Waelder ISD - CAFETERIA

Waelder ISD completed a $2,500,000 renovation of the Cafeteria at 201 U.S. Highway 90 West in Waelder, Gonzales County. The project, filed under the name Waelder ISD - CAFETERIA, involved the exterior and interior alteration of an existing 11,284 sq ft building. The scope included adding a kitchen and restrooms, altering a partial sidewalk, and adding a loading zone. Construction began in October 2024 and the building passed its final TDLR accessibility inspection in December 2024, marking the completion of the work.

The renovation cost $222 per square foot, a figure above the county median of $142 for similar renovation and alteration projects in Gonzales County. The estimated total cost of $2,500,000 places this project in the top quarter of registered filings for this type of work in the area. The scheduled build window of 303 days was close to the county median of 245 days for comparable projects.

Project Details and Stakeholders

L. M. Holder III, FAIA served as the design firm of record for this project. Robin Roberts was the registered accessibility specialist. The project involves public funds and public land. Waelder ISD is the owner of record and has two other TDLR-registered projects in Waelder: a Junior High School renovation valued at $1,700,000 with inspection complete, and an Elementary School project valued at $1,695,000 that has closed. The design firm has six other registered projects totaling $5,490,000, including facilities in Waco such as a Maintenance Building and a Welcome Home Center.

The local area, identified by ZIP code 78959, has a population of about 1,401 people according to Census estimates. The median household income in this area is $51,029, and the median owner-occupied home value is $214,800. Housing in this ZIP code is predominantly owner-occupied, with 858 housing units reported. Gonzales County had an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent in August 2026. Other registered projects in the immediate vicinity include a Junior High School renovation and a new construction project for Lone Star Bank.

The TDLR status for this project is Inspection Complete. The final inspection passed in December 2024, confirming that the renovation and alteration work described in the filing has been finished. The project was registered with TDLR in December 2024, aligning with the completion timeline. No further construction phases are indicated in the record, and the facility is no longer under active construction oversight for this specific filing.