Dallas-based Dalfen Industrial is back on the drawing board for the former Manor Downs racetrack, proposing a 1 million-square-foot industrial building that could become one of the city’s largest development projects. The plan, reported by KXAN on October 17, marks a significant shift from the original industrial park concept that stalled after the company purchased the property in 2021. Manor’s economic development director, Scott Jones, confirmed the developer is now pursuing a speculative build, meaning the structure will be erected before a tenant is secured. A formal development plan has not yet been filed with the city, leaving the final costs and timeline in limbo.
The delay has been painful. Higher borrowing costs and shifting market conditions froze the initial agreement, which was effective from April 2, 2025, to April 2, 2038. According to Texas Comptroller records, the broader agreement involves DG Manor Downs Property Owner, L.P., with an anticipated total construction cost of $100.56 million. The deal includes provisions for at least four buildings totaling 894,650 square feet, with an option for two more adding another 487,944 square feet. Real property taxes and wastewater impact fees underpin the financial structure of this massive undertaking.
For local residents, the numbers mean little compared to the memories. Ruth Biscoe, 78, spent decades at the racetrack with her family, where her father sold barbecue chicken. Now, the deteriorating structures stand as a physical reminder of those weekends. Biscoe, along with neighbor Robert Battaile, argues that industrial expansion should not erase the area’s cultural identity. Battaile insists the community’s character must be weighed against the economic benefits, a tension that defines many growing suburbs around Austin.
The compromise is in the proposal itself. Dalfen Industrial reportedly plans to donate nine acres to the city, which Jones expects could accommodate a park and an amphitheatre. This public space would acknowledge Manor Downs’ 35-year history of music and community events. However, the precise design remains unconfirmed, and Dalfen Industrial has not responded to requests for comment. The city is still waiting for the updated development plan to move the project through its planning process.