Is this a city-led project? Why has the City provided financial support?

This project is a joint effort between the City and PUMA Development for two main reasons: 1) Redevelopment of the former Imperial Sugar site is one of City Council’s top priorities and 2) due to the complexities of this site any development that meets this vision will require financial support to be successful. 

Redevelopment of the former Imperial Sugar site is one of City Council's top priorities as it is extremely important to our residents and at the center of preserving the city’s heritage. Projects like this are expensive and complex. The City and developer will be maximizing the use of a variety of financial tools, including the City’s Economic Development Corporations, funded by a quarter-cent sales tax restricted for economic development purposes, state historical tax credits, General Fund, and private financing to meet the vision for the site.

To date, the following has been approved:

  • A $5 million reimbursement agreement for pre-construction and construction costs of the Char House
  • A lease agreement for a portion of the redeveloped Char House (when completed) to assist PUMA in securing private financing for the remainder of the project.

Show All Answers

1. What is the project?
2. What has been completed to date?
3. Is this a city-led project? Why has the City provided financial support?
4. Why is this redevelopment happening now?
5. How has the public been engaged in this process?
6. What are the next steps?
7. Why was an amendment to the Land Use Plan necessary for this project? Does this mean it can change at any time?
8. What did City Council's vote on an amendment to the Land Use Plan and General Development plan mean?
9. Can the Char House be preserved without the other parts of the proposed project being developed?
10. What’s to keep PUMA from buying the land, building apartments and then backing out of the Char House deal?
11. Why are apartments needed?
12. Who will be leasing the new proposed, multi-family units?
13. I don’t want apartments in Sugar Land. What other types of housing will be allowed with this redevelopment plan?
14. Will any of the apartments in the Imperial development be Section 8 housing?
15. Will crime increase due to the addition of apartments in the area?
16. How will new apartments impact our schools?
17. What is a traffic study used for?
18. How will development of this project impact traffic in the area?
19. Will this project impact drainage in the area?
20. How will the Children’s Discovery Center & Sugar Land Heritage Museum be impacted by this redevelopment?
21. Where are we in the process of getting historic tax credit for the site?