mayor Skip Conner.

Colliers Retail has been tasked with managing tenant leasing at the site and the firm’s retail services team – Wade Greene, Kimberly Lenardson and Hannah Tosch – is already in discussions with restaurants, bars and entertainment concept proposers, the press release said. An announcement of the Boardwalk’s first tenants is expected sometime in early 2022.

“We’ve heard from a number of concepts both here in Houston and across the country,” says Greene, who also manages Colliers hospitality advisory teams. “We’re certainly evaluating all of these opportunities to determine the best ones for the project.”

Keith Dalton of KBH Venture, co-developer of the Katy Boardwalk District, said the pandemic’s impacts allowed the development team to reevaluate the site plan for the project and focus more on its lakefront focus. As the 90-acre site is developed, Method’s input will help add visibility for the lake while including more native flora and fauna at the site.

“The impact of COVID-19 gave us extra time to re-evaluate the site plan to ensure we’re incorporating the lakefront experience into the entire project,” Dalton said.

In addition to its surrounding parkland, the overall 169-acre district at Kingsland Boulevard and Prairie Parkway near Katy Mills will include a full-service hotel and conference center with 304 guest rooms. The four-star property will offer a ballroom and event space ot accommodate large meetings and social gatherings. The Boardwalk Lofts, now under construction, will offer a residential space in the form of luxury apartments when it opens later this fall.

City and Katy Development Authority representatives said they are excited about the two new partners in the project.

“They represent the best and brightest in design, development and leasing,” said Katy City Administrator Byron Hebert. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with the entire team.”