Charity Carter didn’t wait for a miracle to save the intersection of Fuqua Street and Blueridge Road; she went out and built one.
For nearly three decades, the former Kroger at the Willowridge Shopping Center stood as a hollowed-out reminder of economic flight. While many saw a “blighted” retail center, Carter saw a multi-million dollar opportunity. Through sheer grit and a refusal to let the Fort Bend-Houston community be overlooked, the Edison Arts Foundation executive director has successfully turned an abandoned shopping plaza into a sprawling, 79,525-square-foot engine for change.
The momentum reached a fever pitch recently with a historic $1.5 million investment from H-E-B. The donation isn’t just a check; it is a validation of Carter’s years-long crusade to bring elite arts education and economic stability to an area that has navigated decades of disinvestment.
“This project has been a journey, one of faith, perseverance, and a deep commitment to the people who call this community home,” Carter said. “We’ve had to navigate so many hurdles, but the vision keeps us going.”
Grassroots grit vs. The ‘Calvary’
The transformation of the 12 ½-acre site, nestled between the Fort Bend Tollway and Beltway 8, is a testament to what Carter calls “revitalization without gentrification.” It is a rare example of a community-led project that scales to the size of a municipal landmark.
The initial seed funding came from Carter’s father, Robert Edison. District K Councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum noted that Carter’s ability to rally $23 million to date – from federal funds secured by U.S. Rep. Al Green to support from the George Foundation – is a masterclass in local leadership.
“These people are not professional fundraisers; they are not professional athletes; they are not big business owners. They didn’t wait for the calvary…they had an idea,
Martha Castex Tatum
and they put in the work.”
“These people are not professional fundraisers; they are not professional athletes; they are not big business owners,” Castex-Tatum said of the Carter family. “They didn’t wait for the calvary…they had an idea, and they put in the work.”
The impact is already visible. Though there was an official ribbon-cutting recently, Carter had already anchored the neighborhood with the Edison Lofts. Built in 2021, the 126-unit affordable housing complex ensured residents wouldn’t be priced out of the very progress they helped build.
The H-E-B investment: A catalyst for growth
The $1.5 million from H-E-B serves as the cornerstone for the center’s educational mission. James Harris, H-E-B’s Director of Diversity & Inclusion, emphasized that the retailer’s commitment is rooted in the belief that community health begins with children.
Beyond the immediate grant, H-E-B plans to allocate additional funding as new programs emerge, sticking to its pledge to return 5% of pre-tax earnings to Texas communities. This partnership ensures that the Edison Afterschool Arts Academy remains a sustainable haven for “latchkey” children who need a safe, creative space during the high-risk afternoon hours.
“At its heart, the Edison Cultural Arts Center is about access,” Carter said. “We are opening doors for young people, emerging artists, and families who deserve meaningful opportunities to learn, create, and see themselves reflected in the arts.”
Reclaiming the “Mo City” legacy
The project sits at a unique geographic intersection, carrying a Missouri City address but located within the City of Houston and Fort Bend County. Historically known as “Mo City,” the area was once “in full bloom,” according to U.S. Rep. Al Green, who recalled a thriving strip mall and McDonald’s that eventually vanished.
By the summer of 2026, the center will restore that vibrancy with a massive multi-phase footprint that will include
With two theaters, dance studios, a performance hall, a grand lobby, a festival park, restaurants, a food hall, a co-op kitchen, retail space, and more, the center is expected to draw more than 208,820 visitors annually, said Carter.
Despite hurdles like the COVID-19 pandemic and rising construction costs, the doors are finally swinging open. Carter is expecting to begin enrolling students next month. Phase 3 of the project, which will include retail partners and the theater, is expected to be ready in July or August.
For more information about upcoming programs and membership, visit www.edisonartsfoundation.org.
THE EDISON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER: BY THE NUMBERS
The transformation of the former Willowridge Shopping Center represents one of the largest community-led revitalization projects in Fort Bend County and Houston’s history. Here is how that $35 million investment breaks down:
The Physical Footprint
- 79,525: Total square footage of the renovated facility.
- 12.5: Acres of land being revitalized between the Fort Bend Tollway and Beltway 8.
- 400+: Seats in the main performing arts theater (Phase 3).
- 165: Seats in the intimate “Black Box” theater for emerging artists.
- 126: Units of affordable housing are already active at the adjacent Edison Lofts.
The Economic & Community Impact
- 208,820: Projected annual visitors to the center.
- 25: Years the site sat abandoned before Charity Carter’s intervention.
- $1.5 Million: The historic foundational investment from H-E-B.
- $5 Million: Investment from the City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department.
- 5%: Of H-E-B’s pre-tax earnings pledged to Texas communities, ensuring ongoing support for the center’s programming.
Key Amenities & Resources
- Education: State-of-the-art dance studios and an Afterschool Arts Academy with computer labs.
- Entrepreneurship: A whole food hall, co-op kitchen, and dedicated retail spaces for local small businesses.
- Wellness: An on-site healthcare facility and a public community park with green space.
- Legacy: 2 theaters dedicated to providing a professional pipeline for Black and Brown artists in the region.
