TSTC Holds Option on Taylor Facility
The 330,000 square foot industrial building on the northeast corner of Carlos Parker Boulevard and Highway 79 has been dormant for nearly five years, but a pending contract between building owners and Texas State Technical College could breathe new life into the facility.

The former Intercraft building drew interest from TSTC as it began searching for options to speed up the process of increasing educational opportunities in Taylor, and two weeks ago the two sides settled on an agreement in principle that lays the groundwork for speeding up the process.

“We have an option with the owners to purchase a portion of the building.” TSTC Vice President of Administration and Financial Services Paul Woodfin said. “We could be closing in early spring assuming we get agreements with all partners in place.”

The agreement is for a set price per square foot to purchase about 230,000 square feet of the 330,00 square foot facility. Woodfin said the remaining area would be retained by the buildings owners and set aside for green industries looking for smaller space.

The original plan would have constructed a 25,000 square foot facility with six classrooms and two workshops. The new plan would open up more than 200,000 square feet of space for TSTC, Temple College, Legacy Early College High School and other educational partners.

The new plan has been met with both skepticism and optimism by the parties involved, but state representative Diana Maldonado said she supported any plan that kept the core goal in place for EWCHEC and remained fiscally responsible.

TSTC has been in close contact with the other original funding partners for EWCHEC - the City of Taylor, Taylor EDC, TISD and the TCAT Foundation - on working out a new agreement for financial participation.

The original plan for the phase one facility located near the new high school was hampered by few funding options, something the financial partners have been working on for some time. For TSTC, the goal in the end is to offer new educational opportunities in Taylor as soon as possible.

TSTC hopes to close on the property in the spring and open with some classes in the fall 2010.