Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | March 2025

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Sugar Land Missouri City Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 7 MARCH 13APRIL 9, 2025

2025 Camp Edition

Saving sugar Sugar Land to acquire Imperial Historic District

INSIDE

90A

BAY VIEW DR.

Sugar Land ocials approved a $50 million plan to acquire the roughly 40-acre Imperial Historic District, home to the former Imperial Char House, after over two decades of failed revitalization eorts by private developers. (Jamaal Ellis/Community Impact)

Impacts

Nonprot

Get the details on ReWax and UnWine’s 2nd Texas location in Sugar Land

Learn about the Fort Bend ISD students behind animal nonprot Asha’s Food Bank

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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 Valeria Escobar Wesley Gardner Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Ryan Reynolds Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Kevin Vu Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Amy Martinez General Manager amymartinez@ communityimpact.com

Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Product Manager Kaitlin Schmidt Quality Desk Editor Sierra Rozen

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Impacts

W . B E L L F O R T B

3 Sunright Tea Studio The shop offers iced beverages such as boba tea, milk tea, fruit tea, tea topped with sea-salt cheese foam, blended “frosties” and coffee. • Opened Jan. 11 • 3412 Hwy. 6, Ste. G, Sugar Land • www.snrtea.com 4 McDonald’s The fast food restaurant chain serves cheeseburgers, fries, milkshakes and chicken nuggets. • Opened Feb. 11 • 11801 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.mcdonalds.com 5 16 Handles The New York-based frozen yogurt chain offers 16 rotating yogurt flavors and over 50 toppings and sauces. • Opened Feb. 15 • 3340 FM 1092, Ste. 310, Missouri City • www.16handles.com 6 WUTA Taekwondo This martial arts training center opened at the Sienna Grande Shops, offering classes for preschool-aged students up to adults, as well as birthday parties. • Opened Feb. 15 • 2814 Sienna Parkway, Ste. 240, Missouri City • www.wutatkd.com 7 Baker Orthotics & Prosthetics The medical equipment manufacturing company provides solutions and access to care in order to maximize an individual’s functional abilities. • Opened Feb. 18 • 14015 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 10, Sugar Land • www.baker-oandp.com 8 El Fogon Mexican Kitchen The family-owned restaurant serves authentic cuisine from Guadalajara, Jalisco. The menu features drinks, sizzling fajitas and street tacos. • Opened Jan. 8 • 4514 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • Facebook: El Fogon Mexican Kitchen

SUGAR CREEK BLVD.

PROMENADE WAY

90A

Missouri City

XINGTON BLVD.

1092

99 TOLL

ADDISON AVE.

GRANTS LAKE BLVD.

Sugar Land

BRISBANE CT.

COMMONWEALTH BLVD.

K W Y .

KITTY HOLLOW PARK

NOBLE SEVEN LN.

SIENNA CROSSING DR.

2759

14 13

SIENNA PKWY.

6 15

MAP NOT TO SCALE

2 The 12th Donut Menu options include raised doughnuts with toppings and fillings, doughnut holes, cake doughnuts, kolaches and croissants. Coffee and lattes come from local roaster Katz Coffee. • Opened Dec. 23 • 5822 Sienna Parkway, Ste. 900, Missouri City • www.the12thdonut.com

Now open

1 Boot Barn The brand sells a broad selection of cowboy and work boots, jeans, western fashion, workwear and jackets such as dual-purpose utility pieces and embellished designs. • Opened Dec. 18 • 16618 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.bootbarn.com

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Rosenberg Location 5765 Reading Rd | (346) 375-7202 | www.fortbendpt.com

Sugar Land Location 20403 University Blvd STE 100 | (346) 375-5633 | www.sugarlandpt.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

14 My Salon Suite The business will offer space for beauty professionals looking to rent a private suite. Suites are complimented with 24/7 security, double-door secure entry, personalization potential and no commission splits. • Opening in late May • 9320 Hwy. 6, Ste. 500, Missouri City • www.mysalonsuite.com 15 Sienna Eye Care The practice will provide personalized solutions for eye conditions such as dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. It also will provide pediatric evaluations and myopia control in children. • Opening in late July • 2814 Sienna Parkway, Ste. 210, Missouri City • Website coming soon 16 Crepelicious The business will serve desserts such as crepes, gelato, waffles on a stick, and Dubai-inspired chocolate desserts, such as pistachio kunafa-infused treats. It’ll also offer juices, smoothies and refreshers. • Opening in June • 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Ste. 150, Missouri City • www.crepelicioustx.com

Coming soon

Now open

9 Posh Nail Salon The business will offer manicures, facial treatments, body waxing, pedicures, lash extensions and

brow microblading. • Opening March 15 • 5708 Hwy. 6, Missouri City • https://posh.nailspa.io

