Texas’ oldest pari-mutuel horse racetrack closed in 2010 after 35 years; 16 years later, its roughly 150-acre Manor Downs site could become a 1 million-sq-ft industrial building as locals ask to save its history

According to KXAN, the Austin Business Journal and records from the Texas Comptroller, a former Texas horse racing venue that once hosted music performances and major community events could be transformed into a large industrial development, reviving a long-delayed redevelopment plan while raising concerns about the loss of a local landmark. More than a decade after its closure, the site remains largely undeveloped. Now, Dallas-based Dalfen Industrial is preparing to move forward with a revised proposal that could bring a building measuring approximately one million square feet to the property.According to KXAN’s October 17 report, Manor’s economic development director, Scott Jones, said the developer’s original industrial park concept had shifted towards a speculative building, which would be constructed before a tenant had been secured. A formal development plan had not yet been submitted to the city at the time of the report. The proposal could become one of Manor’s largest development projects, although the final design, construction schedule and overall cost remain unclear.

A long-delayed redevelopment plan

Dalfen Industrial purchased the property in 2021, with plans for an industrial park reported by the Austin Business Journal. The city of Manor annexed the land in 2022, but construction had not progressed as initially anticipated.Changing market conditions and higher borrowing costs have contributed to the delay, according to city officials. A Texas Comptroller database entry provides further details about the development agreement involving DG Manor Downs Property Owner, L.P. The agreement, effective April 2, 2025, runs until April 2, 2038, subject to its termination provisions.The agreement describes plans for at least four buildings totalling 894,650 square feet, with an option for two additional buildings adding another 487,944 square feet. The anticipated total construction cost is approximately $100.56 million. The agreement also lists a maximum monetary value of approximately $14.6 million. It identifies real property taxes and wastewater impact fees among the sources associated with the agreement.These figures describe the broader development agreement and its potential build-out, rather than confirming the final cost or specifications of the latest proposal. The city had not yet received the updated development plan described in KXAN’s report.

Residents want the site’s history preserved

For some Manor residents, the proposed redevelopment is about more than the future of a large tract of land. It also raises questions about what happens to a venue that formed part of the community’s cultural and family history. Ruth Biscoe, 78, recalled spending weekends at the racetrack with her family, where her father sold barbecue chicken. The deteriorating buildings remain a reminder of those years, and she hopes the property can retain a place where families can gather.Another local resident, Robert Battaile, has argued that the community’s identity should be considered alongside the economic benefits of redevelopment. He has advocated for preserving the area’s character rather than allowing industrial development to become its defining feature. The concerns reflect a broader tension facing growing communities around Austin: industrial projects can generate taxable property value and support economic development, but they can also replace places with long-standing local significance.

Proposed park and amphitheatre could offer a compromise

The revised proposal reportedly includes a plan for the developer to donate nine acres to the city. Jones expects the land could accommodate park space and an amphitheatre, potentially creating a public destination that acknowledges Manor Downs’ musical history. However, the precise design and use of the proposed public space have yet to be confirmed, and the city is still awaiting the development plan. KXAN reported that Dalfen Industrial had been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time its story was published.For now, Manor Downs stands between two possible futures: a major industrial project that could expand the city’s tax base, and a community effort to preserve the memories associated with a venue that operated for 35 years. Whether the redevelopment can accommodate both ambitions will become clearer as the proposal moves through the city’s planning process