East River: Mixed-Use Development By Midway

[Montrose1100]

1 hour ago, EastEndHeritage said:

The Trumpers got to eat somewhere I suppose. I went to the one in Rice Military several years back. It was empty and the food was bland and overpriced. Never went back and that was before the shenanigans from below.

https://houston.eater.com/2020/4/23/21232948/memorial-federal-grill-harris-county-reopening-coronavirus

I've been to the one on Shepherd a few years ago and it was decent. There's too many grills. I thought this was the old Confederate House (based on your comment), turned State Grille, then wondered why it didn't show up in City Centre - which is the Capital Grille, and they're good... for a chain. 

Anyway, a decent Steakhouse would be nice round these here east parts. If anything their bars are always a nice stop. 

[JBTX]

2 hours ago, EastEndHeritage said:

The Trumpers got to eat somewhere I suppose. I went to the one in Rice Military several years back. It was empty and the food was bland and overpriced. Never went back and that was before the shenanigans from below.

https://houston.eater.com/2020/4/23/21232948/memorial-federal-grill-harris-county-reopening-coronavirus

Seconded. Went there last week for a work lunch (guess who picked it) and yeah, damn. Insanely overpriced (lunch short rib for $36) and really bland (risotto and bread definitely from a box). But hey, they don't allow masks in there and neither the waitstaff not kitchen staff wear masks, so that's cool!

[77011transplant]

On 8/31/2021 at 2:44 PM, Naviguessor said:

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable:  

Proposed:

1. Ace Bounce (a Ping Pong, shuffleboard, Beer Pong party bar) from Chicago...  mmmkay

2. Federal American Grill

3. Duo Coffee & Pliates

4. Cutthroat (Barbershop) 

5. Waterside or Watershed 

6. Plank

7. Orange Theory

8. Hopdoddy Burger Bar

9. HS

 

In Negotiation 

1. Ambriza (Social Mexican Kitchen)

2 Astorian (Event Space / Rooftop)

3. Lick

4. Urban Dental

5. ES

6. ??

 

 

 

Proposed

#5 - If it's Watershed, might be a second location of this spot: https://www.watershedhtx.com/

#7 - I am all about Orange Theory moving in closer to me

In Negotiation

#2 - Interesting that the Astorian is trying to build another space. The one near the Target on Sawyer is beautiful but like right next to that Target. Maybe this space will have a nice view of the Bayou/ Downtown.

Edited September 1, 2021 by 77011transplant

[texan]

From the Laura's Facebook page:

So cool to see the shipping container theme carry through from the Port and the art exhibit on the property.

Edited September 9, 2021 by texan

[feedvaulter]

Taken from the Hirsch bridge yesterday. Quite a lot of activity where the golf course is going in. Also appears that they're making progress on the bar & grill.

[ljchou]

Apparently there has been some activity in the Phase 1 area, “moving dirt” is what I heard.

[Naviguessor]

Oh yeah.  Lots of activity.   

1. They installed new towers to span the power lines across the Bayou and removed the old one which was very close to future Building F site.  

2. They've raised the grade of the Building F site, by 5 or 6 feet.  

3. They've scraped/cleared most of Phase 1 and appear to be getting ready for utility and road work.  

4. Construction materials (mostly pipe) are have been brought in and being stored in a secure area.  

5. And work is continuing along the bank further east as well as on the Par 3 and Ice House.   

[Montrose1100]

I know Industrial/shipping is not everyone's cup of tea for décor, but I really love the renders.

[hindesky]

9 hole golf course.

[hindesky]

[cspwal]

I count 18 is that just me?

[phillip_white]

4 hours ago, hindesky said:

I'm starting to think there is a guy/gal on the payroll whose sole job is to go floor-to-floor, window-to-window, changing out all of these displays in the old tower. What is "5th" supposed to reference? 5th Ward?

[Naviguessor]

Yes.  5th Ward.   There is a guy on the Midway Payroll who plans the windows, among other things, I assume.  

So, trying to figure out this course.  To me, it appears that there are 18 tees for 9 holes. Maybe it is the reverse of that, but it's not how I am interpreting it.  Not quite sure how that would work when the course gets busy... if people are playing from 18 tees.  