10 Torchy’s The fast-casual Tex-Mex eatery offers a variety of tacos, salsa, guacamole, queso, burritos and salads. • Opening in late March • 9004 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 100, Missouri City • www.torchystacos.com 11 Color Me Mine Seasoned and amateur artists will be able to select from a wide range of pottery pieces and color pallets to produce a one-of-a-kind creation. Meanwhile, knowledgeable staff will offer guests guidance and tips 12 Freebirds World Burrito The Austin-based brand is known for its burritos, bowls, salads, tacos and nachos. Customers will be able to build their own meal with more than 30 combinations of sauces, proteins and toppings. • Opening in May • 20330 Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road, Missouri City • www.freebirds.com 13 Sushi Haya The restaurant will have a lunch and dinner menu featuring specialty rolls such as Dragon and Rainbow rolls, classic dishes such as fried rice and udon, and meat and vegetables cooked hibachi style. • Opening in late May • 9320 Hwy. 6, Ste. 400, Missouri City • www.sushihayatexas.com throughout the process. • Opening in late April • 1875 Hwy. 6, Ste. 900, Sugar Land • www.colormemine.com

19 ReWax and UnWine The New Jersey-based company allows customers to book private parties and public events, where they can make customized organic coconut wax candles, choosing their own jars and scent combinations. While candles dry, customers can pass the time by playing games, singing karaoke, listening to music and mingling with other guests. • Opened Dec. 6 • 3320 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.rewaxandunwinesugarland.com

Relocations

17 Edloe Health Network The health network provider relocated from 19875 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 110, Sugar Land, to a

• 1331 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.lifetime.life/locations/tx/sugar-land

new, larger space. • Relocated Jan. 31 • 6927 Brisbane Court, Sugar Land • www.edloeventures.com

Closings

20 Salad and Go The drive-thru eatery was known for offering various made-to-order food options, including breakfast burritos, bowls, coffee beverages, salads and wraps. • Closed Feb. 6 • 18830 Noble Seven Lane, Sugar Land • www.saladandgo.com

In the news

18 Life Time Renovations are being done at the gym to convert the gym’s hot tub into the cold plunge, according to project information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The new feature will open at the Sugar Land gym in mid-April.

Physical Therapy for Women’s Health

sugarlandpt.com

Prenatal/Postnatal Pain • Pelvic Pain • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR & AUBREY VOGEL

27 candidates to run for May 3 local election The deadline to file for the May 3 election was Feb. 14, and the ballot will offer 27 candidates running for positions on Sugar Land City Council and the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees. Two FBISD seats—positions 3 and 7—and five Sugar Land seats are on the ballot. Both of Sugar Land’s at-large positions are up for election as well as two City Council seats and the mayor position, as Joe Zimmerman can’t run again due to term limits, city officials said. Digging deeper The two Sugar Land City Council seats opened after District 2 council member Naushad Kermally and District 4 council member Carol McCutcheon, who both hold unexpired terms, filed to run for mayor, city officials said. Sugar Land City Council also added a charter amendment to extend the terms of municipal

Sugar Land approves 2025-27 strategic plan At a Feb. 4 meeting, Sugar Land City Council adopted the city’s 2025-27 strategic plan, which aims to guide decision-making for operations and resource allocation from Jan. 1, 2025-Dec. 31, 2027. The details According to agenda documents, the five initiatives include: • Boosting community reputation • Encouraging community engagement • Fostering sensitive redevelopment on key area sites • Stimulating economic growth • Enhancing suburban community

Dates to know

April 3: Voter registration deadline April 22-29: Early voting May 3: Election day

SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Follow the QR code to see who has filed for the positions.

court and associate judges from two to four years, according to agenda documents. What’s next? The positions up for election will serve for three years, except Sugar Land City Council District 2 and 4 seats, which will complete the previous unexpired term until 2027.

Missouri City to begin work on Freedom Tree Park On March 3, Missouri City City Council approved Millis Development and Construction LLC as the contractor for Freedom Tree Park. The details Assistant Director Daniele Stewart previously said the project will feature several amenities, such as gathering spaces and a plaza.

Freedom Tree Park

MISTY HOLLOW DR.

Freedom Tree

The project is funded by the city’s $85.85 million bond approved by voters in November 2021 and a $750,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Local Parks Grant, Stewart said. Construction will begin the first quarter of this year and will wrap up in October, officials said.

