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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 5 JAN. 18 FEB. 13, 2023
ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE 2023
ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE 2023
Making adjustments Following the failure of a November tax rate election, Fort Bend ISD will need to make $47 million worth of cuts over the next two school years to maintain its budget reserve. One of the cuts is reducing bus stops for the district’s academies, early college, and career and technical education programs,
which started Jan. 5. 300 fewer miles a day
minutes less driving per driver
in annual savings
30
$400,000
YMCA expands STEM program into Missouri City
6
Dining & Shopping
10
Developer, city announce plans for char house
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT Reducing bus stops is one of the ways Fort Bend ISD intends to tackle the budget de cit. (Courtesy Fort Bend ISD)
Fort Bend ISD makes cuts in 2023 to tackle $47M de cit Fort Bend ISD had looked to the Nov. 8 midterm elections as a chance to raise the district’s tax rate to bridge a $47 million budget shortfall by s- cal year 2024-25. measures—goals FBISD outlined in its tax rate election campaign. “That’s a little challenging, and it may have a sting,” FBISD Superin- tendent Christie Whitbeck said in a Nov. 9 video statement to parents. “But we will roll up our sleeves, and we will work together.” BY HUNTER MARROW
implemented is reducing the bus stops for its Academy programs. This comes as the 88th Texas legis- lative session began Jan. 10, expected to span through May 29. School funding is among the bills under discussion at the Legislature, where FBISD o cials said they believe it is likely the district will receive more nancial support from the state. This also comes as the district consid- ers a May bond election; FBISD had originally planned to ask voters to approve a bond election in November CONTINUED ON 16
Development
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However, 54% of voters denied a proposition during the election that would have resulted in a $0.0755 tax rate increase and an additional $47.7 million in revenue. With the vote, district o cials said they have lost the opportunity to pay for additional compensation adjustments, programs and safety
In August, FBISD committed to making $23 million in cuts for the 2023-24 school year; with the elec- tion’s failure, the district will need to cut another $24 million in 2024-25 to maintain its budget reserve. One savings option the district
Missouri City's new city manager looks to 2023
15
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
January is School Board Appreciation Month
Pictured above from left to right: David Hamilton, Angie Hanan, Judy Dae, Dr. Christie Whitbeck, Kristen Davison Malone, Dr. Shirley Rose-Gilliam and Rick Garcia.
Fort Bend ISD would like to recognize the community volunteers who make up the district’s seven-member Board of Trustees and thank them for their strong and unyielding commitment to our students, staff, parents and community. FBISD’s elected Board Members include: Kristen Davison Malone, President; Judy Dae, Vice President; Dr. Shirley Rose-Gilliam, Secretary; and members Rick Garcia, David Hamilton, Angie Hanan and Denetta Williams.
Pictured: Denetta Williams
www.fortbendisd.com
3
SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
D.R. HORTON AMERICA’S BUILDER Home for every stage in life. SM Now Open: Caldwell Ranch
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Prices, plans, features and options are subject to change without notice. Prices shown are based on home prices and do not include costs and fees, modifications to plans and custom features which may substantially affect final cost of home. Please check accuracy of information provided with your sales agent prior to purchasing. Features noted above could be plan or lot specific. Pictures, photographs/renderings, colors, features, and sizes are for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities, are subject to change at any time without notice or obligation. Square footage is approximate only. Additional restrictions may apply. Furnishings and decorative items not included with home purchase. Artist renderings only. Subject to change. Schools, districts and zoning are outside of D.R. Horton, Inc.’s control and subject to change at any time. Buyer should conduct his or her own investigation of the present and future availability of school districts and school assignments. Seller has no control or responsibility for any changes to school districts or school assignments should they occur in the future. 11/2022.
