Drewery Place Brings Melbourne's Eclectic Alleys And Luxury Amenities To Houston
When first-time visitors to Melbourne, Australia, turn down a narrow pedestrian alley, they won’t find any service entrances or trash bins. Instead, they may encounter one of the city’s iconic laneways — alleys that have been transformed into enclaves filled with boutique shops, speak-easies, restaurants and public art.
Soon, Houston residents will have an opportunity to experience a slice of Melbourne life, albeit Texas style.
Caydon, a property development firm based in Melbourne, is bringing a 2.5M SF mixed-use development to Midtown Houston. Dubbed Laneways, it will span three blocks bordered by Main, Fannin, Tuam and McGowen streets. It will consist of multifamily residences, condominiums, a luxury hotel and pedestrian alleys packed with local art, unique stores and contemporary dining options.
These vibrant passageways are one of the reasons Melbourne was voted the best city in the world to live for seven years in a row by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Caydon believes the Houston market will be particularly receptive to the crafts and cuisines that define laneways, and that it will be an excellent place to launch this concept in America.
“Midtown is the ideal neighborhood in the city to bring the Melbourne alley concept,” Caydon principal Joe Russo said. “We look forward to partnering with local restaurant operators and artists to bring in Houston’s diverse culture. We want to make the project feel like an icon that’s been around for years.”
Russo said Caydon chose Houston in part due to the area’s massive job growth. In 2018, the region added more than 114,000 jobs, a 3.8% increase from the previous year, surpassing the nation’s overall 1.7% job growth. Caydon was drawn to Midtown, in particular, because of its walkability, new Midtown Park, access to the light rail and proximity to Texas Medical Center.
Along with retail, the company is placing an emphasis on residential development, giving the growing Midtown Houston population its first multifamily high-rise. Drewery Place, the first phase of Laneways, is set to open to the public in July, with leasing beginning in May. Named after one of Melbourne’s best-known laneways, this luxurious building emphasizes high-end amenities and tech-savvy features.
To encourage a fully connected lifestyle, Drewery Place residents will find programmable lighting fixtures, Honeywell smart thermostats, Latch Bluetooth-enabled door locks and an Amazon virtual assistant in every apartment. IT consultants will be on hand to help tenants set up each feature, as well as connect them to Caydon HQ, a custom-designed resident portal that allows them to receive delivery notifications, find discounts at local shops and restaurants, and reach out to other tenants.
Along with its high-tech offerings, Drewery Place features a collection of lavish amenities. These include the largest pool deck in Houston, complete with a swim-up bar and private cabanas, along with a sky lounge showcasing dramatic Downtown views. Caydon has also teamed up with Apartment Butler to offer housekeeping, dog-walking and dry-cleaning services to residents.
Residents won’t have to travel far to experience the new eclectic mix of laneways-inspired retail in the area. On the ground floor, Drewery Place will have 13K SF dedicated to art, health and wellness. Tenants include Black Swan Yoga and Earthcraft Juicery, and the team has paired up with the Houston Art Alliance to bring original work from 29 local artists to the residential tower.
Russo said Drewery Place’s particular combination of amenities, communal spaces and retail tenants was curated to foster a sense of community. Recurring community-based activities will include seasonal pool parties on the deck, outdoor movie nights on the lawn and Saturday events led by Black Swan Yoga instructors with drinks provided by Earthcraft.
“Our vision for our Laneways project will enhance this already thriving neighborhood, as we look to bring the Melbourne lifestyle to Midtown,” Russo said.
This feature was produced in collaboration between Bisnow Branded Content and Caydon. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.
