Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | March 2022

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7 MARCH 9APRIL 5, 2022

ONLINE AT

BEFORE REVIVING A VACANT CENTER

AFTER

INSIDE

With a master-planning process that began in 2015, construction on the redevelopment of the old Willowridge Commons shopping center in the Fort Bend Houston area is now close to fruition. When complete, The Edison Center will be a cultural arts district designed to advance the quality of life, well-being and prosperity for residents, according to project documents.

HUNTER MARROWCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

RENDERINGS COURTESY STUDIO RED ARCHITECTS

Creating a hub Sugar Land Town Square modernizes its visitor shopping experience BY HUNTER MARROW Signicant updates are on the way for Sugar Land Town Square that aim to improve walkability, encourage economic development and promote

coordinated exterior development among tenants, according to the developers. Located at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 6, the 1.4 million-square-foot district features shopping, restaurants and oce space. Landscaping updates, storefront facade improvements and new restaurants and businesses are a few of the changes that have been underway since 2020 to transform the square into a regional shopping

THE REASONWE PIVOTED TO SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE FOR THISMASSIVE, VERY STRATEGIC AND IMPORTANT BRAND LAUNCH WAS BECAUSE OF THE CITYOF SUGAR LAND. ITWAS BECAUSE OF THEIRWANT TODONEW ANDAMBITIOUS THINGS, THEIRDRIVE AND DESIRE TOMAKE THIS A TECHHUBANDA CITY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. MATT RAGAN, REBEES DIRECTOR OF RETAIL PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS

CONTINUED ON 21

CAMP GUIDE 2022

Missouri City ocials approve newpark

GUIDE

IMPACTS

6 CITY & COUNTY

BUSINESS FEATURE

MORNING BREAKDOWN Prep your headphones and coee!

Listen now

(Courtesy Red Circle Ice Cream)

THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in Sugar Land

At Houston Methodist Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in Sugar Land.

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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

CHOOSE FORT BEND ISD Choose Success

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14 Career & Technical Education Programs: Including Agriculture, Architecture, Finance, JROTC, STEM 245 Campus-Based Fine Arts Programs; 18 Different Organized Sports

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

Expertmen’s healthcare inyour neighborhood.

One in 9 men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. However, early diagnosis, active monitoring and treatment alternatives, provides options. Schedule an appointment today. StLukesHealth.org

Sugar Land Hospital

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

THIS ISSUE

ABOUT US

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and Pugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.

HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHISMONTH

FROMAMY: This month, we dive into the development taking place throughout the Sugar Land and Missouri City area. We spoke to developers at Sugar Land Town Square about updates on the horizon for the shopping district, and we also have some details about an exciting Missouri City project called The Edison Center. Amy Martinez, GENERALMANAGER

Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

FROMLAURA: In our March issue, we’ve included our Camp Guide (see Page 14) for parents planning their children’s summer, with camps dedicated to technology, sports and more. We also have some transportation updates (see Page 9) regarding Fort Bend County’s Moore Road project. Laura Aebi, EDITOR

Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.

WHATWE COVER

Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the latest headlines direct to your inbox. communityimpact.com/ newsletter DAILY INBOX Visit our website for free access to the latest news, photos and infographics about your community and nearby cities. communityimpact.com LIVE UPDATES

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Amy Martinez EDITOR Laura Aebi REPORTER Hunter Marrow GRAPHIC DESIGNER La’Toya Smith ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Debbie Hamilton METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kristina Shackelford MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schaer ART PRODUCTIONMANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CORPORATE LEADERSHIP GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan SALES &MARKETING DIRECTOR Tess Coverman CONTACT US

BUSINESS &DINING Local business development news that aects you

TRANSPORTATION &DEVELOPMENT Regular updates on area projects to keep you in the know

SCHOOL, CITY & COUNTY We attend area meetings to keep you informed

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$20 average donation choose to give monthly 35% edition newsletter called The InCIder and occasionally reach out with other opportunities to directly engage. hyperlocal, unbiased journalism and help build informed communities. As a thank you, we'll include you in a special Saturday

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

W . B E L L F O R T B L V D .

