HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[The Best Forumer]

Originally Posted by Wattleigh

I don't think this was posted when it was released last year, but UHD looks to be pursuing an expansion plan over the next 25 years.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/ho...uhd-state-of-the-university-19787135.php



From UHD

Wow... very ambitious. I like it. Hopefull, this will come to fruition.

[Wattleigh]

The Ion

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news...e-the-arc-ion-new-research-building.html

Rice Real Estate Co. reveals plans for new 200K-square-foot building in Ion District

Ken Jett first confirmed that the Ion district would add a second incubator building during a June interview with the HBJ.


By Jeff Jeffrey – Senior reporter, Houston Business Journal
Sep 16, 2025
Updated Sep 16, 2025 2:12pm CDT

Rice Real Estate Co., the real estate development arm of Rice University, has unveiled plans to add a new 200,000-square-foot research, laboratory and office facility to its innovation district in Midtown.

The Arc at the Ion District, which is being developed in partnership with Dallas-based Lincoln Property Co., aims to build upon the district’s capabilities as a hub for innovation, Rice Real Estate co. said Sept. 16.

The Arc will join the original Ion building at 4201 Main St., which is now over 90% leased to such tenants as Chevron, Microsoft, Aramco, Baker Botts, Exxon Mobil, Oxy, BP, Shell, United, Transocean and Woodside Energy, as well as leading startups and investors such as Persona AI and Liongard.

Rice Real Estate Co. said the Arc, which will share a plaza with the Ion, will be purpose-built to accelerate the transition of ideas from the lab to the marketplace and support a broad spectrum of research and enterprise activities.

The Arc appears to be planned for a current parking lot next to the Ion.

Construction on The Arc is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and be complete in the first quarter of 2028. Preleasing opportunities are now open, Rice said. Gabe Lerner, executive vice president at Lincoln Property Co., and Scott Irby, director at Rice Real Estate Co., are handling the leasing.

The Arc’s lead tenant will be Rice University, which will occupy about 30,000 square feet of the building’s office and lab space.

Website: https://www.thearciondistrict.com/

Renderings and information from that site























It also sounds like the Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) site in the Ion District may be moving ahead soon. Their website is up now: https://tutsattheiondistrict.org/

[Wattleigh]

Ben Taub Expansion

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2025/09/24/harris-health-board-hermann-park-buy.html

Harris Health board OKs eminent domain plan to acquire Hermann Park land

By Jishnu Nair – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
Sep 24, 2025

A local health system is a step closer to acquiring park land for an expansion.
Harris Health’s board of trustees unanimously adopted a resolution Sept. 23 directing the system to pursue the acquisition of Hermann Park land for an expansion of Ben Taub Hospital. Notably, the resolution directs Harris Health to use eminent domain powers to complete the land acquisition.

The targeted land consists of three parcels totaling approximately 8.9 acres directly across from Ben Taub, bordered by Lamar Fleming Drive, Cambridge Street and Braeswood Boulevard and separated from the rest of the 445-acre Hermann Park by Cambridge Street.

During the Sept. 23 meeting, Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, Harris Health’s president and CEO, told trustees that there was no alternative besides acquiring the land for an expansion. Throughout his tenure, Porsa has repeatedly highlighted the need to upgrade Ben Taub, which opened in 1963.

“This is desperately needed additional capacity for Ben Taub to allow it to deliver timely, life-saving care that Houston has come to expect and depend on,” Porsa said during the meeting. “The additional capacity has to occur at or adjacent to Ben Taub to allow for maximum operational efficiency and fiscal stewardship.”

Porsa also sounded another warning that the burdens Ben Taub needs to bear will increase as expanded eligibility for Medicaid and tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year, barring action from Congress.

Harris County voters have already signed off on the money for the Ben Taub proposal. Over $400 million for the project was included in the $2.5 billion bond that voters approved in 2023 as part of Harris Health’s strategic facilities plan.

[Wattleigh]

Originally Posted by The Best Forumer

Wow... very ambitious. I like it. Hopefull, this will come to fruition.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/uh-downtown-txdot-i10-21075437.php

UH-Downtown acquires 11 acres in agreement with Texas Department of Transportation

By Samantha Ketterer,
Staff Writer
Oct 1, 2025

University of Houston-Downtown has procured more than 11 acres of land under and around Interstate 10, enabling future expansion as the Texas Department of Transportation decommissions the freeway through its 20-year highway reconstruction project.

The agency gave the land to UHD through a memorandum of understanding signed in May, university President Loren J. Blanchard announced during a State of the University address on Tuesday. Texas Rep. Armando Walle and Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, helped make the agreement possible outside of the bill-filing process in the 89th Legislature.