The nearly $3.9 million Freedom Tree Park project will develop 5 acres of parkland east of Misty Hollow Drive, directly across from the historic Freedom Tree. Parks & Recreation

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BUSINESS UPDATES

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Sugar Land seeks grant funding for new bridge

An alternative way to cross the Brazos River could be coming to Sugar Land. At a Feb. 18 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved submitting an application for the Texas Department of Transporta- tion’s Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside grant program for a multimodal bridge. The 10-foot suspension bridge would serve as alternative trans- portation for both pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the river, city officials said in an email. The bridge aims to connect Greatwood neighborhood residents to several city amenities. The cost The project design and con- struction is expected to cost $12.5 million , according to agenda documents. The city could receive $10 million in funding with a local $2.5 million match by the city or county. If awarded, city officials are considering using funds from an anticipated 2026 Fort Bend County mobility bond for the local match, per agenda documents. However, county officials said no formal

Proposed multimodal bridge

FESTIVAL BLVD.

BRAZOS RIVER PARK

Greatwood neighborhood

action has been taken by Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to discuss a 2026 bond in a workshop. What else? The council also approved sub- mitting a secondary application for its Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan, which is a requirement for cities with populations over 50,000, city officials said. The finalized plan will include prioritized improvements and implementation plans to guide city projects in the coming years. Going forward Detailed project information is due to TxDOT June 20. Award announcements will be made in October, city officials said.

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Park and ride facility opens

KNIGHT RD.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

Center, according to a Jan. 30 METRO news release. Riders can also get to and from the facility by using METRO’s on-demand curbside service for those within the service area. From the Texas Medical Center, riders can take rail or bus services to get across Houston.

opened its newest park and ride facility in Missouri City on Jan. 27. In a nutshell The $59.8 million facility will provide commuter services for Fort Bend County residents heading to the Texas Medical

Early-Bird Registration— $30 through March 9

SIENNATX.COM

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

News

FBISD bond funds could revive eliminated projects Fort Bend ISD trustees will await cost estimates for the remaining 16% of May 2023 bond projects before deciding how to spend roughly $69 million in contingency funds. Fort Bend ISD bond contingency amounts*

Memorial Hermann tower breaks ground Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital broke ground Jan. 31 on its north tower, the final phase in its $231 million expansion that began in April 2023. According to a news release, the tower will feature 52 additional patient beds, surgical suites, expanded emergency care and a neonatal intensive care unit. Looking ahead Construction on the north tower will finish in 2026, officials said.

2023 (Proposition A: new schools and renovations): $49M

While district officials warned against making premature decisions, board members discussed applying contingency funds toward previously eliminated projects from the $1.26 billion bond at the Feb. 10 board agenda review meeting. The details Since October, FBISD’s available contingency funds have grown from $33.08 million to $68.64 million based on the cost-saving budget cuts from recent projects, said Daniel Bankhead, executive director of construction and design. Contingency funds from the district’s 2014 and 2018 bonds can be used on any bond project, while the 2023 bond contingency funds can only be used to fulfill projects within their respective proposi- tion, Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn said.

2014: $10.64M 2018: $8.52M

Total: $68.64M

2023 (Proposition B: technology devices): $469.37K

*AS OF JANUARY

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead The district will receive cost estimates for the remaining bond projects by the end of March, Bankhead said. Additionally, the district is undergoing a cost-saving audit to look at general budget effi- ciency, yielding the potential to re-evaluate staff and operational spending, with results coming between April and June, Bankhead said.

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR, KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Sugar Land officials seek grant for elevated rail On Jan. 7, Sugar Land City Council approved applying for the Rebuilding American Infrastruc- ture with Sustainability and Equity grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for its proposed gondola-like elevated cable and rail system. The project was announced in October as the feasibility study was underway, Community Impact reported. The details The project planning, design and engineering is expected to cost $12 million , according to agenda documents. The city could receive $9.6 million in funding with a 20% local match at $2.4 million . According to agenda documents, the city would use funding for project planning, including: • Environmental and equity analysis • Community engagement

Missouri City to streamline hearings Missouri City council approved an ordi- nance March 3 to set public notice require- ments for joint public hearings by council and the Planning and Zoning Commission for zoning regulation amendments. The details The hearings aim to provide continuity in information and prevent decision-making delays as the city updates its comprehensive plan, officials said. The ordinance would also allow P&Z to issue its recommendation report at the same or a subsequent hearing, while City Council will have to wait until a subsequent meeting to vote on a proposed change, officials said. The city will soon host an open house and a questionnaire before providing its compre- hensive plan draft report in March.

The city of Sugar Land is seeking a federal grant to add an elevated rail system in the city.

RENDERING COURTESY HOLMES SOLUTIONS

• Feasibility studies • Benefit-cost analysis

City staff are also seeking additional funding opportunities including the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Improvement Program, according to agenda documents. Looking ahead Applications had to be submitted to the DOT by Jan. 30, and award announcements will be made by June 28, per agenda documents.