W . A I R P O R T

99 TOLL

Pressed

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COURTESY PRESSED

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and reptiles as well as small pets, such as hamsters and gerbils. The store also offers a self-service dog wash, grooming, live fish, live small pets, live crickets, a visiting pet care clinic and a pet treat bakery. Pet Supplies Plus has another location in Sugar Land. 346-396-7387. www.petsuppliesplus.com 5 Red Circle Ice Cream opened a loca- tion Feb. 19 at 3595 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land. Red Circle Ice Cream offers premium, handcrafted ice cream paired with made- to-order churros and authentic Hong Kong-style egg waffles. It also offers extra large ice cream-filled macarons. This will be the brand’s second franchise location, bringing the total number of locations to three, which are all in the 6 Dutch Bros will be opening its first Missouri City location in the second quar- ter of 2022, according to a NewQuest Properties press release. The Ore- gon-based drive-thru coffee chain bought the last remaining site in Fort Bend Town Center 1, a 27-acre property owned by NewQuest Properties with 180,000 square feet, including a 102,000-square- foot Kroger store anchor. Dutch Bros will break ground on the 1.23-acre site before mid-March, building its prototype design, an 863-square-foot kiosk with two drive-thru lanes. An address is not yet available. www.dutchbros.com Houston area. 832-767-5679. www.redcirclefranchising.com COMING SOON 7 A new fast-casual cafe concept from Dubai is coming soon to Sugar Land. FiLLi Cafe , a brand known for its Zafran tea, coffee, mocktails and homely ambiance,

MISSOURI CITY

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NOWOPEN 1 Elite Indo-Pak , 11941 Hwy. 6 S., Sugar Land, held its grand opening Feb. 15 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with officials from the cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City, according to Elite’s Facebook page. The restaurant serves a variety of Indo-Pak cuisine, including samosas, chicken and goat curries, biryani and masala. The restaurant has the same owners as Imperial Spice, an Indo-Pak grocery store that opened Feb. 1 in the same development. 281-957-4100. www.eliteindopak.com

2 Cajun seafood restaurant Happy Crab officially opened its location at 5418 Hwy. 6, Ste. 210, Missouri City. The eatery held a soft opening Feb. 20-28. Happy Crab serves traditional Cajun seafood offerings such as crawfish, shrimp and crab, along with other seafood, including catfish, tilapia, oysters and more. Happy Crab held its official grand opening March 1. 832- 539-1619. www.happycrabmissouricity. kwickmenu.com/index.php 3 Pressed , a cold-pressed juice and plant-based treats brand, has opened a new location in Sugar Land. The store

opened at 15850 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 200, Sugar Land, on Jan. 22, bringing cold- pressed juices, functional shots, grab-and- go smoothies, protein-packed smoothie bowls and plant-based soft serve. This is Pressed’s fourth location in the Houston area with other locations in Rice Village, Heights Mercantile and The Woodlands. 346-309-3402. www.pressed.com 4 Pet Supplies Plus opened a Missouri City location Feb. 4. Located at 9018 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 200, Mis- souri City, the pet store offers a variety of products for dogs, cats, fish, birds

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

COMPILED BY HUNTER MARROW

Red Circle Ice Cream

Happy Crab

COURTESY RED CIRCLE ICE CREAM

COURTESY HAPPY CRAB

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys will continue to utilize Constellation Field.

owners, real estate organization The Seth Brothers Team , the project should be fin- ished at the end of 2022. Designed with a focus on the real estate industry—with planned tenants including lenders, title companies, builders and developers—the development will feature a first floor set up as a space to host events, trainings and more, while the second and third floors will hold about 8,200 square feet of leasable space. The ceremony came after the development officially broke ground in January. 855-738-4276. www.thesethbrothers.com Johnny Tamale Cantina will expand into Missouri City in the spring, according to restaurant officials. Johnny Tamale Can- tina is a family-owned Tex-Mex cantina that has had a Pasadena location since 1998. The restaurant serves traditional Tex-Mex fare, including tacos, enchiladas, nachos and more. An address for the new location is not yet available. 11 Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hos- pital , 16655 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, is slated for an upcoming $206 mil- lion expansion project. The south expan- sion project, which begins May 2 and will last into 2025, will add over 466,000 square feet to the 324-operating bed hospital. When completed, it will include an expanded and renovated loading dock, a relocated emergency department, and new mechanical floors and conference rooms. The project will add a new floor and additional support services for the intensive care unit and acute care. It will also add a roof with a helipad and trauma elevators. 281-274-7000. www.houston- www.jtcantina.com EXPANSIONS

