Consider the consequences before renting your home to football fans

By Lance Simms, Director of Planning & Development Services

The buzz around Texas A&M has never been greater, and last week’s season-opening win against South Carolina only added to the excitement. College Station’s population surpassed 100,000 in January, and we’re rushing to keep up with new development and accommodate thousands of Southeastern Conference football fans.

Existing hotels — and even the new ones nearing completion — were booked as soon as A&M’s 2014 schedule was announced. Those who couldn’t reserve a hotel room are searching near and far for a place to stay.

Some local property owners have found a remedy to the room shortage by renting their homes – or even single rooms — on football weekends. That’s prompted dozens of College Station residents to call us. Some want to know if it’s okay to rent their homes, while others don’t want it to happen in their neighborhood.

Continue reading “Consider the consequences before renting your home to football fans”

Public Communications

CS’s five most popular blog posts of 2013

Reaching the end of a year always provides an opportunity for reflection. Like College Station’s population odometer, the number of views to our blog is about to roll over 100,000. Accounting for nearly 10 percent of those views are the five most-popular posts of 2013 (click on the title to read the respective blogs):

No. 5

The greatest B-CS song you may have never heard

Dusted off from the 1960s, this little gem graced the WTAW-AM airwaves and really got creative when touting the positive qualities of the community. Among them: a wide main street, a nuclear reactor and deer hunting that’s “better than it was when the Indians were around.” Not joking. Listen for yourself. Continue reading “CS’s five most popular blog posts of 2013”

City Council, Public Communications

Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (Nov. 14)

This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Nov. 14. It’s not the official minutes.

Both meetings are being broadcast live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and can also be watched online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.

Aldrich, Berry Take Oaths of Office

Earlier today, the council canvassed the votes from the Nov. 5 election, and Steve Aldrich and Nancy Berry were sworn into office by municipal judge Ed Spillane. Continue reading “Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (Nov. 14)”

City Council, Public Communications

Five things to watch at Thursday’s city council meetings

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (6 p.m.) and regular (7 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch: Continue reading “Five things to watch at Thursday’s city council meetings”

City Council, Public Communications

Five things to watch at Thursday’s city council meetings

Planning & Development, Public Communications

What’s allowed for gameday housing rentals – and what’s not

“Texas A&M (is) now the coolest school in the state.”
FoxSportsSouthwest.com (Feb. 6, 2013)

The buzz around Texas A&M has never been greater, and a preseason top 10 national ranking for the Aggie football team has only added to the excitement. As College Station’s population approaches 100,000, we’re rushing to keep up with new development that supports our newfound coolness and accommodates thousands of Southeastern Conference fans.

It’s no surprise that Aggie football nearly doubles College Station’s population on game weekends. Existing hotels — and even the new ones nearing completion — were booked as soon as the 2013 schedule was announced. Those who couldn’t reserve a hotel room are searching near and far for a place to stay.

Continue reading “What’s allowed for gameday housing rentals – and what’s not”