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Vintage Park News:

Former HP Land Transforms into Upscale Retail Development
By: Valerie Clifton, Staff Writer

Gone will be the days of driving to The Woodlands' Market Street, when in the summer of 2007, Interfin will take the northwest Houston shopping experience to the next level.
The land, once owned by Hewlett-Packard, was purchased by the development company who brought Uptown Park the Galleria area.

At present the 500,000-square foot open-air retail center has 25 future tenants nailed down, including a 105,000-square foot HEB superstore.

The mammoth center will be conveniently poised on the southeast corner of Louetta Road and SH249.

"The location of the development will be on the right side of the road on the drive home for in-town commuters," Waller said.

Mediterranean-style architecture will provide residents of Vintage Park with a European "old world" ambience, Waller said.

"The project will look old the first day it's opened," Waller said.

To create this impression, architects will include hand-laid pavers, for a cobblestone effect, 12 stucco buildings, stone column walkways, clay tile roofs and Italian-style mosaic detailing.

While eating near the Piazza, Vintage Park's central core, diners will have a view of a series of fountains and gardens.

Interfin's Uptown Park was used as a model for Vintage Park. By learning from their experience with the Galleria area retail center, the company was able to work out any possible kinks Vintage Park may have.

"We've been able to improve on a lot of what you see there," Waller said. "The project adapted accordingly," Waller said.

They are adding more arches and more outdoor eating space to the concept than is available in Uptown Park.

"It's considerably bigger," Waller said. The project has been in the works for two years.

"Hewlett Packard kept it as inventory for a long period of time," Waller said. "There were a lot of people interested in buying and our partners were instrumental to the acquisition."

Waller believes there is a necessity for a development of these proportions in the northwest area.

"I think it's demand-generated," Waller said.

The average house hold income in a three-mile radius is $105,265.

Vintage Park will enhance the community by enhancing the park and lake to the south of the development and providing copious recreational green space for residents, Waller said.

The community surrounding the development has taken notice of the proposed plans.

"They have been very responsive and interested in what's going on," Waller said.

Some residents have expressed environmental concern. Waller says any fears activists may have are unfounded.

"We're putting back more and better trees than what we're (cutting) down," Waller said.

Retail development in Houston is very fragmented, Waller said. Measures have been taken to prevent this flaw in Vintage Park.

"Everything will have a set of deed restrictions for homes and shops," Waller said.

Uniformed way-finding signs and landscapes will be a key feature of the property.

"Everything will have a "vintage" adjective, lending a sense of identity," Waller said.

The tenants are slated to occupy their spaces in April to begin preparations for a 2007 summer opening.

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