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Home and community information, pricing, plans, elevations, included features, options, terms, availability, amenities, and co-broke, are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. Drawings, pictures, photographs, video, square footages, colors, features, and sizes are for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. Square footage dimensions are approximate and vary by elevation. If Buyer is working with a licensed real estate agent or broker, the agent or broker must accompany and register buyer on first visit to the community. Buyer should conduct his or her own investigation of the present and future availability of school districts and school assignments. D.R. Horton has no control or responsibility for any changes to school districts or school assignments should they occur in the future. Prices vary by community. D.R. Horton reserves the right to cancel or change all offers without prior notice or obligation. Furnishings and decorative items not included with home purchase. Community amenities vary by subdivision. See sales agent for complete details. D.R. Horton is an Equal Housing Opportunity Builder.

Saving sugar From the cover

Imperial Historic District acquisition

Sugar Land plans to spend $50 million to purchase roughly 40 acres of land to preserve and develop the Imperial Historic District. It already owns .47 acres.

What’s happening?

Sugar Land’s Imperial Historic District, which is home to the former Imperial Sugar site including the Char House, could begin to see development as soon as 2027 after the city acquires the property this spring. Sugar Land City Council voted Feb. 18 to move forward with acquiring the roughly 40-acre district. The $50 million acquisition aims to preserve and develop the area into a mixed-use space, although an exact plan for the district hasn’t been determined. City Council approved the purchase of the land for no more than $35 million, while an additional $15 million will be used to: • Preserve the Char House • Improve the city’s utility system, streets and drainage infrastructure • Other professional services The site, located north of Hwy. 90A and east of Ulrich Street, has sat vacant for over two decades amid multiple failed private revitalization eorts. This was caused by barriers including land acquisition and cost in the private market, Devon Rodriguez, director of redevelopment for Sugar Land, said in an email. The most recent proposal in December 2022 by Houston-based Puma Development included a $1 billion mixed-use project featuring retail, entertainment, oces and housing. After the project stalled in August due to “nancial and market challenges,” city ocials have said Puma is no longer part of the future development and new plans for the site must be formed. “The Char House represents our beginnings as a company town. Preserving the district honors our past while creating new opportunities for the future,” Rodriguez said.

Owner: Dhanani Private Equity Group Imperial LP

MAYFIELD PARK

1 Acres: 9.31 2 Acres: 9.33

Owner: SLP-90A LTD, or Hunton Group 3 Acres: 1.75 4 Acres: 19.16

Owner: city of Sugar Land 5 Acres: 0.47

90A

Char House

Imperial Historic District cost

One-time capital expenses: $6.02M

Land acquisition: $35M Char House preservation: $5M

$50M

Contingency: $3.98M

SOURCES: SUGAR LAND, FORT BEND CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Sugar, one of the longest-operating businesses in Texas. In honor of the anniversary, the nonprot is partnering with the city and various sponsors to host an anniversary celebration July 13 from 2-7 p.m. at Talyard Brewing Company featuring raes, live music and a cornhole tournament. “We want to bring the community together, through sharing history, stories and in preparing for the future of Sugar Land,” Lytle said.

The city’s eorts will be funded by a certicate of obligation, which will be paid for using revenue designated for economic development including the $0.25 sales tax collected by the Sugar Land Development Corp. and the Sugar Land 4B Corp., Rodriguez said. No property tax revenue will be used. The acquisition comes as the Char House celebrates its 100-year anniversary, said Kristin Lytle, a Sugar Land Heritage Foundation board member. The building was a part of Imperial

The background

Imperial Historic District restoration eorts

February 2025: Sugar Land City Council approves plan for Imperial Historic District purchase

December 2022: Puma Development announces plans to create a $1 billion mixed-use district

July 2016: Johnson Development sells 27 acres to Imperial Market developers

May 2025: Expected closing for Imperial Historic District

June 2003: Imperial Sugar Renery closes

2015

2003

2011

2025

2020

August 2024: Puma project stalls

April 2025: Sale of Imperial Historic District

November 2018: Imperial Market developers transfer land ownership to Hunton Group

March 2011: Johnson Development enters contract for Char House renovations

SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LANDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY AUBREY VOGEL

Looking ahead

What they’re saying

Why it matters

As the city reaches build-out, with only 4% of land left undeveloped, city ocials said they have prioritized redevelopment of key sites such as the Imperial Historic District and the former Fluor Corp. campus. City ocials have said the Imperial Historic District is the No. 1 priority as the city works to create mixed-use spaces. However, resident Peter Jacob, principal of real estate development business Rubicon Realty Group, said during the Feb. 18 City Council meet- ing that he didn’t agree with the city purchasing the entire historic district. He instead urged the city to focus on just preserving the Char House, citing struggles of developing mixed-use sites and claiming the property wasn’t a good t for that purpose. “The city should keep in mind it is there to help the development and redevelopment of commer- cial sites and not become the developer,” he said.