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

19 hours ago, cspwal said:

I count 18 is that just me?

9 greens, 18 tee boxes. I guess the foursome on hole 1 plays, then waits for the group on hole 10. All 8 people are shooting at the same hole. The next set of tee boxes are about the same distance from the previous green. 

Looks interesting to me. I'll have to pull out the clubs once my tendonitis goes away.

[HoustonMidtown]

Lots of dirt being moved

 

[Naviguessor]

To the far right you can see where they raised the grade where the first building (building F) will go.  It’s raised about 8 feet. Curious to know if the intention is to raise the grade of the whole phase. 

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/27/2021 at 9:54 AM, ljchou said:

One of the first confirmed leases I've heard of is Broham Grocery (a small box, artisan bodega currently in north Houston). Owned by Chef Jonny Rhodes of Indigo. He also owns Food Fight Farms. His mission is to combat the lack of food availability in lower socioeconomic communities.  He's specifically targeting the fifth ward as the primary community served with this new location.

Excited he'll be a member of the community.

https://www.instagram.com/broham_groceries/?hl=en

 

My fingers are crossed. I think it will be a great addition. I enjoyed the pantry & specialty items sold last year. Thank you!

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/31/2021 at 2:44 PM, Naviguessor said:

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable: 

 

In Negotiation

Lick

 

 

 

 

 

Austin-based ice cream parlor Lick is opening a scoop shop at Midway's East River development.

Last month, the company established the entity Lick East River LLC.

Last year, one of the Austin publications reported locations are in the works for Houston. This will be one of a few planned Lick Honest Ice Creams for the Houston area.

Edited October 18, 2021 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 1/27/2021 at 11:14 AM, Naviguessor said:

Wow, Urb.  Lot's of meaty nuggets in this:

https://issuu.com/midway2/docs/210126_junior_achievement_rfp_response/6?ff

Aside from the Junior Achievement pitch, there is a list of prospective retail tenants and restaurants including Common Bond, Urban Eats, Southerleigh (From San Antonio), a Creek Group outlet, etc...   a Par-3 Golf course & Driving Range and Ice House on the eastern end of the property... Awesome! 

 

On 1/29/2021 at 9:42 AM, ljchou said:

I also see Yoga, Orange Theory, Juiceland, Egg Haus, Tenfold Coffee, Local Foods, Fourth and Nomad, Light Years Wine(!!!)

No grocery store, though. Could've sworn that was in P1 proposal/agreement with the fifth ward group.

 

On 2/1/2021 at 10:48 AM, ljchou said:

Text:

"White-boxed spaces are designed to lower the barrier to entry for these local makers.

The cost and complexity of managing a full-scale build-out if often why young brands avoid brick and mortar expansion.

The names on the merchandising plan are purely representation of categories and uses. There are multiple brands that could successfully serve our coffee, juice, or yoga needs but the key is the placement of each within the project.

Our immediate focus is on the larger users in office and retail building along Buffalo Bayou, as they will be early adapters and set the tone for the project considering the buildings adjacent to both the Central Plaza and Bayou connections.

Current Tenant Mix:

2k SF restaurant by Fifth Ward resident and Multi-nominee of the James Beard Award
4k SF cultural grocer/market
2k SF East End Barbershop
2.5k SF market of locally sources products from Fifth Ward retailers
10k SF Architectural Firm
20k SF multi-strategy holding company
5k SF ral estate development company
15k SF chain rooftop event space and cocktail lounge
3k SF bank
Preliminary negotiations are underway with tenants and build-to-suit opportunities.

Current On-Site Activations:

Moonstruck Drive-In Theater at East River specialized in first-run films and classics playing every Fri-Sun. In January on 2021, the drive-in will be a satellite location for the Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, the drive-in acts as the venue for monthly private events for non-profits, corporate and community functions.

East River Gold, a planned par-3 golf course with driving range and ice-house restaurant concept will be the eastern end of the property. Construction to begin 2021.

Plans are underway to bring a black-owned and operated urban farm to East River, offering access to fresh produce and community programming.