is eyeing a mid-March opening at a new location at 11920 S. Hwy. 6, Ste. 600, Sugar Land, according to the store’s owners. FiLLi comes to Sugar Land after its success with 23 cafes in the United Arab Emirates and additional locations in the United Kingdom. The cafe will feature snacks, including Punjab samosas, chaat and paratha, along with American offerings, such as loaded fries, nachos, burgers, hot dogs and pizza. www.fillicafetexas.com 8 A new Aina Poke will be opening sometime this year in Brazos Town Center in Rosenberg. Located at the intersec- tion of I-69 and FM 762, the restaurant recently leased 1,820 square feet of retail space. The Hawaiian restaurant sells poke, a dish that contains rice, protein, sauce and vegetables combined in a bowl. There is another location in Richmond. An exact address for this location is not yet avail- able. www.ainapoke.kwickmenu.com 9 A new, standalone, state-of-the-art clinic will open in Stafford in the fall. Ju- liette Nessmith, vice president of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, partnered with Kelsey-Seybold Clinic executives to break ground for the new facility. The Kelsey-Seybold clinic in Stafford will be a 33,000-square-foot clinic with space for up to 15 providers and the potential for an expansion to 27 providers in the future. The Kelsey-Seybold Stafford Clinic will be located at 11211 Nexus Ave. in Stafford, near Dulles High School and shopping center The Fountains. www.kelsey-seybold.com/ 10 A 22,000-square-foot, three-floor coworking space at 6920 Brisbane Court, Sugar Land, held a groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 25. According to the

COURTESY SUGAR LAND SPACE COWBOYS

FEATURED IMPACT INTHENEWS The Sugar Land Skeeters, the Triple-A aliate of the Houston Astros, has been renamed the Sugar Land Space Cowboys . The Space Cowboys have taken over for the previously named Skeeters, which served as the franchise’s nickname from 2012-20 as an independent club and in 2021 for its rst season as the Astros’ Triple-A aliate, the team said in a Jan. 30 news release. The new brand links the themes of the Astros and the Houston area as Texas’ largest city and the home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, along with the city’s popular cowboy culture, the release stated. “We are excited to be launching the new identity for our Triple-A aliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys,” said Anita Sehgal, Astros senior vice president of marketing and communications, in a statement. “Our goal was to clearly reect a strong connection to the Astros family, but also stand out as a unique identity aligned with the vibrant, methodist.org/locations/sugar-land ANNIVERSARIES 12 Bar Kada , a Missouri City sports bar, celebrated its one-year anniversary in February. Located at 9009 Sienna Crossing

progressive, and family-focused values of the city of Sugar Land community.” The Astros have announced Orion as the ocial mascot of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, a cosmic space dog of the species “Canis Cosmicus.” The primary logo features a Space Cowboy donning a cowboy hat, a bandana and a blast shield over his face peppered with space dust. The color palette and gradient feature light blue, navy, orange, gray and black, inspired by the earth’s horizon from space, according to the release.

1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land www.milb.com/sugar-land

A L

Drive, Missouri City, the restaurant serves Asian-inspired bar food, including egg rolls, wings, oysters, salads, burgers and fried rice. Patrons can also enjoy sports and TV shows on more than 30 screens. 713-227-5232. www.facebook.com/ bar-kada-112853440547146

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES Moore Road project nowunder right of way acquisition

UPCOMING PROJECTS

BY HUNTER MARROW

MOORE ROAD CONNECTION PROJECT

AIRPORT BLVD.

A project that includes constructing an asphalt road with two 12-foot travel lanes and 4-foot shoulders from Fifth Street to Court Road/Independence Boulevard in Missouri City is slated for a mid-2022 construction start date, according to Fort Bend County ocials. Approximately 35,000 square feet of Missouri City land at Moore Road, near Sta-Mo Sports Complex, which was donated by Missouri City to Fort Bend County, is undergo- ing right-of-way acquisition, an environmental study and utility relocation, according to Ike Akinwande, assistant county engineer for Fort Bend County. Once this is complete, the county will advertise and bid the project for construction, Akinwande said. “We currently estimate the construction to begin toward the middle of this year and last about 16 months,” Akin- wande said in an email to Community Impact Newspaper . In addition to the new roadway, the Moore project will add 5-foot sidewalks on either side of the road for its entire length. Moore was identied to be widened as part of the 2015 Fort Bend County Major Thoroughfare Plan. The Moore project is funded by the 2020 voter-approved Fort Bend County mobility bond. Of the $5.4 million needed for the project, $4.6 million was included in the

1464

Moore Road project The Moore Road project will include two 12-foot lanes, two 4-foot shoulders and 5-foot side- walks on either side. Timeline: mid-2022-late 2023 Cost: $5.4 million Funding source: Fort Bend County mobility bond

Roadway lighting upgrades on FM 1464

The Texas Department of Transpor- tation is eyeing improvements to highway lighting on FM 1464 from West Airport Boulevard to the Grand Parkway. Set to open project bidding in September, TxDOT will install LED lighting on the road to improve safety. Timeline: begins fall 2022/early 2023- TBD

INDEPENDENCE PARK

Cost: $2.4 million (estimated) Funding source: state funding

SOURCE: CITY OF MISSOURI CITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

bond, and the remainder will be funded through other mobility projects that were completed under their bud- gets, county ocials said. According to Akinwande, the county needed the land for drainage mitigation. Also, new sidewalks will be located behind the Sta-Mo baseball elds that will connect to the existing Moore sidewalks.

