After a first vote to defer listing the property failed, the motion to list the property passed 3-2 with council members Howard Wood and Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman voting against. Wood voted for the deferral and said approving this would allow for the potential to lose prime city acreage.
“We'll never get this back if we sell it,” Wood said.
The details
The motion approved listing the property with agent Ryan Kutter until October, according to the listing agreement.
Nancy Mikeska, assistant city administrator, said the listing agent was chosen by staff since he originally listed the property in 2023. Mikeska also said there is no contract on the table at this time.
“I selected him based on what was done last year with the building, and he had the knowledge of it, and he did all the work on it last time,” Mikeska said.
The approval only allows the listing of the property and not the approval of any deals. Mikeska said any sale or final agreement would need City Council's final approval.
During public comments, several residents spoke against the listing of the property, citing the city’s need for a facility for the arts.
The background
The city first purchased the property from Conroe ISD in 2021, per prior reporting. Originally, the city discussed transforming the property to house a performing arts center after discussions about the need for a performance center took place in 2019.
In 2022, the proposed cost to build the 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.
Last December, City Council approved selling the property for $4.3 million to Overland Property Group, which was planning to build income-based housing at the property.
In early February, Conroe local arts officials expressed surprise at the sale and spoke about the need for a new performing arts venue in an interview with Community Impact, and in late February, Overland Property Group pulled out of the sale, leaving the city with the property.
What they’re saying
- “I just really wanted a little more time to make sure we get this right,” council member Wood said. “I want to make sure that we do not close ourselves in the contract. ... [The contract] last year came with a lot of stipulations.”
- “We're just listing it. ... Even if we sign a contract and there's somebody local, we can always pivot and turn on that,” council member Marsha Porter said. “To me, this a no-brainer—list the property, and then we are still in control if somebody local wants to do it, ... I'm all for that.”
View the listing agreement below.
