- Oxbow Development Group, the developer behind San Antonio’s Pearl, is planning an 11-acre mixed-use redevelopment of New Braunfels’ Dittlinger Mill on the Comal River.
- The plans center on a boutique hotel in the mill, a possible rooftop bar in the grain silos, public spaces and retail, with 200 to 250 parking spaces expected.
- About 25% of the site lies in a floodplain, and Oxbow is targeting a public-private partnership framework by year-end and a 2028 construction start.
Oxbow Development Group is preparing to redevelop Dittlinger Mill in New Braunfels, The Real Deal reported, citing the San Antonio Business Journal.
Silver Ventures’ development arm, Oxbow, built San Antonio’s Pearl. The mill site covers 11 acres along the Comal River, beside the San Antonio Street bridge.
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A Hotel in the Mill
The San Antonio Business Journal reported that the plan places a boutique hotel inside the mill itself. The hotel would anchor the hospitality component. Meanwhile, public gathering areas and shops would surround it.
Oxbow Director of Development Omar Gonzalez presented revised plans to residents at a city listening session, according to the Business Journal.
Silos and Screenings
The grain silos could feature a rooftop bar with city views, the San Antonio Business Journal reported. In addition, renderings show plans for film screenings on the silos’ exteriors. These screenings would take place in a public plaza.
Overall, Oxbow aims to preserve the mill’s character, according to the Business Journal.
Parking and the Floodplain
The plan calls for an estimated 200 to 250 parking spaces. Meanwhile, most residents who weighed in favored including a public section within a garage, per the San Antonio Business Journal.
However, a quarter of the site lies in a floodplain. The Business Journal identified this as a key hurdle. That area could instead accommodate riverfront public space and walkways connecting to trails. Separately, FEMA has eased protections for properties in flood zones.
Community Concerns
Some residents worried that an upscale retail and dining district could push out existing downtown businesses, the San Antonio Business Journal reported.
In response, Gonzalez pointed to the Pearl as an example. He argued that a larger, walkable district can also benefit nearby businesses.
Why It Matters
Oxbow is using the Pearl as a model for a smaller city. At the same time, public input continues to shape the project. The partnership terms will also matter, as Oxbow plans to bring a framework to the city.
Meanwhile, Texas cities are considering incentives for major developments. For example, McKinney’s surf lagoon could receive a $21 million city incentive.
What’s Next
Oxbow hopes to present a public-private partnership framework to New Braunfels by year-end, according to the San Antonio Business Journal. If the timeline holds, the developer aims to break ground in 2028.
