HOUSTON – East River 9, a new nine-hole golf course with a family-friendly restaurant and patio bar, is being built at East River, a 150-acre mixed-use development near the eastern edge of downtown Houston in the Historic Fifth Ward, the Houston-based Midway development firm announced.
Located above the 500-year flood plain on the northern bank of Buffalo Bayou, East River 9 will be the only public nine-hole, par-three golf course inside the 610 Loop and will include stadium lighting for evening play. The links-style short course will feature holes ranging from 80 to 150 yards, a natural-grass 300-yard driving range with a downtown skyline backdrop, a 12,000-square-foot social putting green, and a 1,000-square-foot pro shop offering merchandise, rental clubs, and refreshments.
The Riverhouse Houston restaurant and bar will anchor the golf course and serve as its social center.
“Our goal is to create an inviting recreational destination for local residents and all Houstonians,” said Clayton Freels, founding partner of the concepts. “East River 9 will expand access to the game by filling a gap between the driving range and a full 18-hole course. It also brings a lively, community-focused activation to a site that has been closed to the public for more than 75 years.”
Riverhouse Houston, developed with DKC Group, will operate from a repurposed industrial building that overlooks the course, Buffalo Bayou, and the downtown skyline. The restaurant will feature a scratch-kitchen menu and a curated selection of beer, wine, and spirits. Its family-friendly patio bar and expansive terrace will include a kids’ playscape, outdoor games, and fire pits. Live music and sunset views will be regular evening attractions.
The building’s refined-industrial design will harmonize with the broader East River aesthetic. Designed to host corporate, social, and charitable events, Riverhouse can accommodate more than 1,000 guests and provide parking for over 300 cars.
“Riverhouse will offer far more than a traditional clubhouse and can be tailored to suit a variety of events,” said Don Cristopher, project partner and founder of DKC Group Companies.
When operations begin, the project will create numerous full-time jobs for local residents. East River 9 and Riverhouse plan to begin coordinating hiring and workforce development with the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp. this fall.
The golf course and restaurant complex is on schedule to open in the first quarter of 2022.
The project team includes Smelek Design as golf and landscape architect; VM Golf as golf general contractor; Sterling Golf as golf operator; Phil Schawe as Riverhouse design architect; MaRS handling Riverhouse interior design; Trinity Constructors as Riverhouse general contractor; and DKC Group as Riverhouse restaurant operator.
The East River development, which fronts a mile along Buffalo Bayou, sits near the corner of Clinton and Jensen Drive. For many years the site was used for manufacturing and office space by construction firm Brown & Root and KBR.
Schawe: Redeveloping for a Refined-Industrial Look
Riverhouse Houston is a redevelopment of an old industrial building. “It’s an old Brown & Root maintenance building,” said Houston architect Phil Schawe, who designed the renovated structure. The open portion of the building will include a high breezeway that connects to an outdoor area with lawn games.
Old timbers and rails from the former Brown & Root rail line will be incorporated into the Riverhouse design, Schawe added.
Midway is preparing to break ground on East River’s first phase, which will include apartments, restaurants, and office space.
Anticipating Golf – Possible Wheatley High School Team
The addition of golf to the East River neighborhood is already drawing attention from local schools and community members.
Phillis Wheatley High School in the Historic Fifth Ward is working with East River 9 to ensure an inclusive environment for students and families. Wheatley is exploring the possibility of adding a golf team to its athletics program once the facilities are complete.
Principal Joseph Williams said, “I am truly excited about the development of the golf course and restaurant at East River, which will provide our scholars and families with new recreation space and showcase the Fifth Ward community to greater Houston. Wheatley’s partnership with these businesses will support career-readiness efforts and offer internship and employment opportunities.”
Bianca Dugas, Fifth Ward resident and associate principal at Wheatley, noted, “I am elated about the employment opportunities for Fifth Ward residents and the addition of a family-friendly establishment in the neighborhood. The variety of opportunities that East River 9 will bring should help strengthen the community’s economy.”
June 16, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
For more about Texas real estate, see the book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up by Ralph Bivins.
Images: Courtesy Sterling Illustration
File: East River Adding Golf Course to Urban Development