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Sugar Land Missouri City Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 5 JAN. 13 FEB. 9, 2024
2024 Annual Community Guide
Development is underway in Missouri City near the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road at the Fort Bend Town Center development. With Phase II leased out and set to be completed in late 2024, developers began work on Phase III in 2023, NewQuest Properties o cials said.
JAMAAL ELLIS, J.VINCE PHOTOGRAPHY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Changes underway at Missouri City intersection
director with Missouri City, said the city aims to attract high-end retail and dining to the city. “We tried to pick these places that are going to bring people together and that people want to see, and Fort Bend Town Center is creating that destina- tion along both of the two major thoroughfares of the city,” he said.
three corners of the intersection. Most of the rst two phases are leased or in negotiations, sparking work on the third phase in 2023, per a November release from developer NewQuest Properties. Meanwhile, the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County are planning a tollway extension and a future park and ride in the center. Herman Rodriguez, economic development
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
New retailers, housing options and mobility projects are coming to the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road in Missouri City to meet the needs of the growing area. The details The 144-acre Fort Bend Town Center occupies
CONTINUED ON 17
Also in this issue
Impacts: 16 Handles headed to Missouri City (Page 6)
Government: City eyes Lake Pointe redevelopment (Page 9)
Education: Lone superintendent nalist named (Page 13)
Annual Community Guide: Snapshot of local area (Page 19)
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Choose Success CHOOSE FORT BEND ISD
TOP 5 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES FBISD Graduates Attend
Texas A&M University
Houston Community College
Wharton Community Junior College
University of Houston
University of Texas
Eighty Two National Merit Semifinalists in 2024 FBISD has more semifinalists than any other district in the entire Houston region
MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS
CAMPUSES located southwest of Houston 12 High Schools (Two Title I) 15 Middle Schools (Three Title I) 51 Elementary Schools (22 Title I) 5 Specialized Schools
One of the most diverse school districts in the nation. Our families speak more than 90 languages and dialects
7 HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIES
Digital Media Academy
Engineering Academy
Global Studies Academy
International Business & Marketing Academy
Math & Science Academy
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29,715 2022-2023 AP Credit Hours
18,519 2022-2023 Dual Credit Hours
85 2022-2023 Associates Degrees Earned
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FINE ARTS and ATHLETICS PROGRAMS
To enroll visit www.fortbendisd.com/chooseFBISD
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
Impacts
2 Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill The Mediterranean fast-casual eatery prepares its cuisine with a Moroccan twist. The menu includes a selection of pita sandwiches, skewer plates, rice bowls, salads and rotisserie chicken dinner meals. • Opened Nov. 7 • 2587 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land • www.crazypita.com 3 Ulta Beauty Products in the new store in Fort Bend Town Center II include cosmetics, fragrances, skin care products, hair care products and accessories. It also offers professional hair, eyebrow and makeup services for patrons, according to an Ulta spokesperson. • Opened Nov. 17 • 10435 Hwy. 6, Missouri City • www.ulta.com/stores/missouri-city-tx-1705 4 Tiff’s Treats The Austin-based shop serves various freshly baked cookies, brownies, cookie truffles and other sweet treats in store or delivered to customers’ doors. There are more than 90 locations nationwide, according to the business’s website. • Opened Dec. 2 • 12333 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 200, Stafford • www.cookiedelivery.com 5 Porsche Sugar Land The company opened a 150,000-square-foot dealership in Sugar Land. The dealership offers both sales and services of Porsche automobiles. • Opened Dec. 18 • 13426 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.porschesugarland.com 6 Seafood City Supermarket The Filipino grocer blends grocery and restaurant concepts by providing ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals as well as grocery items bought directly from suppliers in the Philippines. • Opened Dec. 14 • 15235 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.seafoodcity.com
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82 social service partner agencies to provide furniture assistance to families in need, including mattresses for children. • Opened in November • 13003 Murphy Road, Ste. G-1, Stafford • www.houstonfurniturebank.org
Now open
1 The Furniture Bank This Houston-based charity organization opened a Stafford outlet. The Furniture Bank works with over
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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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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
