Sugarland...Prison? (Houston, Austin, Sugar Land: house, buying, college)

[icon7]

There is a feasability study going on...
City of Sugar Land Articles

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Really? I have to say, that would be great. They really have so much land and I've got to think it holds down the development right around that area. I would love it if they closed that prison.

I personally LOVE graveyards, I think they are usually pretty and neat to walk around in, especially if there are a variety of tombstone types. I like to read the stones and imagine what the people were like, and cemetaries are good for photography too. More interesting than walking down a sidewalk for exercise.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by icon7

There is a feasability study going on...
City of Sugar Land Articles

Thanks for the post ... do you know if there have been any updates since April (when the article was posted)? Looks like it said the study was supposed to be finished last summer. So I wonder what the results were?

[Houston456]

Where exactly is the prison across the street from Telfair ?
I could MS VirtualMap the cemetery few days before..

Originally Posted by Topaz

Then you really wouldn't want to live in the section of Telfair that is (a) across the street from the prison, and (b) home to a prison cemetery that is staying there as the development is built around it.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Houston456

Where exactly is the prison across the street from Telfair ?
I could MS VirtualMap the cemetery few days before..

The prison is located at 1 Circle Drive, Sugar Land, TX

If you use Google Maps, you can view the entrance.

Considering how barren the landscape of the prison grounds are, it makes me appreciate the trees and landscaping of New Territory that much more. New Territory is very green but it took work to get it that way.

Compared to nine months ago when we moved here, Telfair is looking more and more green as well. I'm starting to glimpse how Telfair will be as the trees and landscaping mature. It will be nice.

[ZeroTX]

I'd rather they keep the prison open and stop the development. There are plenty of homes in Sugar Land already, as well as the entire metro area. We don't need to build more.

[VickiMBA]

Originally Posted by AK123

Thanks for the post ... do you know if there have been any updates since April (when the article was posted)? Looks like it said the study was supposed to be finished last summer. So I wonder what the results were?

According to my latest economic summit briefing (Nov. 20th), the feasibility study's findings will be presented at the 81st Legislative Session, which will convene on the 13th of this month. They will discuss the plan to transfer the Central Unit building and grounds to the private sector. If that happens, it will be the 1st prison in Texas to close in 100 years!

IMHO, it is not a question of "IF" but "WHEN" this will happen. It's only a matter of time before eminent domain necessitates the closing of the prison. Promoting sustainable growth is an imperative for the state, especially for fast growing cities such as Sugar Land. The TDCJ has already turned over some prison property to the Sugar Land Airport.

I will keep you all posted in the future if I know anything.

[VickiMBA]

Originally Posted by TX_AGGIE13

I believe it's the Central Unit.....not sure though. Everyone is so afraid of the prisons...lol...that's the last thing I would be worried about in the city.

I agree. Those who have lived in the area for a long time (myself included) don't understand the fear of the prisons, and in fact, oftentimes forget they're there. The Jester Units are almost within walking distance of two of the most exclusive private golf courses in the Houston area: The Houstonian and the more exclusive Shadow Hawk, where former Pres. George Bush is a regular. Not to mention the multi-million $$ homes nearby...

[TX_AGGIE13]

Murderers over the wall is not that scary. Escapees are not looking to get caught within the first miles of the prison for sure. There are crazies all over the place, prison or not. The only thing that may deter me from living near a prison is lower property values.

[jadie77072]

Hi! I just recently built the house across from the cemetery on 1464. The cemetery called New Home. It bother me so much, cus i never knew there was the cemetery across from where i live. I just find out, I feel like they need to notified people that there was the cemetery in the area. It cover with plants and you have to look very hard to know that there a cemetery.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by TX_AGGIE13

Murderers over the wall is not that scary. Escapees are not looking to get caught within the first miles of the prison for sure. There are crazies all over the place, prison or not. The only thing that may deter me from living near a prison is lower property values.

The Jester unit used to be a minimum security prison back in the mid 90s. During our field trip, they told us there weren't any murderers in there, but they did have drug dealers, assault/battery, habitual thiefs, burglars, people involved in failed drive-bys, etc. Us seniors were within 10 feet of large groups of them, at one point during a routine strip search after working the farms, being escorted by only 1 extremely foul-mouthed prison guard. They also had some trustee housing on site, too, for the transitional ones. There weren't any cells in the prison other than a few solitary confinement "holes". 99% of the prisoners freely walked around common areas in & out. Outside there was a lot of gym equipment and indoors was like a giant barracks. They had planks built out of the walls w/ mattresses & sheets, and had tables with dominos, cards & chess. There was a TV mounted high on the wall that had news & weather.

I'm not sure any of that has changed at the Jester unit, as it has been 12 years we took that trip. But if not, it seems like the people we should really be scared of escaping and causing harm are in Huntsville, not Sugar Land.