Following closing in May, city ocials will begin “mothballing” preservation eorts for the Char House including structurally securing the building, preventing vandalism and providing interior ventilation to control long-term deterioration of an unoccupied building, according to the project website. The city will then begin its search for a private development partner, who will help create the historic district into a mixed-use site, Rodriguez said. City ocials said they aim to begin negotiations on a Master Development Agreement by the end of this year, according to the project website. The process will include community input and site planning. If progress continues as expected, infrastructure work could begin as early as 2027, Rodriguez said.

“Projects of this size and complexity require the right investors, developers and timing. We believe

the time is now.” DEVON RODRIGUEZ, SUGAR LAND DIRECTOR OF REDEVELOPMENT

“We recognize the importance of making investments that honor our past and support our

community’s growth.” JOE ZIMMERMAN, SUGAR LAND MAYOR

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

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April 25, 2025 7:00 p.m. April 26, 2025

1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Stafford Civic Center

WEST SIDE STORY SCHOOL EDITION Based on a Conception of JEROME ROBBINS

Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS

Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Entire Original Production Directed and Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS Originally Produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince By Arrangement with Roger L. Stevens West Side Story School Edition Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Community Camp Guide

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Camp Guide edition! This guide features a variety of local summer camps in the Sugar Land and Missouri City area. From theater camps to sports camps, this year’s guide features 18 camps children can attend this summer. All of the camp information was conrmed by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news. We hope this year’s guide is helpful and informative as your family plans out activities during the summer months. To keep up with news throughout the month, visit communityimpact.com/newsletter to sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Kelly Schaer Senior Editor kschaer@ communityimpact.com

Sponsor:

For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!

Class 101 Type: academics, day Ages: 16-18

Sugar Land

All Sorts of Sports Camp Type: sports, day Ages: 4-12

Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $500 monthly • 15510 Lexington Blvd., Ste. B, Sugar Land • www.class101.com/sugarlandtx

Dates: June 16-20, July 14-18 Cost: $138-$243.75 weekly • 234 Matlage Way, Sugar Land • www.sugarlandtx.gov/2264/youth-camps Art Camps at Cordovan Art School Type: arts Ages: 5-16 Dates: May 27-Aug. 12

Code Ninjas Type: academics, day Ages: 5-14 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $269 weekly (half day), $449 weekly (full day) • 18318 University Blvd., Ste. 100, Sugar Land • www.codeninjas.com

Cost: $256-$499 weekly • 3219 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.cordovanartschool.com

Inspiration Stage Type: arts, day Ages: 4-16 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $285 weekly • 2210 Lone Star Drive, Sugar Land • www.inspirationstage.com

Funtastik Labs STEAM Camps Sugar Land Type: academics, arts, day Ages: 5-10 Dates: May 27-Aug. 1 Cost: $209-plus weekly

Camp Riverstone Type: day, sports, arts Ages: entering rst through fth graders Dates: June 2-July 25 (no camp June 19 or July 4) Cost: $340 weekly, add-ons for lunch and extended days • 18353 University Blvd., Sugar Land • www.kidventure.com/houston-summer-camps

• 13741 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.funtastiklabs.com/tx-sugar-land/ summer-camps

CONTINUED ON 18

SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Community

Sugar Land Art Center & Gallery Type: arts Ages: 5-14 Dates: May 27-Aug. 7 Cost: $169 weekly (Lego camp), $189 weekly (art camp) • 104 Industrial Blvd., Ste. Q, Sugar Land • www.sugarlandartcenter.org

Language Kids World Type: academics, day Ages: 3-11 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $295-$350 weekly • 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City • www.languagekids.com/camps

CONTINUED FROM 17

Sugar Land

Pine Cove Type: arts, day, sports Ages: first through sixth graders Dates: June 23-27 Cost: $369 weekly • 13223 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.pinecove.com Soccer Camp at Eldridge Park Type: sports, day Ages: 4-14 Dates: June 23-27, July 21-25 Cost: $160-$200 weekly • 2511 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land • www.sugarlandtx.gov/2264/youth-camps Study Dorm Type: academics, day Ages: 6-18 Dates: June 3-Aug. 8 Cost: $160-plus weekly • 15510 Lexington Blvd., Ste. B, Sugar Land • www.mystudydorm.com

Walden School Summer Camp Type: academics, day Ages: 4-12 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $285-plus weekly • 16103 Lexington Blvd., Ste. A, Sugar Land • www.thewaldenschool.com

Survivor Summer Camp Type: sports Ages: 4-14

Dates: June 9-13, July 7-11, July 21-25, July 28-Aug. 1 Cost: $235-$300 weekly (early registration pricing available until April 15) • 7100 Knights Court, Missouri City • www.olympiatx.com Wonder Camp - Fort Bend Family YMCA Type: academics, arts, sports, day Ages: 5-15 Dates: June 2-July 25

Missouri City

Camp Club Sienna Type: arts, sports Ages: entering first through fifth graders Dates: June 2-Aug. 1 (no camp June 19 or July 4) Cost: $340 weekly, add-ons for lunch and extended days • 9600 Scanlan Trace, Missouri City • www.kidventure.com/houston-summer-camps

Cost: $175 weekly, $45 registration fee • 4433 Cartwright Road, Missouri City • www.ymcahouston.org/programs/ childcare-and-camps/summer-camp This list is not comprehensive.