 

So, a month after Midway published its merchandising plan for East River (then removed it), Gatlin's BBQ announced a second location is possibly in the works.

Visit Houston highlighted Gatlin's BBQ in a collection of Instagram stories in late February. In one of the videos, Gatlin's said they're looking to expand. If the proposed merchandising plan is accurate, East River is likely the the second location.

Here is the video:

I can't embed it, but here is the link. Imgur automatically disables the volume, so you'll have to unmute the video.

https://i.imgur.com/5JQsIFW.mp4

 

 

Edited October 17, 2021 by IntheKnowHouston

[HoustonMidtown]

On 10/16/2021 at 12:26 PM, Naviguessor said:

To the far right you can see where they raised the grade where the first building (building F) will go.  It’s raised about 8 feet. Curious to know if the intention is to raise the grade of the whole phase. 

 

This pic shows the raised grade better

 

[Naviguessor]

[toxtethogrady]

On 10/16/2021 at 1:26 PM, Naviguessor said:

To the far right you can see where they raised the grade where the first building (building F) will go.  It’s raised about 8 feet. Curious to know if the intention is to raise the grade of the whole phase. 

 

Remembering my school days, imagine my amusement that they raised the grade to F.🤣

[hindesky]

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 1/27/2021 at 11:14 AM, Naviguessor said:

Wow, Urb.  Lot's of meaty nuggets in this:

https://issuu.com/midway2/docs/210126_junior_achievement_rfp_response/6?ff

Aside from the Junior Achievement pitch, there is a list of prospective retail tenants and restaurants including Common Bond, Urban Eats, Southerleigh (From San Antonio), a Creek Group outlet, etc...   a Par-3 Golf course & Driving Range and Ice House on the eastern end of the property... Awesome! 

 

On 1/29/2021 at 10:33 AM, JBTX said:

Yeah, looks like a specialty shop only: "4,000 SF cultural grocer/market"

 

On 2/1/2021 at 10:48 AM, ljchou said:

Text:

"White-boxed spaces are designed to lower the barrier to entry for these local makers.

The cost and complexity of managing a full-scale build-out if often why young brands avoid brick and mortar expansion.

The names on the merchandising plan are purely representation of categories and uses. There are multiple brands that could successfully serve our coffee, juice, or yoga needs but the key is the placement of each within the project.

Our immediate focus is on the larger users in office and retail building along Buffalo Bayou, as they will be early adapters and set the tone for the project considering the buildings adjacent to both the Central Plaza and Bayou connections.

Current Tenant Mix:

2k SF restaurant by Fifth Ward resident and Multi-nominee of the James Beard Award
4k SF cultural grocer/market

 

On 8/27/2021 at 9:54 AM, ljchou said:

One of the first confirmed leases I've heard of is Broham Grocery (a small box, artisan bodega currently in north Houston). Owned by Chef Jonny Rhodes of Indigo. He also owns Food Fight Farms. His mission is to combat the lack of food availability in lower socioeconomic communities.  He's specifically targeting the fifth ward as the primary community served with this new location.

Excited he'll be a member of the community.

https://www.instagram.com/broham_groceries/?hl=en

 

Midway released an annoucement regarding additional tenants for the East River development in Houston's Fifth Ward.

The press release confirms details from East River's merchandising plan leaked earlier this year of a cultural market for the development. It also confirms @ljchou's post a few weeks ago.

Here is the article published yesterday on Bisnow:

 

An award-winning chef’s African heritage and soul food grocery is among the first announced retail tenants in Phase 1 of the $2.5B East River mixed-use project being developed by Midway.

Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries originally opened in 2020 in the Trinity Gardens community and was created by acclaimed chef Jonny Rhodes, who became a national name for his now-shuttered restaurant Indigo, also in north Houston. Rhodes closed Indigo, in part, to focus on Broham and his efforts to tackle food insecurity and lack of land ownership among Black communities. The new store will focus on house-made and locally sourced grocery items.

When it opens in 2023, the new Broham will sit in a 4K SF space in The Depot, a ground-level area of the 150-acre development. The project broke ground in August.

