1700 W. Waco Dr. Remodel

The 1700 W. Waco Dr. Remodel in Waco is a 12,162 sq ft renovation project with an estimated cost of $1,000,000. The work involves converting an existing building into shell spaces for future retail and restaurant tenants. This project is privately funded on private land for private use.

Project Scope and Design

Fairgrounds Ventures II, LP is the owner of record, while Sterling & Kap Architects serves as the design firm. The scope is strictly defined as a renovation and alteration to prepare the structure for commercial leasing. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in January 2024. Plan review was completed in the same month, clearing the path for construction to begin in March 2024.

The scheduled completion date on the filing is January 2026. However, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection. Therefore, the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record. The project status remains listed as Review Complete, but the absence of a final inspection means the physical completion of the work is not verified by the state.

Market Context and Location

The site is located in McLennan County, specifically in the 76701 ZIP code area. According to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates, the population in this ZIP code is about 1,732, with a median household income of $24,593. The housing stock in this area is predominantly renter-occupied, consisting of 1,029 units. This demographic profile provides context for the local market where the new retail and restaurant spaces will be situated.

In terms of cost efficiency, the project runs at $82 per square foot. This figure is close to the county median of $96 per square foot for similar renovation and alteration filings in McLennan County. The total estimated cost of $1,000,000 is above the county median of $275,000 for this type of work. While the cost is in the top quarter for the county, the per-square-foot rate remains competitive with regional standards.

Sterling & Kap Architects has registered six other projects with TDLR, totaling $3,670,000. These include the Bosque Square Shopping Center and Studio Gallery in Waco, as well as projects in McGregor. The firm’s track record in the region includes multiple completed reviews for commercial spaces. The 1700 W. Waco Dr. project continues this pattern of commercial renovation in the Waco area.

This designation indicates that the area is not within a high-risk flood zone. The McLennan County unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in July 2026, which is higher than a year earlier. This labor market data provides a snapshot of the local economic conditions during the project’s construction window.