1092

DOVE COUNTRY DR.

MURPHY RD.

Hazard elimination and safety project on FM 1092

Highway 36Agroup elects 2022 board of directors, chair

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF FEB. 21. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SLMNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Timeline: spring 2023-TBD Cost: $300,000 (estimated) Funding sources: state, federal funding A trac signal at the intersection of FM 1092 at Dove Country Drive is up for replacement. The Texas Depart- ment of Transportation will look to replace the signal at the intersection with a more modern signal. Though the project is slated to go to bid in August, the actual signal work is not scheduled to begin until spring 2023.

BY SIERRA ROZEN

development engineering, will serve as Pechukas’ vice chair. The Highway 36A Coalition serves to develop regional transportation infrastructure from the Brazosport area to Hempstead and beyond, according to the coalition’s website. The Highway 36A Coalition is also trying to create growing momentum for the group. The other board members for the coalition consist of Shane Pirtle, Vern Hegwood, Jim Russ, Je Wiley, Matt Hanks and Kendric Jones.

“We are excited to see our vision for a 36A corri- dor moving forward. Our proposed corridor will help serve the

A new set of ocers has been elected for the Highway 36A Coali- tion 2022 board of directors, includ- ing new Chair Robert Pechukas. The ocers were announced via a Feb. 23 press release from the Highway 36A Coalition. Pechukas currently serves as the director of policy and administration for Andy Meyers, commissioner for Precinct 3 in Fort Bend County, which covers the Sugar Land area. Donna Adams, vice president and regional business

Robert Pechukas

needs of our fast-growing region, such as the ecient movement of people and goods, including to and from Port Freeport,” Pechukas said in the February press release.

Sugar Land 16312 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479 Rosenberg 4002 FM 762, Ste. 100 Rosenberg, TX 77469

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

Coming Spring 2022! The Perfect Round Indoor Golf, Bar & Grille

The Perfect Round provides a unique golf-centered bar & lounge setting, with craft beer and cocktails.

Craft beer on tap Mixology Events Leagues

For information call 281-363-1336 www.ThePerfectRoundGolf.com We deliver the ultimate indoor golfing experience with our award-winning GOLFZON simulators, in a cozy pub presence with top-notch service and hospitality.

18730 University Blvd., • Sugar Land, TX 77479

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from Fort Bend ISD

Fort Bend ISD board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. March 28 at 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land. 281-634-1000. www.fortbendisd.com MEETINGSWE COVER exhibit, which serves as the first phase of its SL95 Memorialization Project, in the James Reese Career and Technical Center. The exhibit aims to honor and memorialize 95 individuals who are believed to be convicts who died at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp during Texas’ convict labor leasing program. SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS FORTBEND ISD With a 6-1 vote during its Feb. 14 meeting, the Fort Bend ISD board renewed its District of Innovation Plan. The renewal allows the district to continue to be granted flexibility and exemptions from Texas Education Code sections, such as allowing flexibility in the calendar, allowing the district to waive certain teaching certifications and exempting FBISD from certain attendance rules. FORTBEND ISD An educational exhibit for students and the general public detailing the story of the Sugar Land 95 opened to the public Feb. 22. FBISD opened the

Fort Bend ISD to see enrollment increase, demographer says

FBISDboard candidates forMay election confirmed

BY HUNTER MARROW

Survey Analysts. The projections come amidst enrollment growth at FBISD that is expected to slow over the next 5-10 years. Officials attribute the loss in momentum to a predicted increase in the presence of charter schools combined with an expected slow- down in housing growth, according to the demographer. The district demographic report comes as PASA projects that through fall 2026, an additional 1,670 students from the district are projected to leave FBISD and enroll in charter schools.

