Sugar Land Cultural/Entertainment District Update

Visioning Statement

This land presents a unique opportunity for collaboration between public & private entities to create an integrated mixed-use urban destination. The development should reflect distinctive architectural character & promote a pedestrian feel in a multi-modal environment.

It is envisioned to be a place to live, work, learn, play & visit. This should be a regional employment center with a wide variety of recreational, educational, & entertainment venues for everyone including performing & cultural arts & sports facilities, as well as a conference center with full service hotel amenities.

Nature, open space & water help define the development. The plan should also ensure connectivity to other key locations throughout the City.

Project Overview/Summary

The Cultural/Entertainment District is a project that combines more than a decade of citizen surveys, parks master plans, City Comprehensive Plans and Economic Development plans with the efforts of a citizen task force; the combined input identifies five specific venues to be developed by or on behalf of the City on portions of approximately 1000 acres of undeveloped land near the University of Houston at Sugar Land campus.

Specific elements identified for the Cultural/Entertainment District are a minor league baseball stadium, indoor concert venue, festival site, full-service hotel and convention center, and cultural arts facility.

The City Council appointed a 25-member citizen task force in May 2007 to develop a vision statement. That task force created the initial vision statement for the City on which the specific entertainment district components were included. The City Council reconstituted the visioning task force in June 2008 to review the proposed funding tools. The task force recommended City Council proceed with calling an election in November of 2008 which resulted in four ballot propositions.

City Council called the election for Nov. 4 to allow voters to decide whether to utilize funds from the Sugar Land Type A Corporation and venue taxes to fund the development of three elements of the Cultural Entertainment District (Minor League Ball Park, Indoor Concert Venue, and Festival Site).

The Sugar Land Type A Corporation, also known as the Sugar Land Development Corporation, is a non-profit corporation formed by the City of Sugar Land through a public vote in 1993 to undertake economic development activities in Sugar Land. The Sugar Land Type A Corporation can only be used for economic development purposes.

On November 4 voters approved all 4 ballot propositions.

Since 2008 the City has been studying and further defining the scopes for these three projects and working to find qualified private sector parties to join in their development. As a part of this effort the City has requested interested parties submit a response to the recently released RSIs for both the Concert Venue and Minor League Ballpark.

Latest Information

Deadline for Minor League Ballpark RSI Closes with Four Proposals Received

Posted on Wednesday, January 6, 2009

Sugar Land, TX - The start of the new year brings with it increased optimism for the prospect of professional minor league baseball in Sugar Land.

The deadline to respond to the City’s formal Request for Solicitation of Interest (RSI) on the Minor League Ballpark project closed on December 21, 2009 and the City received four proposals from interested groups. The City is now evaluating these submittals along a wide array of criteria with the goal of selecting a partner to begin development negotiations with by the end of January 2010.

Moving along a similar tract, the submission deadline for the Indoor Concert Venue RSI will close on February 12, 2010 at which time the City will begin evaluating the responses received in the aim of selecting a partner for that project during the ensuing months.

Sugar Land Seeks Possible Partners for Baseball Stadium, Indoor Concert Venue

Posted on Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Sugar Land, TX - Sugar Land is seeking proposals for a minor league baseball stadium and an indoor concert venue that could result in facilities by 2012 and 2013.

During the past year, discussions focused on specific developers but agreements were not reached. There has been continued interest from other potential development partners, including independent league baseball teams.

Formal Request for Solicitation of Interest (RSI) documents are intended to identify additional partners for the development of a minor league baseball stadium and indoor concert venue.

Voters authorized funding tools on Nov. 4, 2008, that could be utilized for a minor league baseball stadium and an indoor concert venue; these include existing capacity from the Sugar Land Type A Corporation and new venue-specific taxes (i.e., ticket tax, hotel tax and parking tax).

Community feedback remains strongly in favor of the projects, and market assessment studies have demonstrated that there is an opportunity for a concert venue and ballpark in the region.

The RSIs for the ballpark and indoor concert venue must be submitted to Sugar Land by Dec. 21 and Feb. 12, respectively.

