Rail yard relocation key to downtown New Braunfels redevelopment

The New Braunfels City Council approved agreements with Union Pacific on April 11 to purchase the railroad’s 3.62-acre downtown rail yard for $2.18 million and relocate its operations.

The city has been in negotiations since early 2020 with Union Pacific to acquire its site in the downtown area.

Railroad leadership provided their direction to begin discussions with the city to formally enter an agreement and eventual purchase and sale agreement for the property.

To facilitate the transaction, the city agreed to fund the design and construction of a new office building and other facilities on Union Pacific-owned land at Corbyn Yard in Comal County.

In 2018, the city adopted a South Castell Area Master Plan for the downtown site predicated on the ultimate relocation of the rail yard. Consultants at the time recommended a 10-acre redevelopment possibly funded by a public-private partnership.

An associated master plan visioning document forecasts the potential for the rail yard site to serve as a catalyst project for downtown redevelopment, generating more than $100 million in investment.

Per the city document, New Braunfels would advertise a request for qualifications to developers followed by a request for proposals and negotiation and approval of a development agreement.

Source: Strategic Partnerships