DALLAS — The Houston suburb of Sugar Land is considering a convention center to accompany its planned $83 million performing arts center, officials said.
The potential cost for the project has not been discussed.
A market analysis will look at the possibility of building a small convention center for conferences that aren't big enough for Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center, according to economic development officials.
Sugar Land officials included a convention center on a 2007 list of potential developments to attract visitors.
On November 4, 2008, Sugar Land voters approved the use of 0.25-cent sales tax for economic development projects.
The entertainment center in the Telfair commercial district is expected to be completed in two years.
The Houston Business Journal reported that San-Diego-based Newland Communities, the developer of Telfair, is selling about 90 acres of commercial real estate that could be used for the convention center.
Located in Fort Bend County, 19 miles southwest of Houston, Sugar Land is an affluent suburb with per capita effective buying income is 170% of the U.S. average, according to Standard & Poor's, which rates the city's general obligation debt AAA. Fitch Ratings also confers its AAA rating. Outlooks are stable.
Moody's Investors Service has not rated the city's GO debt since 2008.
