Pearland’s multifamily housing has grown, adding nearly 1,500 units since 2018, including the 358-unit Delta Pearland along Magnolia Parkway in 2024 and a 380-unit development at Pearland Town Center in 2026. Despite that growth, Pearland’s historical vacancy rates have remained under 7% since 2018.

The big picture: Rockport Ventures, the developer behind Delta Pearland, is proposing a new 296-unit multifamily community along Magnolia Parkway after City Council denied a rezoning request in January for a similar 315-unit development.

The background: The discussion comes as Pearland could be affected by Senate Bill 840, passed during the 89th Texas Legislature in 2025, which requires cities with populations over 150,000 to allow multifamily development in certain nonresidential zoning districts. While the city currently has a population of 133,500, reaching the threshold could affect its ability to use local zoning to decide where multifamily developments can be built.

Manvel City Council voted unanimously at its Sept. 8 meeting to approve the first reading of a special use permit for a $10 million freestanding emergency center along Highway 6.

What you need to know: The 1.07-acre facility will be owned by South Shore ER LLC, which is led by board-certified emergency physician Dr. Suchmor Thomas. Thomas owns Friendswood Community Hospital and South Shore ER in League City, among other medical facilities, as previously reported.

Sorting out details: City staff recommended approval of the SUP under some of the following conditions:

• A 10-foot-wide landscape buffer must be added between the development and residential development.

• No rear parking along the back fence line to keep vehicles and headlights away from adjacent homes.

• An 8-foot masonry privacy wall along the rear property line to block noise and light, pending coordination with the neighboring HOA.

What’s next: City Council will consider the second and final reading at its Sept. 21 meeting, according to city documents.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the southern portion of the Greater Houston area from Sept. 7-11.

1. Fulshear officials break down multifamily development growth

2. Ismaili Center debuts new all-day café showcasing global cuisine

3. 'Redefine what is possible': Kinder Children's Cancer Center secures $10M in development funds

4. Regional organizers revitalize buried study for Clear Lake water taxi

5. New Indian restaurant opens in Pearland

6. Missouri City proposes City Council and commission changes

Shipley Donuts is celebrating its 90th anniversary–nearly a century after its opening in 1936–with a 10-week-long promotion running until Oct. 18, according to a news release.

The special began Aug. 10 and is set to rotate through various value deals, in addition to debuting limited-time birthday-themed donuts.

The history: Shipley’s story began nine decades ago in the oven of its original bakery located at 1417 Crockett St., Houston. The bakery’s founder, Lawrence Shipley Sr., sold his handcrafted, pillowy donuts dipped in a warm glaze wholesale for just five cents a dozen, per the release.

Flash forward to the present: the Houston-based donut parlor still serves that same hexagon-cut treat fresh every morning, now from nearly 400 locations across 13 states.

What to expect: At participating locations, customers can get a taste of the all-new Birthday Bullseye, a festive spin on Shipley’s classic Strawberry Bullseye.

The donut is available individually and as part of the limited-time 1936 Shipley Favorites Box, a nostalgic dozen consisting of other beloved flavors.

Three candidates are running to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture in the Nov. 3 election.

The details: Libertarian Austin R. Kelly, Republican Nate Sheets and Democrat Clayton Tucker are vying to become Texas' next commissioner of agriculture. The commissioner's duties include regulating agriculture, administering nutrition programs and providing rural economic development assistance.

How we got here: There is no incumbent in this race after Sheets beat sitting Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in the March Republican primary. Tucker ran uncontested in the March Democratic primary, while Kelly was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

The winner of the November midterm will be sworn in to succeed Miller in January.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 in the midterm election, and Election Day is Nov. 3.