Sugar Land City Council heard the first draft of a guiding plan for the Imperial Historic District’s redevelopment at a Jan. 20 meeting.

Zooming in: The plan follows several planning sessions hosted by the city with urban design firm Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative for the project from Nov. 3-6, allowing residents the opportunity to shape the future of the city’s historic district.

What they’re saying: Given the expected timeframe of the project, the report needs to include room for flexibility, At-Large council member Jim Vonderhaar said.

How we got here: Since 2003, multiple attempts to redevelop the district have failed, Community Impact reported, the most recent being Houston-based entrepreneurial firm PUMA Development’s $1 billion proposal to turn the area into a mixed-use project featuring retail, entertainment, offices and housing in December 2022.

What’s next: City officials will bring the guiding plan back to council in February to adopt the vision, said Jessica Huble, assistant director for the Sugar Land Department of Redevelopment.

Building Buddies, a brand new interactive exhibit, is coming to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences at Sugar Land.

Zooming in: The exhibit—designed to transform young visitors into mini-contractors and junior architects—will give children the opportunity to renovate, decorate and expand play homes, according to a Jan. 13 news release.

"We are thrilled to welcome families into Building Buddies, a vibrant, multi-sensory neighborhood where play truly has a purpose," Kavita Self, executive director of HMNS at Sugar Land, said in the release.

The details: Per the release, the exhibit will offer kids a variety of STEAM experiences, including:

• Architectural planning
• Interior and exterior design
• Technical repairs
• Structural engineering
• High-rise logistics

• Open Jan. 16-May 2
• 13019 University Blvd., Sugar Land

As the state prepares for a wave of winter weather, Greater Houston area officials are also urging caution and preparedness ahead of potential weather impacts.

The details: According to the National Weather Service, the Greater Houston area will be under a winter storm watch Jan. 24-25. However, an extreme cold watch will run from Jan. 24-26, and the NWS said residents can expect the following conditions over the weekend:

• Potential freezing rain
• A tenth of an inch of ice or greater
• Localized power outages
• Wind chills ranging from 5-15 degrees

According to the National Weather Service, Winter Storm Fern is expected to move through the region starting Jan. 24 and bring freezing temperatures through Jan. 27. Officials with the NWS also noted wind chills will likely range from 5-15 degrees, which poses hypothermia and frostbite risks with prolonged exposure.

The update: Harris County and city of Houston officials announced 13 warming centers that will open Jan. 24, including:

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center: 6719 W. Montgomery Road, Houston
• Bayland Community Center: 6400 Bissonnet St., Houston
• Denver Harbor MSC: 6402 Market St., Houston
• Fifth Ward MSC: 4014 Market St., Houston
• Fonde Community Center: 110 Sabine St., Houston
• Kashmere MSC: 4802 Lockwood Drive, Houston
• Magnolia MSC: 7037 Capitol St., Houston
• Metropolitan MSC: 1475 W. Gray St., Houston
• Moody Community Center: 3725 Fulton St., Houston
• Northeast MSC: 9720 Spaulding St., Houston
• Southwest MSC: 6400 High Star Drive, Houston

A far-reaching winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures, wintry precipitation and “dangerous ice” to Texas beginning Jan. 23, according to the National Weather Service. As residents brace for days of potentially hazardous conditions, state leaders said Jan. 22 that the Texas power grid “has never been stronger” and will withstand the storm.

What's happening: Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 134 of Texas’ 254 counties, telling reporters that the northern two-thirds of the state—from San Antonio to the Panhandle—will be impacted by the storm.

Officials said they do not expect a repeat of the widespread power outages that occurred during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, emphasizing that changes have been made in recent years to harden the grid against extreme weather. The governor said some Texans could see “local, isolated” outages due to fallen tree branches or ice on power lines.

"The severity of it is not quite as great... as Winter Storm Uri," Abbott said. "That said, people would be making a mistake if they don't take it serious."