After spending $4.2 million to purchase it in 2021 intending to develop a performing arts venue, Conroe is poised to sell the former Sam Houston Elementary School building for $4.3 million.

The buyer, Overland Property Group, aims to redevelop it into income-based housing, Overland’s Director of Development April Engstrom said. The sale comes after city officials worked to avoid a $1.4 million budget shortfall in August, but Conroe arts officials expressed disappointment at the sale and said they believe there’s still a need for a new venue amid capacity and growth concerns.

“It’s not just a performing arts center,” said Scott Harper, president of the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. “That’s the majority, but it would also be an asset to the community.”

In a nutshell

Conroe bought the former school property in 2021 for $4.2 million after a feasibility study on the potential of a new venue was presented to council in 2019, Community Impact previously reported. Annette Spikes, who serves on Conroe Symphony Orchestra’s board, said the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance, or GCAA, and its 21 member organizations were surprised by the sale.

“In the beginning, we were very much a part [of the planning process],” Spikes said. “We made a long list that went to the original people ... [doing an architectural] feasibility study. But then on this end, we were totally surprised.”

The revenue from the sale would initially be used to refund bond proceeds and for approved city purposes, per the Dec. 14 agenda packet. Mayor Jody Czajkoski and City Administrator Gary Scott declined interview requests, citing a desire to wait until the contract has closed.

“We’re excited about the future of 601 Lewis [St.],” Conroe Public Information Officer Andrew Yousse said in an email. “We look forward to finalizing the sale and watching the property produce new opportunities for our citizens.”

Frances Peoples, a board member for the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society, said arts officials know decisions have to be made that may not be in their best interest.

“But ... when new people come into our community [and] new businesses, they want to have the arts,” Peoples said.

Harper said he believes the arts have a residual effect on surrounding businesses.

“I think that just continues to grow as more programs come through,” Harper said. “Even down to the florist. When people perform, parents or loved ones are giving flowers. They’re going to look at where’s the local florist or drop into one of our local grocery stores. ... There’s so many different ways that it can all connect to driving an economic engine in our area.”

What they’re saying

• “I think [a performing arts center] is something that we definitely need. It’s something that we will support in any way, and it really helps drive the economic engine for our area.” —Scott Harper, president, Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce
• “It was kind of a utopian dream. When I look back at the feasibility study and I think about all of the organizations being in one location to do collaborative work with each other, it was just a dream.” —Annette Spikes, board member, Conroe Symphony Orchestra
• “We love the city. We would like to depend on them, but we are certainly capable of going out on our own and figuring out how we are going to realize this vision.” —Gary Liebst, conductor, Conroe Symphony Orchestra

Editor’s note: The city declined to comment further on the sale until the contract is completed.

Diving in deeper

The GCAA organizations are nonprofits, with participants volunteering, arts officials said. The city contributes funding to the organizations through annual grants, and City Council allocated $210,000 to 15 organizations in fiscal year 2023-24, according to the Dec. 13 workshop meeting packet.

“We’re grateful,” Spikes said. “Many of our organizations are able to do what they do because of that grant.”

However, local arts officials said their growth is capped due to the limitations of the existing infrastructure. Local arts officials said the city’s two theaters are nearly always booked, and more walls are needed for art as the GCAA’s gallery is limited in its space.

“Our orchestra is larger than the stage that they can fit on,” Spikes said. “At Christmastime this year, we had an absolute capacity crowd in a church that is estimated to be able to seat 900 people. ... It just goes back to the need. We are totally capped.”

Click the markers on the map below to see photos and details about Conroe's Owen and Crighton Theatres.



What’s next

Overland Property Group plans to redevelop the Lewis Street property into income-based family housing. Engstrom said the company will learn in late July if it will receive tax credit funding, which would subsidize 70% of the development cost.

“It’s good for the city because they’re collecting tax revenue,” Engstrom said. “And then it’s good for the town because people can afford to live where they work.”

If the company is not awarded the funding, Engstrom said it will apply again next year should nothing happen with the property.

Meanwhile, Spikes said arts organizations won’t stop advocating for the arts.

“We’re going to continue to explore the possibilities,” Spikes said. “We would still like to be a part of discussions with the city. ... I just hope that they have plans for the future as we have plans for the future.”