HOUSTON — The historic Texaco building in downtown Houston, originally constructed more than a century ago, has been transformed into a modern residential rental tower named The Star. The redevelopment preserves the building’s historic character while introducing contemporary amenities across a 410,000-square-foot high-rise that contains 286 rental units.
Developed by Dallas-based Provident Realty Advisors, The Star offers a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, with rents starting at $2,150. The property combines landmark architecture with efficient floorplans and urban convenience, appealing to residents seeking a central downtown address with access to transit and neighborhood retail.
Located at 1111 Rusk, the project occupies a full block bounded by San Jacinto, Fannin and Capitol streets. The building integrates the original 13-story structure completed in 1915, a 1938 addition, and a 16-story addition finished in 1958. The earliest wing was designed by the New York firm Warren & Wetmore, the same architects responsible for Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal, which helps explain the building’s strong classical character.
The Star’s residential mix includes 207 one-bedroom units and 79 two-bedroom units. In addition to apartments, the redevelopment includes roughly 21,000 square feet of street-level retail. Leasing agents say negotiations are underway with several prospective tenants expected to include a specialty grocer and a restaurant, which will activate the pedestrian environment around the tower.
Martin Fein Interests, a Houston-based multifamily leasing firm, is handling leasing for the development. “We are proud to be associated with one of the most beautiful and unique new apartment developments in downtown Houston and congratulate Provident for recognizing this important historic building’s potential,” said a representative of Martin Fein Interests.
Transit-oriented features strengthen The Star’s downtown appeal: two METRO light-rail lines run nearby, providing easy access to other parts of the city. The redevelopment also addresses resident parking and mobility needs: a nine-story parking garage is part of the project and will provide approximately 685 parking spaces, bike storage, and dedicated parking to serve restaurant customers and retail patrons.
Architecturally, the building showcases a mix of brick, terra cotta and Bedford limestone. One of its most distinctive elements is the grand limestone arcade with Tuscan columns facing Rusk Street, a feature that was carefully replicated and honored when architect Kenneth Franzheim designed the 1958 addition. Franzheim, who began his career working in Chicago, Boston and New York before relocating to Houston in the 1930s, maintained a sensitivity to the original Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts details.
Texaco occupied the building for many decades until 1989. After the company relocated, the structure stood vacant and shuttered for years. In 2013, Provident Realty Advisors initiated a multi-family conversion in partnership with HBG Design, an architectural firm with offices in Memphis and San Diego, to reimagine the landmark for contemporary residential use while preserving its historic fabric.
“We were fortunate to have found an iconic, pre-war building of this scale where a thoroughly modern makeover meshes so seamlessly with its timeless architecture,” said Kip Platt of Provident Realty Advisors. The project blends historic preservation with modern systems, finishes and resident amenities to create a distinctive downtown living option.
Provident Realty Advisors, owned by Leon J. Backes, is active across multiple markets including Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Denver, Nashville and Little Rock. The firm’s portfolio spans land investments, master-planned residential communities, multifamily acquisition and development, retail and infill mixed-use projects, and self-storage.
The Star stands as an example of adaptive reuse that preserves architectural heritage while meeting current market demand for downtown housing, retail activation and transit connectivity. The project demonstrates how careful restoration and contemporary development can coexist, providing new life to a landmark building and contributing to the revitalization of Houston’s urban core.
Feb. 20, 2017 Realty News Report Copyright 2017