Summer Camp 2025

Sports & games Exciting STEM activities Arts, crafts, music, dance & drama Field trips & events

The Honor Roll School School-Age Summer Camp 4111 Sweetwater Blvd • Sugar Land, TX • 281-265-7888

LearN More

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Missouri City

Sugar Land

iCode Sugar Land Summer Camps Type: academics, arts Ages: 6-17 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $459 weekly (full day), $279 weekly (half day), $99 (single day) • 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. 113C, Missouri City • www.icodeschool.com/sugarland117

The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land Type: academics, day Ages: 4-5 (little learners), 6-12 Dates: June 9-July 25 (little learners), May 27-Aug. 6

Cost: $284-$355 weekly (non-members) $236-$295 weekly (members) • 13016 University Blvd., Sugar Land • www.hmns.org

Celebrate

Summer ART CAMPS

Sat, Apr 19 @ 5p Sun, Apr 20 @ 8a, 9:30a & 11a

Buy 3, Get 4th Camp FREE* or $25 off any Half-Day Camp Sale applies to 5-Day Camps *Only pay supply fee for 4th camp. Cannot be combined with other offers Expires March 31, 2025 Art Classes / Art Camps / Pottery / Parties CordovanArtSchool.com

GREGG MATTE, SENIOR PASTOR MALCOLM MARSHALL, CAMPUS PASTOR

HOUSTONSFIRST.ORG 4309 SIENNA PARKWAY

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Once Upon A Time Meet Snow White at this event at Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, featuring a storytime with the princess. • March 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (members and infants under age 1), $15 (non-members)

March

Swing for the Bean Memorial Golf Tournament

This fundraising event at the Quail Valley Golf Course in Missouri City will feature a golf tournament, lunch, dinner, an auction and awards. Proceeds benefit the Joab Ruiz Memorial Foundation, which provides direct support for Sugar Land-area families facing financial hardships due to cancer. • March 21, 11 a.m. • $150 (single person), $600 (four-person team), $40 (dinner only) • 2880 La Quinta Drive, Missouri City • Eventbrite: 3rd Annual Swing for the Bean Memorial Golf Tournament ChalkFest This fourth annual event takes place at the Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center and will feature both students and professional artists creating artwork on the pavement. There will also be food trucks and a Picasso Youth competition for middle and high school students. • March 22, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. • Free (admission)

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

April

Evenin’ at the Ranch with Paul Overstreet The George Ranch Historical Park will host Grammy award-winning country musician Paul Overstreet. • April 1, 5:30-9:30 p.m. • $500 (per couple), $1,000 (VIP)

LOVB Houston vs LOVB Atlanta League One Volleyball, a professional volleyball club, will put its Houston team against its Atlanta team for a sporting competition at the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg. • March 27, 7 p.m. • $10-$111 • 28505 Southwest Freeway, Rosenberg • www.lovb.com

• 10215 FM 762, Richmond • www.georgeranch.org

Movies Under the Moon: ‘The Wild Robot’ See a screening of this animated sci-fi movie at Sugar

Land Town Square. • April 11, 7-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • 2711 Plaza Drive, Sugar Land • www.sugarlandtownsquare.com

• 2701 Cypress Point Drive, Missouri City • www.missouricitytx.gov/1094/chalkfest

State

BY HANNAH NORTON

Gov. Greg Abbott outlines 2025 legislative priorities This legislative session, Texas needs to work on housing affordability and continue adding power to the state grid, Gov. Greg Abbott told Community Impact in an interview at the state capitol Feb. 7. What action should lawmakers take on property taxes this session? are, it will reduce the cost [of coverage]. There are other reforms we are taking a look at to make sure that we will … be able to contain any potential increase in the cost of insurance. What can Texas do to help the power grid withstand growing electric demand?