[Wattleigh]

Rice Village

c/o swtsig on HAIF

Trammell Crow and Rice have plans to redevelop the corner of Kirby and Amherst into a sizeable mixed use project. Mid rise office and high rise multifamily all with ground floor retail and below grade parking. Gensler designed, gives real west village / meatpacking vibes.

Let's hope the market is there for them to execute.

[Wattleigh]

Houston Methodist Centennial Tower

c/o hindesky on HAIF

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Wattleigh

Rice Village

c/o swtsig on HAIF

That block really needs redevelopment

[Wattleigh]

1600 Smith



image c/o Brookfield


https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/...285-1140ca7e-05e6-4b38-9bfb-a24de1be2797

Houston City Council approves $50 million deal for new HPD headquarters and city offices

Houston council approves a plan to buy the former Continental Airlines HQ to house police and public works, shifting $20M away from maintenance costs annually.

Author: Stephen Goin
Published: 4:44 PM CDT October 8, 2025
Updated: 4:44 PM CDT October 8, 2025

HOUSTON — With a unanimous vote Wednesday, councilmembers approved a plan to purchase a 52-story building to serve as the new home for the Houston Police Department headquarters, Public Works and other departments.

The $50 million deal involves the former Continental Airlines headquarters at 1600 Smith Street, a 1.1-million-square-foot office tower that includes a 13-story parking garage with 2,500 spaces.

The purchase is being financed by the Houston Police Officers Pension System (HPOPS) through a lease-back agreement, with the city planning to buy the property outright as soon as next year.

Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi told council members the acquisition solves multiple issues tied to the city’s aging facilities at 611 Walker (Public Works) and 1200 Travis (HPD) -- buildings that have been plagued by deferred maintenance.

“HPD is spending nearly $20 million a year right now just on maintaining Travis,” Macchi said. “You’re going to see an immediate $20 million shift to the general fund by doing this because that burden is now not on their plate anymore.”

The move consolidates several departments now scattered across downtown buildings, including those currently in the City Hall Annex.

“Between Travis and Walker right now, we occupy 800,000 square feet or so, so we still have some [extra] capacity there,” Macchi said. “Clearly, with better layouts, we’re going to be able to have more efficiencies with how we’re going to put folks in there.”

Mayor John Whitmire praised the deal as a major step toward addressing the city’s infrastructure backlog.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Whitmire said. “It’s a win for our city employees. It’s a financial win because we’re paying so much to maintain these other buildings. It gives us a lot of opportunity.”

Macchi noted the city intends to sell both 1200 Travis and 611 Walker, with proceeds returning to the city.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by Wattleigh

1600 Smith



image c/o Brookfield


https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/...285-1140ca7e-05e6-4b38-9bfb-a24de1be2797

Anyone know whether the building is currently occupied or vacant?

[Wattleigh]

The RO

Looks like there may be a lot more activity happening here soon. Both of the towers sound like they could be coming out of the ground in the near future.

Post from Highrise Tower on HAIF who writes...

It looks like both The Birdsall and The Clayton will go up together?

There is a "new" marketing brochure out. I did not know the multifamily apartments were named The Clayton. Is this in reference to William L. Clayton of Anderson, Clayton and Company?

The RO now mentions two separate high-profile, River Oaks, socialites. Birdsall P. Briscoe, the famous Houston architect and William L. Clayton the famous cotton businessman of MD Anderson fame.

The Clayton will go up on the corner of Buffalo Speedway and West Alabama. Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

Hoar Construction's field office is located at 3303 Mercer Street.

For Reference

The Birdsall


The Clayton


Site photos from the same user

Facade


Fencing and water management for Phase II - The Clayton.




A total of 3 excavators were located further inward towards The Birdsall.


Vitol HQ near completion

[Wattleigh]

Originally Posted by Wattleigh

Rice Village

c/o swtsig on HAIF

Spotted by houstontexasjack on HAIF

This popped up in my feed on the Gram. Looks like the project to which @swtsig was referring:

[Wattleigh]

910 Louisiana

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news...retail-renovations-planned-downtown.html

Major retail-focused renovation underway at one of downtown Houston's tallest towers

By Jeff Jeffrey – Senior reporter, Houston Business Journal
Oct 29, 2025

One of downtown Houston’s tallest office towers has launched a multimillion-dollar effort to transform its bottom few floors to create new retail spaces and add a series of new tenant amenities.

The entire first floor of the 50-story tower at 910 Louisiana St., which was once known as One Shell Plaza, will be reimagined to add restaurant spaces on each of its four corners. The renovation also will involve converting the third floor of the building into a dedicated amenity space.

“We are very committed to 910 Louisiana as one of the most iconic buildings in Houston and are excited for the market to embrace the significant enhancements we are making to this property,” said Darrell Kainer, vice president of the building's owner, Houston-based Busycon Properties LLC.

