Granite Properties is a diversified real estate investment and management company with offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Sugar Land. Currently, they own, manage and lease a portfolio of more than six million square feet of office, industrial and retail property, with a market value of $800,000,000, in five states in the South Central USA. The company views every facet of its work as an opportunity to create value for its tenants and business associates.

And Granite saw the opportunity in Sugar Land.

“Sugar Land is great business climate because of its great location and superb employee base,” said Scott Martin, Managing Director in Houston for Granite Properties. “The market in Fort Bend County and Sugar Land is so dynamic. There has been so much growth. And, because so many corporate executives live in Sugar Land, we knew that many of them would want to move their businesses to Sugar Land.”

As a result, Granite developed a signature building for high-end clients. Granite Towers at Sugar Creek is an eight-story, 204,000-squre-foot project, which was completed in January of 2000 and is now 99% occupied. The building is the first phase of a multi-faceted business complex, distinguished by rich style and uncommon amenities and situated on 20.1 acres. It is the first of three buildings to be constructed on the site.

“Sugar Land offers a winning combination of exceptional growth, a quality and commitment of people and a fantastic corporate and retail environment,” added Martin. “Our business is about deploying capital in real estate investments. Sugar Land makes that easy to do. Because of its environment, planning and commitment to business and growth, we can be sure our projects will be a success.”

Granite also developed, owns and manages the First Colony Commons Shopping Center, a 400,000-square-foot development of 40 retail and 9 restaurant offerings in Sugar Land, the largest zoned city in the greater Houston area.

“With the exceptional zoning and planning, there is more quality assurance for development projects,” said Martin. “You can build a quality product and be assured that you will also be surrounded by quality.”

Sugar Land provides a uniquely planned and protected environment as well as a strong community and supportive government. The city collaborates with entities on the local, regional, state and national levels to facilitate positive, profitable growth.

“The city itself is tremendous to work with,” added Martin. “From getting building permits to getting simple questions answered, it has been our experience to find everyone at the city to be proactive and helpful in making sure we get what we need to get projects up and running.”

“Doing business in Sugar Land is easier, quicker and less bureaucratic than developing in other cities,” said Martin. “It is more like doing business in a small town; it definitely has a large-city mentality, as it relates to business growth, but it has a traditional, small-town standard of service and commitment to communication.”

A native, inner-loop Houstonian, Martin moved with his family to Sugar Land nine years ago.

“The community is great for our kids,” said Martin. “The neighborhood environment is incredible. That’s the number-one thing our family has enjoyed.”

“And that’s the kind of thing our clients enjoy too,” added Martin. “Their families and their businesses have the opportunity to grow in a great environment. In Sugar Land, kids have the freedom to be kids and quality businesses have the freedom to thrive.