A Billion-Dollar Retail and Medical Campus Could Be Coming to Manvel Near Highway 288

Presidio Manvel could bring Target, Kroger, and a $931 million MD Anderson Cancer Center campus to one of Greater Houston’s growing corridors. Here’s what residents should know.

Greater Houston’s growth continues to push south, and a major proposed development in Manvel could bring a new mix of shopping, dining, and medical services to the Highway 288 corridor.

Called Presidio Manvel, the proposed project would combine approximately one million square feet of retail and restaurant space with a planned $931 million MD Anderson Cancer Center campus near the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 288.

The project has already attracted major tenants, including Target and Kroger. However, it still faces city approval hurdles, with questions surrounding traffic, water capacity, and drainage among the issues that officials have raised. Source: Houston Business Journal

For Houston residents who regularly travel the 288 corridor, this is a development worth watching.

What Is Presidio Manvel?

Presidio Manvel is a proposed large-scale commercial and medical development planned for approximately 393 acres near Highway 6 and Highway 288 in Manvel, south of Houston.

The project is being developed by Tharaldson Investments in partnership with United Commercial Development. The site has been owned by Tharaldson since 2006, but the latest proposal represents a significant step toward bringing a major retail destination and medical campus to the property.

The plan centers on two major components: a large retail and dining destination and a substantial MD Anderson Cancer Center facility.

Together, these uses could reshape the area’s commercial landscape and provide additional services for residents in Manvel and surrounding South Houston communities.

Target, Kroger, and More Retailers Are Planned

One of the most notable aspects of Presidio Manvel is the scale of its proposed retail component.

Plans call for approximately one million square feet of retail and restaurant space, with Target and Kroger serving as anchor tenants. The developers have also secured commitments from additional food and beverage, fitness, and other retail businesses.

For nearby residents, the development could mean more options for everyday shopping, dining, and recreation without having to travel as far into Houston or other established commercial areas.

The project’s developers have indicated that tenant demand is strong enough to support building the retail portion in a single phase rather than spreading construction across multiple phases.

That said, signed tenant commitments do not mean stores are ready to open. Construction and infrastructure work will depend on the project receiving the necessary approvals and moving forward.

A $931 Million MD Anderson Cancer Center Campus

The proposed medical component is another major reason Presidio Manvel is attracting attention.

MD Anderson Cancer Center is planning an approximately $931 million facility on a roughly 50-acre portion of the property. The campus is expected to be developed in two phases.

According to project details reported by the Houston Business Journal, the facility is projected to employ approximately 755 people at full operations, with a combined annual payroll of $81.5 million.

The project also carries potential economic benefits beyond its direct workforce. Estimates cited in the report project approximately $9.6 million in annual patient and visitor spending in the Manvel area, along with broader economic activity throughout Brazoria County.

For residents south of Houston, a major MD Anderson presence in Manvel could bring specialized cancer care closer to home. The actual services that would be available at the new campus, however, will depend on the facility’s final plans and operations.

Why the Highway 288 Corridor Matters

Manvel is part of a broader pattern of growth across the southern Houston metropolitan area. New residential communities have brought more households to the region, increasing demand for shopping, restaurants, healthcare, and other everyday services.

Presidio Manvel would add to that commercial expansion.

The proposed site is also across Highway 288 from Manvel Town Center, another major retail development planned around anchors H-E-B and Lowe’s. Together, these projects point to the potential emergence of a larger shopping and service destination in the area.

For residents in Manvel, Iowa Colony, and nearby communities, that could mean greater convenience and more local options. For businesses, the growing population may create opportunities to reach new customers.

The trade-off is that more development can also put additional pressure on roads, utilities, and drainage systems. How well those challenges are addressed will be an important part of determining the project’s long-term impact.

What Could Happen Next?

Despite the major retailers and medical investment associated with the proposal, Presidio Manvel is not yet a completed development.

The Manvel City Council postponed a vote on the project’s planned unit development request on October 5, 2026, to address discrepancies between the proposed development plan and its development agreement, along with concerns about water capacity and traffic.

Drainage has also been a key planning consideration, and an earlier residential component was removed from the revised proposal to make more room for stormwater retention.

These issues matter because a development of this size requires more than committed tenants and a large investment. It also needs infrastructure that can support the additional activity while addressing the needs of existing residents.

If the project receives the necessary approvals, the developers have indicated that initial infrastructure work could take approximately six to eight months. The current target is for most retail businesses to open in 2028, although that timeline depends on approvals and construction progressing as planned.

Residents can follow updates through the City of Manvel as the proposal moves through the approval process.

What Presidio Manvel Could Mean for Houston-Area Residents

If it moves forward, Presidio Manvel could become a significant new destination for shopping, dining, and medical services south of Houston.

The proposed combination of Target, Kroger, additional retailers, and a major MD Anderson campus could bring new employment opportunities, support nearby businesses, and make some everyday errands and medical visits more convenient for area residents.

At the same time, traffic, water capacity, and drainage will remain important considerations as officials evaluate the project.

For now, the development is one to keep on the radar rather than one to plan around just yet.

Watching growth along Highway 288? Follow Houston Unlocked for more updates on Houston-area developments, new businesses, and the projects shaping the region’s future.