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THIS ISSUE
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Amy Martinez REPORTER Jack Dowling GRAPHIC DESIGNER La’Toya Smith ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Debbie Hamilton METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 281 469 6181 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES slmnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING slmads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter PODCAST communityimpact.com/podcast SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes. ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM AMY: Our January edition kicks o our Annual Community Guide, in which the Sugar Land-Missouri City team highlights many of the businesses and restaurants that not only opened in 2022, but also look to open in 2023. We also feature the Missouri City neighborhood Rustlers Crossing. Amy Martinez, GENERAL MANAGER
FROM KELLY: In our front-page story, we drilled down into the e ects that a failed November tax rate election has on Fort Bend ISD’s future budgetary goals as it looks to ll a $47 million de cit over the next two years. I’m excited to work closely with the Sugar Land and Missouri City team while we search for a new editor to serve the community. Shoot me an email at kscha er@communityimpact.com with any story ideas in the meantime. Kelly Scha er, MANAGING EDITOR
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Cheers to your rst newspaper of the new year! Community Impact is also celebrating 2023 by welcoming our 100,000th email subscriber. If you don't receive the CI Morning Impact to your inbox yet, you're missing out. Our emails include everything you need to know about local government, new businesses coming to your area, dining hotspots and events. When you sign up as a new subscriber this Jan. 10-Feb. 10, we'll thank you by entering your email into a drawing to receive a gift basket featuring a CI shirt, jacket and hat, plus other surprise goodies to keep you on trend all year. One winner will be announced in each of the four metro areas we serve: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio*.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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between late October and early No- vember, staff with the new location told Community Impact. With the opening, The Juicy Crab brings Cajun seafood offerings, including shrimp, crawfish, black mussels and snow crab legs, along with a variety of appetizers and sides, including hush puppies, Cajun green beans, coleslaw, corn on the cob and sweet potato fries. 281-302-6826. www.thejuicycrab.com 5 R&B Tea held a soft opening for its new store at 3607 Hwy. 6 in Sugar Land on Dec. 21-23. It offers a selection of milk, fruit and cream teas as well as boba and other toppings. R&B Tea has locations across California, Washington and Texas. 281-302-5945. www.rbteausa.com 6 Zash Cafe , an Indo-Pakistani street food restaurant, opened in mid-December at 2887 Dulles Ave., Missouri City, owner Rafiya Malek said. She said she runs the restaurant with her mother, Yasmin Malek, who cooks the traditional Indo-Pakistani cuisine. All menu items are 100% halal, and the menu includes sandwiches, such as chicken shawarma, beef and chicken gyro, and vegetarian options. It also serves burgers and chaat, a savory snack. 281-969-7725. https://zashcafe.com 7 Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has ex- panded to Stafford, opening the doors to its two-story, 33,000-square-foot clinic in The Grid, a 192-acre, mixed-use development at 11211 Nexus Ave., Stafford. The clinic offers family care, internal medicine, pediatrics and pul- monary medicine. Additional specialties planned include behavioral health; podiatry; orthopedics; and on-site imagery, such as x-rays, ultrasounds, and MRI and CT scans. 713-442-0427. www.kelsey-seybold.com
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NOW OPEN 1 Offering South Caribbean and Ven- ezuelan food, Latin Delight opened for business Nov. 12 at 1703 Texas Parkway, Unit A, Missouri City. Diners can choose from various dishes, including traditional lomo negro, arepas and a series of lunch specials. For dessert, the restaurant offers Latin flan and tres leches cake. The restau- rant is owned by local Henry Arrieta and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner service. 832-573-6798. http://latindelight.net
3 Clean Juice , a fresh juice and smooth- ie bar, held a soft opening Dec. 12 at 4779 Sweetwater Blvd., Ste. 11, Sugar Land. Owner Ivan Yu said customers have loved their product, which includes grilled sandwiches, wraps, salads and juices. One reason customers love the store’s product is because they know everything is organic, Yu said. Clean Juice is a franchise restau- rant based in Charlotte, North Carolina. 832-433-7961. www.cleanjuice.com 4 A franchise location of The Juicy Crab is now open and operating in Sugar Land’s First Colony Mall. The location, 16535 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 2001, opened
announced it opened its doors Dec. 12 at 12639 W. Airport Blvd. after complet- ing construction of its third Sugar Land location, according to the announcement. Midway, developer of Houston’s City- Centre and Century Square, led efforts to complete the $18 million project. The expanded location will be used as a mixture of office, research and devel- opment, and manufacturing space for the nutrition supplement manufacturing facility. Bluebonnet’s new product is adding more capacity in the capsule and tablet unit with anticipated inventory values at $11 million. 281-240-3332. www.bluebonnetnutrition.com
2 Bluebonnet Nutrition Corp. , headquartered in Sugar Land, has
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR, JACK DOWLING, HUNTER MARROW & KELLY SCHAFLER
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Chick-fil-A
EoS Fitness
COURTESY CHICK-FIL-A
COURTESY EOS FITNESS
