LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Central Texas could soon get its first major Asian-focused commercial area.
Developers behind Leander’s Northline project plan to build a 30,000-square-foot district featuring restaurants, shops and other businesses aimed at serving the region’s growing Asian population.
“So many people shouted at me, scream at me. It’s as if like, where is it? We’re going there now,” said EC Chi with the KoreaTexas Forum.
Chi said a growing population of Asian immigrants in the area, drawn to the school district, public transit and access to major tech companies like Samsung, fueled the demand for the marketplace.
“When you come to the capital of this great state of Texas, there is no Asiatown, Koreatown,” said Chi.
Despite the Austin area’s rapid growth and increasing Asian population, developers and community leaders say Central Texas lacks a dedicated Asian commercial district found in cities like Houston and Dallas.
“15% of the population in Leander is Asian. So there’s already a good amount out of almost 100,000 people,” said Chris Price, senior vice president with Partners, a real estate company working on the market district at Northline.
The Northline development is located 27 miles north of Austin. It is a short distance from the Leander branch of Austin Community College and the last stop of CapMetro’s Red Line train.
Chi said interest in the project accelerated alongside Samsung’s semiconductor investment in Taylor, as community leaders began hearing questions about grocery stores, restaurants, banks and other services needed by workers and relocating families.
“With the convergence of Apple, Dell and Samsung, all these high tech companies coming up to Williamson County, it was like it seems like with their diverse employee base that we’ve got something that’s a little bit different up here,” said Bryan McMurrey with Partners.
McMurray worked on Austin’s Asian shopping center, the Crescent. He said his work there will help with attracting Asian businesses to the market.
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Developers said the project has evolved from an earlier “Koreatown” concept into a broader international marketplace that could include Korean, Japanese, Chinese and other Asian businesses.
“We could have a sushi place here that’s Japanese. We could have a dumpling place. We could have Korean barbecue, Korean fried chicken. We could have a bao or quick serve Chinese restaurant,” Price said.
The Northline development aims to act as the town square for Leander, including civic spaces, retail anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market, apartments, townhomes, offices and healthcare centers.
Developers said the marketplace fits into Northline’s larger goal of creating a walkable downtown district for Leander.
Chi said the “Asiantown” will have a huge impact on the community.
“The demand, the interest and the needs have been existed. It’s only now it’s materialized,” said Chi.
Developers said construction is expected to begin in 2027, with businesses anticipated to open in 2028.