Tensions have escalated in Hutto after the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) voted to end negotiations with Houston-based developer Midway for a $250 million mixed-use project on the 250-acre Cottonwood tract. The decision followed nearly two years of talks aimed at transforming the site at Highway 79 and County Road 132 into a destination featuring retail, residential, office space, and parkland.
Midway CEO and Chairman Bradley Freels criticized city officials for what he described as inconsistent requirements and a lack of openness. In a letter to city leaders, Freels stated: “Midway fully embraced Hutto’s Vision for the Cottonwood development, aiming to create an urban, walkable environment that caters to the existing suburban community while transitioning to higher land density and attracting a diverse workforce.”
The developer was selected in December 2023 to lead the project, which was intended as a signature development comparable to Austin’s Mueller district. However, disagreements emerged over delays, financing terms, and alleged interference from local officials.
Mayor Mike Snyder, who also serves on the EDC board, attributed the termination of negotiations to insufficient progress. In a Facebook post, Snyder said Midway had threatened legal action with the Texas Attorney General’s office and questioned some of its business relationships. “When a developer comes into Hutto, they need to do what’s right by Hutto,” Snyder wrote.
Freels responded that obstacles such as delays related to a planned highway overpass and postponed utility access until at least 2028 hindered Midway’s efforts. He also claimed that Mayor Snyder contacted potential tenants directly, disrupting negotiations and violating their memorandum of understanding.
This dispute is another setback in Hutto’s ongoing attempts to redevelop the Cottonwood property. A previous plan involving baseball scouting company Perfect Game also fell through before this latest effort with Midway.
Midway had proposed developing the site in six phases over several decades in response to rapid growth in Hutto, located about 30 miles northeast of Austin. Freels further accused city leaders of not following through on promises to consider establishing a municipal management district for infrastructure funding.
With negotiations now ended, EDC Chair Don Carlson said that future requests for proposals would focus on retail and commercial elements aligned with community needs.
The failure of this deal leaves Hutto seeking new options for one of Central Texas’ most valuable undeveloped sites amid continued population growth and increased economic activity linked to Samsung’s $17 billion chip plant in nearby Taylor.
