Is the Waco/Temple/Killeen area the next DFW? (Dallas: home, schools)

[TXTwizter]

Originally Posted by Kofi713

Nope.

It's Texas law. Cities cannot annex entire counties. Also, Houston has not annexed all of Harris County. Don't forget there are other cities in Harris County (Pasadena, etc.), and they can annex, too. Houston will not annex again, and actually has been giving away its ETJ to areas for those cities to annex (Katy with Katy Mills), or become cities themselves (The Woodlands after 2010).

Thats very interesting....I didnt know that. Houston annexed way too much IMO. Why does the Woodlands have to wait til 2010? But I agree that Waco should just go ahead and annex Beverly Hills, they use Waco ISD and Waco city services. The only thing they have is their own police department, if you can call it that. Waco already has PLENTY of undeveloped land in the north and northwestern areas, over past Lake Waco. I wonder why there hasnt been more development than what has already taken place. The China Spring area is booming, but thats it.

[Kofi713]

Yeah, and the city officials now realize that, and aren't annexing more.

By the way, what would you consider booming? Waco is growing by just under a two thousand a year.

[TXTwizter]

Well a couple of thousand a year is booming by Waco standards......

[Kofi713]

Yeah, that's what I started to think. I haven't been to Waco in a while. Last time was in October, and I was just passing through on I-35.

[TXTwizter]

Thats what most people say. Of course they never get off I-35. The majority of the Waco growth is along US84, Infact its pretty built up all the way out to the McGregor airport. In all honesty I never go to the China Spring area (no need to), but I have friends that live out there and they tell me there is something new going up everyday. Just check out the Waco Trib Housing section, MOST of the new homes are either in Far West Waco, China Spring, Lorena, and Hewitt.

[txstate]

With more people in Waco moving to suburbs( Baylor 2012 is coming) of Hewitt Bellmead China Spring Lake Waco Lorena (remember white flight) and US 84 corridor you will see these bedroom communities grow over 20 30 thousand as I-35 expands and more roads and homes are built. Waco will become a city with nice size suburbs due to Baylor project watch and see how BU and Downtown Waco make property taxes go so high people in East Waco and South Waco and parts of Northside near Waco drive and 4th thru 18th Sts people will eventully move to other parts of Waco like Hewitt and Woodway(those people are preparing for it). Yes they should annex Beverly Hills but all the growing is in the suburbs.

Killeen is growing but thats all military and Killeen is not built like Waco and Ft Hood is reason why Killeen cant really expand but south and west and that land is rough out there semi-desert like. The population will hit a million in 20 years for the WTK area

[Kofi713]

No it won't. I doubt it grows by over 500,000 in twenty years.

[TXTwizter]

Originally Posted by Kofi713

No it won't. I doubt it grows by over 500,000 in twenty years.

I agree. I think Bell county will grow by about 150K, and Mclennan by about 100-125K.
I wonder if the two MSA's will ever consolidate?

[Kofi713]

I think that might even be a stretch, but sounds realistic.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by Kofi713

No it won't. I doubt it grows by over 500,000 in twenty years.

I'd say in 20 years, the area could have close to 800,000. However, Nobody is noticing that Killeen is growing to the South and the Austin area is growing to the north ever so closely. They've been expanding SH 195 for the past 5-7 years and Killeen and Georgetown are not far apart at all. Killeen is growing ever so closely to Williamson County. Killeen just needs to start attracting more industry and they are doing that as much as possible.