From Company Town to Community Vision with Jessica Hubble

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Jessica Hubble, Assistant Director of Redevelopment for the City of Sugar Land, Texas, to explore how a landlocked, master-planned suburb is rethinking growth, housing, and economic sustainability. The conversation dives into Sugar Land’s unique history as a company town built around Imperial Sugar, the creation of a dedicated Department of Redevelopment, and why single-family housing alone cannot support a city’s long-term finances.

Jessica explains how community engagement, honest trade-off conversations, flexible planning, and city-led redevelopment of the historic Imperial site are shaping Sugar Land’s next chapter, offering lessons for any community facing limited land, changing markets, and rising expectations.

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10 actionable takeaways for economic developers

1. If your city is landlocked, every acre decision is a long-term financial decision
2. Single-family housing alone will not sustain municipal services over time
3. Create space for redevelopment before crisis forces it
4. Be honest with residents about trade-offs, not just benefits
5. Sales tax strategy matters just as much as property tax in many states
6. Avoid being overly prescriptive in RFQs and redevelopment plans
7. Lead with outcomes and identity, not tenant wish lists
8. Community visioning works best when residents are asked real questions
9. Historic assets should inform the future, not freeze it
10. Cities that fail to adapt risk losing relevance, not just revenue

• Department of Redevelopment | City of Sugar Land Economic Development
• Sugar Land Advances Historic Char House Preservation | City of Sugar Land Economic Development
• Making Every Acre Count: Sugar Land’s Bold Plan for Smart Redevelopment - Urban Land Magazine
• City of Sugar Land Makes History by Acquiring Imperial Historic District | City of Sugar Land Economic Development
• City of Sugar Land Approves $12.5M Reinvestment to Modernize Town Square | City of Sugar Land Economic Development
• Strategic Redevelopment in Sugar Land | City of Sugar Land Economic Development
• Imperial Historic District | Sugar Land, TX - Official Website
• Priority Projects | City of Sugar Land Development | Site Selection
• Department of Redevelopment | Sugar Land, TX - Official Website
• Sugar Land Economic Development: Posts | LinkedIn
• Jessica Huble | LinkedIn
• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.: Brown, Brené | Amazon