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1. What is the boundary of the Imperial Market District?

The Imperial Market District consists of just under 27 acres located north of US Highway 90A and Kempner Street. The District is bounded by Ulrich Boulevard on the west and Main Street on the east and covers the majority of the former Imperial Sugar Refinery property. It will be directly adjacent to the proposed historic residential district to the north that will border the existing Mayfield Park. The District will also include portions of Oyster Creek and will utilize specific aesthetic aspects of the creek area.

2. Which historic buildings are being preserved as part of this development?

The following structures that have historic and architectural significance are being preserved and maintained through adaptive reuse:

• Char House
  
• 1929 Warehouse (3-bay warehouse)
  
• Silos
  
• Engineering Building
  
• Container Warehouse
  
• Smokestacks
  

3. What are the primary land uses being proposed within this development?

The Imperial Market District will include a variety of restaurant, retail, entertainment, hotel, and residential land uses. A sampling of the entertainment uses would consist of The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center and a movie theater. A custom select service hotel is proposed to locate within the Char House and will be subject to specific conditions while preserving the historical character of the Char House. A maximum 274 unit multi-family residential complex is proposed for the northwest portion of the site which will be adjacent to the future proposed single-family historic residential district and directly east of Ulrich Boulevard. The District will incorporate structured parking garages and surface parking, as well as valet parking at a few specific locations throughout the site.

4. How does the multi-family residential project compare with the prior City Council discussions and approvals?

The proposed multi-family land use for the District is within the development criteria of the 1st Step Planned Development zoning under Ordinance No. 1969, the Imperial General Development Plan Amendment No. 1. The overall multi-family residential unit count has been reduced in number from 325 to 274 units, which is approximately a 15 percent reduction. The design and regulations of the multi-family residential are in accordance with the principles of Resolution 10-21 which was adopted by City Council on April 20, 2010. Examples include integrated parking, pedestrian and bike friendly, enhanced building finishes, landscape and hardscape requirements, and green building certifications.

5. Will there be any open space and public pedestrian plazas as part of this development?

The Imperial Market District will consist of approximately 2.4 acres of open space which will include a variety of landscape areas and publicly accessible outdoor spaces. This includes the Oyster Creek Greenbelt as well as a 0.3 acre Main Plaza consisting of various street scape amenities and an interactive water feature. The .3 acre area of green space that will be a main plaza is fulfilling criteria from the original zoning approvals. Outdoor dining and activity areas will also be strategically placed throughout the development to provide a more active pedestrian environment for visitors. The District also includes an outdoor retail area which will act as a “farmers market” located within a specific area adjacent to the 3-Bay Warehouse. Although not a part of this development, Johnson Development Corporation is dedicating approximately 2.6 acres of public park area which will connect to the existing Mayfield Park.

6. How can I keep up with information on the Imperial Market District?

This website will continue to be a resource providing updated information as well as referencing upcoming public meetings where this project will be discussed. Information on all upcoming meetings will also be posted prior to each meeting on the City’s website.

The current schedule for the Imperial Market zoning case calls for a public hearing with the Planning & Zoning Commission on September 24, 2015. This hearing will allow members of the public to gain additional information about the development and provide input. Please feel free to provide your email address to the Planning Department at planning@sugarlandtx.gov