Fred Welch, executive director with the Pearland Economic Development Corp., says amenities and infrastructure needed to be in place for office growth to follow. "We have the retail, medical, hotel and conferencing facilities to support office development," he says.

Additionally, Welch says demographics are impressive, with the city going from 39,000 people in 2001 to 87,000 in 2007. Much of the growing population consists of young professionals who make the northward trip to Houston on a daily basis for work. "Hopefully we can persuade those companies to put their offices in Pearland so they don't have to drive Downtown," Welch says.

Some developers don't need to be persuaded and have already staked claims in the area. Jumping into the development mix is National Realty Group Inc., which will break ground in the spring on a 41,000-sf spec office project, the Office Grove at Pearland Parkway. The $6.6-million building will sit on 3.9 acres at the junction with FM 518.