COMING SOON 8 Salad and Go, a health-focused restaurant, is coming to Sugar Land at 18830 Noble Seven St., according to information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Salad and Go is based in Arizona and has locations in Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas. Construc- tion is set to cost $300,000, begin June 12 and be completed by Dec. 12, according to the construction permit. Additional information has been requested from the owner, but was not received by press time. www.saladandgo.com 9 A new Indian grocery store with a restaurant and bakery inside is the first tenant confirmed for the upcoming Murphy Village Shopping Center , located at 2040 and 2144 FM 1092, Missouri City. The 11,774-square-foot shopping center is a development from WiseTop Properties, said Jincy Jose, commercial leasing agent with Land & Luxe Realty, which is leasing the shopping center. Construction on the two-building shopping center is set to be- gin in January and be completed in August or September, Jose said. The center has 14 units, five of which are leased to the un- named Indian food hub, and one contract is pending for a liquor store, Jose said. www.wisetop.properties.com 10 EoS Fitness , a Dallas-based fitness organization with more than 100 gyms across California, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Utah and Florida, is coming to Sugar Land in 2024. The 51,000-square-foot devel- opment will at 3346 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land. According to the company’s website, the gym will include cardio zones, free weights, strength equipment, a “back- yard workout” area, a recovery room, a
functional training area, a sauna, a kids club and “MOVIEoS,” a treadmill room that plays movies over a projector. The gym is also expected to offer fitness classes as well as access to personal trainers. www.eosfitness.com RELOCATIONS 11 A Chick-fil-A that closed to move across the street from Sugar Land Town Square is back open for business with a larger location and a modern, sleeker appearance. The location held a small grand opening ceremony Dec. 12, marking the opening of the new location at 2323 Hwy. 6, just across the street from the former location at 2330 Hwy. 6. Chick-fil-A Executive Director Rosario Pasos said the former location is still owned by Chick-fil-A management, but no plans have been released regarding the former location. 281-494-3800. www.chick-fil-a.com EXPANSIONS 12 A groundbreaking ceremony was held for an expansion to the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program center in Arcola on Dec. 1. The JJAEP expansion at 400 Coen Road, Arcola, will include a new vocational shop and gen- eral education development classroom, according to a Nov. 21 news release from the Fort Bend County Juvenile Board. The JJAEP is an alternative education pro- gram for youths that have otherwise been expelled from their primary campus. Con- struction costs and estimated completion dates had not been announced as of publication. www.fortbendcountytx.gov
The Mobile Makerspace bus began delivering STEM-based learning programs to communities in Missouri City and Fort Bend County in October.
COURTESY YMCA GREATER HOUSTON
FEATURED IMPACT IN THE NEWS A Nov. 29 press release from the YMCA of Greater Houston announced it will extend its science-, technology-, engineering- and mathematics-based Y on the Fly Mobile Makerspace tours to more sites in Fort Bend County, including one in Missouri City. The program began in Missouri City and Fort Bend County in October. The Missouri City site is at the Fort Bend Family YMCA at 4433 Cartwright Road. The YMCA is working to expand the number of sites, o cials said. It is an initiative from the Community-based Outreach Program, which delivers resources for families, such as water safety classes, before- and after-school programs, and food pantries. The extended programming is funded by a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to the release. The goal of this STEM enrichment program is to provide youth with high-quality curriculum in their own neighborhoods. It focuses on computer coding and programming, robotics, 3D printing, basic circuitry, puzzle creation and solutions, augmented reality and virtual reality. Community Outreach Director Jeremy Hickman said in the release these
interactive tasks facilitate an active and collaborative learning environment. “The Y on the Fly Mobile Makerspace makes it easy for children to experience new paths by bringing STEM learning programs to them,” Hickman said in a statement. “With such a wide array of activities and subjects, we are able to further the education of our youth, helping them grow as both a student and an individual.” There are two Mobile Makerspace units in operation, per the release. Y on the Fly’s Power Up bus—another mobile program focusing on health and wellness, social and emotional learning, and sports and nutrition—came online when the ARPA grant was secured. It will follow the same path as the Mobile Makerspace units, o cials said. The Mobile Makerspace serves outreach sites, corporate events, summer camps and schools, and it is also available for community events upon request. www.ymcahouston.org
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY HUNTER MARROW 2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT Data and information on local communities
SUGAR LAND The city of Sugar Land saw a nearly 30% increase in population since 2016—similar to Fort Bend County, which saw an 18% increase in the same period. Meanwhile, Sugar Land’s population remains among the oldest in the county with a median age of 42, almost six years higher than the county’s median age.
MISSOURI CITY Missouri City saw a nearly 3% increase in population since 2016—signi cantly lower than in Fort Bend County and Sugar Land. Meanwhile, Missouri City’s median age remains lower than that of Sugar Land at 40.7 but above the median age of the county.
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2021 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5 YEAR ESTIMATES COMMUNITY IMPACT
Sugar Land
Missouri City
Fort Bend County
Population change Fort Bend County and Sugar Land both saw signi cant growth since the 2016 census. Missouri City’s population growth was far more minor at close to 3%.
Local demographics, 2021* Hispanic or Latino White Black or African American American Indian or Alaska native Asian Native Hawaiian or other Paci c Islander Some other race
17.38% 20.95% 40.29% 0% 18.68% 0%
24.92% 31.13% 19.91% 0.13% 20.75% 0.5% 0.29% 2.82%
12% 39.05% 6.96% 0.32% 38.01% 0.17% 0.48% 3.01%
85,681
71,732
2016
2016
110,272
73,682 +2.72%
2021
2021
+28.7%
0.4% 2.31%
5-year population change
Two or more races
Fort Bend County: +17.95%
Texas: +7.07%
*ALL CATEGORIES LISTED ARE RACES, EXCEPT FOR HISPANIC OR LATINO, WHICH IS NOT A RACE. HOWEVER, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE RACES LISTED DO NOT INCLUDE HISPANIC OR LATINO RESIDENTS.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
DINING & SHOPPING
Retailers, restaurants that opened in 2022 or are coming in 2023
ITALIAN 17 B. B. Italia Bistro & Bar 16250 City Walk, Sugar Land 713 424 7876 • www.bbitaliabistro.com $$$ K LATIN AMERICAN 18 Fajita Pete’s 13425 University Blvd., Ste. 350, Sugar Land 832 500 4056 • www.fajitapetes.com $$ H 19 Ori’Zaba’s Mexican Grill 13513 University Blvd., Ste. 200, Sugar Land 281 302 6875 • www.zabas.com $$ K 20 Mint n Chili 11609 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 346 428 0160 • www.mintnchili.com $$ 21 Latin Delight 1703 Texas Parkway, Unit A, Missouri City 832 573 6798 • www.latindelight.net $$ SEAFOOD 22 Happy Crab 5418 Hwy. 6, Ste. 210, Missouri City 832 539 1619 www.happycrabmissouricity.com $$ 23 Lotus Seafood 2903 S. Main St., Ste., Sta ord 346 787 4888 www.lotus-seafood.com $$ H K 24 The Juicy Crab 16535 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 2001, Sugar Land 281 302 6826 • www.thejuicycrab.com $$ K DESSERT 25 Morelia Gourmet Paletas 16155 City Walk, Sugar Land 832 532 7513 www.paletasmorelia.com $ 26 Red Circle Ice Cream 3595 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 281 903 7074 www.redcirclefranchising.com $ 27 Carey’s Frozen Delights 2603 Cartwright Road, Missouri City 504 931 4347 • www.italianice.com $ 28 Crumbl Cookies 2735 Town Center Blvd. N., Ste. E, Sugar Land www.crumblcookies.com $ COMING IN 2023 TEA COFFEE JUICE 29 Pressed 15850 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 200, Sugar Land 346 309 3402 • www.pressed.com $
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Average entrees: $ Up to $9.99 $$ $10-$19.99 $$$ $20 or more
B Breakfast/brunch H Happy hour K Kids menu
6 Two Hands Corn Dog 13590 University Blvd., Sugar Land www.twohandsus.com $ COMING IN 2023 7 Double Dave’s Pizza Works 4875 Hwy. 6, Missouri City www.doubledaves.com $$ COMING IN 2023 8 Q’s Delil 13134 Dairy Ashford Road, Ste. 100, Sugar Land 281 302 6894 www.facebook.com/qsdelitx $$ GREEK 9 Cava
12 The Nines Thai Cuisine 203 Century Square Blvd., Ste. 150, Sugar Land 281 302 5497 www.theninesthai.com $$ K 13 Poke Burri and Lifting Noodles 1525 Lake Pointe Parkway, Ste. 400, Sugar Land 832 648 7653 www.pokeburri.com $$ INDIAN 14 Elite Indo Pak Restaurant 11941 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 281 957 4100 www.eliteindopak.com $$ 15 Kabab Shack 13134 Dairy Ashford Road, Sugar Land 281 637 0272 www.kabab-shack.com $$ K 16 Kabab Guys 10581 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 346 874 7939 www.kababguys.com $$
THESE LISTINGS ARE NOT COMPREHENSIVE. COMPILED BY HUNTER MARROW
DINING AMERICAN 1 Dave’s Hot Chicken 6324 S. Hwy. 6, Missouri City 832 987 4799 www.daveshotchicken.com $$
2 Big Mammas Home Cooking 8731 Hwy. 6, Ste. 100, Missouri City 832 440 2984 $$ H 3 Spectators Bar & Grill 1525 Lake Pointe Parkway, Ste. 100, Sugar Land 346 874 7275 www.spectatorsbargrill.com $$ H K 4 Ramble Creek Grill Riverstone 7022 S. Hwy. 6, Missouri City 281 881 7220 www.ramblecreekgrill.com $$$ H K 5 Two Hands Corn Dogs 3540 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 281 302 6522 • www.twohandsus.com $
2260 Lone Star Drive, Sugar Land 346 450 5763 • www.cava.com $$ K ASIAN 10 Naka Ramen 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. 102B, Missouri City, 832 694 3900 www.nakaramenbar.com $$ K 11 Volcano Hot Pot
3434 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land www.volcanohotpot.com $$$ COMING IN 2023
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
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35
Q’s Deli
B. B. Italia Bistro & Bar
Main Squeeze Juice Co.
Voss Boutique
COURTESY Q'S DELI
COURTESY KIRSTEN GILLIAM, BERG HOSPITALITY GROUP
COURTESY MAIN SQUEEZE JUICE CO.
COURTESY VOSS BOUTIQUE
WINE BEER COCKTAILS 34 Imperial Wine 106 Bay View Drive, Ste. C, Sugar Land 281 302 6670 www.imperialwinesltx.com $$$ SHOPPING CLOTHING 35 Voss Boutique 15203 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land 832 857 4077 www.vossboutique.com 36 Sassy & Wild Boutique 13501 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land 346 240 7490 www.sassyandwild.com
30 FiLLi Cafe 11920 Hwy. 6, Ste. 600, Sugar Land 832 532 1010 www. llicafetexas.com $ K 31 Embedo Co ee 14019 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 405, Sugar Land 832 999 4273 $ 32 Main Squeeze Juice Co. 8735 Hwy. 6, Ste. C, Missouri City 832 440 7157 www.mainsqueezejuiceco.com $ 33 Clean Juice 4779 Sweetwater Blvd., Ste. 11, Sugar Land 832 433 7961 www.cleanjuice.com $
37 Tillys 16535 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 305, Sugar Land 281 374 4800 www.tillys.com 38 Posh Wear 11575 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 346 434 5555 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 39 Water Tree Riverstone 4821 LJ Parkway, Ste. 15, Sugar Land 832 774 3701 40 Riverstone Pharmacy & Wellness 18721 University Blvd., Ste. 130, Sugar Land 281 207 6049 www.riverstonerx.com
2444 Settlers Way Blvd., Sugar Land 281 201 2946 LIQUOR STORES 42 Premium Liquors 8027 Hwy. 6, Ste. 400, Missouri City 281 969 8035 MISCELLANEOUS 43 Bu City Soap 15850 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 300, Sugar Land 346 345 4337 www.bu citysoap.com 44 Pet Supplies Plus 9018 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 200, Missouri City 346 396 7387 www.petsuppliesplus.com
GROCERY STORES 41 En Sisters African Market
COMMUNITY IMPACT’S COMING SOON CAMP GUIDE
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
EDUCATION
DEVELOPMENT
Top health care stories to watch in 2023 Top education stories to watch in 2023
Top development stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
Imperial Sugar Char House developers, city o cials update residents on building’s development plan
Major education bills led for 88th Texas legislative session
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023
BY HANNAH NORTON From public school funding to the student assessment model, educa- tion is expected to be a hot topic as lawmakers return to Austin. The 88th Texas legislative session began Jan. 10, and public education is once again the focus of many prospective bills. Public school funding remains a top priority for lawmakers, educa- tors and advocates. Because schools receive funding based on atten- dance, some administrators said their districts lost funding during the 2021-22 school year. The state nances schools through the basic allotment, which is the amount of money schools receive per student. Funding is based on average daily attendance, or the number of students at school on average. Average daily attendance is the sum of students present throughout the school year divided by the num- ber of days that schools are required
Fort Bend ISD intruder detection audit results issued The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees recently requisitioned a series of intruder detection audits for campuses across the district, which were presented in closed session at the Dec. 12 board of trustees meeting. According to available documentation from that meeting, three of the four schools audited passed the audit with no recommendations, while one school was directed to take corrective actions. The school district has declined to provide information on which schools were audited or what corrective actions have been taken. The district provided a statement saying the Texas School Safety Center provided guidance to districts about audit results. The center reportedly recommended districts not share the results “as it could lead to compromising important campus security information,” the district said in a statement. However, a district spokesperson said typical corrective actions often include additional sta training or work orders to repair doors.
to be open, according to the Texas Education Agency. Schools then earn $6,160 per student who meets the average daily attendance threshold. But when a student is frequently absent, their school loses money, even if the school’s day-to-day operations do not change. House Bill 31, led by Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D Austin, would require schools to be funded based on the average number of students enrolled during the academic year. This would protect districts from losing money when students miss school. An identical bill, Senate Bill 263, was led by Sen. Nathan Johnson, D Dallas. Two bills in favor of enroll- ment-based funding—HB 1246 and SB 728—were led during the 2021 legislative session. But despite bipartisan support from lawmakers and educators across the state, neither bill received a hearing or reached the chamber oors.
SESSION TO ADDRESS SCHOOL FUNDING
BY JACK DOWLING
Lawmakers have led bills to increase the state’s allotment for per-pupil funding in Texas public schools, which, according to Education Week, trails the national average by over $4,000.
For the second time in a decade, the Imperial Sugar Char House has a developer with plans in place that may save the aging structure. A purchase agreement struck in early December between PUMA Development, the company developing the mixed- use Founders District in West Houston, and the Hunton Group, the property owner of all the historic Imperial build- ings, means plans for development are moving forward. Residents had questions for the city of Sugar Land, which has promised to invest in the property, as well as for PUMA CEO Mark Toon, at town halls at the Sugar Land Heritage Museum on Dec. 8 and 15. Their inquiries revolved around what businesses or residences would be on the property; where exactly the development will overlap; and how African American and convict leasing history will be incorporated into the project. “Financially, it’s a really di cult thing,” Toon said at the Dec. 15 meeting. “At the end of the day, we’re all about adaptive reuse and restoring old buildings, and we think that’s one of the coolest things ever, but you can’t do it when you know going in that you’re going to lose a lot of money.” Toon refrained from committing to leasing prospects, but promised businesses would be “experiential.” The
RENDERING COURTESY KM REALTY
Township Square to bring new tenants, with completed renovation set for 2023 Township Square, located at 3434 FM 1092 Road, Missouri City, is in the midst of a $4 million transformation, spearheaded by KM Realty, a commercial real estate rm based in Houston. The renovation is set to be complete early in spring 2023 with a lineup of tenants, including Fellowship Co ee Co., Phresh as Duck Barber Shop and a yet-to-be- announced restaurant. The upgrades include replacing windows and doors; installing metal canopies and fabric awnings; repairing and replacing siding; adding patios and improving the common areas; landscaping; and renovating the shopping center’s roadside monument signs.
$8K
$7,075
$6,106
Up by $969 (16%)
Redevelopment on Sugar Land’s Imperial Historic District will see movement in 2023.
$6K
HUNTER MARROW COMMUNITY IMPACT
$4K
development is also expected to contain green space and multitenant housing. Overcoming challenges Sugar Land Communications Director Doug Adolph said after the Dec. 15 town hall that more work is needed. “We recognize there’s a need to do more to ensure histori- cal representation, and we are committed to building on the work we’ve already done in this area,” he said in an email. Toon told residents Dec. 15 that “a few restaurants” could be expected in the development site by 2025, and “the rest of the project” will start development by 2026.
$2K
$0
SOURCES: EDUCATION WEEK, STATE OF TEXAS COMMUNITY IMPACT
Johnson also led SB 88, which would increase the basic allotment to $7,075.
SUGAR LAND 3335 Hwy 6 S (281) 313-4446 MISSOURI CITY 5418 Hwy 6 (281) 403-0400
SUGAR CREEK 13827 Southwest Fwy (281) 491-8628 SIENNA PLANTATION 9034 Sienna Crossing Dr (281) 778-9959
NEW TERRITORY 5720 New Territory Blvd (281) 491-0811
Top transportation stories to watch in 2023 TRANSPORTATION City Council to begin adoption of 2023 Sugar Land Mobility Master Plan in February
MOBILITY GOALS The city of Sugar Land plans to unveil its 2023 Mobility Master Plan in February, which will guide city transportation. The city has ve goals for the plan, including: • Build on previous successes to create safe mobility networks; • Enhance travel within Sugar Land to be more inclusive, convenient and reliable;
BY JACK DOWLING
within Sugar Land to be more inclusive, convenient and reliable; establish Sugar Land as an active-life- style city that does not always require driving; strengthen Sugar Land’s position as an innovative mobility leader that sets the standard for quality of life and a thriving economy; and nally create a resilient mobility network that can withstand envi- ronmental, social and economic changes over time. The plan has also been in uenced by resident feedback e orts, which city o cials said have focused on improving safety, improving intersec- tions operations, reducing travel delays, promoting healthy and active lifestyles, and providing the next generation with an environmentally clean and nancially sound system.
Armed with resident surveys and more than a year of design and planning, the city of Sugar Land plans to unveil the 2023 Mobility Master Plan in February. The mobility master plan is a strategic plan with the core themes of enhancing mobility and providing citywide guidance for all types of transportation. According to the city of Sugar Land, a draft document is being circulated through the city gov- ernment and will be released prior to the adoption process in February. The city has ve goals in mind, Sugar Land Com- munications Director Doug Adolph said in a Dec. 19 email. The city plans to build on previous successes to create safe mobility networks; enhance travel
• Establish Sugar Land as an active-lifestyle city that does not always require driving; • Strengthen Sugar Land’s position as an innovative mobility leader that sets the standard. for quality of life and a thriving economy; and • Create a resilient mobility network that can withstand environmental, social, and economic changes over time.
SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
County toll road expansion underway
Sienna Parkway intersection project to begin in January
BACK ON SCHEDULE The Sienna Parkway improvement project will begin in January after initial delays.
BY JACK DOWLING
Construction has begun on the $43.3 million Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road expansion project, which will include an extension toward Sienna Ranch Road and an overpass over Sienna Parkway. According to the Fort Bend County Toll Road Association, the project is expected to be completed in summer 2023. “Preliminary engineering to extend the project from Sienna Ranch Road to the levee is currently underway,” FBCTRA Deputy Operating O cer Lisa Castaneda said in an email to Community Impact . Once completed, engineering services for the nal design will be negotiated.”
KITTY HOLLOW PARK
BY JACK DOWLING
6
The Missouri City Sienna Parkway widening project, an intersection capacity improvement project along Sienna Parkway, is scheduled to begin in January, city o cials con rmed in an email to Community Impact. The project runs the length of Hwy. 6 to the north and McKeever Road to the south, and is expected to cost about $2.5 million. The proj- ect was delayed after a $4 million bid was rejected in September, after which city sta said they would go back and evaluate engineering options to reduce the project’s cost.
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The alignment and construction estimate will be identi ed through the preliminary engineering phase, the spokeswoman said. In addition, preliminary engineer- ing design services to extend the project across the Brazos River and then to Hwy. 36 are under negotia- tions. No cost estimate is available for that project yet, and the alignment and construction estimate will be identi ed through the preliminary engineering phase.
N
MCKEEVER RD.
N
SOURCE: MISSOURI CITY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
CITY & COUNTY
Top city & county stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
Missouri City’s new city manager sets goals for 2023
BY JACK DOWLING
MISSOURI CITY With an eye toward transparency, Missouri City’s newest city manager, Angel Jones, said she is looking forward to 2023. Jones was sworn into o ce Dec. 5 and is the fourth city manager for the city in three years. According to Jones, her rst month has been dedicated to assessment. “One of the rst things that I’d like to do is to meet with key stakeholders and residents to get a feel for the city,” Jones said. While Jones refrained from committing to speci cs, she did say that employee compensation and retention rates were at the top of her priorities. “Compensation is one of those things that is really hard to get right,” Jones said. “But we want our employees to feel as though they’re being paid what they’re worth.” In addition, Jones said one of her goals is to ensure
Construction e orts on the EpiCenter will continue in 2023.
RENDERING COURTESY PBK ARCHITECTS
Work continues on Fort Bend County EpiCenter
Missouri City’s newest city manager, Angel Jones, takes the oath of o ce at a swearing-in ceremony during the Dec. 5 City Council meeting. (Jack Dowling/Community Impact)
employees feel like they belong, which she said is key to creating an e cient, e ective city that is able to meet the needs of its residents. “My goal is to ensure that Missouri City is the most e cient and e ective city that it can be,” she said.
BY ASIA ARMOUR
FORT BEND COUNTY Work is still underway on the 230,000-square- foot, 10,000-seat-capacity Fort Bend County EpiCenter in Rosenberg. Site developers for the county’s newest sports and entertainment complex said the project is slated for comple- tion in August 2023. The EpiCenter will rest on 52 acres of land along Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 36, a central location Fort Bend County Judge KP George called the “heart of the county.” The cost of construction remains $120 million. In addition to graduations and events, Fort Bend County intends to use the space for emergency shelter, a backup emergency operations center, and a cooling and warming center in extreme weather condi- tions. Kevin Matocha—principal at Stonehenge Holdings LLC and site developer for the EpiCenter—said creating more resources for disaster relief was of particular importance to commissioners, especially consider- ing the impacts of Hurricane Harvey.
Fort Bend County o cials identify priorities ahead of 88th Texas legislative session
REPRESENTING FORT BEND
The 88th Texas legislative session, which lasts 140 days, commenced Jan. 10. The Texas Legislature meets every other year. Here is who is representing Fort Bend County at the capitol. Texas House of Representatives District 26: Jacey Jetton R District 27: Ron Reynolds D District 28: Gary Gates R District 85: Phil Stephenson R
BY ASIA ARMOUR
them to local legislators. Per the Dec. 13 presentation, Fort Bend County looks to support bills that promote more local control, the continuation of House Bill 3 funding for schools, animal protection initia- tives and Medicaid expansion bills. Additionally, the county will look for funding support on its mental health, criminal and juvenile justice, and transportation and infrastruc- ture initiatives. It also proposed increasing transparency and accountability of special purpose districts; placing emphasis on next generation energy; and increasing funding for broadband and mobility.
FORT BEND COUNTY On Dec. 13, Fort Bend County commissioners workshopped possible legislative pro- posals, areas of interests to monitor and funding opportunities for the county’s priorities in the upcoming 88th Texas legislative session, which convened Jan. 10. Michelle Whittenburg—a legislative consultant for the county—identi ed trail accessibility in CenterPoint Energy easements, hotel occupancy tax, pension bonds and revenue caps as four priorities for the county. Whittenburg will work with the county to draft proposals and deliver
State Senators
District 13: Boris L. Miles D District 17: Joan Hu man R District 18: Lois W. Kolkhorst R
SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
TOP STORY
Mapping changes As Fort Bend ISD looks to cut spending, it has streamlined several of its bus routes for kids attending one of its seven high school academies, early college, and career and technical education programs, providing annual savings for the district. It is one of several measures the district has taken to shave costs.
early college, and career and technical education programs. The programs o er concentrated course pathways through career and academic classes, according to FBISD’s website. Starting Jan. 5, with the streamlined approach, the district cut more than 80 bus stops, 300 miles per day and 30 minutes of driving per driver per day. “We’re not taking away any service from kids, and we’re still providing service, but we’re doing it a little less expensively,” FBISD Executive Director of Transportation Mike Jones said. May bond While FBISD still needs to identify an additional $20.63 million in cuts for the 2023-24 school year, the district is also considering a May bond election to address facility needs, Bassett said. The district has yet to nalize a bond amount that would go before voters in May, but Bassett said it might be the same $1.2 billion the district announced in August it would postpone to focus on November’s tax rate election. That bond included $1.064 billion in major facility projects to address rebuilds, new schools and reno- vations. It also included $559 mil- lion in addressing life cycle needs, $5.6 million for safety and security, $6.7 million for transportation, $100 million in technology purchases and $3.2 million worth of land, according to district documents. Bassett said despite one of the fac- tors that contributed to the failure of the tax rate election—high in ation, which hit 7.1% Dec. 15, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—he is con dent a bond could pass in May. “Because we postponed the bond— it was originally going to be 2021—we can de nitely demonstrate the needs,” Bassett said.
BELLAIRE BLVD.
6
59
1464
OLD RICHMOND RD.
1
359
90
3
99
4
2
1092
AUSTIN PKWY.
90
5
High school Academies Pickup locations
INDEPENDENCE BLVD.
2234
ACADEMIES
59
6
1 Travis High School 2 James Reese Career & Tech 3 Dulles High School 4 Thurgood Marshall High School 5 Willowridge High School 6 Elkins High School 7 Hightower High School
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
7
were nixed +80
bus stops
6
SIENNA PKWY.
bus stops remain for the high school academies, early college and CTE programs 24
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Dec. 5. Closing the district’s adminis- tration annex building on Sweetwater Boulevard will save $180,000 annu- ally; changing the 2023 graduation venue to FBISD’s Mercer Stadium saves $200,000; and staggering the district’s start of summer school saves another $160,000, according to district data. Still, by the time the FBISD board of trustees approves the district’s 2023-24 budget in June, it will need to cut an additional $20.63 million. District o - cials said during a Dec. 5 meeting other cuts have been identi ed, but they were unable to discuss them publicly. Heading those e orts is Stephanie
Williams, FBISD’s executive director of teaching and learning, who leads the district’s Design Team. The 12-member team has been tasked with creating a plan for any programs, processes or positions that may need to be cut. “What we’re hoping with this change management and communication plan is that we help stakeholders make sense of the why behind the change,” Williams said at the Dec. 5 meeting. The Design Team worked with the district’s transportation department and has identi ed $400,000 in annual savings by streamlining the district’s bus route system for its academies,
CONTINUED FROM 1
but pushed it to 2023 to prioritize the tax rate election. Despite voters denying the tax rate election, FBISD o cials said they are con dent a May bond would pass. “A bond is very di erent [than a tax rate election],” FBISD Deputy Superintendent Steve Bassett said. “People are used to that. Everybody just understands it so much more.” Finding solutions So far, FBISD had identi ed $2.27 million in annual savings as of
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