Santa Fe has always felt like a small town, and most people who live here like it that way. But the city just took its biggest step yet toward giving residents more places to eat, shop and gather without driving to League City or Texas City. In October, the City of Santa Fe issued a request for proposals for The Cattleman's District, a planned town center along FM 1764.
Here is what is planned, where it is going, and what it could mean for homeowners and buyers in the area.
What Is The Cattleman's District?
The city is looking for a qualified developer to build a walkable town center with a hotel, restaurant and specialty retail, all designed around a Texas ranch-and-cattle theme. City leaders have also said they hope to attract conference and meeting space and fine dining.
The site is about 6 acres in total. The Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation bought roughly 4 acres along FM 1764 earlier this year, right next to Big Horn BBQ at 12611 FM 1764. That parcel will be combined with about 2 acres of city-owned land directly behind it.
The city originally planned to put the project out for proposals in early August, but staffing vacancies pushed the timeline back. According to Mayor Brandon Noto, the city had already received several inquiries from developers and business owners before the request even went out, including interest from a well-known Galveston distillery that is considering a move to Santa Fe.
Right Across the Street: CenterPoint's New Service Center
The Cattleman's District site sits directly across from the new CenterPoint Energy Galveston Service Center at 3400 FM 646, near the intersection of FM 646 and FM 1764. CenterPoint officially opened the facility on October 13, 2026.
The new site covers 37 acres, about four times the size of the company's old base on Galveston Island. It is home base for roughly 130 employees and up to 70 service trucks, with dispatch offices, a fueling station, a truck wash and on-site storage for poles, transformers and other materials. CenterPoint first confirmed the move from its longtime Galveston location at 502 27th St. back in 2022.
Mayor Noto said the facility brings legitimacy to Santa Fe, and that if CenterPoint sees the city's future as worth investing in, the city should too. He also expects local businesses to benefit as employees buy gas and lunch nearby.
Why This Matters for Homeowners
Faster storm and outage response. Before this move, many of the trucks serving the mainland were based on the island and had to be relocated ahead of storms. With crews and equipment now based inland in Santa Fe, CenterPoint expects quicker response to outages and maintenance in Santa Fe, Dickinson, Hitchcock, Texas City and nearby communities. If you have been through a hurricane season on the bay, you know how much that matters.
More amenities close to home. Santa Fe residents have long driven out of town for sit-down dining, hotel stays for visiting family, and event space. A hotel, restaurant and retail cluster on FM 1764 would change that.
A growing commercial corridor. FM 1764 runs from Highway 6 in Santa Fe toward I-45 and Texas City. A major employer plus a planned town center on the same intersection is the kind of activity that tends to draw more business to a corridor over time.
Jobs nearby. Around 130 CenterPoint employees now report to Santa Fe every day, and a hotel and restaurants would add more local jobs.
What to Keep in Mind
The Cattleman's District is still at the proposal stage. No developer has been selected, and there is no construction timeline yet. Projects like this can change shape, size or schedule once a developer is chosen, so treat it as a promising plan rather than a done deal. I will share updates here as the city picks a developer and the project moves forward.
If you are thinking about buying or selling in Santa Fe, Dickinson, Texas City or anywhere around Galveston Bay, this is the kind of local change worth factoring into your plans. Curious why so many families already choose Santa Fe? Read 6 Reasons You Should Move to Santa Fe, TX Today.
Have questions about how new development could affect your home's value or your search? Reach out to the Hidden Paradise Realty Team and let's talk.
Own Your Paradise!
Sources: The Daily News, Biz Buzz (Oct. 23, 2026); The Daily News, "CenterPoint opens new Santa Fe service center" (Oct. 13, 2026); The Daily News, Biz Buzz (Aug. 1, 2026).
Information in this post is general and based on public sources at the time of writing. Development plans, timelines and tenants can change. Property values, flood zones, insurance requirements and taxes vary by property. Verify all details for any specific home before you buy or sell.