7 Salad and Go The drive-thru eatery offers various made-to-order food options, including breakfast burritos, bowls, coffee beverages, salads and wraps. • Opened Dec. 14 • 18830 Noble Seven Lane, Sugar Land • www.saladandgo.com 8 Main Street Pharmacy & Medical Supply This family-owned pharmacy provides free local deliveries to residents in Stafford, as well as diabetic screenings, immunizations, health screenings, medication flavoring, specialty vitamins and products and medical equipment. • Opened Nov. 16
12 PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans The Louisiana-based coffee brand plans to open two new Missouri City locations in 2024. PJ’s offers beverages that include blended and frozen coffee drinks, espresso, flavored energy drinks and a variety of teas. • Opening early 2024 • 12A 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Missouri City • 12B 5822 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City • www.pjscoffee.com
Coming soon
In the news
13 Best Western Plus The 111-room hotel closed in February for renovations and reopened in November. Upgrades included new interior paint, vinyl floors, and an updated 24-hour fitness center and pool. • 14444 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.bestwestern.com 14 Willie’s Grill & Icehouse The eatery celebrated 30 years in business throughout December. Founded in 1993 in Houston, the menu features burgers, nachos, seafood, tacos, chicken fried steak, sandwiches, soups, salads, beer and margaritas. • 945 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.williesgrillandicehouse.com 15 Missouri City Animal Shelter The Animal Services Division at Missouri City unveiled the renovated animal shelter Nov. 16. The $210,224 renovations to the shelter included fresh paint, new lobby furniture, new laundry facility, soundproof walls, new storage space and installation of double gates. • 1923 Scanlin Road, Missouri City • www.missouricitytx.gov/92/animal-services
• 3607 S. Main St., Ste. 104, Stafford • www.ourmainstreetpharmacy.com
17 16 Handles The New York City-based self-serve frozen yogurt shop is launching six new stores in Texas this spring. The 16 Handles menu features 16 soft serve flavors; over 50 toppings and sauces; and a variety of frozen novelties, including cakes, cookie dough and take-home pints. Couple Myles and Tabatha Abshire will open the Missouri City store. • Opening spring 2024 • 3340 FM 1092, Missouri City • www.16handles.com impactful decrease in the fall in a Facebook post. Morse did not respond for further comment by press time. • Closed Dec. 2 • 734 Crabb River Road, Richmond • https://thesauerkrautgrill.square.site 18 Elegant Jewelers After 40 years, this family-run business is closing due to the owners retiring. The store will offer various merchandise until its closing, including engagement rings, wedding bands, custom pieces, loose gems and fine jewelry. • Closes Feb. 17 • 3376 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.elegant-jewelers.com
Coming soon
9 McAlister’s Deli The fast-casual restaurant will offer various sandwiches, salads, soups, loaded spuds and its famous sweet tea. • Opening early 2024 • 20220 Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road, Ste. 100, Missouri City • www.mcalistersdeli.com 10 7 Brew The drive-thru coffee chain offers a wide variety of coffee options, including cold brews, espresso-based beverages and other flavored drinks. • Opening June • Intersection of Hwy. 6 and Voss Road, Sugar Land • www.7brew.com 11 College 101 The college planning service is owned by Asif Nanji and his wife, Shahin, who own tutoring company Study Dorm. The business will offer tutoring and help students develop a list of colleges; schedule college visits; craft college essays; and prep for ACT, SAT and PSAT. • Opening February • 609 Dulles Ave., Ste. 500, Stafford • www.class101.com
Closings
16 Code 49 Burger Formerly known by customers as The Sauer Kraut Grill, the eatery closed the doors and returned to its food truck Dec. 2. This comes after four years of operating at the brick-and-mortar. The owner, Eric Morse, cited a “remarkable drop” in sales in 2023, with an even more
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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Government
BY WESLEY GARDNER & RACHEL LELAND
Council lays foundation for Lake Pointe Plaza redevelopment
Sugar Land City Council approved a pair of items on Dec. 19 to allow developers to move forward with Lake Pointe Plaza, a 69-acre mixed-use
minutes for pedestrians to walk from one destina- tion to the next. “It’s got to be experiential, walkable, safe, technologically supported, smartly parked and connected,” Janssen said. O ering input Sugar Land resident Susan Fortenberry, who spoke against the development at previous City Council meetings, asked on Dec. 19 that City Council oppose the amendments as is and requested changes that would ensure more voting opportunities for City Council throughout the project’s timeline. “Please do not approve a blank slate tonight,” Fortenberry said. “There are far too many vari- ables and far too many acres for there to be no oversight at all.” Fortenberry also asked that language be added to the amendments that would protect trees in the development zone, including mature live oak trees. Council member Suzanne Whatley said several of her constituents had inquired as to whether there had been any changes to the ordinance since it was rst read at the Dec. 5 City Council meeting. Lohmer assured her that no changes were made and City Council will be closely involved in the development process as the project progresses. What’s next Community Impact previously reported that the development of Lake Pointe Plaza will begin in 2024.
