ANNA, Texas – While new home construction in Anna has all but disappeared, with only two homes being built so far this year, commercial growth continues to be strong.

A number of projects have been either completed, or are nearing completion, ground has been broken for several other projects, and even more are in early planning stages. The first building of a four-building complex on FM 455, in front of Westfield and directly across Willow Creek communities, has been framed and is in sheet rock stage this week.

The 5,000-square-foot building, according to Joe Dell of MPG Acquisitions, the developer of the project, is scheduled for completion by June 30. The first business, a title company, is scheduled to move in July 1.

This building as well as the remaining three to follow are for retail, office or professional service tenants. And that includes restaurants, according to Dell.

On the south side of FM 455, across The Falls subdivision, dirt is being moved for a Casey Jones project, a 63,825-square-foot self storage facility, which will include 500 storage units.

The other Casey Jones project, slated to be in front of the self storage facility, will be a 10,850-square-foot retail building with Subway, according to Jones, already signed as the first business.

Plans have been approved by the city for the KFC/Taco Bell restaurant on the south side of FM 455, just east of Love's Truck Stop. Ground will be broken just as soon as TxDOT approves the already issued driveway permit by the city.

At the Anna Town Center (better known as the home of Brookshire's), Independent Bank moved into their new building two weeks ago. Also, the site plan for a Chicken Express restaurant has been approved by the city.

On Fourth Street, center of Old Anna, Crow's Country Cafe, after a monumental remodeling project, opened Jan. 1, to the delight of area diners.

Across Anna Post Office, a 100-year-old house is painstakingly being renovated by Driton Ulaj, better known as Joe in the area. This will be the future home of Joe's Italian Bistro. The exterior renovation is pretty much complete and the interior remodeling continues.

Joe is doing most of the work himself, so it continues to be a laborious, time consuming process. Recently, Joe and the Economic Development Corporation entered into a Site Improvement Reimbursement Agreement, where the EDC will pay Joe $50,000, disbursed over a three-year period, as long as he abides by the performance standards outlined in the agreement.

The restaurant, according to Joe, “will seat 80 to 100 for lunch and dinner and there will be a nice patio.”

North on Highway 5 (aka N. Powell Parkway), next to Tara Farms subdivision, a 9,000-square-foot retail building, is lacking only a paved parking lot, which should be poured by the end of this week.

According to Michael Khalil of MR Management, Inc, the developers of the project, they hope to fill the building with retail or service occupants, that are currently missing in Anna.

“We would like to see doctors, a barbershop, maybe a coffee shop. But, of course, we are not going to limit ourselves,” said Khalil.

A number of other commercial projects are in early planning stages, according to Maurice Schwanke, Anna's director of planning and zoning development.

“A Chinese food restaurant on FM 455, using the same driveway for KFC/Taco Bell, will also have some additional retail space available,” said Schwanke. “Nancy Underwood is still planning a medical building at Anna Town Center and is currently reviewing plans for this project,” continued Schwanke.

North of FM 455, according to Schwanke, we may see a complex of office buildings.

“And across from Auto Zone, in front of Stetson Ranch, O'Reilly Auto Parts is looking at the location,” Schwanke added.