5 More Mixed-Use Projects Headed To Houston
What can Houstonians expect from the round of mixed-use projects planned for the city? Innovation, luxury and a lot more creativity.
Houston has more than 20 mixed-use projects under construction, planned or recently delivered within the Inner Loop, according to JLL.
Developers are constructing 1.8M SF of offices within mixed-use projects proposed in the long-term pipeline, 1.1M SF in the short term and 340K SF under construction. There are 5M SF of existing office space in Houston's mixed-use projects.
In Part 1, Bisnow outlined eight projects headed to the Bayou City. This second set of mixed-use projects features creative offices, food halls, public art, high-end apartments and condos, restaurants and laneways, a design element from Australia.
Here are five more mixed-use projects coming soon to Houston:
1. Laneways
Residential: 1,000+ Units
Retail: 68K SF
Office: TBD
Other: Hotel
Status: Under Construction
Caydon is expanding its first Midtown project, a luxury residential mid-rise dubbed Drewery Place.
Laneways, a 2.5M SF mixed-use development, will span three city blocks bordered by Main, Fannin, Tuam and McGowen streets. Embracing its Australian roots, Caydon is centering design throughout the district around laneways — alleys that have been transformed into enclaves filled with boutique shops, speak-easies, restaurants and public art.
“Midtown is the ideal neighborhood in the city to bring the Melbourne alley concept,” Caydon principal Joe Russo previously told Bisnow. “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.”
The Laneways project will include multifamily development, high-rise condominium, a 200-key boutique hotel, ground-floor retail, art and outdoor spaces. The site will include about 1,000 multifamily and condo units and 55K SF of retail space, plus the 13K SF of retail at Drewery Place, which opened to residents in July.
Construction of Drewery Place will wrap up in October, while Laneways will break ground in early 2020.
2. The RO
Residential: 644 Units
Retail: 65K SF
Office: 310K SF
Other: Boutique Hotel
Status: Short-Term Proposed
Spear Street Capital and Transwestern are developing The RO, a $750M mixed-use project in Houston's Greenway submarket. The redevelopment transforms Exxon Mobil's Upstream Research Center to feature high-end office buildings, retail and apartments.
Phase 1 will include 310K SF of office space, 644 luxury residential units, a 200-key boutique hotel and 65K SF of specialty retail and restaurants, per marketing material by Transwestern. Phase 2 is projected to include three residential buildings and an office building.
A building variance request to the city of Houston revealed the joint venture is seeking approval for a 9.5-foot building line along the west side of Buffalo Speedway to allow for architectural features, overhangs and cantilevered building area, according to the Houston Chronicle. City code typically requires a 25-foot building line.
Pickard Chilton, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, OJB, Mayfield and Ragni Studio, and Preston Partnership will serve as architecture and design firms for the project, per the Chronicle.
The joint venture acquired the 16.9-acre plot at 3120 Buffalo Speedway in 2017. The site had been part of ExxonMobil's portfolio since the 1950s but was vacated when the company relocated to Spring.
3. River Oaks District Phase 2
Residential: TBD
Retail: TBD
Office: TBD
Other: Equinox Hotel
Status: Short-Term Proposed
Brookfield Properties is in the design phase of the next chapter of the River Oaks District.
Preliminary plans revealed a 455K SF expansion featuring 190K SF of office space, a 150K SF luxury hotel, 90K SF of residential space and 25K SF of retail, according to the Houston Business Journal. JLL's mixed-use project map has Phase 2 including 10K SF of retail space and 225K SF of office space.
Brookfield Properties declined to reveal the updated site plan to Bisnow but noted that the square footage of the buildings had changed. An Equinox hotel is still part of the expansion.
OliverMcMillan developed River Oaks District Phase 1; Brookfield Properties acquired the company in 2018. OliverMcMillan originally announced the River Oaks project in 2007 it but was delayed due to the recession. The developer relaunched the project in July 2013 and opened Phase 1 in October 2015.
A few months later, OliverMcMillan signed a ground lease agreement for 3.4 acres directly west of River Oaks District for Phase 2.
4. 4411 San Felipe
Residential: None
Retail: TBD
Office: 77K SF
Other: None
Status: Short-Term Proposed
Houston-based condominium and mixed-use developer DC Partners plans to build a new headquarters in Uptown Houston. The mixed-use project at 4411 San Felipe will feature 77K SF of Class-A office space and ground-level retail.
Designed by HOK, the mid-rise will have three floors of office and three floors of parking, per the company's website. The project is walking distance to River Oaks District and has quick access to Interstate 610.
5. POST Houston
Residential: None
Retail: 105K SF
Office: 150K SF
Other: Rooftop Park And Farm
Status: Under Construction
Downtown Houston is in for a huge shakeup in creative office space.
Lovett Commercial is transforming the former Barbara Jordan Post Office into POST Houston, a 670K SF multiuse facility in Downtown Houston that is focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship and entertainment.
The mixed-use building will have restaurants, retail, an international market hall, creative workspace and a 210K SF rooftop park and farm. Future expansion plans include a concert venue, a hotel and an entertainment room.
Lovett Commercial acquired the 16-acre property at 401 Franklin St. in 2015. POST Houston will reopen as a cultural hub in 2020.
