City of Sugar Land Adopts Vision for Imperial Historic District

Council action advances master developer selection, RFQ up next

SUGAR LAND, Texas – February 3, 2026 — The City of Sugar Land approved the final Vision Statement and Guiding Pillars for the Imperial Historic District, establishing a community-driven framework for redevelopment and advancing the City toward issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find a master development partner.

The vision statement and guiding pillars outline the priorities that will shape future redevelopment of the approximately 40-acre Imperial Historic District, including the iconic Imperial Sugar Char House and surrounding historic structures. Together, they provide clear direction for potential development partners as the City prepares to release an RFQ on February 25.

In November 2025, the City and consultant Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative (TPUDC) hosted a series of community visioning sessions across multiple days, locations and formats to ensure broad participation and accessibility. Hundreds of residents, business owners, stakeholders and community leaders took part in the process. The resulting vision is intended to serve as a shared playbook for future decision-making, rather than a fixed blueprint.

The approved vision statement sets the overarching direction for the Imperial Historic District:

“An authentically Sugar Land district designed for our future.”

Four core themes emerged through community feedback to support and advance this vision:

Tell the Story: A place that preserves the district’s industrial character and cultural heritage while positioning the site for a bold and vibrant future
Create a Living District: A place that is activated throughout the day and night – energized by food, events and local experiences – and designed to be flexible and adaptable to long-term market changes
Design for Gathering: A place that is welcoming, where all ages and backgrounds gather and feel at home
Connect and Enhance Mobility: A place that is walkable and well-connected, integrates Oyster Creek and surrounding neighborhoods, and is easy to get to and move through

“This vision reflects what our community told us they want for the Imperial Historic District,” said Mayor Carol K. McCutcheon. “When we say ‘our future’ in the vision statement, we mean Sugar Land as a whole—our city and our people. It’s about honoring our history while creating something that past and future generations can be proud of, filling market gaps in a sustainable way, and delivering something bold, trailblazing, and unlike anything else in the region.”

Adoption of the vision and guiding principles represents an important step forward, equipping the City with a unified, strategic vision that will guide partner selection and future redevelopment decisions.

For more information about the Imperial Historic District and the adopted vision, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/imperialhistoricdistrict.