Nov. 2008 - Election Results

Proposition A - City of Sugar Land, Vote For 1
FOR		17,658 -- 65.33%
AGAINST		8,965 -- 33.67%
	Cast Votes:	26,623 -- 81.63%

Proposition B - City of Sugar Land, Vote For 1
FOR		19,392 -- 73.00%
AGAINST		7,171 -- 27.00%
	Cast Votes:	26,563 -- 81.45%

Proposition C - City of Sugar Land, Vote For 1
FOR		15,981 -- 60.41%
AGAINST		10,472 -- 39.59%
	Cast Votes:	26,453 -- 81.11%

Proposition D - City of Sugar Land, Vote For 1
FOR		17,696 -- 66.95%
AGAINST		8,736 -- 33.05%
	Cast Votes:	26,432 -- 81.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Cultural/Entertainment District?

The Cultural/Entertainment District is a project that combines more than a decade of citizen surveys, parks master plans, City Comprehensive Plans and Economic Development plans with the efforts of a citizen task force; the combined input identifies five specific venues to be developed by or on behalf of the City on approximately 1000 acres of undeveloped land near the University of Houston at Sugar Land campus. The specifically identified elements of the Cultural/Entertainment District are:

Minor League Baseball stadium
Indoor Concert Venue
Festival Site
Full Service Hotel and Convention Center
Cultural Arts Facility

What is the Sugar Land Type A Corporation?

The Sugar Land Type A Corporation, also known as the Sugar Land Development Corporation, is a non-profit corporation formed by the City of Sugar Land through a public vote in 1993 to undertake economic development activities in Sugar Land.

Why doesn't the City use the Sugar Land Type A Corporation funds to lower my property taxes?

The Sugar Land Type A Corporation is a separate non-profit corporation that by state law may only use its funds for economic development purposes. Its funds may not be used for general City operations.

Is there already a deal in place to build a minor league baseball stadium?

No. The City has completed a market assessment of the opportunities to develop a minor league baseball in Sugar Land and has received calls expressing interest in the community from interested parties, but there is no agreement in place to develop minor league baseball in Sugar Land at this time. The City has requested interested parties submit a response to the recently released RSI for the Minor League Ballpark.

Is there already a deal in place to build an indoor concert venue in Sugar Land?

No. The City has completed a market assessment of the opportunities to develop an indoor concert venue in Sugar Land, but there is no agreement in place to develop the indoor concert venue at this time. The City has requested interested parties submit a response to the recently released RSI for the Concert Venue.

Now that the ballot propositions have been approved will the sales tax rate increase in Sugar Land?

No. The rate will not be affected.

What is the Sales Tax Rate in Sugar Land today?

The total tax rate on sales in Sugar Land is 8.25% That 8.25% is divided between the State of Texas and the City of Sugar Land. The state of Texas keeps 6.25% and the City collects the other 2%.

Has there been any public input into the development of the Cultural/Entertainment District?

Yes. The City Council appointed a 25 member taskforce of community members in May of 2007 to develop a vision statement. That taskforce created the initial vision statement for the City on which the specific entertainment district components. The City Council reconstituted the visioning taskforce in June of 2008 to review the proposed funding tools. The taskforce recommended City Council call the November 4, 2008 election.

25 Member Citizen/Owner Taskforce
12 Public Formal Actions/Discussions
Council specific actions include
- CC Workshops, MOU and approval of Visioning Statement
- CC Resolution No. 08-14 Entertainment District Concept Plan
- 4B Budget Adjustments
- Council Acceptance of Sugar Festival Funds from committee for furtherance of development of the entertainment district
- CSL Contract for Concert Venue Feasibility Study
- CSL Contract for Baseball Feasibility Study
- CSL Council presentations on market assessment for both indoor concert venue and minor league baseball
- Council reconstitution of the Visioning taskforce to provide input to Council on venues and calling an election
- Visioning taskforce recommendation to City Council on calling an election

Is Sugar Land the first community to consider the development of a Cultural/Entertainment District as an economic development project?

No. Communities all over the country have identified the benefits of pursuing the development of entertainment districts to promote economic development and quality of life. In Texas there are at least 7 communities currently considering or undertaking similar projects. Those communities include Allen, Cedar Park, Corpus Christi, Frisco, Grand Prairie, McKinney and Round Rock.

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