BY HUNTER MARROW

FORTBEND ISD Student enroll- ment at Fort Bend ISD is projected to increase anywhere from 0.85% on the low end up to 3.26% on the high end for the upcoming 2022-23 school year, according to a spring 2022 demographic report presented to FBISD’s board of trustees at its Feb. 14 meeting. That represents an increase up to about 79,000 students from the October 2021 enrollment of about 77,000 students, according to a spring 2022 report from the district’s demographer, Population and

FORT BEND ISD Candidates for two positions on the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees have filed for their respective places on the ballot for the upcoming May election. Positions 3 and 7 on FBISD’s board of trustees will be up for vote during the May 7 election. Position 3 trustee Jim Rice, who is the incumbent, is running for re-election to the posi- tion, while Position 7 trustee Dave Rosenthal will not be seeking another term on the board. Incumbent Rice will run against candidate Rick Garcia. The two can- didates both announced their intent to run for FBISD Board of Trustees Position 3 on Jan. 10. Meanwhile in the race for Position 7, candidates David Hamilton, LaShell McClue and Orjanel Lewis will be on the ballot.

Enrollment expectations

1,670 students projected to leave FBISD for charter schools through fall 2026

77,651 students enrolled in FBISD in October 2021

78,314 to 80,183 students projected to be enrolled in the 2022-23 school year

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

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CITY& COUNTY

News fromMissouri City & Fort Bend County

QUOTEOFNOTE “I THINKTHISPROJECT ISWIDELYNEEDED TO SUPPORT GROWTH.” SHASHI KUMAR, MISSOURI CITY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ON THE EXPANDED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER TOKNOW acres zoned for a new park in Missouri City 6.69 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS FORTBENDCOUNTY Up to $2 million is available to Fort Bend County small businesses that were aected by the pandemic through the Regional Revolving Loan Program after it was approved by the Houston- Galveston Area Council on Feb. 15. Program details are online at www. hgaldc.com/tripler. Businesses must prove they were impacted by the pandemic or that they will contribute to economic recovery. The program, which is a partnership between Fort Bend County and the H-GAC, will be available through 2028. Sugar Land City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. March 15 at 2700 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land. Meetings are livestreamed and in MEETINGSWE COVER Missouri City City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. March 21 at 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City. Meetings are livestreamed and in person. 281-403-8500. www.missouricitytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court will meet at 1 p.m. March 22 at 401 Jackson St., Richmond. Meetings are livestreamed and in person. 281-342-3411. www.fortbendcountytx.gov person. 281-275-2900. www.sugarlandtx.gov

Missouri City outlines COVID19 spending plan

BY HUNTER MARROW

Once the total funding is available, the plan authorized by Missouri City City Council includes: EXPENSE BREAKDOWN

MISSOURI CITY In August, Missouri City will receive its second $3.45 million payment from the U.S. Department of the Treasury via the American Rescue Plan Act. The funds are designed to assist the city in responding to the impact of COVID-19, according to a Feb. 7 agenda report. On Feb. 7, Missouri City City Council approved a $6.9 million plan for those funds, which will address two main categories of need, public health and economic response—as well as water: sewer and broadband infrastructure, accord- ing to Allena Portis, the city’s director of nancial services, at the meeting. These two categories were eligible uses for the funding alongside public-sector revenues and premium pay for essential workers, ocials said. The funding allows the city to cover eligible costs incurred between March 2021 through 2024. $2 million will pay for land for a 12-acre expansion to the city’s Mustang Bayou wastewater treatment plant, according to City Engineer Shashi Kumar. “I think this project is widely needed to support growth,” Kumar said at the meeting. “It not only benets the city, but benets the developer, so we believe there may be some opportunity to collaborate.”

Parks Quail Green West Park restrooms - $200,000 parks - $1,200,000

Total $6,910,253

Other HVAC & building repairs Upgrades-$450,000 COVID-19 response-$135,253 Contingency-$200,000 Wastewater Projects Mustang Bayou collection system design - $1,900,000 Land purchase for WWTP expansion - $2,000,000

Small Business Programs Disparity study-$225,000 Small business workshops - $200,000 Patio program-$400,000

SOURCE: MISSOURI CITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Missouri City ocialsmakeway for newpark

QUAIL PLACE DR.

BY HUNTER MARROW

new park to be known as Randy/Dee Park, said Jennifer Thomas, the city’s director of development services, at a Dec. 8 meeting. The park will be located east of Columbia Blue Drive and west of Texas Parkway, according to city documents. City Council unanimously approved the item Feb. 7 after holding a public hearing Jan. 18. The approval means the municipal utility district is able to move forward on the rst two phases of its three- phase plan to redevelop the site. The rst phase will include parking, a playground, a picnic area, and an

MISSOURI CITY A new park planned on the west side of Missouri City’s Quail Valley subdivision has been given the green light. Missouri City City Council approved the second of two readings during its Feb. 7 meeting to rezone the 6.69- acre site from LC-2—neighborhood commercial zone—to CF, known as community facilities. The zoning change will allow Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 26 to move forward with plans to provide recreational opportunities for the district’s residents and open a

GREENWEST DR.

COLUMBIA BLUE DR.

8-foot brick wall and perimeter fence, according to city documents. Con- struction on phase one will commence over the next fewmonths, Thomas said at a Dec. 8 meeting. Phase two will include ballelds, a shade structure, a trail, a splash pad and restrooms. The third phase will include a water treatment plant.

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

C A M P G U I D E GUIDE

A noncomprehensive list of camps in the area

Parents looking for camps for their children have a number of options to choose from in the Sugar Land and Missouri City area. This list is not comprehensive.

4 Inspiration Stage will have multiple half-day and full-day summer camps where kids will audition and perform in a musical. Camp musicals include “Annie,” “Aladdin,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Frozen” and “The Jungle Book.” They will also be having auditions for their summer show, “The Spongebob Musical.” Ages: 518 Dates: May 31Aug. 5 Cost: $200-$425 ART DAY 226 Lakeview Drive 7133025329 www.inspirationstage.com 5 Pine Cove will host a weeklong summer camp at Sugar Creek Baptist Church-Sugar Land. Campers will experience activities such as a slip-and-slide, a rope spider web, a rock climbing wall, an obstacle course, laser tag and a bungee trampoline as well as Bible study classes. Ages: Grades 16 Dates: June 27July 1 Cost: $330 SP DAY 13223 Southwest Freeway 8774746326 www.pinecove.com

6 School of Rock Sugar Land will oer a variety of music camps and workshops for various age groups and for musicians of any skill level. Topics include guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. Many of the camps are based around famous bands such as Green Day, Nirvana, Twenty One Pilots and Imagine Dragons. Ages: 418 Dates: May 30Aug. 12 Cost: $269-$419 ART DAY 1935 Lakeside Plaza Drive 8329398788 www.schoolofrock.com 7 Spanish Schoolhouse of Sugar Land will oer camps where kids will be immersed in Spanish language and culture. Each camp will have dierent themes and activities, such as science, music, art, cooking, sports and puppet shows. Ages: 38 Dates: June 1July 29 Cost: $161-$705 A+ DAY 1120 Soldiers Field Drive 2815650390 www.spanishschoolhouse.com/home

A+ Academics ART Arts DAY Day SP Sports SC Science

SUGAR LAND 1 Abrakadoodle will oer various art camps throughout the summer with dierent themes. The camps will happen at multiple area locations throughout Sugar Land and Missouri City. The website oers additional location details. Ages: 312 and up Dates: June 6Aug. 5 Cost: $195-$400 ART DAY 6101 Homeward Way, Sugar Land 7038606570 www.abrakadoodle.com 2 Code Ninjas oers camps that allow kids to learn how to code at a young age. Camp topics include how to become a Youtuber, car- toons about coding and learning about video games, such as Minecraft and Roblox. Ages: 514 Dates: May 29Aug. 6 Cost: $259-$279

SC DAY 18318 University Blvd., Ste. 100 17101 W. Grand Pkwy. S., Ste. 65 2814563010 www.codeninjas.com

3 Cordovan Art School will host multiple art camps this summer. There will be more than 40 dierent camps for children to choose from. The camps are divided into three age groups, with camps tailored towards those skill levels. Teenagers can enjoy camp themes like oil painting and ceramics, whereas the youngest group can enjoy topics like animal and space-themed art camps. Ages: 516 Dates: May 31Aug. 19 Cost: starts at $250 ART DAY 3219 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land 5122754040 www.cordovanartschool.com

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

2022

COMPILED BY SIERRA ROZEN

8 The HoustonMuseumof Natural Science of Sugar Land is oering multiple, weeklong educational camps. Topics this year include paleontology, robotics, movie making, coding, chemistry and social studies. Ages: 612 Dates: May 31Aug. 5 Cost: $208-$765 SC DAY 13016 University Blvd. 2813132277 www.hmns.org MISSOURI CITY 9 Fort Bend FamilyYMCA will host multi- ple camps this summer through the YMCA of Greater Houston. Kids who attend these camps will experience activities such as games, sports, swimming, arts and crafts, and educational activities, as well as the occasional eld trip. Ages: 515 Dates: May 31Aug. 5 Cost: $150 SP DAY 4433 Cartwright Road 2814999622 www.ymcahouston.org