 

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/retail/grocery-from-acclaimed-houston-chef-one-of-first-announced-retail-tenants-in-25b-east-river-project-110679

 

 

And from Houston Business Journal a few days ago:

 

Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries will occupy a 4,000-square-foot space in The Depot (the ground level of a garage structure). The food purveyor is a new concept created by Jonny Rhodes, a local James Beard Award-nominated chef, who until earlier this year ran nationally acclaimed Neo-soul food restaurant Indigo. His new boutique bodega is focused on providing self-sustainable goods, which include locally sourced seafood, meats, produce and freshly baked bread as well as cheese and specialty condiments.

Rhodes’ farm, Food Fight Farms in Cleveland, will be the store’s primary supplier, providing handmade, pre-packaged items that shoppers can purchase.

In what he hopes will create a “green circle,” Rhodes plans to offer coupons to customers in exchange for produce purchased in the store that the customer later discovered wasn’t needed. The chef also plans to offer a membership program for avid home chefs to provide discounts, coupons, farm tours and access to specialty products from around the world.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/10/26/midway-east-river-jonny-rhodes-lick-urbn-dental.html

 

 

Maybe Jonny Rhodes will also open another restaurant that will be part of the East River development? The info shared in the deleated leaked documents related to East River (linked above) lists a restaurant from a Fifth Ward resident who's also a James Beard nominee. That sounds a lot like Rhodes.

Edited October 28, 2021 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 8/31/2021 at 2:44 PM, Naviguessor said:

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable:  

 

In Negotiation 

Lick

 

On 10/16/2021 at 9:12 PM, IntheKnowHouston said:

 

Austin-based ice cream parlor Lick is opening a scoop shop at Midway's East River development.

Last month, the company established the entity Lick East River LLC.

Last year, one of the Austin publications reported locations are in the works for Houston. This will be one of a few planned Lick Honest Ice Creams for the Houston area.

 

Midway also officially announced Lick is leasing retail space at East River in Houston's Fifth Ward.

Here it is from yesterday's Bisnow article:

 

Austin-based Lick Honest Ice Cream...will open around the same time as Broham. The... storefronts are among the first retailers advertised for the space.

 

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/retail/grocery-from-acclaimed-houston-chef-one-of-first-announced-retail-tenants-in-25b-east-river-project-110679

 

 

And from Houston Business Journal a few days ago:

 

Meanwhile, Austin-based Lick Honest Ice Creams will open in a 1,124-square-foot space in East River 1 (Building C). Co-founders Anthony Sobotik and Chad Palmatier craft artisanal ice creams using peak-season ingredients sourced from local farmers and food creators that are free of soy, palm oil and preservatives. Everything from the sauces and syrups to the cookies, cakes and marshmallows are made by hand in Lick’s kitchen.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/10/26/midway-east-river-jonny-rhodes-lick-urbn-dental.html

Edited October 28, 2021 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

Midway also announed another retail tenant: Urbn Dental.

Here's the Bisnow article with other details pertaining to East River.

 

Urbn Dental also will open around the same time as Broham. The three storefronts are among the first retailers advertised for the space, which previously announced Houston-based architecture firm Method Architecture and Teal, a Houston firm that creates hot water systems. Owners of wedding venue The Astorian will open a 20K SF event space and rooftop bar around the same time.

The entire East River development includes 250K SF of Class-A office space, 110K SF of retail, multifamily and single-family residential, and 13K SF of green space. Set within the historic Fifth Ward, near the East End District, it is poised to be among the largest developments in Houston’s Inner Loop, according to Midway.

East River’s groundbreaking was delayed due to Covid-19 and supply chain issues, including the skyrocketing costs of lumber. Midway Executive Vice President of Development David Hightower previously told Bisnow that timeline adjustments were made due to supply delays, though there wasn’t a significant overall impact.

Limestone Commercial Real Estate’s Brandi McDonald Sikes and Sobi Qazi serve as exclusive leasing agents for East River’s office spaces, with Lacee Jacobs and Laura Harness of Midway handling retail.