Understanding the changes Developers want to revitalize the former Fluor Corp. campus. It’s part of a larger 148-acre regional activity center the city aims to create.
development. The overview
In August, Sugar Land-based developer Planned Community Developers announced plans for the construction of Lake Pointe Plaza consisting of: • Retail space • Medical facilities • High-density housing • O ce buildings • Hotels • Entertainment venues Ruth Lohmer, Sugar Land assistant director of planning and development services, said the project area falls within the 148-acre Lake Pointe Regional Activity Center located along Hwy. 6 and I-69, noting it’s one of several regional activity centers throughout the city aimed at promoting tourism and hosting citywide events. To move the project forward, City Council approved amending its development code to establish the Lake Pointe Redevelopment District and rezoning 69 acres along Creekbend Drive and Fluor Daniel Drive from a Planned Development District to the Lake Pointe Redevelopment District. A closer look At the Dec. 5 meeting where the rst reading of the ordinance was approved, Planned Community Developers President Don Janssen said walkability would be emphasized throughout the develop- ment, noting it should take no longer than ve
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SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Work on a new mixed-use development, Lake Pointe Plaza, will begin in 2024.
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Government
BY WESLEY GARDNER & KELLY SCHAFLER
Economic Development Council could dissolve After almost 40 years in the county, the Fort Bend Economic Development Council could dis- solve in June, leaving the county’s development efforts to the county’s economic opportunity and development department. The gist The FBEDC and Fort Bend County’s devel- opment department partnered in February to hire TIP Strategies to study ways to refocus the county’s economic development efforts. Per an emailed statement from the FBEDC, the firm recently presented the FBEDC’s executive committee with two options: • Reorient the FBEDC and change the board composition and staff. • Create a new organization, board and staff intended to carry out a new mission.
Thousands of homes coming to city’s ETJ Sugar Land City Council members approved a development agreement Dec. 5 that could bring as many as 2,650 single-family housing units to the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and allow the city to potentially annex the property. The overview The agreement with Pulte Homes of Texas was for roughly 960 acres in the city’s ETJ located south of FM 2759 and east of FM 762. The first homes are expected to be completed by mid-2025. The development will have: • A maximum of 200 independent senior living units • 60 aces of retail, commercial and office space
Comparing entities
Fort Bend Economic Development Council • Public-private partnership • Funded by memberships from cities, counties and private businesses • Governed by eight-member executive committee of business leaders
Economic Opportunity and Development Department
• Public department • Funded by county • Governed by county commissioners
SOURCES: FORT BEND EDC, CARLOS GUZMAN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Next steps The executive committee will meet Jan. 10 to officially vote on whether to dissolve, but the board plans to end the operations June 30, per the FBEDC’s statement. TIP Strategies officials will present the final strategic plan to county commissioners in early January, said Carlos Guzman, director of the county’s development department.
Missouri City appoints Lynn Clouser as mayor pro tem Missouri City council members voted to appoint Lynn Clouser to serve as mayor pro tem during the council’s Dec. 18 meeting. The overview Clouser, who was elected to the council’s What they’re saying Clouser thanked Emery for his time spent as mayor pro tem.
Things to know about mayor pro tem
1 Council members must appoint a mayor pro tem to serve a one-year term each December. 2 Mayor pro tems are tasked with serving as mayor when the mayor is either absent or unable to serve.
“We need your knowledge, and we have needed it, so I appreciate you stepping up in the mayor’s absence,” Clouser said. Emery said he was looking forward to watching Clouser serve in the role.
At-Large Position 2 in December 2020, will take over for District E council member Floyd Emery. She will serve as mayor pro tem until next December.
SOURCE: MISSOURI CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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Education
BY DAVE MANNING
Marc Smith named lone nalist for FBISD superintendent
principal and assistant superintendent. • He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Hous- ton and a master’s from Prairie View A&M University. What they’re saying “He is known around the state as a strategic leader with a heart for people, and the FBISD board of trustees believes his reputation of building unity with a relentless focus on student success makes him the ideal leader for our district,” FBISD board President Judy Dae said in the release. What else Trustee Kristen Malone, a vocal supporter of Whitbeck, expressed displeasure during the meeting with the way Smith was selected and said she was not given any information about Smith or able to interview him until shortly before the Dec. 15 meeting in which the selection was announced.
