How The Revitalization Of State Highway 35 Is Breathing New Life Into Pearland’s Old Town

Pearland, Texas, is seeing increased development interest along its State Highway 35 corridor driven by access to major transportation routes, regional growth and a strong local workforce, all propelled by the Pearland Economic Development Corporation’s State Highway 35 Corridor Redevelopment Strategy. At the center of this activity is Edge Industrial Park, a new 36-acre business park taking shape at the southwest corner of SH 35 and McHard Road.

Developed by Houston-based Stewart Development, the goal of the park is to attract manufacturing and distribution businesses looking for high-quality space in the Houston metro, said Stewart Development Vice President Brett Barnes. Plans include nine freestanding tilt-wall buildings ranging from 20K SF to 34K SF. Each building will feature 28-foot clear heights and heavy infrastructure, making them crane-ready and tailored for light industrial users.

Barnes said that State Highway 35 is a prime location for Edge Industrial Park because it is easily accessible to Beltway 8 and just a few miles away from William P. Hobby Airport and the Port of Houston. 

“Pearland had a strong vision for the site as part of the State Highway 35 Corridor Redevelopment Strategy, doing advanced infrastructure and road work on and around the site, and attracting complementary businesses to the area like Kemlon and Profax-Lenco,” he said. 

PEDC and the city finalized a development agreement with the firm in March 2024, reinforcing Pearland’s commitment to business growth and economic expansion.

“The collaboration with PEDC was more like a partnership from the start because they were very open and willing to work with us,” Barnes said. “They knew before we got started that there was a pretty big gap in the real estate market in that area for buildings under 50K SF that were Class-A industrial, and they helped us move the project to the finish line to the McHard location.”

Barnes added that this project is a “long-term play” to create a top-quality industrial park that will bring something new to that area of Pearland. 

Barnes said that this project is coming at a time when he’s seeing developers shift to the South Beltway, where there’s a huge tenant demand for access to key highways and the proximity to Port Houston.

“Pearland’s proximity to the Port of Houston — one of the world’s largest ports — coupled with a strong workforce, makes it attractive for new tenants to grow their businesses here,” he said. “Pearland is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, so having Edge Industrial Park will help impact the greater Houston region at large.” 

Although there were initial challenges surrounding timing, obtaining utilities and permits, Barnes said the PEDC and the city of Pearland helped keep the project in motion.

“We just rolled up our sleeves and worked hard with the city, PEDC and local engineers to keep everything moving forward,” he said. “This is positively impacting the area, adding new employment and businesses to the marketplace. We want to make Pearland more competitive as a business hub while ensuring the community’s continued prosperity.”  

PEDC Vice President Valerie Marvin said that in order to further support the Edge Industrial Park project, PEDC has provided infrastructure and site development assistance, helping to facilitate its successful completion. 

Barnes said this collaboration has been a great success, thanks in large part to PEDC’s ability to recognize early on how this underutilized area could be valuable.

“The development will not only expand the city’s business landscape but also contribute to job creation and a stronger tax base, benefiting the city, county and local schools,” Marvin said.

This article was produced in collaboration between the Pearland Economic Development Corp. and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

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