The 281 + other questions (Houston, San Antonio, Austin: HOA fees, construction, tax)

[Sampaguita]

Is the 281 being widened? I noticed a lot of construction in/around the 281 plus huge cement supports for what looks like crossovers around the 410/281 interchange.

Also, I know there is potential growth for downtown but I'm wondering where businesses have gone out to. Are business parks just spread throughout San Antonio? Where is/will the Toyota plant be?

Any truth to rumors I heard about Disneyland building somewhere between San Antonio & Austin? I'd also heard from a realtor that Disneyland purchased acreage outside of Houston with plans to build there. Is this just "wishful" thinking?

TIA!

[Spookmeister]

Disney has been planning that theme park since the mid 90's. Supposedly will be a park with a private airport and cruise ships docking in Matagorda Bay, southwest of Houston. Site of the park is Frelsburg which is also SW of H-Town. When it will happen is supposedly a secret.

Toyota plant will be south of Downtown between 281 and 16 on Applewhite Road.

[210]

I doubt Disney builds another theme park in the US ever if not for many years.

They're having trouble keeping the they have afloat.

As for 281, yes, they're widening it from downtown to 410. And they're also building a new interchange at 281/410.

Toyota in 12 miles south of downtown and is bounded by 410 to the north, 37 to the east, 1604 to the south and 35 to the west.

Here's a link to a google map of where exactly it will be.

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&lr=...,0.468292&om=1

[Sampaguita]

Thanks for the info, Spook & 210.

[Steel Man]

Yes, Hwy 281 north is being widened. However, the last I heard was that it was on hold due to environmental concerns. Also, they are looking at widening Loop 1604 from Hwy 151 (far west) to Interstate 10 (far east), but want to do it by using toll roads (would be first time for San Antonio).
Here is a link to San Antonio area freeways on-going and future projects.

http://home.att.net/~texhwyman/san.htm (broken link)

[210]

No, what's on hold, because of enviormental concerns, is turning 281 north of 1604 into a tolled highway. They began construction but then had to stop and probably won't start again for a year.

The widening of 281 from downtown to 410 has not nor will not cease until completion,

[Sampaguita]

210 - are there mella roos fees in San Antonio?

No one has mentioned them here or when I was in SA.

Thanks!

[210]

mella roos fees?

I don't know what that is.

[Sampaguita]

210 - well, now I feel stupid. I just did a search for Mello-Roos & it turns out that it's a California thing. Mello & Roos were 2 state legislators.

It's a tax imposed on most new developments in CA. More info here:

http://www.feir.com/Mello-Roos.htm

Some of our friends are paying up to 2k/yr in Mello-Roos plus HOA fees of $55-200/month.

[Jaded]

I never knew that Sam. Thanks for the link. I want to look into this more. It figures it's a Cali thing though. :-)