Fort Bend ISD trustees unanimously selected Marc Smith from Duncanville ISD as the lone superintendent nalist at a special board meeting Dec 15, just ve days after former Superintendent Christie Whitbeck was demoted to superinten- dent emeritus. State law requires school districts to adhere to a 21-day waiting period before an employment contract is o ered, making Jan. 8 his rst day, per an FBISD news release. About the candidate Smith, a career educator and administrator, has served in public schools for 30 years, the release stated. Some things to know: • He served the last seven years as superintendent for Duncanville ISD. • In 2020, he was selected as the Region 10 Superintendent of the Year. • He served in FBISD for six years as an executive
“I am honored to rejoin the district and community as your superintendent, and look forward to reconnecting with the
people and traditions that have always inspired me.” MARC SMITH, LONE FINALIST
FOR FORT BEND ISD SUPERINTENDENT
“It made it extraordinarily di cult to be prepared and to make any decision without having that information prior to this morning,” Malone said in the livestreamed meeting Dec. 15. Despite this, Malone voted with the other six trustees to approve the selection. FBISD posted the superintendent job to the district website shortly after Whitbeck announced Dec. 1 she was vacating the position.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION
Real estate
Transportation
BY JAMES T. NORMAN & LIZZY SPANGLER
Missouri City OKs contract for sidewalk, street repairs Missouri City City Council unanimously approved authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Brooks Concrete Inc. for $5.49 million in sidewalk and street repair services on Dec. 4. What else? Bicentennial Park, East Hampton Park- land, American Legion Park, Community Park and Ridgeview Park will undergo sidewalk rehabilitation, Assistant Public Works Director Joi Johnson said. The sidewalk and street repairs are set to begin citywide in January, per Johnson’s presentation. Johnson said all the repairs are set to finish within one year.
Fort Bend County approves bid for Chimney Rock Road
Number of homes sold
November 2022
November 2023
Residential market data
CHIMNEY ROCK RD.
20 15
67 79
-25%
+17.9%
77498
77459
Sugar Land- and Missouri City-area ZIP codes saw a decrease in the number of homes sold in November compared to November 2022, with 177 homes sold versus 182 last November.
2234
Future segment
59 43
18 23
-27.12%
+27.78%
77479
77489
Chimney Rock Road is one step closer to connect- ing north to south in Fort Bend County. Fort Bend County Commissioners on Nov. 21 approved a roughly $7.3 million bid for Brookshire company Hurtado Construction Company to start building out a 3-mile stretch of the Chimney Rock Road, connecting two existing portions of the road. The gist Currently, Chimney Rock Road ends at FM 2234 in Missouri City and picks back up about 3 miles south. The first segment of the project will see the road built from Tabor Mills Drive on the south end to the American Canal, which runs east and west across the area, according to county documents. The segment equals about 1 mile of road.
90
Segment 1
18 17
99 TOLL
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77478
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Median home sales price
What else? The remainder of the project calls for the road to eventually connect from the canal to FM 2234, according to previous county documents. According to the project sheet, the Chimney Road project calls for: • Four-lane boulevard • Concrete curb and gutter road • Bridges at American Canal and Mustang Bayou
2022
2023
N
77498
+12.32%
$346,000
$308,050
77498 77479 77489 77459
77478
77479
+17.65%
$520,000
$442,000
77478
-19.66%
$330,000
$410,750
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 ALINAWROGERS@YAHOO.COM
77459
+14.3%
$439,890
$385,000
77489
+1.19%
$255,000
$252,000
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From the cover
Changes underway at Missouri City intersection
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Fort Bend Town Center
Two-minute impact
New retail tenants and restaurants are set to join the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road in 2024. Most businesses are coming in Phase II of Fort Bend Town Center, according to NewQuest’s release and previous Community Impact reporting. Data shows at least seven businesses opened in Phase II—in the northwestern corner—in 2023 alone, with four more confirmed to open in phases I and II. EoS Fitness has preleased space in Phase II and will open before the end of 2024, according to NewQuest’s release. Beauty retailer CoCo Bella will open in February in Phase I. Other developers are also eyeing the intersection due to the population growth happening in the area, Rodriguez said. The 1-mile area surrounding the development has seen a 24% population growth since the 2020 U.S. census, according to METRO data. “Fort Bend Town Center will be not only a major retail destination for residents, but will also serve as a transit-oriented mixed-use development with the addition of both residential units and new METRO Park & Ride facility,” NewQuest Senior Vice President Andrew Alvis said in an emailed statement.
