HOUSTON – Popular Texas grocery store chain H-E-B has announced its Meyerland store, which was flooded during Hurricane Harvey, is relocating to Meyerland Plaza.
“The 95,000 square-foot, two-story location is slated to open in fall 2019,” H-E-B stated in a press release.
The store will be located in the northwest corner of Meyerland Plaza.
The two-story building will have a parking garage, BBVA Compass Bank and shopping situated on the second floor with a sky bridge connecting people to the nearby JC Penney. It's similar to the design of this H-E-B currently under construction in nearby Bellaire.
The new store will be much bigger and better protected from future flooding.
“Who would want to put money in something that you know is going to flood,” said Nancy MacRoberts. MacRoberts rebuilt her home three times before finally moving out.
“Allison, Memorial Day, and then this last flood,” said MacRoberts.
Any potential flooding might impact the parking, but not necessarily the shopping area above.
“H-E-B is committed to Meyerland and stands by this community as it rebuilds from Hurricane Harvey's devastating floods,” said an H-E-B spokesperson.
There's been a lot of talk about architecture designed for resiliency in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. It can be a design option or a requirement in certain areas.
“I think a lot of people will change the way they design things,” said MacRoberts. “They have to.”
It appears H-E-B is already planning ahead. No one from the chain was available to give us more details about its design but an architect tells KHOU 11 News that is just makes sense in a place that is prone to repeated flooding.