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 e orts. 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, o ces and housing. After the project stalled in August due to “ nancial and market challenges,” city o cials 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
2
Owner: SLP-90A LTD, or Hunton Group 3 Acres: 1.75 4 Acres: 19.16
1
4
.
3
5
Owner: city of Sugar Land 5 Acres: 0.47
90A
Char House
N
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 DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT
Sugar, one of the longest-operating businesses in Texas. In honor of the anniversary, the nonpro t 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 e orts will be funded by a certi cate 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 e orts
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 Re nery 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 LAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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