TRAMMEL-FRESNO RD.
Opened in 2023 • Five Below • MOD Pizza • Olive Garden • Ulta Beauty • James Avery • The Joint Chiropractic • Cava Coming soon • Dollar Tree • EoS Fitness • McAlister’s Deli
Phase II
6
Coming soon • Coco Bella
Phase I (Completed)
Phase III
6
N
SOURCE: NEWQUEST PROPERTIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next
The context
Digging deeper
In addition to apartments, Phase III of Fort Bend Town Center will include a park and ride garage opening in 2025, METRO Public Information Officer Monica Russo said. “A significant number of Missouri City Park & Ride commuters take [the current route] to the Texas Medical Center,” Russo said via email. Additionally, NewQuest’s site plan shows Phase III will feature more than 509,000 square feet of retail space, but Alvis said details on when commercial construction will begin aren’t available. Upon completion, the center’s total retail space will be 1 million square feet. However, Rodriguez said the corridor’s growth won’t stop with Fort Bend Town Center. “We are talking to the folks that are looking to keep that expansion going,” he said.
More than 1,500 multifamily units are planned for the intersection, with hundreds set to break ground this year, according to informa- tion from Missouri City and developers. Rodriguez said the apartment growth is driven by employment and educational oppor- tunities and the area’s accessibility. “The amount of commuters who use [the toll road] allows for the density of traffic in and out of this corridor versus traffic in other corridors without a major highway,” he said.
To improve corridor accessibility, the FBCTRA finished a $43.4 million project extending the toll road from Sienna Parkway to Sienna Ranch Road on Nov. 3, said Lisa Castañeda, deputy operating officer with Mike Stone Associates. Design will wrap up in December 2024 on B3, the $19 million extension to the levee east of the Brazos River, with future plans to connect it to FM 2759, Castañeda said.
Segment B3
600 units
Skymark Development (north of Phase III) Breaking ground: TBA
6
Completed
BRAZOS RIVER
250 units 670 units
Sueba USA (in Phase III) Breaking ground: late summer 2024
Levee
Dhanani Group (west of Phase I) Breaking ground: second quarter of 2024
Segment B4
N
2759
SOURCES: HERMAN RODRIGUEZ, SUEBA USA/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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BY KELLY SCHAFLER Community 2024 Annual Community Guide
Sugar Land, Missouri City snapshot The population in the cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City have grown since 2017. While Missouri City’s population has grown by 2,000 people, Sugar Land has seen more growth in the five-year period, adding more than 23,000 residents since the 2017 five-year estimate.
Sugar Land
90
Missouri City
6
69
N
SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2022 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5-YEAR ESTIMATES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Age analysis
Population change
Texas
24.9% 22% 28% 21.9% 3.2% 42.5
28.2% 28.6% 24.9% 15.4% 2.8% 35.2
23.9% 25.9% 26.5% 21.5%
0-19
86,886
72,688
2017
2017
20-39
2022 110,077
2022 74,517
40-59
60-79
5-year population change
2.2% 40.2
80+
+26.69%
+2.52%
Median age
Fort Bend County: +17.03%
Texas: +6.65%
Local demographics*
2022
2017 15.47%
2022 18.38%
2017
13.04%
9.61%
Hispanic or Latino White Black or African American American Indian or Alaska native Asian Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander Some other race Two or more races
42.65%
37.79%
22.68%
20.36%
6.39%
7.15%
41.66%
39.97%
0.11%
0.16%
0.06%
0.02%
39%
38.02%
17.66%
17.56%
0%
0.1% 0.52%
0.12% 0.23% 2.11%
0.03% 0.43%
.0 19% 2.05%
3.22%
3.25%
*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.