10 iCode computer science camps en- courage kids to explore dierent STEM skills. iCode has both in-person and virtual camps to choose from. Kids can learn about a variety of skills, including coding, robotics, drones and design. Ages: 718 Dates: May 30Aug. 5 Cost: $249-$399 SC DAY 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. 113C 2815846618 www.icodeschool.com/sugarland117 11 Olympia Gymnastics will have three Camp Olympias this summer, with one happening in June, July and August. There are options to pay extra to have food provided, and the price of the camp depends on the sign-up date. Camp activities include gym, water days and inatables. Ages: 4 and up Dates: June 13June 17, July 11July 15, Aug. 1Aug. 5 Cost: $205-$270 SP DAY 7100 Knights Court 8323217100 www.olympiatx.com

Abrakadoodle

Language Kids World

COURTESY ABRAKADOODLE

COURTESY LANGUAGE KIDS WORLD

STAFFORD 12 Language KidsWorld has two camps where kids can learn Spanish or Mandarin Chinese. Lessons like art and science will help immerse the kids in the language. Ages: 311 Dates: May 31Aug. 5 Cost: $265-$310 A+ DAY 11325 Fountain Lake Drive 2815651388 www.languagekids.com

13 Study Dorm will oer weekly camps for math, reading and writing. Students who are in high school are also eligible to take SAT, ACT

and PSAT lessons. Ages: Grades 112 Dates: May 30Aug. 5 Cost: $135-$400 A+ DAY 609 Dulles Ave., Ste. 500 2818184760 www.mystudydorm.com

SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BUSINESS TheWalden School Sugar Land private school celebrates 20 years of pre-K, kindergarten education A s Mike McGilvray peered down at a photo taken of him alongside several of his pre-K BY HUNTER MARROW

your child that individual attention,” Mike said. Through these smaller ratios, The Walden School looks to provide individualized instruction. “Our kindergarten oers full lan- guage and phonics,” he said. “Most schools typically do one or the other.” Whereas some students learn better through phonics, which focuses on reading and writing through the relationship between sounds, other students may prefer whole-language instruction, which emphasizes iden- tifying words using literary context without focusing on sounds. It is an example of the branching

and kindergarten students during a Saturday baseball event, the message he wanted to share about his school was clear: It is all about the kids. Mike and his wife, Paula McGilvray, a kindergarten teacher, have run The Walden School, a family-run endeavor bringing together 20 stamembers with enrollment that hovers around 135, since 1993. Previously oering classes and camps on SouthWilcrest Drive, in Houston, the school has operated out of Sugar Land since 2002. Mike is early childhood education teachers that focuses on high-quality edu- cational services, according to its website. Across its curriculum, The Walden School maintains a low stu- dent-teacher ratio, Mike said. Ratios vary among the individual classrooms, but the school keeps a 5-1 or 6-1 student-teacher ratio for its 2-year-old students, 7-1 for its 3-year-olds, and 8-1 for 4-year-olds. “The main thing we wanted was to have small ratios in the classroom so that teachers could be able to give accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a nonprot associa- tion representing

The Walden School co-owner Paula McGilvray teaches a group of students ahead of Valentine’s Day. (Photos by Hunter Marrow/Community Impact Newspaper)

The Walden School oers a host of after-school programs, such as: EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING

Kindergarten and rst grade grads summer camp

approach to pre-K and kindergarten learning the school provides, Mike said. The school also oers summer camp every year for kindergarten

“MYGOAL IS TOHAVE CHILDREN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.” MIKE MCGILVRAY, COOWNER OF THE WALDEN SCHOOL

Baseball

Ballet and tap

Gymnastics

and rst-grade graduates. The camp is broken into weekly themes, and includes swimming, eld trips and arts and crafts. The school also oers after-school programs, such as soccer, baseball, taekwondo, ballet and tap. After-school programming has always been a focus, hearkening back to Mike’s early days in pre-K education in the 1970s and 1980s. “My goal is to have children feel good about themselves,” Mike said. “If you feel good about yourself, you’ll be successful.”

Computers

Music lessons

Mike and Paula McGilvray have run The Walden School since the early 1990s.

Field trips

TheWalden School 16103 Lexington Blvd., Ste. A, Sugar Land 281-980-0022 www.thewaldenschool.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • MARCH 2022

TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES COMING The 12.5-acre Edison Center redevelopment is designed to bring a new performing arts theater, business incubator space, a health clinic, public green space and restaurants. In addition to aordable housing, the project will assist Fort Bend Houston across ve main areas:

The foundation aims to foster a variety of minority-owned businesses and restaurants on the property.

The developer projects the 400-seat theater will host 59,400 visitors per year.

Festival Plaza will house a year-round concert venue.

