The city of Sugar Land has announced plans to purchase the Imperial Char House and surrounding historic district.
The city council for the suburb southwest of Houston is expected to formally vote Tuesday on whether to acquire the property. If approved, the city plans to close on the site by the end of May.
Mayor Joe Zimmerman said the city will not use any property taxes to buy the historic district. Instead, it will use money from hotel occupancy taxes and sales taxes specifically set aside for economic development to purchase the 45-acre historic district.
It will cost $50 million for the city to purchase the land and begin the process of preserving the char house.
"This representation of our history and our roots deserves a trailblazing step and a bold change," Zimmerman said in a video announcing the city's intentions to buy the property.
In the 1800s, Sugar Land was made up of sugar plantations, which relied on the labor of enslaved people and later, victims of convict leasing. Eventually, the plantations gave way to a company town built around the operations of Imperial Sugar.
The char house was built in 1925 and continued operating until the refinery closed in 2003.
For years, restoration efforts have stalled as private buyers and developers – sometimes with support from the city – have failed to follow through with proposed projects.
According to Community Impact, a study found that the char house would be beyond repair by 2030 if the building was not preserved.
Because the city has not owned the char house, it has not been able to enforce its preservation beyond what is required by city ordinances.
As Sugar Land has looked to attract new businesses and more housing, it has turned to redevelopment of existing areas. Unlike other parts of Fort Bend County, it does not have much open land to build new homes, apartments or shopping centers.
According to a city news release, the Imperial historic district is the city's top priority. Local leaders hope to select a developer for a revitalization project and negotiate an agreement by the end of the year.
"This will allow us to take the steps needed to preserve the property, maintain one of our few remaining historical sites and eliminate the risk for further deterioration," Zimmerman said in the announcement video.