HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Five high-rise towers containing apartments, offices, shops, and restaurants will be developed around a central greenspace near Buffalo Bayou Park, just west of downtown Houston.
The 14-acre project, named Autry Park, will sit on the western edge of Buffalo Bayou Park, and is located a short distance from the upscale River Oaks neighborhood.
Construction is already underway on Autry Park, which is the largest and most ambitious new development to emerge near Buffalo Bayou Park — the linear public space that has transformed the bayou’s waterfront with trails, gathering places, and recreational amenities.
Two prominent Houston real estate firms, Lionstone Investments and The Hanover Company, have partnered to develop Autry Park. When fully built out over the coming years, the project’s market value is expected to exceed a half-billion dollars.
The three-phase master plan for this urban village includes five towers that will deliver 1,450 residential units, approximately 350,000 square feet of Class A office space, and about 100,000 square feet of retail surrounding a central greenspace.
Phase I, currently under construction and expected to deliver in 2021, will include two multifamily buildings with ground-floor retail developed by The Hanover Company. Together these buildings will provide 750 residential units connected by a winding network of streets and sidewalks shaded by mature live oak trees. The apartments will front roughly 50,000 square feet of locally sourced restaurants, hidden paseos, and intimate retail “jewel box” spaces to create an integrated urban lifestyle.
“Our data-driven analytics pinpointed this exceptional parcel as a strategic connector between River Oaks, downtown, the Galleria, and Montrose,” said Lionstone’s CEO Jane Page. “With a 14-acre blank slate, we saw an opportunity to rethink mixed-use development by creating vibrant spaces that integrate entertainment, technology, and wellness to meet the needs of today’s workers, residents, shoppers, and visitors. Sustainable, healthier environments support more productive people, and Autry Park combines best-in-class real estate within a walkable setting that benefits from immediate access to the park’s outdoor amenities.”
The Hanover Company and Lionstone collaborated closely with the City of Houston and Memorial-Heights TIRZ 5 to fund and implement major infrastructure upgrades around the development. Planned improvements include a new signalized intersection on Allen Parkway at the project’s primary entrance, Buffalo Park Drive; enhanced pedestrian crosswalks and traffic signals at Allen Parkway and Shepherd Drive; and a dedicated bike lane along West Dallas Street — all intended to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists to and through Buffalo Bayou Park.
“Buffalo Bayou is one of our city’s greatest natural assets. Over the past five years, millions have been invested in improvements and redevelopment of Buffalo Bayou Park, supported by foundations, corporations, and individuals. We’re excited to continue investing in this resource with a thoughtful development at the park’s gateway,” said Brandt Bowden, CEO of The Hanover Company. “We hope this project highlights how the bayou enhances quality of life for all Houstonians.”
Buffalo Bayou Park covers 160 acres along the bayou corridor and links a network of waterfront trails that connect neighborhoods including River Oaks, Memorial, Tanglewood, The Heights, and Montrose to downtown Houston. That connectivity makes the area a natural hub for walkable living, curated shopping and dining, modern workplaces, and discovery in the heart of the city.
“Everyone at Buffalo Bayou Partnership is looking forward to the opening of Autry Park,” said Anne Olson, President of Buffalo Bayou Partnership. “The Hanover Company is one of the nation’s premier developers and this project promises to be exceptional. We’ve been impressed by Hanover and Lionstone’s commitment to blending the development seamlessly with the landscape of Buffalo Bayou Park.”
Retail tenants have not yet been announced, but the joint-venture partners and Rebees, Autry Park’s retail development partner, are pursuing a locally focused mix of retail, food and beverage, and entertainment. Their strategy emphasizes visionary Houston restaurateurs and independent retailers, while also including elevated service providers and select national brands. RUE is managing retail leasing for the project.
Project designers and consultants include Ziegler-Cooper Architects, W Partnership, Design Collective Inc., FÖDA, and walkability expert Jeff Speck.
Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture was engaged to develop the architectural identity for Autry Park’s retail spaces and key features of its central public park.
Landscape architect OJB (Office of James Burnett) has created a design that emphasizes the pedestrian experience, drawing the natural character of Buffalo Bayou Park into Autry Park’s streets and sidewalks.
Nov. 19, 2020 Realty News Report Copyright 2020
File: Five High-Rise Towers in new Autry Park