Education level*
Median household income
2017 2022
High school diploma or higher
Bachelor’s degree or higher
2022 $132,247 2017 $108,994
93.5%
94.9%
58.8%
61.3%
2022 $97,211 2017 $88,896
Texas
42.9%
91.2%
92.5%
45.8%
2022 $73,035 2017 $57,051
*AGES 25 AND OLDER
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
Community
BY SHAHERYAR KHAN
New businesses, renovations ahead for Sugar Land Town Square
Stay tuned
Ragan said additional businesses are slated to open in early 2024, with announcements expected soon. One of the new businesses coming to Sugar Land Town Square is Williams Smokehouse BBQ and Blues, opening in mid-January, owner Kennis Williams said. “I attended elementary, junior high and high school in Sugar Land, growing up within that community, which made me feel at home,” Williams said. To Williams, Sugar Land Town Square was the “comfortable” choice, as he said the area is a “significant hub for marketing and driving business into the area.”
Sugar Land Town Square, a mixed-use development, received upgrades in 2023 and gained new businesses, with several more slated to join the center in 2024. Rebees, which took over managing the 1.4 million-square-foot center in 2019, played a role in the area’s economic vitality, said Matt Ragan, director of retail programming and operations at Rebees. Ragan said strategic planning led to investments in modernization, attracting more businesses from different fields and working closely with the city. “Revitalizing Town Square wasn’t just about updating storefronts and landscaping; it was about creating a space where top-tier retailers could express their brand and where the
In 2024, several key projects and initiatives are anticipated at Sugar Land Town Square:
Landscaping improvements on the eastern side to create a more consistent and attractive environment
Focusing on attracting major retailers
SOURCE: REBEES MANAGEMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
community could thrive in a more vibrant and inviting environment,” Ragan said. Ragan said Rebees plans to intensify efforts to solidify Sugar Land Town Square’s status as a destination for businesses.
Business activity Opened in 2023 1 Performance Pilates 2 German Doner Kebab
3 Williams Smokehouse Coming soon
6
Retail occupancy rates in Sugar Land Town Square
2
By the numbers
1
69
3
Rebees pledged $21.6 million in 2023 to go toward retail development, office devel- opment and parking, Community Impact reported. Along with these investments, Performance Pilates and German Doner Kebab were reported by Community Impact to have opened in 2023 at Sugar Land Town Square.
N
91%
64%
58%
The following stories are based on trends Community Impact staff identified through monthly Impacts section reporting in 2023.
2019
2020
2023
SOURCE: REBEES MANAGEMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: REBEES DID NOT RETURN THE DATA FOR 2021-22 YEARS BY PRESS TIME
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY ASIA ARMOUR
8 coffee shops open or coming soon to the area Sugar Land and Missouri City saw the opening of several coffee shops in 2023, with more to come in the first half of 2024. One of the most prolific shops, PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, opened in Sugar Land in June with two more expected to open in Missouri City in early 2024, a company representative said in an email. In addition to the Louisiana-based chain, three others, including Black Rock Coffee, Dutch Bros Coffee and Haraz Coffee House, opened in Sugar Land or Missouri City between March and May. Each shop offers more than one way to wake up, with caffeinated beverages including hot and iced coffees, energy drink infusions, and teas. Looking forward 7 Brew and Fellowship Coffee Co. bring the total of anticipated shops opening in Missouri City and Sugar Land to four, including the two Missouri City PJ’s locations. For Ryan Borinaga, owner of Fellowship Coffee Co. and a Sugar Land native, the concept began with a mobile coffee cart servicing Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland and surrounding areas. “We’re excited to bring this type of coffee culture to the Sugar Land and Missouri City area,” Borinaga previously told Community Impact . “You see a lot of this specialty, or what you called third-wave, coffee companies more in the city. So it’d be nice to have something in the Sugar Land area.” Borinaga said Fellowship Coffee Co. is set to open in January.
1
69
N
6
SIENNA PKWY.
2
N
PJs Coffee of New Orleans 1 17211 W. Grand Parkway S., Sugar Land 2 5822 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City 3 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Missouri City www.pjscoffee.com
3
N
6
6
TRAMMEL FRESNO RD.
VOSS RD.
N
N
Black Rock Coffee 9540 Hwy. 6, Missouri City www.br.coffee
Dutch Bros Coffee 11711 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land www.dutchbros.com
1092
6
VOSS RD.
59
6
O
N
N
N
7 Brew Hwy. 6 at Voss Road, Sugar Land www.7brew.com
Fellowship Coffee Co. 3340 FM 1092, Ste. 350, Missouri City www.fellowshipcoffeetx.com
Haraz Coffee House 13582 University Blvd., Sugar Land www.harazcoffeehouse.com
21
SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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