During its Dec. 14 regular meeting, Conroe City Council approved a contract to sell the property at 601 W. Lewis St. to Overland Property Group, LLC, abandoning plans to build a performing arts center on the site. The city first purchased the property in 2021, Community Impact previously reported.

In a nutshell

City Council approved a contract to sell the property to the Overland Property Group, LLC for $4.3 million, according to the Dec. 14 agenda packet. The developer plans to use the property for residential housing.

With the proceeds, city officials are planning to pay off bond proceeds and use the remainder for approved city purposes, according to the agenda packet.

How we got here

The city purchased the property in 2021—which previously housed Conroe ISD’s Sam Houston Elementary—and officials began discussing using the property for a new performing arts center, according to prior reporting. The city first began discussions on the need for a new performing arts center in the city in 2019.

In October 2021, the city named an architect for the project, and last July, council heard an update on the project, which included two architectural feasibility reports. The cost for the proposed performing arts center was estimated to be $190 million for a 2,000-seat center and $70 million for a 1,600-seat center, Community Impact previously reported.

What else?

The developer the city has agreed to sell the land to is underway with another residential project in Conroe. Overland Property Group is renovating the Historic Montgomery County Hospital at 301 S. First St. into an independent senior living facility for residents age 55 and older, Community Impact previously reported.

Renovations began in April, and the project is expected to be completed next spring, according to Overland Property Group’s website.