I was the planner of Sugar Land Town Square with a Team of professionals. We did travel and look at many prototypes, the oldest was in Kansas City, The Park(?), the oldest retail center in the US. Our goal given the limitations of the site, the market and the regulatory environment, zoning, was to develop a "center" for a community that up to then, had failed to produce one. Because we were developing about 1,000,000SF "at one time", we were concerned about the potential for visual monotony. The plaza, was intended to express the history of the region and the ethos of the community in a new urban expression. Yes, we used many urban design elements to achieve the environment produced and no dougbt some could have been done differently and perhaps better. We were definitely trying to "be" anything other than the best we could be, so to speak. We were designing SLTS before the Woodlands Town Center was on the ground although we knew of its coming. Yes it is in a suburban, actually semi-urban context and not an urban context but the environment built is successfully functioning as an urban center and had there been more land available, a more extensive center would have been created. These projects take enormous energy, talent and commitment, the later ingredient was provided by the then Sugarland Properties without which this site would have been developed as another suburban shopping center. Best regards to all the HAIF Board
