Home Depot to open biggest store at Mueller thus far
Retailer will pump in revenue, add jobs to the airport redevelopment

By M.B. Taboada

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Home Depot is joining the lineup of retailers that will add jobs and pump revenue into the Mueller redevelopment.

The home-improvement giant, the biggest retailer to become part of the transformation of the former airport, will build a 141,000-square-foot store at Mueller.

The store is scheduled to open in late 2008.

Earlier this year, three anchor retail tenants — Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Marshalls — opened at Mueller, at Interstate 35 and 51st Street. Other retail tenants include Old Navy and Shoe Pavilion.

As Austin's largest public-private venture, the mixed-income, mixed-use Mueller development is expected to have as many as 10,000 residents, generate thousands of jobs and add $1 billion to the city's tax base. Demitra Wilson, regional communications manager for Home Depot, said she does not know how many people the store will employ. But typical stores have 80 to 150 employees.

As part of the Mueller project, Home Depot must feature sustainable design certified by Austin Energy's Green Building program. The store will use local construction materials and energy-efficient heating, lighting and air-conditioning systems, and it will sell a variety of green building materials. More than 50 percent of the construction waste will be recycled, and there will be one tree for every four parking spaces.

Home Depot will aim for a three-star rating through the Green Building program, the first Austin-area Home Depot store to implement such guidelines.

Regional retail has always been part of the equation for Mueller, to help pay for itself, boost the city tax base and bring needed reinvestment east of the highway, said Matt Whelan, senior vice president of Catellus Development Group, the master developer of the Mueller project.

"It will create a destination," Whelan said. "Customers who go to Home Depot will also support the small retailers and local retailers."

mtaboada@statesman.com;912-2942