Striking Montrose Estate

Picture perfect: Striking Montrose estate with towering hedges offers sweet privacy — for a $2.1 million price

Editor's Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what's hot on the market.

A noted Houston photographer and builder's striking contemporary residence in the Montrose area is hitting the market for the very first time. Fulton Davenport of PWL Studio and Alquimia Inc. is asking $2.1 million for his three-story home.

Walk through
Modeled by Marshall Reid and built by Alquimia Inc., the 7,000-square-foot standout structure is surrounded by tall, manicured hedges creating privacy for the owners at 2106 Crocker St. Past the security gate and entrance, owners travel through the welcoming foyer to the open floor plan on the first floor. Custom partitions with plentiful display and storage space are the only breaks in the room's flow and serve to designate the area's functions.

The living room at the far end is anchored by a massive wood-burning fireplace, while the dining room at the other centers around a chandelier. Both rooms have neutral-colored stone flooring underfoot and enjoy views of the pool and gardens via floor-to-ceiling windows. The state-of-the-art kitchen is easily at hand and includes bountiful storage behind custom-designed cabinets, a large granite-topped island and breakfast nook.

A light-filled office on the second floor is connected to a cozy den. The master suite is also on this level, with the master bath nicely appointed with dual vanities, oversized shower and soaking tub. Owners can enjoy the terrace with a wood-burning fireplace overlooking downtown.

Two additional bedrooms with ensuite baths are situated on the third floor, as is another living area and bonus room. The residence is complete with a separate attached apartment for office space or whatever else a new owner chooses.

Step outside
From multiple glass doors on the first floor, owners can escape to an outdoor oasis of the lush, landscaped side yard with lap pool and fountains. A grill area with seating affords owners a place for al fresco entertaining. The garage accommodates three cars.

Square footage: 7,000

Asking price: $2.1 million

Listing agent:Cathy Cagle, Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

Welcome to 2106 Crocker St.

On the Market 2106 Crocker Fulton Davenport house August 2014 front 2

Photo courtesy of © TK Images

Welcome to 2106 Crocker St.

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a sweeter future

City of Sugar Land acquires historic 'Char House' for new development

Photo provided by City of Sugar Land

The Char House is one of the most iconic buildings in Southwest Houston

The Imperial Sugar refinery complex has been gently rotting in the heart of Sugar Land, but a formal purchase of the land and building by the city government promises a chance at new life for the historic building.

Built around 1869, the complex was once a state-of-the-art facility that refined sugar and produced molasses. The City of Sugar Land was named for the company, and the company's crown logo is part of the city's official seal. Thousands of workers manned the lines while Houston schoolchildren toured the floor of the factory until it shut its doors in 2002. Now, the only sugar in Sugar Land is found on grocery store shelves, where the Imperial brand is still sold today.

The City of Sugar Land announced on Wednesday that it had finally completed the official purchase of the 40 acres that the refinery stands on, the first time the city has owned it. Previous plans to develop the property haven't come together.

“Redeveloping the Imperial Historic District has been a longstanding priority for both the City Council and our residents,” Mayor Carol McCutcheon said in a statement. “We’re proud to now be in the driver’s seat — ready to preserve our namesake and create the kind of destination the Sugar Land community deserves. With this project, we hope to create a place that past and future generations are proud of for many years to come.”

The $50 million land purchase and renovation plan includes the iconic Char House. The tall, red brick building looms over Sugar Land and is an iconic structure in Fort Bend County. The name comes from the charring process of adding burnt and powdered animal bones to the refining process. The building, completed in 1925, had to be tall as using gravity to filter the liquid sugar as it left the storage tanks on the eighth floor to the bottom.

The City of Sugar Land is in the process of seeking a private development partner to repurpose and renovate the land and buildings. That process should be completed by first quarter of 2026. In the meantime, the sale will be finalized over the coming months, and the city will begin the process of maintenance to prevent further deterioration. Though it is still some ways in the future, it's possible generations of school children will once again have a chance to visit the industrial genesis of Sugar Land.

sugar land