Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, City Continue Joint Preservation Efforts

SUGAR LAND, TX --Sugar Land City Council recently approved an agreement with the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation for the operation of a museum at the soon to be constructed Sugar Land Heritage Museum and Visitor Center.

The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving the history of Sugar Land and its historical structures, records and artifacts.

The city's financial contributions to the foundation for the preservation of the city's heritage include:

• Contribution of $525,000 for operations since the foundation was created in 2008
• Approval of a $75,000 commitment to create an exhibit.
• Funded approximately $600,000 in capital to build-out the facility, which is being provided under the Imperial Redevelopment Agreement.
• The city will provide basic operating costs for the facility, including visitor center staffing, utilities & maintenance for the space.

The city and the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation are partnering to preserve the city's rich history, which includes portions of the now-closed Imperial Sugar facility, a fixture for decades in the city. (Image: etee)

The museum and visitor center will be located on the second floor of the container warehouse, a historical structure that was once part of refinery operations and is currently part of a mixed-used, destination center in The Imperial Market.

The transformation of the historic 26-acre Imperial refinery into Imperial Market provides a destination center that will include shops, offices, restaurants, a boutique hotel and a cinema - as well as the Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center, a popular amenity that already attracts large numbers of families on a weekly basis.

The location of the visitor center is consistent with recommendations from a 2014 feasibility study that targeted high visibility with nearby attractions that attract visitors.

The design of the museum and visitor center is complete, and construction is anticipated in the near future.
Sugar Land's financial contributions to the project are being funding through Hotel and Occupancy Taxes, money supported through sales tax and restricted to economic development and tourism.

Years of public feedback, including a citizen-led Visioning Task Force, and a public vote affirmed strong support for the expansion of cultural and entertainment opportunities in Sugar Land. Sugar Land continues to become a nationally recognized community with growing economic, cultural and entertainment opportunities.

Through partnerships with community organizations such as the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, the city has had the opportunity to invest in the Sugar Land Auditorium, the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, Sugar Land Town Square, the Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair and many more events and facilities.

A Cultural Arts Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap for future cultural arts opportunities, including the Heritage Foundation museum, to enhance Sugar Land's position as a regional leader and destination city.

The city created the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation to ensure the preservation of the city's history.

"The success of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation is the result of dedicated volunteers such as Councilmembers Mary Joyce and Steve Porter who have provided valuable expertise and leadership on the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation Board of Directors," said Mayor Joe Zimmerman. "I want to thank them for their tireless service to preserve the history of our city."

The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation has been collecting local historical documents for the last five years for the recently approved museum. The museum will include a diversity of exhibits documenting the contributions of Sugar Land's diverse history.

Image: etee via Flickr