Developer of Imperial Sugar site collects project ideas from residents
Suggestions include farmers' market, dance hall, museums
Houston Chronicle
By FRANCISCA ORTEGA
Chronicle Correspondent
Putting together a billion-dollar redevelopment of a beloved historical landmark is like eating an elephant: it has got to be accomplished piece by piece.
The Southern Land Co., which is developing the former Imperial Sugar refinery in conjunction with Cherokee Investment Partners, held another public meeting Wednesday night to gather public comment on the commercial portion of the project.
The meeting focused on the historic buildings located on the property such as the Char House and water towers. Previous public meetings have centered on an estimated 800 to 1,000 new homes the developer plans to put on the more than 650 acres. The Imperial Sugar Co., one of Texas' first companies, closed in 2003. By 2009, the developer expects to begin the transformation of the property into an old-fashioned walkable neighborhood with a regional commercial attraction.
"Anybody can lay out a bunch of restaurants and call it a project, but this is a very special site," said Brandon Diamond, a partner in the Development Design Group Inc. "(It's imperative) for everybody to help us actually create what is unique about this project."
Development Design Group was one of three consultants hired by Southern Land Co. for the planning session. Struever Brothers, Eccles and Rouse and Project for Public Spaces also participated. Southern Land Co. will take their input and then complete the designs, said Jim Cheney, vice president of corporate communications with Southern Land Co.
The historic buildings and open spaces will stay where they are, and developers will plan commercial aspects of the project around them, Cheney said.
Meg Walker, vice president of Project for Public Spaces, which specializes in the creation and renovation of public spaces, led the brainstorming session.
To start the discussion, she gave examples of public spaces that are inviting, vibrant and welcoming such as European-style plazas or the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio.
"When we go on vacation we go to places like France, Prague, or Savannah, Ga., places that have a lot of life on the street. What we're trying to figure out is how to bring that kind of life back home," Walker said.
Ideas generated at the meeting are tentative, but included a farmers' market, performing arts space, museums, outdoor recreational activities, restaurants and dance clubs. These were all suggestions made by the audience of about 150 people of what they would like to see at the former Imperial Sugar site.
"All the women love the idea of the farmers' market," said Mary Joyce, a Sugar Land resident for 17 years. "We're all about the farmer's market and the children's museum."