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I know Mitchell Westheimer had a 640-acre farm that was located off of Westheimer Road. There are two very famous Houston history websites that contain information about the farm. Tshaonline.org and Heritagesociety.org. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/westheimer-mitchell-louis Westheimer purchased at auction a 640-acre tract extending from what is now Bellaire Blvd. north beyond what is now Westheimer Road in Houston. The tract became known as the Westheimer Plantation. It featured a large, plantation-style residence on the site of present Lamar High School, stables for the livery, and a racetrack. In the 1860s Houston had no public schools, so Westheimer built a school on his farm, hired a teacher, and allowed area children to attend free. A miller by trade, Westheimer owned a flour mill in Houston, became a hay merchant in the 1850s and 1860s, and built the first streetcar rails in Houston. https://www.heritagesociety.org/westheimer-family When he arrived in Houston he quickly bought up a 640-acre tract that extended from where Holcombe Boulevard is today and north to the present Westheimer Road, bounded by Buffalo Speedway on the east and Fondren on the west. After buying his land, Westheimer built a flourmill and also operated for a time as a hay merchant. I was browsing old newspaper and maps and I found a little more information. From The Houston Post dated January 4, 1896: For Rent or Sale- My farm containing 150 acres, three and one-half miles west of Houston, in good cultivation, on a good road. Parties must furnish their own tams. M.L. Westheimer, No. 1113 San Jacinto Street. City of Houston directory dated 1886: Westheimer, Mitchell L., hay dealer r. and farm 3-1/2 miles w of city, at Westheimer Station. The Houston Post had an article that is dated March 23, 1887: Accidentally killed. At a late hour this evening, Judge Railey held an inquest over the body of Solomon Coleman, a school teacher of this city, who was accidentally killed while hunting on the prairie, near Westheimer Station, five miles west of Houston. The Houston Post had an article that is dated April 3, 1887: Headlight Flashes. All passenger trains entering the city were on time this morning. -- Conductor John Gray of the Texas Western railway has a force of men at work placing ties on the road between this city and Westheimer Station. A Houston map dated in 1895: It shows two parcels of land labeled "1" and "3" that is labeled "Westheimer." The parcels look to be roughly 3 to 5 miles west of the city core. I'm not sure if both of these equals the whole 640-acres. It doesn't look like that much land. Maybe 150 or 200 acres? Seems like half of the farm is missing. Maybe it was left off the map. Closer in, on the left. There was also an oval race track on his farm, or located on his other parcels of land. A map dated 1921 shows an oval track on Westheimer Road near Buffalo Speedway. Race Track For Lease- I will lease my one-mile regulation race track, three and one-half miles from Houston, to good, responsible parties. Address M.L. Westheimer, Houston. I am guessing that whole square parcel of where the race track is located in the 640-acre Westheimer Station Farm. Looks about equal in size to the Texas Medical Center's 500-Acre BioPort campus on Buffalo Speedway.

Here is the JLL listing. Outdated, as it was sold, not leased. https://powersearch.jll.com/us-en/property/24184/3723-westheimer-road-houston

I noticed a small remodel permit that was pulled. This 2-story office is sitting on very, very valuable land. I wonder when the old 2-story office building will no longer be feasible.

One of the founders of Kelsey Seybold lived in a fancy River Oaks estate at 2136 Brentwood Drive. It's now a City of Houston protected landmark. https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/landmarks/07L174_Dr_Mavis_P_Kelsey_Sr_House_2136_Brentwood.pdf The Dr. Mavis P. Kelsey , Sr., House at 2136 Brentwood Drive was built in 1940. It is an impressive example of the Greek Revival style home, built as a speculative house by C. C. Rouse in River Oaks. It was first occupied by the Wollmer family. The home was later owned and inhabited by Dr. Mavis P. Kelsey, Sr., for many years. Dr. Kelsey is most notable as the founder of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. The original cost summary prepared by C. C. Rouse and dated October 9, 1940 estimated the cost of building at $11,486. Records show that the actual cost was $12,241. The home’s first owners, the Wollmar family, purchased the home for $24,500. The sale was made by George P. Wright of the River Oaks Corporation. https://spencerhoward.net/portfolio_item/brentwood-residence

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texan-bank-opens-new-location-in-river-oaks-300884079.html HOUSTON, July 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Texan Bank, a Houston-based community bank, announces a new branch location opening in River Oaks. The projected grand opening date is slated for early fall 2019. The River Oaks branch will be located at 3736 Westheimer Road, sharing a building with Frank's Americana Revival. The approximately 3,100 sq. ft. space will feature Texan-chic custom décor as designed by the talented ownership team at The Arrangement on Post Oak. This location will provide convenience not only in proximity to local business and neighborhoods in the area, but also in its pedestrian accessibility as it is nestled between Highland Village and River Oaks park

7-story medical office with retail proposed for River Oaks. https://www.citylandsinvestments.com/investments/

Noticed the Noticed of Virtual Public Hearing today. Old Loopnet listing https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/3636-Westheimer-Rd-Houston-TX/17273354/

It is really hard to watch people actually working on making something ugly, and it really is ugly. Like someone intentionally parking an elegant classic car on the rail road tracks. Unfortunately, Ms. Gray fails to mention the tacky heart-works scattered across the property and featured at the formerly prominent entranceway.