 

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/retail/grocery-from-acclaimed-houston-chef-one-of-first-announced-retail-tenants-in-25b-east-river-project-110679

Edited October 28, 2021 by IntheKnowHouston

[H-Town Man]

4 hours ago, IntheKnowHouston said:

Midway also announed another retail tenant: Urbn Dental.

Here's the Bisnow article with other details pertaining to East River.

 

Urbn Dental also will open around the same time as Broham. The three storefronts are among the first retailers advertised for the space, which previously announced Houston-based architecture firm Method Architecture and Teal, a Houston firm that creates hot water systems. Owners of wedding venue The Astorian will open a 20K SF event space and rooftop bar around the same time.

The entire East River development includes 250K SF of Class-A office space, 110K SF of retail, multifamily and single-family residential, and 13K SF of green space. Set within the historic Fifth Ward, near the East End District, it is poised to be among the largest developments in Houston’s Inner Loop, according to Midway.

East River’s groundbreaking was delayed due to Covid-19 and supply chain issues, including the skyrocketing costs of lumber. Midway Executive Vice President of Development David Hightower previously told Bisnow that timeline adjustments were made due to supply delays, though there wasn’t a significant overall impact.

Limestone Commercial Real Estate’s Brandi McDonald Sikes and Sobi Qazi serve as exclusive leasing agents for East River’s office spaces, with Lacee Jacobs and Laura Harness of Midway handling retail.

 

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/retail/grocery-from-acclaimed-houston-chef-one-of-first-announced-retail-tenants-in-25b-east-river-project-110679

I will never in a million years understand why someone would go to a dentist in a high rent location. They do not pay that rent bill by charging you less, they do so by charging you more and performing work you don't need. 

 

[mkultra25]

1 hour ago, H-Town Man said:

I will never in a million years understand why someone would go to a dentist in a high rent location. They do not pay that rent bill by charging you less, they do so by charging you more and performing work you don't need. 

There is a dentist as well as an optometrist and a primary-care medical clinic leasing space at MKT. It struck me as kind of an odd location for medical providers given that MKT seems to primarily be focused on fashion/lifestyle/dining.

[Naviguessor]

Marketing. 

[tangledwoods]

Quote

There is a dentist as well as an optometrist and a primary-care medical clinic leasing space at MKT. It struck me as kind of an odd location for medical providers given that MKT seems to primarily be focused on fashion/lifestyle/dining.

I think it also has a lot to do with landlords liking these longer term tenants, its also the reason why a lot of strip centers want the Methodist or St Lukes doc in a box.  Small business retail / restaurants have a LOT of turnover and it makes your proforma look better to have more reliable tenants. 

[Amlaham]

23 hours ago, mkultra25 said:

There is a dentist as well as an optometrist and a primary-care medical clinic leasing space at MKT. It struck me as kind of an odd location for medical providers given that MKT seems to primarily be focused on fashion/lifestyle/dining.

So I am one of the above^ and I can answer this! So there are many different types dental/ optometry offices; some that accept medicare/ medicaid and have much cheaper exams, some that only take private insurance and charge a lot more for an exam. One office would look very "moo," staff very "moo," while the other office would be more sleek, modern, and luxurious. Some offices carry very basic glasses while others carry the most exclusive frames. Both are successful, but have very different clientele. Some patients would rather spend thousands of dollars to have a "luxury experience".... basically they come in expecting 5 star customer service, random luxury experiences like coffee/ pastries/ maybe even a massage chair in the waiting room, want the best/ most exclusive products, etc. These locations are prime for that kind of clientele/ patients. 

Edited October 29, 2021 by Amlaham
Grammar

[Luminare]

43 minutes ago, Amlaham said:

So I am one of the above^ and I can answer this! So there are many different types dental/ optometry offices; some that accept medicare/ medicaid and have much cheaper exams, some that only take private insurance and charge a lot more for an exam. One office would look very "moo," staff very "moo," while the other office would be more sleek, modern, and luxurious. Some offices carry very basic glasses while others carry the most exclusive frames. Both are successful, but have very different clientele. Some patients would rather spend thousands of dollars to have a "luxury experience".... basically they come in expecting 5 star customer service, random luxury experiences like coffee/ pastries/ maybe even a massage chair in the waiting room.  want the best/ most exclusive products, etc. These locations are prime for that kind of clientele/ patients. 

