Considering environmental factors is crucial when searching for Commercial Land for Sale in Houston. Houston’s fast expansion has brought about unique environmental challenges that could greatly impact the commercial land’s value and availability.
This post will discuss the crucial environmental considerations to make while purchasing Houston commercial real estate.
Comprehending the Environmental Terrain of Houston
Houston lies in the southeast part of Texas, beside the Gulf Coast. The city’s propensity to flooding gets worse by the level coastal plains surrounding it. The region’s humid climate, moderate winters, and hot summers present environmental challenges.
Flooding Risks
Flooding is nothing new to Houston, especially in its waterside neighborhoods. They also noted that the government has designated ‘special flood hazard areas in town. If you are in the process of looking for a commercial property to buy in Houston, it is important that you understand if or not what they offer falls under any one among these high-risk zones.
The city says 25 percent of it are in the flood plain, potentially putting one out of four properties at risk. To guard against this, the city has constructed walls and barriers, even retention ponds.
Soil Conditions
Most of Houston’s soil is clay, making construction a challenge. Clay soil shrinks and swells, potentially causing foundation failure and other structural issues. When purchasing commercial land for sale in Houston, have soil tests performed to check the soil type and site conditions.
Environmental Regulations
The City of Houston has implemented various environmental rules to protect its natural resources and lessen the impact of development on the environment. The Houston Environmental Unit is responsible for enforcing these regulations, which include:
- The Clean Water Act, which regulates water pollution and wastewater discharge
- The Air Quality Control Program monitors and addresses air pollution.
- The Hazardous Waste Management Program provides guidance for managing and eliminating hazardous waste.
Hazardous Species and Habitats
Houston is home to various hazardous species, such as the Houston toad and the Attwater’s prairie bird. When developing commercial land for sale in the area, it is critical to address these sensitive species. Ensuring that our development projects do not disrupt or put at risk their ecosystems is more than a responsibility; it is critical to conserving our region’s rich biodiversity.
Water Quality
The water quality is of great concern within Houston, particularly in areas near Gulf Coast. Its water bodies notoriously have pollution problems, which could affect the environment and human health.
When purchasing commercial land for sale in Houston, care should be taken to consider the nearby water quality and to ensure that no development contributes further to pollution.
Wetlands and Coastal Zones
Houston’s coastal zones or wetlands are most imperative ecosystems providing habitats for various species and also protection of the city from storms and floods.
When developing commercial land for sale in Houston, one must always make sure that the project does not in any way destroy, damage, or otherwise disrupt any of these ecosystems.
Identifying Risks for Certain Types of Commercial Real Estate
Whatever the type of commercial property you wish to purchase, inadequate care may cause environmental risks. This is why careful planning is so essential. If you don’t, your purchase may not be as profitable as you expected. Consider the environmental dangers of purchasing these five types of commercial real estate properties.
1. Properties for Hospitality
Any commercial real estate that you will use to provide people with lodging, entertainment, or prepared food falls into this class. Before serving guests on your hospitality property, you must make sure that it is safe. This means you should inspect the structures and assess the soil and water. Failing to do so can create a PR nightmare and sink your new business.
2. Industrial Properties
Industrial-use commercial properties cover a wide range of uses. Examples include sites for making or producing goods. They also include warehouses and office spaces. These sites need more environmental considerations than other types of land. With these sites, you must be careful not to affect nearby properties. You should also be very aware of nearby waterways and of people who live close by.
3. Retail Properties
Retail commercial properties consist of a geographical area or land which is utilized in delivering services and/or goods to the end consumers. Such land parcels are usually situated in urbanized areas and may have been used for other purposes. That is the reason as to why it is very important to carry out an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) before on such a property in order to determine if the site is not an environmental risk These properties normally include sites such as those of supermarkets.
4. Office Spaces
Office spaces are a special type of industrial-use commercial property. Like general industrial property, they rarely serve customers on-site. However, you still need to make sure that the environment is safe for employees.
5. Multi-Family Housing
Multi-family properties are sites that have more than one living unit. These include apartments, assisted living facilities, and duplexes. Whether you intend to construct on undeveloped ground or reuse an existing structure, you should consider examining the quality of the land and property to verify that there are no environmental dangers.
The Link Between Environmental Factors and Buying Commercial Property
Why go through this effort to review environmental hazards and perform a property condition assessment at the location where you are looking to purchase? Both state and federal government agencies have enacted tough environmental laws. These laws require commercial property owners to perform due diligence before making a purchase. Their purpose is to check for potential environmental hazards.
A significant piece of legislation is referred to as CERCLA. It is an abbreviation for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act which came into authority in the year 1980.
To put it simply, rather regular people are allowed to sue current or former owners of a site under the Superfund law while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is allowed to sue a commercial real estate owner. These claims are often made in order to recoup the costs associated with clean-up efforts.
Another aspect contained in CERCLA is that landowners are responsible for the clean-up of their land, whatever the situation. This rule is applicable even in situations where the landowners themselves are not responsible for any…This is why there are issues of this nature which arise when consideration is not taken as to the conduct of environmental due diligence and can lead to considerable, tens of thousands of dollars, losses due to operational dereliction and penalties.
Why Big Texas Land Buyers Should be Your First Choice for Commercial Land Sale in Houston
If you’re thinking about selling commercial land in Houston, I can assure you that working with a seasoned and reliable buyer will always result in a seamless and equitable transaction. The following are some of the factors that support your choice to sell your commercial land to Big Texas Land Buyers, an industry leader:
Competency in Commercial Land Sales
Big Texas Land Buyers has vast expertise purchasing and selling commercial land in Houston. Their team of professionals has a thorough awareness of the local market, including environmental factors that can affect the value of your property.
Fast and Efficient Process
Big Texas Land Buyers offers a simple and effective way to sell commercial land. They will make you a cash offer within 24 hours and handle all paperwork and discussions to ensure the sale goes smoothly.
Competitive Offers
Big Texas Land Buyers provides reasonable offers for commercial land in Houston. They take into account environmental elements that may have an impact on the value of your land, such as soil quality, flooding risks, and environmental restrictions.
Zero Real Estate Agent Fees
When you sell to Big Texas Land Buyers, you will not have to pay any real estate agency fees. This implies you’ll be able to keep more of the earnings from the sale of your business property.
Confidentiality
Big Texas Land Buyers understands that confidentiality is essential in commercial land sales. All sales information, including the selling price and the individual client’s details, will stay concealed.
Conclusion:
When looking for commercial land for sale in Houston, you should also examine any environmental problems that may have a detrimental impact on your investment. The knowledge of the city’s landscape, the risk of flooding, the various types of soils, environmental laws, protected animals and lands, bodies of water, wetlands, and coastal areas will greatly aid and ensure the ecological viability of any construction work within the Houston city limits.
Follow us:
