Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | July 2024

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Sugar Land Missouri City Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11 JULY 11AUG. 8, 2024

2024 Home Edition

The Lenox at the Grid is a multifamily development joining The Grid, a mixed-use project o Hwy. 59. The 350-unit apartment complex began move-ins in June, according to MRI ApartmentData.

AUBREY VOGELCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Multifamily units ll in as area moves toward build-out

communities, such as Sugar Land and Missouri City, multifamily housing will increase to meet the needs of young professionals and empty nesters, PASA demographer Susan Cates said. Sugar Land and Missouri City ocials said they’re carefully assessing developments as the cities near build-out.

began planning multifamily projects during the coronavirus pandemic when interest rates were at record lows. This caused more apartment complexes to open in 2023 and 2024 than Bruce McClenny, industry principal for MRI Apartment- Data at MRI Real Estate Software, said he has seen in his entire career. When there’s limited land availability in mature

BY DANICA LLOYD, KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Thousands of multifamily units are set to join the Sugar Land and Missouri City area through 2033, according to a November 2023 report from demographic rm Population and Survey Analysts, or PASA. Real estate experts said developers and investors

CONTINUED ON 18

Also in this issue

Impacts: Little Woodrow’s opens on First Colony Mall lawn (Page 6)

Transportation: Widening begins at University Boulevard (Page 11)

Real estate: Home Edition explores market trends (Page 12)

Business: Uncle Honey’s dessert shop honors Black history (Page 23)

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100% of FBISD Lead Pre-K Teachers are certified and each classroom has two educators. El 100% de los maestros titulares de prekínder de FBISD están certificados y tienen dos educadores por salón de clase. The FBISD full-day Pre-K program focuses on hands-on learning in nurturing environments where children acquire academic, social and emotional skills. El programa de Pre-K de FBISD, que se ofrece durante todo el día, se enfoca en el aprendizaje a través del juego en un ambiente educativo donde los estudiantes adquieren habilidades académicas y socio-emocionales. FBISD Pre-K students develop pre-reading, math, and language skills faster than students enrolled in Charter School programs. Los estudiantes de Pre-K desarrollan habilidades de prelectura, matemáticas y lenguaje más rápido.

ENROLL TODAY! ¡Inscríbase HOY!

Visit our website for summer registration events. Visite nuestra página en la web para eventos de inscripción de verano.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Amy Martinez General Manager amymartinez@ communityimpact.com

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Impacts

2 Fellowship Coffee Co. The shop offers fresh-roasted coffee and partners with small businesses to provide specialty food and drinks. • Opened May 1 • 3434 FM 1092, Ste. 350, Missouri City • www.fellowshipcoffeetx.com 3 Dough Zone The restaurant offers stuffed dumpling varieties, noodle dishes, pancake rolls, baos and boba teas. • Opened June 10

W . B EL L F O R

BRIAR FOREST DR.

FOUNTAIN LAKE CIR.

NEXUS AVE.

• 2715 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land • www.doughzonedumplinghouse.com

LAKE POINTE PKWY.

PROMENADE WAY

4 Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies The shop offers 25 ice cream flavors, about 30 mix-ins, cookie varieties and customizable cookie and

Missouri City

NBLVD.

ice cream cakes. • Opened June 6 • 20330 Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road, Ste. 130, Missouri City • www.greatamericancookiesand marbleslabcreamery.com

99 TOLL

1092

GRAND PKWY.

Sugar Land

5 Burlington The department store offers apparel and accessories, beauty items, footwear and home decor. • Opened June 14

COMMONWEALTH BLVD.

K W Y .

• 12520 Fountain Lake Circle, Stafford • www.burlington.com/store-locator

KITTY HOLLOW PARK

CITY WALK

B L

V D

6 PokePoki The family-owned eatery allows customers to build their own rice- or salad-based poke bowl. • Opened June 12 • 5936 Hwy. 6, Missouri City • www.pokepoki.com

TOWN CENTER BLVD. 3

SIENNA PKWY.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

espresso, and frozen and blended coffee drinks. • Reopened June 9 • 17211 W. Grand Parkway S., Ste. L1, Sugar Land • www.pjscoffee.com

Coming soon

Now open

7 Brown Town Caffe Head chef Giby Jackson created her own menu centered around coffee, cakes, cookies and other desserts. Brown

1 PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans The business reopened under new management after months of a temporary closure. The shop offers teas,

Services: Physical Therapy, Aquatic Therapy, Sports Performance

First Colony Aquatic and Rehabilitation Center - Rosenberg 5765 Reading Rd Rosenberg, TX 77471 (346) 375-7202 www.fortbendpt.com

First Colony Aquatic and Rehabilitation Center - Sugar Land 20403 University Blvd STE 100 Sugar Land, TX 77478 (346) 375-5633 www.sugarlandpt.com

Sports Therapy Center 2225 Williams Trace Blvd #104 Sugar Land, TX 77478 (281) 344-2704 www.sportstherapycenter.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

13 Vida Family Medicine Founded by Dr. Rebecca Berens, the primary care practice operates on a membership-based model. • Opening Aug. 12 • 1111 S. Hwy. 6, Ste. 122, Sugar Land • www.vidafamilymed.com 14 Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu The Brazilian jiujitsu academy will offer group and private lessons for adults and children as well as wrestling and Muay Thai classes. • Opening in September • 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Ste. 950, Missouri City • www.renzograciemissouricity.com

Town Caffe will also offer fresh flower bouquets and arrangements. The business was set to open July 1, but was not open as of press time. • Opening TBD • 920 Murphy Road, Stafford • No business website 8 Sunright Tea Studio The tea shop will offer various iced beverages, including boba tea, tea topped with sea-salt cheese foam, smoothies and coffee. • Opening in early to mid-July • 3412 Hwy. 6, Ste. G, Sugar Land • www.snrtea.com 9 Gyro Republic The Houston-based restaurant offers customizable New York City-style gyros, rice bowls, salads, pita sandwiches and loaded fries. • Opening in July • 20340 Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road, Unit 100, Missouri City • www.gyrorepublic.com 10 Green Spa Oasis The spa will offer Thai massages and cosmetic injections, a store representative said. • Opening in mid-August • 18318 University Blvd., Ste. 700, Sugar Land • 714-273-9388 11 Sienna School of Music The family-owned business will teach students age 4 and older to play a range of instruments. It will also offer vocal lessons. • Opening in July 12 Gayatri Bhavan Houston The franchise vegetarian Indian restaurant’s menu boasts curries, dosas, chaats and sweets from eastern India. • Opening in August • 7022 Hwy. 6, Ste. 500, Missouri City • www.gayatribhavantx.com • 7746 Hwy. 6, Ste. D, Missouri City • www.siennaschoolofmusic.com

Now open

15 Take 5 Oil Change In 1996, the business launched the industry’s first

19 Little Woodrow’s Located on the First Colony Mall’s lawn, the icehouse offers more than 50 beers on tap, wine, cocktails, an outdoor patio with a 300-inch TV and new menu offerings. The Texas-based bar and grill also has yard games such as cornhole and giant jenga. • Opened July 1 • 16535 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 2608, Sugar Land • www.littlewoodrows.com

stay-in-your-car oil change. • Opening in September 2025 • 11825 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.take5.com

16 Pho To Go The Vietnamese cuisine eatery will feature several pho options consisting of rice noodles, herbs and a variety of meats. Construction will wrap up in October. • Opening TBD

• 2710 FM 1092, Ste. B, Missouri City • No website or business phone number

lessons, wrestling and Muay Thai classes. • 3527 Hwy. 6, Ste. 240, Sugar Land • www.renzograciehouston.com

17 Portillo’s The fast-casual chain’s menu consists of Chicago-style hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers, fries, salads, pasta plates, milkshakes and chocolate cake. • Opening by the end of 2024 • Northeast corner of Nexus Avenue and Hwy. 59, Stafford • www.portillos.com

Closings

20 Yesyoga The boutique infrared yoga studio will close after nearly six years of business. All class packages and gift cards must be used before the studio closes, and refunds won’t be issued for unused classes. • Closing July 14 • 16140 City Walk, Sugar Land • www.yesyogastudio.com

In the news

18 Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu Sugar Land The location will mark the 10-year anniversary since the studio’s opening on July 13. The studio offers jiujitsu

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

For tickets, visit sugarland.hmns.org or call 713-639-4629

In this immersive exhibit, visitors are transported to Palenque, Mexico, where an archaeological team has mysteriously disappeared from a dig site while investigating rumors of a priceless jade medallion. They will follow the clues the team left behind to locate the precious medallion while avoiding the dangers lurking in the ruins. Follow clues to locate the precious artifact!

Mystery of the Mayan Medallion is an exhibit by the Museum of Discovery, Little Rock, Arkansas

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY AUBREY VOGEL

County could develop human trafficking task force

Sugar Land police facility to receive $1M renovations

The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office submitted a grant proposal in May to create a human trafficking task force to further support victims in investigations and prosecute individu- als involved in human trafficking. The application is for the U.S. Department of Justice Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force human trafficking grant, said Wesley Wittig, second assistant district attorney for Fort Bend County. If awarded, the county will receive $569,869 from the U.S. Department of Justice and will pro- vide a $189,631 match for the task force. The funds will support hiring the following two positions: • Task force coordinator • Investigator What they’re saying “Securing the financial support needed to continue to investigate these terrible crimes, hold criminals accountable and recover victims

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office has received 15 reports of human trafficking since 2019.

Number of trafficking cases reported

The Sugar Land Police Department will renovate its existing department space after losing its larger lease at the former Fluor Corp. building. At a June 4 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved a $1 million budget amendment to renovate the second floor of the police department building and pur- chase two modular buildings for additional office and training space. The background The department’s lease ended June 1 at the Fluor Daniel Complex, which housed office space, the training and recruiting division, firearms instructors, mental health unit and civilian background investigators.

2020

2021

2022

2023

SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

is important to District Attorney Brian Middleton because we want our residents to not only feel safe but to be safe,” Wittig said in an email. Looking ahead Grants from the U.S. Department of Justice are set to be awarded by Oct. 1, Wittig said. If awarded, funds will support the task force from Oct. 1, 2024- Sept. 30, 2027.

Missouri City approves clarified noise ordinance At a July 1 meeting, Missouri City City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to clarify its existing nuisance standard, also known as the reasonable person standard. The first reading was approved at a June 17 meeting. What else?

Missouri City noise complaints, 2023-2024

B's Wine Bar: 137 Other: 67 Private residences: 375 The Ranch at Sienna apartments: 13

Total: 592

At the June 17 meeting, City Council member Jeffrey Boney also requested city staff add a discussion item to a future council meeting to establish a fine or citation for callers who exces- sively make false noise complaints.

The changes outline more factors for police officers to consider when investigating noise complaints, define sleeping facilities and specify that noise needed to be at a minimum from the hours of midnight-6:59 a.m.

SOURCE: MISSOURI CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Education

BY KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

FBISD launches free summer meals Children age 18 and under can receive free breakfast and lunch from select Fort Bend ISD campuses June 3-July 26. According to FBISD’s website, campuses in Sugar Land and Missouri City oer this, including Thurgood Marshall and Progres- sive high schools; Missouri City Middle School; and Armstrong, EA Jones, Edgar Glover, Hunters Glen, Lantern Lane, Quail Valley and Townewest elementary schools.

Trustees adopt 202425 budget amid constraints Fort Bend ISD unanimously adopted a balanced budget for the scal year 2024-25 at the June 10 meeting amid revenue uncertainties for the upcom- ing school years and nancial constraints. According to budget documents, components of the 2024-25 budget include: • A projected student enrollment of 80,572, which is higher than the 2023-24 enrollment following a slowing in enrollment growth overall • A proposed tax rate remaining at $0.9869 per $100 property valuation There also won’t be employees raises due to budget constraints, but $3.5 million already went to step increases provided by revenues from the voter-approval tax rate election, sta said. Digging deeper During May budget discussions, FBISD sta

“We will be able to ... have a greater sense of what we can anticipate potentially so that then we can take the

next steps to begin to have a plan in place for the out [of legislative session] years.” MARC SMITH, FORT BEND ISD SUPERINTENDENT

said they’d identied $24.7 million in priorities and only $3.55 million of exible funding. This comes after FBISD previously made $39 million in expenditure cuts in FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24, sta said. What’s next While the board is required to pass the FY 2024-25 budget by June 30, board President Kris- tin Tassin said trustees will hold more workshops in July to discuss and potentially amend next year’s budget. The rst is set for July 9, after press time.

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Trustees to consider options to reduce bond shortfall Fort Bend ISD sta have identied several ways to further reduce the shortfall on its $1.26 billion May 2023 bond program, but they’re now seeking board assistance to determine next steps.

Culling the shortfall For the remaining $61.2 million shortfall, potential funding options include the district:

Superintendent Marc Smith recommended mak- ing decisions on which projects could be delayed to reallocate funds to other projects. The update Board President Kristin Tassin said she asked the board’s legal counsel and sta for recommenda- tions on how to move forward. However, she said she’d rather not cut projects impacting students.

Using $6 million in contingency funds from the 2018 and 2023 bonds Using $500,000 in federal funds awarded to Mission Bend Elementary School Applying for state school safety grants to reallocate safety bond funds for other projects

The $163.2 million shortfall has been reduced to $61.2 million since February, FBISD ocials said at the board of trustees’ June 3 workshop meeting. Additionally, sta cut $12.6 million o the amount since the May board update.

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Lane widening on University Boulevard begins

Modifications coming to Settlers Way At a May 21 meeting, Sugar Land City Coun- cil approved an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to construct a second left-turn lane on Settlers Way Boule- vard onto Hwy. 6. The $300,000 project design calls for narrowing the median to allow space for the additional lane as well as modifying the exist- ing median opening to allow only left-turn entries into The Shops at Williams Trace, per agenda documents. Looking ahead Construction on the Settlers Way project is estimated to begin in late fall, Sugar Land Communications Director Doug Adolph said in an email. Project construction is expected to take approximately three months to complete, he said.

Sugar Land City Council approved a $3.2 million construction contract with Environmental Allies, LLC for the widening of University Boulevard at a May 7 meeting. Construction began in mid-June. Zooming in According to a May 8 news release, the Univer- sity Boulevard project will add a northbound and southbound lane from New Territory Boulevard to just south of Lexington Boulevard, taking the corridor from four to six lanes. It will also include the additions of: • Another turn lane at Lexington Boulevard • A double left turn at Wescott Avenue • Median upgrades at Branford Place and the Hous- ton Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land Why it matters According to the release, University Boulevard is a vital north-south regional corridor, connecting to Hwy. 59 and city areas such as the Smart Financial

Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land

BRANFORD PL.

Centre, Brazos River Park, The Crown Festival Park and the University of Houston at Sugar Land. Construction is set to finish by spring 2025, city officials said.

TxDOT’s Hwy. 59 bridge extension project begins A three-year project to extend the Hwy. 59 bridge over the Brazos River kicked off June 3. The Texas Department of Transportation’s $53 million project will lengthen the Hwy. 59 bridge as well as both the northbound and south- bound frontage road bridges 1,000 feet north over the Brazos River. It will also permanently remove the turnaround damaged by erosion. Digging deeper

FESTIVAL BLVD.

The northbound main lanes briefly closed June 21-24 to allow contractors to place a temporary concrete barrier and install workzone striping, TxDOT officials said in an email. Traffic is now limited to northbound lanes until mid-2025, officials said. The project is set to finish in late 2027.

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Real estate

BY COLBY FARR & CARSON WEAVER

Home Edition

2024

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Home Edition! This guide features news ranging from key real estate trends and new developments unique to your neighborhood to an overview of the housing industry across Texas. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting local businesses. Stories in the guide range from property value appraisals in Fort Bend County to Missouri City’s first build-to-rent community, which are single-family developments purely for renters. Our cover story this month focuses on the thousands of apartments set to break ground in Sugar Land and Missouri City over the next five years. Our team interviewed demographers, multifamily experts, city officials and developers to give you a snapshot of what’s happening in the area’s multifamily housing sector. Susan Cates, demographer with Population and Survey Analysts, said Fort Bend ISD is 89% built out. With limited land available, Cates said it’s likely we’ll see more multifamily developments fill in pockets of land to meet the demand of people moving to the area. See Page 18 for a look at where the construction is coming locally.

What's inside

Real estate market data for Sugar Land, Missouri City (Page 13)

Kelly Schafler Senior Editor kschafler@ communityimpact.com

Inspire Homes opens city's 1st single-family rental project (Page 16)

Property values rise across Fort Bend County (Page 17)

Multiple Listing Service rules changing

Stay tuned

For real estate associations affiliated with the NAR, the changes must be implemented in August, per a May 3 news release. After the policy changes take effect, a final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for later in November.

A $418 million settlement with the National Association of Realtors in March may impact fees for buyers, sellers and real estate agents, starting in August. The settlement—brought on by class-action lawsuits alleging brokerages inflated buyer- seller commissions—will force the NAR to make policy changes to Multiple Listing Services, online platforms where real estate agents list homes. “[The MLS] gives you all the details of the home—what year it was built, square footage, how many rooms, room sizes,” said Thomas Mouton, chair of the Houston Association of Realtors. According to the settlement, sellers will pay smaller commissions and buyers will decide how much their agents are paid, among other changes. “When an agent searches for a home for their client, [the MLS tells] you what the listing agent is actually offering for compensation,” Mouton said. “Now, that will not be displayed anywhere on the site.”

Updated MLS policies The changes outlined by the NAR settlement in March that go into effect in August include:

“Houston is going to be affected like everyone else because it’s a national settlement,” Mouton said. “We’re no different than any other state.”

Listing agents can no longer make compensation offers to buyer agents on the MLS.

MLS participants can’t filter or restrict listings to clients based on the level of compensation offered to the agent.

2024

March 15: Settlement agreement signed April 24: Preliminary approval of settlement review granted by the court Aug. 17: Practice changes take effect; earliest day for lawsuit notifications to be issued to those impacted Nov. 26: Final approval hearing for the settlement

Compensation disclosures to sellers, and prospective sellers and buyers, are required.

MLS users must enter an agreement with buyers before home tours.

SOURCE: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

More homes were sold in Sugar Land- and Missouri City-area ZIP codes in May compared to last May, with 304 homes sold versus 289 homes last year. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

May 2023

May 2024

-6.62%

+33.33%

-8.98%

+121.43%

+28.13%

77459

77478

77479

77489

77498

77478

77498

77489

Median home sales price

99 TOLL

May

2023

2024

77479

$415,670 $384,500 $572,000 $223,500 $335,953

$429,732 $498,960 $608,000 $247,300 $313,000

77459

77478

77479

77489

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 ALINAWROGERS@YAHOO.COM

77498

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

BY HANNAH NORTON

Texas’ first statewide flood plan says 5 million people at risk

Over 5 million Texans live or work in areas vulnerable to flooding, according to a draft of the state’s first flood plan. State lawmakers tasked the Texas Water Devel- opment Board with creating the plan in 2019, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The 267-page draft, published in early May, recommends over $54.5 billion in funding from various sources to reduce flood risks. The board discussed the plan during a May 30 public hearing in Austin. Board members are expected to adopt a final flood plan in August and submit it to the Legislature by Sept. 1. The details The plan includes findings from 15 regional flood planning groups, which have been working since October 2020, and makes several recom- mendations for state and local flood policies. “Although flooding has certain benefits, like recharging groundwater and providing vital

nutrients to ecosystems and agricultural lands, it remains a significant threat to the health and safety of Texans,” the plan reads. “Each of the state’s 254 counties has experienced at least one federally declared flood disaster, proof that floods can affect all areas of Texas.” The plan noted roughly 70% of flood-related deaths occur on roadways, particularly during the night and at low-water crossings. The planning groups identified nearly 64,000 miles of roads in areas susceptible to flooding. The board asked the Texas Legislature to expand early warning systems for floods, create minimum building and infrastructure standards to reduce fatalities and property damage, improve low-water crossing safety, and enhance dam and levee safety programs. “We want to put out a state flood plan that does what it is tasked to do, and that is to save lives and save property,” board Chair Brooke Paup said.

Flood risks Around one in six Texans live or work in flood-prone areas, the Texas Water Development Board found. Over one-fourth of Texas’ land area is vulnerable to flooding.

5.22M people

1.66M buildings

63,900 miles of roads

1.29M homes

12.65M acres of agricultural land

6,258 hospitals, emergency medical services departments, fire stations, police stations and schools

SOURCE: TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Real estate

BY MELISSA ENAJE & AUBREY VOGEL

BY KELLY SCHAFLER

Property values rise countywide

Inspire Homes opens city’s 1st single-family rental project

Fort Bend County home value changes Increased in value Had minimal change in value

Decreased in value

Fort Bend County homeowners saw an average increase of 4.4% in residential property values from 2023 to 2024, while the market value for homes eligible for homestead exemptions saw an increase of 2.1%, according to a news release from the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District. FBCAD Chief Appraiser Jordan Wise said in the release that the Fort Bend County housing market seems to have stabilized at the beginning of 2024. “Sales volume has dipped, but historic and ongoing demand for property in Fort Bend County has kept prices relatively stable,” he said. During an April 23 Fort Bend County Commis- sioners Court meeting, Wise said key market drivers for property values increasing include: • Rising interest rates and ination • Slowed new construction • Overall demand being lower, but steady • Inventory remaining low

What’s next The deadline to le a protest against a home value was May 15, or within 30 days of receiving a property value notice being mailed. For the last three years, more than 50% of property value protests led in Fort Bend County received a lowered negotiated value, according to data from the appraisal district. Protest data for 2024 values isn’t yet available. County ocials said property owners should take note of several upcoming dates related to when tax rates are set and when bills will be mailed out, including: • August-October: Jurisdictions adopt tax rates • October/November: Tax bills are mailed • Dec. 31: Last day to use a deduction for the same year’s federal income tax

lounge area; a children’s playground; a dog park; and a pool with a re pit, courtyard and grilling area, Dinerstein said. Zooming out Rental demand is on the rise in the Houston area, leading to leased single-family home rentals growing 6.7% year over year in the region and average rent prices nearing their peak, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ most recent report on May’s rental market. The average rent price for single-family homes rose to $2,345 in May, tying with the price in August 2023—the second-highest average rent price recorded, per the report. Looking ahead The Dinerstein Companies plans to continue opening 30 homes per month until the commu- nity is substantially complete in August, Dinerstein said.

Developer The Dinerstein Companies opened Missouri City’s rst single-family rental commu- nity in March, premiering the rst 24 of its homes. Inspire Homes, the build-to-rent community, is set to have 186 homes upon build-out in August, Brad Dinerstein, managing partner of develop- ment and design, said in an email. The details The roughly 35-acre community has: • Homes ranging from 1,172 to 1,442 square feet • Two- and three-bedroom oorplans • One- and two-story options • Monthly rent ranging from $2,300-$2,500 • Amenities including fenced backyards, a driveway and an attached two-car garage Much like apartment developments, Inspire Homes also oers renters community amenities, such as a clubhouse with a tness center and

$200,000-$299,999

$300,000-$449,999

17%

14.8%

48.9%

56.3%

28.9%

34.1%

$450,000-$749,999

$750,000+

19.5% 11.3%

18.6% 11.4%

69.2%

70%

Developer The Dinerstein Companies opened Missouri City’s rst build-to-rent community in March.

Fort Bend County selling trends 2022 2023

COURTESY INSPIRE HOMES

Total single-family homes sold

Median price of single-family homes sold

SIENNA PKWY.

95,302

$338,295

83,854

$330,000

WATTS PLANTATION RD.

SOURCE: FORT BEND CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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

>500

1-50 0 51-150 151-300 301-500

Multifamily units fill in as area moves toward build-out From the cover

Two-minute impact

Multifamily housing snapshot, 2023-33

362 units in Stafford, while Lenox Sienna opened in September with 248 units in Missouri City. Meanwhile, two developments will break ground in the fourth quarter of 2024 in Missouri City. • Sueba USA will bring a Class A 346-unit development to Fort Bend Town Center III, Sueba USA officials said. • Dhanani Private Equity Group’s Territory at Missouri City, a 280-unit complex, is coming near the same intersection, Dhanani officials said. “[We] are encouraged by the growth of Missouri City and have been interested in developing the area for some time,” Dennis Blanchard, vice president of development and legal affairs for Sueba USA, said in an email. “This site was too good to pass up for a signature Sueba multifamily project.”

More than 12,300 apartment units are set to open within Fort Bend ISD’s boundaries between 2023-33, accounting for about a third of all new incoming housing units, according to PASA’s report. In the next five years, a bulk of the apartments are poised to open near commercial areas or along major thoroughfares, such as Hwy. 59 and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road, Cates said. Accessibility and walkability to grocery stores, restaurants and retail is a determinant for developers deciding where to build apartments. “That’s a lifestyle that a lot of people are really looking for,” she said. Apartments also sprouted in mixed- use areas last year, according to MRI ApartmentData. Filament at The Grid opened last June with

Units under construction Total units: 3,848 Units planned Total units: 2,932 Units in probable future Total units: 1,480 Fort Bend ISD boundary

1464

1092

521

SOURCE: POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Hundreds of apartments are also planned to join mixed-use redevelopment projects in Sugar Land including The Pearl—part of Lake Pointe Plaza at the former Fluor Daniel building—and the Imperial Sugar district, Community Impact previously reported. Sueba USA is also set to bring a

273-unit apartment complex called Marketplace Lofts to the corner of Imperial Boulevard and Ulrich Street, within the historic Imperial Refinery District, Blanchard said. However, the timeline is contingent on the rest of the district’s build-out.

Sugar Land/Stafford/ Sienna

Hwy. 288 South/ Pearland West

Katy/Cinco Ranch/Waterside

Houston metro area

Zooming out

Multifamily rental rates in southwest area

The Houston Association of Realtors reported only 40% of Houston-area households could afford a median-priced single-family home in the first quarter of this year. The monthly mortgage payment during that time was $2,340, per HAR. With 19,000 apartment units under construction in the Greater Houston area and another 33,000 planned for the region as of June 1, Jankowski said supply exceeds demand for multifamily housing. “An industry rule of thumb holds that Houston absorbs one apartment unit for every six jobs created,” he said in the report. “Houston will need to create roughly 114,000 jobs to absorb what’s currently under construction. The partnership’s forecast calls for the region to create half that many jobs— 57,000—this year.”

Patrick Jankowski, chief economist and senior vice pres- ident of research for the Greater Houston Partnership, said in a May multifamily market update that Houston has shifted from a landlord-friendly to a tenant- friendly market because: • Average multifamily occu- pancy is below 90%. • Rental rates have fallen over the last year. • Incentives such as free rent and security deposit waivers are prominent. • Developers continue to overbuild. The Sugar Land/Stafford/ Sienna submarket’s average occupancy rate dropped from 92.1% in June 2022 to 87% this May, according to MRI Apart- mentData. The average monthly rent increased slightly during this time, from $1,455 to $1,468.

$1,485

$1,200 $1,300 $1,400 $1,500 $1,600 $1,100 $1,000

$1,468

610

$1,449

$1,260

288

June

Jan.

May

2022

2023

2024

SOURCE: MRI APARTMENTDATA/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The big picture

Multifamily occupancy rates in southwest area

Average unit square footage

100%

948

966

967

894

87.5%

87%

90%

Total units operating

17,574

14,600 45,139 758,545

86.1%

80%

82.3%

Total complexes operating

70%

158

3,194

11 80,655 New, under construction and planned units 5 35

June

Jan.

May

2022

2023

2024

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DANICA LLOYD, KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL CONTRIBUTIONS BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

New? READY SOMETHING FOR

Digging deeper

can be redeveloped into walkable mixed-use areas outfitted with business, entertainment and residential spaces. Ruth Lomher, Sugar Land assis- tant director of planning and devel- opment services, said city officials believe the centers will bring residents closer to services and businesses, limit traffic congestion,

City land use plans help determine where apartments can be built. Missouri City has two multi- family zoning districts as well as planned development districts, which allow multifamily as part of mixed-use projects, said Jennifer Thomas Gomez, Missouri City director of development services. “Missouri City’s planning board is very particular with what developments they want to see happen in their city, and for good reason,” Faiz Hirani, Dhanani Private Equity Group principal, said in an email. Meanwhile, the city of Sugar Land’s 2018 comprehensive plan outlined regional and neighbor- hood activity centers, where existing commercial areas such as the former Fluor Daniel building and the Imperial Sugar district

and promote interactivity. “All of that has a positive

impact on us as a community, as a city, because when our residents are happy, then you will know we can be a place that people want to be,” she said. The comprehensive plan also provides a ratio of 88% single-family housing to 12% of multifamily housing across the city, although the plan states re-evaluation could happen.

New Homes from the Low $300s-Million+

Looking ahead

It’s impressive knowing a community with nearly three decades of milestones and memories could offer so many new possibilities, and Sienna does. It’s the largest and best-selling community in Fort Bend County. Well-established but also growing, Sienna will amaze you with new homes, new schools and amenities, and more. milestones and memories could offer so many new does. It’s the largest and best-selling Celebrating 27 YEARS

plan, Gomez said. The process kicked off at a June 25 meeting, where officials shared their priorities regarding a new vision for vacant land and key corridors. Future aspects of the input gathering will include city officials, stakeholders and residents.

Sugar Land is exploring middle housing such as townhomes or duplexes to attract younger professionals and families as the city’s population ages, Lomher said. Meanwhile, Missouri City officials will determine by early 2025 whether to revise or overhaul the city’s 2017 comprehensive

Townhomes & Duets

Single-Family

Custom Homes

Fort Bend ISD housing unit projections, 2023-33 Multifamily Age-restricted Single-family

4K 3K 2K 1K 0 5K

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

SIENNATX.COM

SOURCE: POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

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Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

receive a required ingredients list and other terms of the contest. The public will judge ice cream on flavor, texture and appearance. • July 27, 1:30 p.m. • Free • 14010 University Blvd., Sugar Land • www.fortbend.lib.tx.us

July

Taco & Margarita Festival This event at Constellation Field features food, drinks, professional wrestling, live music and a taco eating contest. There are discounts available for advanced ticket purchase. • July 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • $10-$20 (general admission); $40-$50 (VIP); $79-$99 (ultimate VIP); free (kids) • 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land • www.milb.com/sugar-land/events/taco-margarita-fest Music on the Square: Taylor Swift Hosted in the Sugar Land Town Square plaza, this Taylor Swift tribute recreates the artist’s live concert. Complete with a performance by Lauren Corzine and a four-piece national touring act with backup dancers. • July 26, 7:30-9:30 p.m. • Free • 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land • www.sugarlandtownsquare.com Homemade Ice Cream Competition This event at the University Branch Library will showcase residents’ ice cream-making skills. Competitors must register between July 6-24 to

August

Cirque Du Soleil - Songblazers This 10-day event at Smart Financial Centre will highlight 16 performances. The theatrical performance pays homage to the influence of country music artists

with acrobatics and live music. • Aug. 1-11, times vary by date • $64-$152 • 18111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land • www.smartfinancialcentre.net

Royal Revelry Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center will feature meet and greets with Disney-inspired princesses, live Renaissance music, a flower crown and knight shields crafts project, storytelling, and Dungeons & Dragons adventures. • Aug. 2, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • $15 (general admission); free (members)

Sugar Land Heritage Hike Sugar Land Heritage Foundation staff will lead this historic walking tour, starting at the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center and spanning 1.5 miles. • Aug. 10, 10-11:30 a.m. • $5 (ages 12-18); $10 (adults) • 198 Kempner St., Bldg. B, Floor 2, Sugar Land • www.slheritage.org

• 198 Kempner St., Sugar Land • www.childrensdiscoveryfb.org

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