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University Branch Library to host caregiving program on Feb. 21 Community Reports Fo r t B e nd C ou nt y Libraries' University Branch Library will present “The Truth About Caregiving” – a program in the Senior Series for older adults and their family members – on Friday, February 21, beginning at 10:30 a.m., in Meeting Room 1 of the library, 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land on the UH campus. Liz McNeel, a senior realestate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will moderate a panel of experts who will talk about the emotional and physical impact of caregiving. Attendees will learn about self-care strategies to avoid burnout and the importance of support networks and resources that can help caregivers manage their responsibilities. They will learn how to manage specific challenges like dementia and mobility issues and get tips on handling the financial aspects of caregiving. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us), or call the University Branch Library (281-6335100) or the library system's Communications Of f ice (281-633-4734).
Liz McNeel, a senior realestate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will moderate a panel discussion about the emotional and physical impact of caregiving at the University Branch Library on Feb. 21. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 50 • No. 8 • $1.00
Sugar Land plans to acquire, develop Imperial district, Char House By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
After years of failed attempts to find an outside entity to redevelop the former Imperial Sugar Company site and its iconic Char House, the City of Sugar Land has decided to go it alone. In a news release accompanied by a slickly produced video featuring Mayor Joe Zimmerman, the city said Friday it plans to acquire what is now known as the Imperial Historic District, which was the home of the Imperial Sugar Company, which had long been the city’s economic engine and the source of its name when Sugar Land was essentially a company town.
City Council was expected to approve the acquisition as part of its consent agenda during its Tuesday meeting. Following that approval, the city said it plans to close on the properties at the end of May and then “focus on taking steps to preserve the Char House.” That architecturally distinctive building, where harvested sugar cane was processed, is marking its centennial this year. “This acquisition would be a pivotal step towards the City’s ongoing effort to protect this landmark and honor its heritage while revitalizing the heart of the community,” reads the release. Acquisition of the 45-acre property “ensures the Char House preservation and redevelopment efforts move
forward while removing barriers that have hindered investment in the past. As the City’s number one priority, this project represents a transformational opportunity to honor Sugar Land’s history while shaping its future. By owning this site, the city is laying the foundation for strategic redevelopment that will continue to elevate Sugar Land as one of the most desirable places to live, work, and visit.” “Acquiring the Imperial Historic District is a crucial step in preserving Sugar Land’s namesake while planning for its future,” Zimmerman said in the release. “Our priority is preserving the Char House and preventing further deterioration as we work to identify a future developer
that has an exceptional vision for the property. The acquisition will be funded with sales tax revenue earmarked for economic development, so no property taxes will be used. We recognize past redevelopment challenges, and with this acquisition, we are taking a hands-on approach to ensure its revitalization benefits future generations.” In the video, Zimmerman bemoans the city’s many unsuccessful efforts to find an outside developer for the site since the plant closed down in the early 1990s. Aside from the Char House, only a handful of the plant’s
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LOOKING TO SERVE Fort Bend ISD student making a difference in student government
By Dayna Worchel SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Ask 17-year-old Dulles High School senior Caleb Kirkpatrick what his plans are for the future, and he answers without hesitation. “I want to work on an elected official’s staff and possibly get a master’s degree in public administration. But I have plenty of time to decide about that part,” he said with a huge dose of enthusiasm at a coffee shop near Sugar Land City Hall recently. He’s been getting in a lot of practice lately since he began practicing speaking during public comment periods at both Sugar Land and Missouri City City council meetings last fall. “I want to make my voice heard,” Kirkpatrick said. He said he attends as many city council meetings for both cities as often as possible and speaks up when he sees something on the agenda that piques his interest. His civic involvement began with an AP United States Government class assignment, which was due at the end of the Fall 2024 semester. Students could select any topic they wished related to the topic of civic engagement. Kirkpatrick decided he wanted to explore and compare the inner workings of two Fort Bend County municipal governments: Sugar Land and Missouri City. It was this assignment which ignited his passion for a career in government, he said. Kirkpatrick’s first stop was at the office of former Missouri City Council Member Anthony Maroulis, who left his post in January after nine years representing District C . “I had asked for a 30-minute interview, but Mr. Maroulis offered me a chance to tour the district. I had a ride-along tour lasting an hour and a half of the businesses in the dis-
Caleb Kirkpatrick, a senior at Dulles High School, has since last fall been speaking before the city councils of Sugar Land and Missouri City. The 17-year-old says he wants to pursue a career in public service. Photo by Dayna Worchel
trict, and we talked about upcoming events,” Kirkpatrick said. He also interviewed Missouri City District D Council Member Floyd Emery and City Secretary Crystal Roan for his school project. “I learned so much from them,” Kirkpatrick said. “Caleb is very well-rounded and very conversant when laying out plans for the future, and he’s very inquisitive,” Emery said. He added that it’s very refreshing to see someone Caleb’s age who wants to dedicate his life and career to public service.
Emery said Caleb is respectful of the older generation who have years of experience serving in city government and wants to learn from them. “Caleb is the type of person I would want to turn my future over to,” Emery said. Recent topics on which Kirkpatrick spoke at City Council meetings included the creation of the City of Sugar Land’s official off-road bicycle trail system, and the approval of an expansion of an Islamic school and mosque in the Sugar Land’s Barrington Place neighborhood after opposition from
some residents. Kirkpatrick, himself an avid cyclist, explained that the off-road trails were at first created by residents who wanted an alternative to cycling on the paved trails and were not authorized by the city. “The city of Sugar Land could have stopped the off-road trails, but the city made official trails with markers, and they cleaned it up. Volunteers from the Fort Bend Mountain Bike
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Area housing weathers snowstorm with sustained growth in January Staff Reports
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Houston’s resilient housing market weathered a rare winter storm in January. While the record snowfall caused temporary disruptions, the market quickly rebounded and maintained a healthy balance between supply and demand. According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ (HAR’s) January 2025 Housing Market Update, single-family home sales across the Greater Houston area rose 1.2 percent, with 5,064 units sold compared to 5,002 in January 2024. This marks the fifth consecutive month of sales growth, a trend last observed in the first half of 2021. The high end of the market continued to experience a wave of buyer
interest. The luxury segment ($1 million+) recorded a 20.7 percent increase in sales compared to last January. Next was the $500,000 to $999,999 segment which saw an 8.1 percent gain. Homes priced between $250,000 and $499,999 made up the most sales in January, but sales were 1.6 percent below last year’s level. The segment comprised of homes priced $149,99 and below also experienced a slowdown in sales activity. The rental market started the new year strong with increased demand. HAR will publish its January 2025 Rental Home Update on Wednesday, February 19. “We’re seeing a healthy balance in the Houston housing market as we head into the traditionally busy spring and summer months,” said
remain a factor, but the market fundamentals are strong.”
January Monthly Market Comparison
Houston’s housing market quickly rebounded after the January winter storm and maintained a healthy balance between supply and demand, according to the Houston Association of Realtors.
HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty. “Inventory is in a good place to handle the expected uptick in buyer demand. Interest rates will
The Houston housing market’s positive momentum continued in January, with total property sales increasing 1.3 percent year-overyear. Total dollar volume rose 8.9 percent to $2.5 billion. Active listings, or the total number of available properties, were 26.3 percent above the 2024 level.
Single-Family Homes Update
January marked the fifth month in a row where single-family home sales were in positive territory with sales increasing 1.2 percent year-over-
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