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The Sugar Land City Council will pay $6M to purchase 258 acres at the abandoned Central Unit prison facility along Highway 90. The city plans to build a public safety training center on 22 acres, while 121 acres would be reserved for a business park, reports Community Impact News. The deal isn't expected to be finalized until July 29.
The nearby Sugar Land Business Park (at the intersection of Highway 90 and Dairy Ashford), is nearing capacity, so there's demand for light industrial development in the area.
The prison is owned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice until the city of Sugar Land takes over. The abandoned facility was featured on Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures" program. While the city plans to level 96 buildings, it is not allowed to modify the main prison as it is designated a Texas Historical Landmark.
The project will include expansion of the Sugar Land Regional Airport. As a result, 90% of the land purchase price will be covered by an FAA grant, meaning the city will ultimately pay just over $3M for the deal. [CI]
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