This is why its not odd why you see doctors becoming tenants in these type of locations. One person said that MKT is more focused on fashion, lifestyle, etc... well lifestyle is an entire package deal not just what gym you go to or patio bar you hang at. That includes healthcare too right? The type of person you are and what you care about also translates into what healthcare you roll with and what you are okay with in terms of doctors you normally visit. I see it in architecture. Its much more pronounced since living here in Utah. The mountain life, the valley life, the winter sports life, the hiking life, it really becomes all encompassing and translates to everything else. Why should healthcare be an exception, right?

Edited October 29, 2021 by Luminare

[TrainTrak]

i have a friend who years ago went on a 10-day silent meditation retreat.  and on the last day each of the participants got to sit down with the guru to him ask him one question.  and when my friend got his turn, he asked, "help me understand who i am as a person."  and the guru said, "easy, just look at what healthcare you roll with."

all kidding aside, kudos to the enterprising healthcare professionals that provide the convenience, quality and customer service that allow them to earn a profit even with the higher overheads that come with these bougie developments.  i do feel sad for any client that gets any sense of self from the luxury experience, pastries or massage chairs while they wait to get a new pair of prescription glasses.

[hindesky]

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

those sand traps will be evil

[samagon]

hopefully that's a practice chipping area.

[sapo2367]

7 hours ago, samagon said:

hopefully that's a practice chipping area.

On IG I believe they said that’s hole 3

[Highrise Tower]

Sitework & Foundation permit for the apartments.

[Brooklyn173]

Looking towards downtown from near to Tony Marron Park. The dirt in the foreground is the East River project (golf course?)

[HoustonMidtown]

They finished the bulkhead

 

[Kim Brown]

www.thelauraeastriver.com

[ChannelTwoNews]

Impact Networking leases office in Midway's East River mixed-use - Houston Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Midway's East River mixed-use development inks largest office lease thus far

By Olivia Pulsinelli  –  Assistant managing editor, Houston Business Journal

Nov 8, 2021

 

llinois-based Impact Networking is the latest office tenant announced for the massive East River mixed-use district planned for Houston's historic Fifth Ward.

[Texasota]

"a cloud-based system for delivering hot water to buildings without water heaters"

...what...

[Two]

6 minutes ago, Texasota said:

"a cloud-based system for delivering hot water to buildings without water heaters"

...what...

Yeah, it's worded funny... like I am going to just download my water this morning from the cloud. It's just district boiler water controlled by a central center/server and control room. Think just like district cooling enwave is centralized cooling, Teal is that for hot water.

[toxtethogrady]

10 hours ago, Two said:

Yeah, it's worded funny... like I am going to just download my water this morning from the cloud. It's just district boiler water controlled by a central center/server and control room. Think just like district cooling enwave is centralized cooling, Teal is that for hot water.

"I just got hot water delivered from the cloud. It was Biblical..."

[Houstonian4Life]

There’s starting to tear down the warehouse across the street from East River.   

[sapo2367]

27 minutes ago, Houstonian4Life said:

There’s starting to tear down the warehouse across the street from East River.   

This is the area that will be affordable housing right? Like the replacement for Clayton Homes.

[Houstonian4Life]

I think it is the Ojala Project.  300+ units.  Not 100% sure though.  

[dbigtex56]

11 hours ago, toxtethogrady said:

"I just got hot water delivered from the cloud. It was Biblical..."

Heated, no doubt, by burning bushes (a renewable resource).

[ljchou]

Houston-based Midway has broken ground on a five-story, 360-unit multifamily complex in its sprawling East River development.

The Laura, as the new complex will be called, is part of the first phase of East River, which also includes commercial spaces that broke ground recently.