Home values are going to [continue to] go up, but a law that we passed in 2019 ... says that any property tax revenue for any jurisdiction is capped at 2.5%. If your property value goes up 10%, your property taxes cannot go up 10%. The real fix for this is to stop making it so easy for local taxing jurisdictions to increase property taxes. That’s why [I’m proposing] two-thirds approval by voters before property taxes can be increased. What can the Legislature do to address home insurance affordability? We want to make sure Texas is a state that attracts insurers, because the more providers there

Last session, Texas provided incentives to entice the addition of 10,000 more megawatts of power. We want to repeat that this session. One reason for the power demand is because of AI facilities coming here. We want to make sure that these AI data centers ... are responsible for bringing power to the grid themselves.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

MARIE LEONARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MARCH 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: An El Paso Refuge CRITTER: American Bumblebee OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas

MADE IN TEXAS: A Leathermaking Legacy FEATURE PREVIEW: Where to Eat Now

Above: The Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

DETOURS

A Tribal Sanctuary On a Sacred Trail

Location: eleven miles southeast of downtown El Paso. BY JOSH ALVAREZ

CRITTER

American Bumblebee

The bumblebee does something most bees don't: buzz pollination, which involves gripping the plant with its legs and vibrating its whole body. If you eat blueberries, potatoes, or tomatoes— all of which rely on buzz pollination— you’ve got a bumblebee to thank. WHY IS IT SO BIG? The better to collect all that sweet pollen to feed its young. That fuzz is actually densely packed hairs, or setae, that trap pollen as the bumblebee floats from flower to flower. Its large body likely evolved to provide even more surface area.

DOES IT STING? Only if you mess with its nest.

HOW MANY SPECIES ARE THERE? Texas has between seven and eleven types. The most common is the American bumblebee, found statewide. North Texans might spot the brown-belted bumblebee, while those in the west are likely to see the Sonoran variant. The gentle giant is in trouble, though: Since 1974, popula- tions across North America have fallen by 46 percent. SCIENTISTS KEEP TABS, RIGHT? Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is one of several Texas orga- nizations partnering with Jacqueline Staab, the owner of Darwin’s Bee Dogs. Her German shorthaired pointers are trained to sniff out bumblebee nests for population surveys. “If we lose bees,” says Staab, “we lose Texas ecosystems.” —Rose Cahalan

INSIDE THE ADOBE walls of the Ysleta Mis- sion are clues to a deep history of acculturation that characterizes El Paso to this day. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe, more commonly known as the Tigua, established the mission in 1682, making it one of the oldest in Texas (much of the current structure was built in 1851). The Tigua arrivedherefromNewMexico,whichtheyfled after the Pueblo Indians there overthrew the

Spanish colonial system, in 1680, forcing Span- iards and Christianized Pueblos to seek safety elsewhere. The Tigua dedicated the mission to Anthony of Padua, patron saint of things that have been lost, whose figure stands atop the entrance; inside are blankets dyed in brilliant blues and reds and a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Church’s first Native American saint. The structure, part of the El Paso Mission Trail, holds a mass every day. If you can, plan your visit for June 13, when the Tigua celebrate Saint Anthony with traditional dancing.

The church interior at the Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

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MADE IN TEXAS

He Goes With the Grain Clint Wilkinson carries on his grandfather’s leatherworking legacy out of the same downtown Denton storefront. BY PAUL L. UNDERWOOD

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

After the San Antonio Zoo announced the birth of Tupi, the first capybara born there since 2000, it had to clarify to X users that it was “not associated with or benefiting from” a crypto- currency named after the baby animal. The number one item on the TSA’s top ten list of the most unusual airport confiscations in 2024 was a gun tucked into the back of a baby stroller at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The Texas State Aquarium, in Corpus Christi, released into the Gulf of Mex- ico some 270 green sea turtles it had rescued when they became hypother- mic during a recent cold snap. A Temple woman was sentenced to felony probation for theft after with- drawing money from a GoFundMe account created for her after she lied about a cancer diagnosis so that her friends “would like her more.” A Bexar County jail officer was arrest- ed and fired after allegedly giving an inmate food from Whataburger . After the Houston Police Department announced plans to clean up its prop- erty warehouse, authorities revealed that rats had possibly compromised ongoing cases by eating mushrooms and other drugs stored as evidence. A man stole a pickup truck and led police on a chase to the Midland airport, where he drove through the perimeter fence and onto the runways before abandoning the vehicle. —Meher Yeda

George W. Bush and Fort Worth soul star Leon Bridges, as well as Stetson and 7-Eleven. Wilkinson works out of the downtown cor- ner storefront once owned by his grandfather Weldon Burgoon, who opened Weldon’s Sad- dle Shop & Western Wear in 1957. Burgoon, who helped cover the cost of Clint’s birth, in 1982, by giving a saddle to the obstetrician, taught his grandson the craft. Wilkinson started an e-commerce site for the shop and, with his grandfather’s encour- agement, began branding his own handsewn leather goods with his name. In 2019, a year after Burgoon died, Wilkin- son reopened the shop, which he renamed Wilkinson’s Fine Goods. He’s known for his leather tote bags, belts, and wallets, and he sells wares from other brands, like Nocona- based Fenoglio Boot Company. He’s also de- veloping a line of leather-crafting supplies. The intention, he says, is to create “a way that I can still be in the leather community when I’m seventy-five years old and can’t make anything anymore.”