RENDERINGS COURTESY STUDIO RED ARCHITECTS

Minority business accelerator Two partners, Houston Business Development, Inc. and Texas Culinary Center, will help 22 minority businesses and generate an estimated 238 incubator jobs. Arts & culture The Edison Cultural Arts Center, a 400-seat theater with studio spaces, will bring 59,400 annual visitors. Constable

Quality early education An early literacy center will partner with Fort Bend ISD to bring pre-K education to up to 45 children per year. Outdoor greenspace and public art A new park, Festival Park, will provide year-round programming to an estimated 19,800 annual visitors. Health care clinic A primary health care clinic, Legacy Community Health, will provide care to an estimated 4,624 annual patients.

W. FUQUA ST.

SITE PLAN

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SOURCE: EDISON ARTS FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Redevelopment project looks to transformrundown shopping center into community destination BY HUNTER MARROW

100-seat black box theater, a dance studio and space for after-school pro- gramming, per project documents. “This will provide access to the bus line and [Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County services] for people that do not have a car and cannot get their child there,” Mable said. The arts academy’s move onto Fuqua Street will serve Fort Bend Houston, where 91% of the 3,239 Fort Bend ISD students are economically disadvantaged, according to project documents. The after-school arts programming oered by the center will provide students in local schools more opportunities for arts educa- tion, FBISD ocials said. “We are excited The Edison Center will oer some of our students addi- tional exposure to the arts while in school and after they graduate,” dis- trict ocials said in an email. However, potential benets extend beyond the classroom to the local economy, said Martha Castex-Tatum, Houston’s vice mayor pro tem, who also represents Houston’s District K, where the Fort Bend Houston Super Neighborhood shares jurisdiction with Fort Bend County’s Precinct 2. According to nine-year project pro- jections, two business incubators that will move into the mixed-use rede- velopment—Houston Business Devel- opment Inc. and the Texas Culinary

destination has faded since its devel- opment in the 1970s, said Theodore Andrews, chair of the Hiram Clarke/ Fort Bend Houston Redevelopment Authority, also known as Tax Incre- ment Reinvestment Zone 25. “This community was a premier suburban portion of Houston in the 1970s so people wanted to live in this area,” he said. “After it began to change, people were not ocking to the area as much, so this new devel- opment is certainly positive.” The Edison Arts Foundation, a local Black-led arts nonprot, is develop- ing and managing the space through the collaboration of 12 nonprots and public donors, including the city of Houston, Fort Bend ISD and Hous- ton Business Development Inc., a nonprot that looks to stimulate economic growth in communities throughout Houston. Once complete, the revitalization project is designed to create new ser- vices and amenities through aord- able housing, health care, economic opportunity, job creation, early child- hood education, performing arts and cultural education, Edison Arts Foun- dation President Charity Carter said. The $26.2 million Phase 1 combined

aordable housing, which was com- pleted last June, and a prekindergar- ten early education center set to open in late March. Construction on Phase 2 of the Edison Center, which costs $18.8 million, is set to begin in March. By fall 2022, the center’s retail com- ponents should be completed. A year later, in fall 2023, the centerpiece of the project, the Edison Cultural Arts Center, is scheduled to be completed, said Carter. Community benets As a resident of the Briargate neighborhood in Fort Bend Houston, Latasha Armstrong Mable said her daughter will directly benet from the redevelopment. Mable’s daughter has been enrolled in the ne arts program at the Fort Bend Academy of Arts & Dance—run by the Edison Arts Foundation—for the last three years. The academy at 1959 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, is about a ve-minute car ride away for Mable. But there are parents who do not have access to the academy due to a lack of public transit, she said. The Edison Center will also bring a 400-seat main stage theater, a

Fort BendHouston, a neighborhood located between South Sam Houston Tollway and McHard Road, is serv- ing as the site for a project looking to redevelop a shopping center built in the late 1970s and early 1980s into a catalyst for community revitalization. Called The Edison Center, the 12.5- acre, $18.8million redevelopmentwill repurpose what the developer calls a “blighted” shopping center located at 7100 Fuqua St., Missouri City, which has sat empty for 10 years. The center will transform into a new cultural arts district designed to advance the qual- ity of life, well-being and prosperity for residents, according to documents from the project’s capital campaign. Fort Bend Houston, the area where the mixed-use redevelopment is slated to open, is a historically mid- dle-class Black community, said Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commis- sioner Grady Prestage, who serves the Sugar Land and Missouri City area. The median household income in 2019 was $62,322, higher than the rest of Houston, at $52,338, accord- ing to the city’s super neighborhood resource assessment. Still, the community’s status as a

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