PROJECT: River Oaks Multifamily (assigned prelim name) ADDRESS: 1414 Waugh Houston, TX 77019 ARCHITECT: Page OWNER / DEVELOPER: Camden Securities Company INFORMATION: 34 floor residential high-rise tower containing 302 apartments with attached 6 level parking garage for 460 cars with amenity deck on roof. It will sit on the block bounded on the four sides by Waugh Drive, Bell Avenue, Rosine Street, and Pierce Avenue. The tower is approximately 594,826 gross square feet and the tower balconies are approximately 53,020 gross square feet. The parking garage is approximately 199,290 gross square feet. Residential floors will typically have private unit balconies on east and west elevations. Ground Floor areas will include the main lobby, building tenant services, office areas, fire command, security, mail room, maintenance, storage, loading dock, building fire and domestic water room, emergency generator, building electrical rooms, and drive through drop-off/delivery roadway. Tower level 6 is a tenant amenity floor containing fitness, recreation, socializing and workspaces for tenants. Contiguous with this floor level is the top of the parking garage where there will be 29,800 square feet of exterior tenant amenity spaces such as a lap pool, spa, lawn decks, paved decks, walking paths, fitness areas, and covered lounge areas. There is also a 2,063 square foot amenity deck at level 31 for social gatherings. The staggered picture frames on the exterior of the building will be translucent glass with internal LED lighting while the perimeter of the building elevations will be porcelain paneling. I have no information on the other phases except that a mid-rise / tower will be north of this one, between Bell and Clay.

Exciting to see this area develop. Someone needs to knock down the Public Storage across the street next.

I was browsing the newspaper The Thresher dated October 2, 1942 and came across a business ad for Pladium Bowling Lanes located at 1310 Mc Duffie St. Very cool! Never heard about this place before. I'd love to see some pictures, or a postcard. The bowing alley was located at the River Oaks Community Center complex. 20 Brunswick Centennial Lanes "Bowling at Its Best"

Topic Title says it all. Drove by the other day to see it's almost ready to open. I'm excited to be able to go here without having to go all the way to the Woodlands Mall or CityCentre. Opens August 16th. http://urbanswankblog.com/the-buzz/item/399-brio-opening-in-upper-kirby-august-16th

Is 3333 still up on the block? Any information most appreciated.

A multifamily building is proposed for the River Oaks area at the corner of Mimosa & Revere. SubdivisionPlatPDF_1031-14.pdf

New multifamily building proposed for the NE corner of West Dallas and Shepherd Dr. SubdivisionPlatPDF_ALTA WEST DALLAS.pdf

https://www.chron.com/homes/article/karl-kamrath-frank-lloyd-wright-houston-house-17354766.php

The Deal Company now has a River Oaks listing on their website. https://www.tdc-realty.com/3733-westheimer The Deal Company presents fully redeveloped 3733 Westheimer, a mixed use River Oaks retail and office building with abundant surface parking offering quick access to clients and employees. Co-tenants include: Atrium Yoga, BZach Clothier, Control Pilates, Manduu Fitness, Miclette Interiors, Nails Unique, Post N Parcel, Ritzy Alterations. I stopped by last weekend and took pictures.

This boutique office building is where DC Partners is located. 2506 West Main St. Here's the Loopnet listing:

Here's the history of the iconic River Oaks Bank Building located at 2001 Kirby Drive in Houston. It was built in 1970 and the architects were Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson. Here's the Loopnet listing: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/2001-Kirby-Dr-Houston-TX/18010069/

Noticed this on Loopnet just now. I know there is activity down the street at 3314 Branard St. It's under contract so we will see what happens here. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/3262-Branard-St-Houston-TX/25580094/ JNK Property Group is pleased to present Tarleton Square Apartments. A well maintained, garden style apartment community located in the highly desirable Upper Kirby in Houston, TX. Built in 1962, this 18 unit community consists of three buildings with a mix of 10 one bedroom units, 4 two bedroom one bathroom units & 4 two bedroom two bathroom units. The property is 100% occupied and significant upside in increasing upcoming rents.

Demolition permit issued. Small office for a prefab concrete company?

(fyi...in interesting news, Katz has announced they will be opening up some Galleria area competition, taking over and building on the River Oaks Plant House lot at 5930 Westheimer for an opening in early 2022) (adjacent/across from Chacho's) edit to say thank you @Highrise Towerfor creating this topic! 🙂

Church in River Oaks. https://www.sjd.org/

https://www.newquest.com/property/weslayan-shopping-center/

I looked at these apartments the other day. They were nice and across the street from The RO. https://invernessapts.com/