“We are excited to kick off construction on The Laura, which is sure to be one of our most impressive residential communities to date,” said Anna Deans, vice president of investment and development for Midway. “With its authentic architecture; balance of amenities; access to East River’s retail, dining and entertainment offerings; and connection to the Buffalo Bayou trail system, The Laura will bridge rich culture and commerce within East River’s 150-acre mixed-use destination.”

The Laura is located at the entry point of East River and is a westward extension of the historic Fifth Ward and East End neighborhoods, Midway said in a news release.

The development takes its name from the steamboat the Allen brothers took to demonstrate Buffalo River’s navigability in 1837, a daring move that later helped to establish the Port of Houston, the company noted.

The Laura will have an industrial feel, taking inspiration from the steamboat’s steel cylinders, valves, paddlewheels and spokes as well as from other commercial businesses like railroads, warehouses and the port’s shipping containers.

The building’s interiors were designed by Houston-based Mayfield and Ragni Studio (MaRS).

The Laura’s amenity lounge, leasing and lobby areas will be outfitted with a blend of reclaimed and new materials, which Midway said will pay homage to the area’s history as well as where it stands today.

The design architect, Houston-based Munoz + Albin Architecture and Planning, and the architect of record, Houston-based EDI International, came up with an unconventional layout that aims to maximize views from each of the building’s units.

The two-story lobby will continue the warehouse aesthetic, featuring five shipping containers arranged to create workspaces and a coffee bar.

Amenities will be located within the central portion of the building’s ground floor and will include a fitness center, dog park, pool, grilling stations, outdoor yoga space, lawn for games and passive recreation and cabanas. The exterior of the building will also house ground-floor retail.

Many of the other companies working to erect The Laura hail from Texas, Midway said, including OJB Landscape Architecture; OHT Partners, multifamily general contractor; HE, multifamily mechanical, electric and plumbing; BGE Inc., civil engineer; and Schultz Burman Engineering PLLC, multifamily structural engineer. Additionally, Teal, which has signed on to rent office space in East River’s first phase, will be providing hot water services to residents in The Laura through a central plant.

Midway’s in-house property operations team will manage The Laura.

The Laura’s first units are slated for delivery in late 2023.

The Laura broke ground today:

 

https://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/11-12-21-east-river-houston-the-laura-apartments-lease-midway-mixed-use-broham-lickd/#slide=1

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/11/11/midway-the-laura-east-river-apartments.html

 

Bizjournal Reader:

Midway bought 136 acres of its East River development in July 2016. The site used to belong to Houston-based KBR and is bordered by little over a mile of Buffalo Bayou. Previously announced plans for the 150-acre project include 8.9 million square feet of office space, 1,440 multifamily units, 390 hotel rooms and 475 single-family homes.

In the past several months, Midway has announced several tenants that have leased space in the development’s first phase.

Last week, Illinois-based Impact Networking leased 16,000 square feet of office space in the East River 1 building, making the company the largest office tenant to sign onto the project thus far. Impact Networking also will serve as Midway's managed IT service provider.

With the Impact Networking lease, only one floor remains available in East River 1 (Building C). Other companies that have preleased space in the office building include Houston-based commercial architecture firm Method Architecture, which will occupy 9,000 square feet, and Teal, which leased 12,000 square feet for its new corporate headquarters.

In October, Midway announced Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries, Lick Honest Ice Creams and Urbn Dental have signed on as retail tenants in Phase I. Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries, a new concept created by local James Beard Award-nominated chef Jonny Rhodes, will occupy 4,000 square feet in The Depot (the ground level of a garage structure). Urbn Dental leased a 2,612-square-foot space in The Depot, and Austin-based Lick Honest Ice Creams leased a 1,124-square-foot space in East River 1 (Building C).

Phase I broke ground in August. It will include approximately 250,000 square feet of office space, 110,000 square feet of retail space and more than 13,000 square feet of plaza greenspace. The owners of The Astorian event venue near Sawyer Yards will open a new 20,000-square-foot private event space and rooftop bar in Trail Head 1 (Building F).

Phase I is slated to be complete in 2023. Meanwhile, East River 9, a nine-hole, par-three golf course open to the public, and Riverhouse Houston, a family-friendly restaurant and patio bar, are expected to open in 2022.