Last January, Overland Property Group purchased the Sam Houston Elementary building in order to turn it into affordable housing. The company had attempted to purchase the same site in 2024 but decided to withdraw after community pushback, as the school was originally planned to be a new performing arts center.
Breaking it down
Director of Development April Engstrom said construction for the affordable housing complex, named Landmark 601, should begin in the summertime as long as building permits are secured. The overall cost of the housing project is an estimated $28 million, and the project’s construction should last around 14-16 months.
Due to the historical nature of the property, the developers were able to secure historical tax credits to offset the cost and keep the units affordable for locals.
“Say you’re a single mom, like my mom was, or a nurse, EMS worker, waiter downtown, bartender, it’s not always feasible to go out and buy a house,” Engstrom said. “We’ve just been seeing the cost of housing skyrocket, and so with a place like this, you know, you’re able to serve so many people and you’re able to provide them with really cool quality housing.”
More details
The total available units on the property will be 71, open to residents with a median income of about $22,000 to $70,000, Engstrom said.
The breakdown of the available 71 units is as follows:
- 14 studio units
- 32 one-bedroom units
- 17 two-bedroom units
- 8 three-bedroom units
Scott Harper, Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce president, said that Landmark 601 is a “strong project” that is needed to support Conroe’s growing population.
“We have a growing aging population that needs some alternative housing, with essentially the moratorium of multifamily units in the city limits kind of being squashed,” Harper said. “This gives those individuals an affordable place to stay.”
Taking into account the community’s original desires for a performing arts venue, Engstrom says that the property will also have a dedicated unit for an artists’ resident program.