The Waco City Council on Monday took several steps intended to accelerate private development along the Brazos River while coordinating construction with the city's own Riverwalk overhaul. Council members approved an amendment to a long-standing downtown master development agreement and signed a separate agreement to move forward with a large riverside residential community.
Pivot from hotel to mixed-use at Webster Avenue
Council approval of the fourth amendment to the Master Development Agreement with Catalyst Urban Development, LLC formally switches the intended use of a key Phase 2 parcel at Webster Avenue and the Brazos River. The site was previously planned for a hotel; the amendment refocuses the property to a mixed-use residential and commercial project featuring an apartment and restaurant complex.
City staff told council members that other hotel projects are already completed or underway downtown, leading officials to conclude that a hotel on the Webster Avenue parcel was not the best use at this time. The amendment also synchronizes the private developer's schedule with the city's active construction on the adjacent Riverwalk.
Riverwalk construction, timelines and coordination
Work on the Waco Riverwalk is ongoing along the west bank of the Brazos River, stretching from the Union Pacific Railroad bridge to the Baylor University School of Law. Contractor Fain Group LLC is rebuilding the pedestrian path, including driving metal sheet retaining walls into the riverbank behind the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and pouring new concrete near the Foster Pavilion.
The $26 million Riverwalk overhaul remains on the city's schedule to be completed by late 2027. The council's amendment with Catalyst delays the developer's Phase 2 completion to align with that construction timetable; city leaders said the coordinated approach is intended to reduce conflicts and provide a smoother public opening of the riverfront amenities.
New master-planned community approved
The council also approved a Master Development Agreement with Making Waves Waco, LLC, Tamed the Beast, LLC, and Desperado Development, LLC for the project being called the Waco Surf Desperado Development. The agreement frames a large master-planned residential community along the riverfront. Public documents describe the project as expansive and high-quality; the council's action advances the city's role in coordinating approvals and infrastructure support.
- City Riverwalk overhaul: $26 million, completion expected by late 2027
- Catalyst Phase 2: shifted from hotel to mixed-use residential and commercial; timeline moved to match Riverwalk work
- Waco Surf Desperado Development: new Master Development Agreement approved with three private entities
| Project | Developer(s) | Status/Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Waco Riverwalk | City/Contractor: Fain Group LLC | Under construction; expected complete late 2027 |
| Catalyst Phase 2 (Webster Ave) | Catalyst Urban Development, LLC | Amendment approved; now mixed-use; to begin after Riverwalk work |
| Waco Surf Desperado Development | Making Waves Waco, LLC; Tamed the Beast, LLC; Desperado Development, LLC | Master Development Agreement approved |
City officials framed the council actions as part of a coordinated approach to waterfront revitalization. By sequencing public and private work, they aim to open contiguous sections of the riverfront with complementary uses — pedestrian infrastructure, dining and residential space — that could increase foot traffic and economic activity along the riverwalk.
Local stakeholders have watched development proposals closely. The shift from a hotel to mixed-use on the Webster Avenue parcel signals a strategic choice by the city to diversify downtown offerings rather than concentrate on additional short-term lodging capacity. For residents, that means the riverfront is more likely to include housing and restaurants immediately adjacent to the new pedestrian trail rather than another hotel brand.
While the council did not approve every detail of private projects, the agreements set the regulatory and timing framework that developers must meet to proceed. That framework also defines where the city will coordinate infrastructure work and how it will sync schedules to reduce disruption around the Foster Pavilion and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.
As construction progresses, city leaders say they will continue to update residents on closures, detours and phased openings of riverfront sections. With the Riverwalk overhaul slated through 2027 and new private construction to follow, the Brazos River corridor will remain an active front in Waco's downtown redevelopment for the next several years.
