A proposed project from technology manufacturer Han's Laser could be coming to Manor, and it could act as an anchor for more growth in the city.
The project, which was first reported by the Austin Business Journal, has yet to be formally announced. Plans are still being finalized, but if successful, it could add a major employer to the Austin suburb.
Han’s Laser purchased 262 acres at 12429 W. Kimbro Road in Manor, a sale that was first announced in April by Gold Tier Real Estate LLC in a LinkedIn post that did not name the buyer but described it as a company that supplies both Samsung and Tesla. In the post, Gold Tier said the project would start with a 400,000-square-foot building but would eventually total 1.6 million square feet of industrial space and additional employee homes.
Travis County records show the deal closed in late March, with the land being sold to Suntrend Investment LLC. California property records connect the company to Silicon Valley-based Hans Laser Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of China-based manufacturer Han's Laser Technology Group Co., which makes laser cutting and laser welding machinery.The company also has a location in Katy, near Houston.
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Both the city of Manor and Gold Tier said the company has discussed its plans for the site, which would be in Manor's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The proposed factory calls for hundreds of workers and could eventually grow to about 1,000 jobs.Han's Laser supplies a number of industries, including automotive, textile, hardware, semiconductor and solar energy, and its clients include Samsung, Flextronics and Infineon, which have Austin-area facilities.
Though he said the project is not yet set in stone, Manor Mayor Christopher Harvey hopes it could lead to more retail and residential growth for the area. He expects some aspects of the project could be announced as soon as May.
“The city's goal is to continue a conversation, to be a support," Harvey said.
Colin Tierney, owner of Gold Tier Real Estate, said Han’s Laser expressed interest in the land last year and has since presented the city a preliminary vision of a project that would be anywhere between 400,000 and 1.6 million square feet of industrial space over four phases.
“The initial 400,000-square-foot industrial center, as proposed to us, is supposed to be for their facility, in the supply chain to Tesla and Samsung,” Tierney said.
He said the additional phases of the project are supposed to be sister companies that also help the supply chain.
“All in all, we're very early on in this process, and a lot of things could change. But from what we're told, (Han's Laser is) trying to get started as soon as possible,” Tierney said.
Harvey, who considers Manor to be the "golden triangle of opportunity," said the city has had a plan to secure a major employer.
“Residents want more job opportunities, higher pay and investments that allow us to invest more into retail, roads, infrastructure, public transportation, public facilities, like libraries and rec centers, or something like that,” Harvey said. “These types of opportunities really serve as catalysts for the other things we're trying to do.”
Harvey said Manor has a lot to offer, including being well-positioned to get to a number of destinations quickly, such as Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin-Bergstrom Internaional Airport, as well major companies such as Tesla and Samsung. He added that it also is on a working rail line.
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Harvey said the city's commitment to workforce development and housing opportunities for middle-class and lower-income people also make it an attractive place to live and work.
“We're actually in a good space for companies that want to participate in the manufacturing boom,” Harvey said. “We're in a good location to attract those companies because we have proximity to a lot of their clients, and then we also have homes that are still under cost in comparison to our neighbor Austin. … So it's a good place to move to and a good place to relocate small, medium or large businesses.”
Harvey said the city has been communicating with the company and working out details related to infrastructure, water and wastewater for the project, as well as talking through the jobs it could bring. He said no incentives have been discussed or given to the company.
Harvey said the project falls in line well with Manor’s first comprehensive plan, which set goals for what the city will look like in 2050, including ones focused on transportation, infrastructure, land use, library, recreation, parks, economic development and community branding.
He added that the plot where the facility would be built was sold by one of the landowners the city approached who were interested in furthering the plan's goals.
Tierney said Manor is well-positioned from a real estate perspective to see growth in the next several years, especially if this project is built.
“For whatever reason, Manor has been looked over, in our opinion,” Tierney said, adding that the city is very “pro-growth."
“There's still a lot to be figured out, but the city of Manor is very receptive and very excited about projects like this,” he said.
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Ed Latson, CEO of the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, said the project would be good for Manor and would add to the advanced manufacturers moving into Central Texas.
“They fit well in an ecosystem that already includes numerous companies making complex equipment,” he said.
Latson said Central Texas remains a hot area for industrial investment in the United States.
“Han's Laser establishing a facility in Manor continues the stream of advanced manufacturers moving to Central Texas, many settling on the northeastern crescent of the region,” he said.