LAST SUMMER, WILKINSON’S FineGoods, in Denton, received its biggest online order to date. Owner Clint Wilkinson was intrigued by his new client, who purchased a massive array of custom desk mats, bootjacks, and cherrywood boxes with hand-tooled leather accents. “I was just like, ‘Holy crap,’�” Wilkin- son recalls. “He must be a politician or lawyer or something.” Not quite. Wilkinson looked up the buyer, a Utah resident named Austin Post, and re- alized that he was doing business with Post Malone, the rapper who was raised in nearby Grapevine. Wilkinson emailed him to explain that fulfillment would take some time be- cause every item would be handmade. The two now exchange texts about everything from the order’s progress to the woes of their be- loved Dallas Cowboys. Eventually Wilkinson’s client list would include former President

Clint Wilkinson and Charlie Talkington in the Wilkinson’s Fine Goods workshop, in Denton.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

2025

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Japanese hand rolls, sashimi, and sushi and en- joy the restaurant’s excellent vinyl collection. What does all this say about dining in Texas as weapproachtheendofthefirstquarterofthe twenty-firstcentury?Maybejustthis:Weneed to make room for more fun. The hospitality industry knows hard times all too well, with the ever-rising costs of raw ingredients and labor and the hollowing out of once vibrant restaurant-centric neighborhoods. Given all that, who wouldn’t opt for a break from the real world? It was in the same spirit that we selected the ten best new restaurants in Texas, along with a handful of honorable mentions. So get out there. Ask some friends to dinner; try some wild and crazy dishes; visit a place not on your radar. Life is serious enough—live a little. And eat a lot. To read the list of the best new restaurants in Texas, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

IS IT OUR imagination, or are Texas restau- rants more, well, imaginative than ever? On our visit to an idiosyncratic spot in the Gulf Coast town of Kemah, we were treated to bil- lowing dry ice, a blowtorch, and a pasta cre- ation that was a dead ringer for a coral snake. In Dallas, we settled into a long, narrow dining room that looked as if it had been uncoupled from the Orient Express. In Fort Worth, we were sure that characters in The Crown would have felt right at home in a convincing replica of a posh London townhouse. Of course, not everything we loved this past year was stagy. One of our favorite venues was a comfy lit- tle place in Houston where guests can order

FEATURE PREVIEW

Where to Eat Now Dining in Texas has been one big experiment this year. Dry ice. Pasta snakes. Whey foam. Corn bubbles. (That’s right: corn bubbles.) Our best new restaurants want you to have a meal you’ll never forget.

BY COURTNEY BOND AND PATRICIA SHARPE

A scallop dish from Ishtia, in Kemah; smoked king salmon crudo at the Chumley House, in Fort Worth; sabering a bottle of wine at Isidore, in San Antonio.

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Real estate

BY CARSON WEAVER

Houston home sales increase in 2024 for 1st time in 2 years months earlier in May. The average price of a single-family home increased 2.5% from 2023. Also of note

Single-family home sales in the Greater Hous- ton area rose 1.3% from 2023 to 2024 after two consecutive years of declining sales, according to the Houston Association of Realtors December and Full Year Housing Market Update. In total, 85,163 single-family homes were sold in Houston in 2024, compared to 84,038 in 2023, according to the report. May saw the highest buyer activity within a single month, with 8,482 single-family homes sold, according to the report. The details According to the report, when the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in September, it provided confi- dence to buyers. From September to December, single-family home sales topped 2023 sales figures. Home prices also reached record highs in 2024, the report stated. The average price for a single-family home in Houston hit a record of $442,362, beating the previous record set two

Single-family home sales in the Greater Houston area 2023 2024 Single-family home sales

Data from the report shows total property sales year over year in December rose 13.6%. Single-family home sales also increased year over year in December, climbing 16.3%. Homes priced $1 million and above saw a strong spike in sales activity in December, with sales increasing 64.6% compared to last December, according to the report. What they’re saying “2024 brought a welcomed balance to the Hous- ton housing market,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said. “While higher mortgage rates presented financial challenges for some consumers, the Houston market weathered these rate fluctuations better than many other regions across the country.”

84,038 85,163

+1.3%

Total property sales

101,864 102,569

-0.7%

Single-family average sales price

$422,590 $412,161

+2.5%

Single-family median sales price

$335,000 $330,000

+1.5%

SOURCE: HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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