Located between McKinney and Walker streets, 910 Louisiana is a 1.2 million-square-foot Class A office property. The building's 49th floor houses the exclusive Houston Club, which offers a full complement of fine dining, entertainment and meeting facilities. The tower is LEED Gold certified.

910 Louisiana is managed by Houston-based Hines, while Winfield Haggard Jr. and Chip Colvill of Partners Real Estate represent Busycon in leasing the property. St. Louis-based architecture firm HOK Group Inc. is overseeing the design of the renovation, and Houston-based Gallant Commercial is the general contractor for the project.

The building's owners declined to say how much the planned renovations are expected to cost. However, filings submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said the project is expected to cost around $50 million. TDLR filings are preliminary and subject to change.
Colvill said the tower's renovations aim to not only benefit the building’s tenants but also to create new opportunities for pedestrians to enjoy the building. He added that the planned upgrades to 910 Louisiana are among the most extensive he has seen at an office building in his decades-long career.

“The tunnel below the building is extremely vibrant, but people want to get up to the street level,” Colvill told the Houston Business Journal. “We want to completely redo the lobby and then open up all four corners of the building to bring more street life to the building, which is something that is really needed. Street-level food and beverage is something that will really benefit downtown up and down Louisiana.”

[JManc]

910 Louisiana St., which was once known as One Shell Plaza

It will always be One Shell Plaza just like that building out in the Galleria area will always be the Transco Tower.

[DCReid]

Originally Posted by JManc

It will always be One Shell Plaza just like that building out in the Galleria area will always be the Transco Tower.

Sort of like 975 Michigan Ave, Chicago was the John Hancock Building, and Willis Tower in Chicago was the Sears Tower. I wonder why the Chrysler Building in NYC has never had a name change...

[Wattleigh]

The RO

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news...he-ro-phase-2-breaks-ground-auberge.html

The RO mixed-use development's Phase 2 breaks ground, featuring Houston's first Auberge Collection property

By Jeff Jeffrey – Senior reporter, Houston Business Journal
Nov 4, 2025
Updated Nov 4, 2025 12:50pm CST

A high-profile mixed-use development in Upper Kirby has broken ground on its second phase, which will include the city’s first property from The Friedkin Group's Auberge Collection.

Transwestern announced Nov. 4 that it is moving forward with the next stage of The RO, a 17-acre development pronounced "row" at the intersection of West Alabama Street and Buffalo Speedway, south of River Oaks.

The second phase includes The Birdsall, Auberge Collection, a luxury hotel and condominium tower; a sprawling retail village with 80,000 square feet of space devoted to up to eight restaurants; The Clayton, a luxury multifamily community with 317 apartment units; and high-end office space.

The RO's first phase includes a 145,000-square-foot Class AA office building that is preparing to top out and scheduled for tenant occupancy in June 2026.

The office tower already is fully leased to Geneva, Switzerland-based energy company Vitol Inc.

In all, the project will encompass about 740,000 square feet.

The Birdsall, the retail village and The Clayton are scheduled to deliver in late 2027.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by DCReid

Sort of like 975 Michigan Ave, Chicago was the John Hancock Building, and Willis Tower in Chicago was the Sears Tower. I wonder why the Chrysler Building in NYC has never had a name change...

I had no idea they renamed it but it will always be the JHC and the Willis Tower as the Sears Tower.

[Wattleigh]

Originally Posted by Wattleigh

Spotted by houstontexasjack on HAIF

Maybe something on this tomorrow?

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/...285-1a6ca399-a412-4f6f-9440-fbbf62ebb350

Rice to reveal transformative plan linking campus to Rice Village

Rice University will announce a transformative project to connect its campus to Rice Village and modernize its historic sports venues at a Nov. 6 event.

Author: Jaime E. Galvan
Published: 12:41 PM CST November 3, 2025
Updated: 12:41 PM CST November 3, 2025

HOUSTON — Rice University is preparing to announce a transformative new real estate and campus development project that will reshape the connection between its campus and Houston’s historic Rice Village while modernizing the university’s sports venues.

The announcement will take place Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. during a media event at Rice Stadium. The initiative is being described as a major investment in Rice’s future and a pivotal project for both the university and the city of Houston.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by JManc

I had no idea they renamed it but it will always be the JHC and the Willis Tower as the Sears Tower.

Something about the name "Willis". Always makes me want to say "whatchu talkin' about Willis???" Some people here will know what I mean.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

Something about the name "Willis". Always makes me want to say "whatchu talkin' about Willis???" Some people here will know what I mean.

[Dariusb]

Originally Posted by aviationguy

something about the name "willis". Always makes me want to say "whatchu talkin' about willis???" some people here will know what i mean.

lol!!