Fortune Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Hines is developing a large gated community on 46 acres inside the loop at 6900 Old Katy Rd. The community will consist of 500 single family homes and have a European style. http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2013/10/hines-plans-large-gated-community.html http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Residential-project-aims-to-create-a-posh-bit-of-4876633.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TowerSpotter Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 More Specifically: British Style Homes http://houston.culturemap.com/news/realestate/10-08-13-british-style-community-to-rise-in-houston-big-name-developer-bets-on-high-priced-homes/ British-style gated residential community is coming to a largely commercial and industrial zone inside Loop 610 as early as 2015, thanks to a recent land purchase by Houston-based Hines, which is mainly known for its skyscrapers gleaming across the globe. The project, named Somerset Green, is expected to consist of about 500 high-end townhomes on 46 acres at 6900 Old Katy Road near Star Motor Cars, theHouston SPCA and Decorative Center Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 "Somerset Green". Those kind of names crack me up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Here's the press release: HINES TO DEVELOP 46-ACRE PLANNED COMMUNITY INSIDEHOUSTON'S PRESTIGIOUS 610 LOOP (HOUSTON) - Hines, the international real estate firm, announced the recent purchase of a 46-acre tract of land inside the 610 Loop at Interstate 10, located on Old Katy Road behind Star Motor Cars, the Aston Martin dealership and next to The Houston Design Center, on which the firm will develop Somerset Green, a high-end planned community with detached townhome sites, water features and green spaces. The European-style neighborhood, which is in close proximity to Memorial Park, will contain elegant three- and four-story single-family townhomes that will be gated and guarded 24/7. Hines will master plan the site, design and build all of the infrastructure, and sell the lots to builders for both spec and custom homes. Coventry Homes, Pelican Builders and Toll Brothers have committed to develop a significant portion of the project. Preston Wood & Associates is the land planner for Somerset Green. The community will be fashioned after the Regency style of architecture. The development will contain pocket parks, dog parks, and an amenity area/gathering spot with a resort-style swimming pool. "Hines has developed a number of high-profile master-planned communities including: First Colony in Sugar Land, TX; Las Colinas in Irving, TX; Palencia in St. Augustine, FL; Cool Springs in Franklin; TN; Aspen Highlands and Five Trees Aspen, CO; Pokrovsky Hills in Moscow; and Mala Sarka in Prague," noted Hines Senior Managing Director Rob Witte. "We are pleased to bring our expertise to Somerset Green, and to create a new property tax base of up to $300 million for the City of Houston."Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm's historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,283 properties representing more than 516 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. In Houston alone, Hines has developed more than 51.8 million square feet since its founding in 1957. Currently, Hines manages 378 properties totaling 151.9 million square feet, which includes 84.3 million square feet for third parties. With offices in 111 cities in 18 countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $25.2 billion, Hines is one of the largest real estate organizations in the world. Hines is also a world leader in sustainable real estate strategies, with extensive experience in LEED®, ENERGY STAR®, BREEAM, Haute Qualité Environnementale and DGNB green building rating systems. Visit www.hines.com for more information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 What a poorly rendered master plan. If I were to do that for one of my clients I'd get laughed out of the meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TowerSpotter Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 What a poorly rendered master plan. If I were to do that for one of my clients I'd get laughed out of the meeting. Where's the rendering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Where's the rendering? .....in your post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TowerSpotter Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 .....in your post Ah, I thought you saw some renderings somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJxvi Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Hines must not know how to play this real estate game on a professional level... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Hines must not know how to play this real estate game on a professional level... Ha, I'm not critiquing their competence in the real estate market at all. I think we all know how successful they are. Just saying this is an amateur rendering. It's a large part of what I do so that's what stuck out to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 So ... Hines will build the streets and put in the sewer lines, but leave all the architecture to the developer/builders who buy the lots? It strikes me that this project, as it unfolds, won't have as a strong a "Hines" imprint as people might expect, based on projects they did in the past. For instance, the Ethan's Glen town homes off Memorial west of Bunker Hill Village. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 So ... Hines will build the streets and put in the sewer lines, but leave all the architecture to the developer/builders who buy the lots? It strikes me that this project, as it unfolds, won't have as a strong a "Hines" imprint as people might expect, based on projects they did in the past. For instance, the Ethan's Glen town homes off Memorial west of Bunker Hill Village. You are basically correct, this looks like lot development for builders. I believe their (Hines) value is in assembling the land, city approvals, (land) design, and the infrastructure. A lot of builders either can't or don't want to do that themselves. This might be the largest tract of land sold inside the western loop in a long time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Why are they calling a gated community British/European style? I don't remember any gates on communities in neighborhoods in Britain or Europe. Much more of a public emphasis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I thought the same thing, but I'm sure the "British style" is a marketing hook and nothing more. It won't extend beyond suitably British-sounding street names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontiger Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 This is a bit of old news, but I couldn't find any discussion of it on HAIF, or really anywhere for that matter. Does anyone have any more information on this development? http://www.hines.com/press/releases/10813.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
On to the Next One Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 No real new info, but they are definitely moving dirt out there. They started that about a month ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28907-somerset-green-hines-residential-neighborhood-inside-610-loop/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Any work on this site? Still a blank lot according to Google Earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
On to the Next One Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Yes, they are moving dirt from what I can tell. Haven't driven over there close enough to see exactly what they've done. They started moving dirt about a month ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 This is right by my office and like JayZ said they're just moving dirt for now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I thought the same thing, but I'm sure the "British style" is a marketing hook and nothing more. It won't extend beyond suitably British-sounding street names. The average suburban British house is pretty uninspiring. I wouldn't see that as a plus when looking at homes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 The average suburban British house is pretty uninspiring. I wouldn't see that as a plus when looking at homes. They're probably going for something more like urban British houses. They mentioned Regency style - I guess some place like Mayfair is their inspiration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 As others have said, it is certainly under construction. I drove by it trying to dodge the traffic on I-10... the really difficult part is trying to even get a picture of it. There's a lot of brush in the way that doesn't allow a clear picture of it from any road. Next time I'm on my bike, I swing by and see if I can get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I am trying to visualize what this area is going to look like... Are we thinking brownstone-like buildings of brick with little to tiny yards? More along the Heights? Or just straight up townhomes... I am disappointed this area will be gates. Hines seems to do a good job usually, but this is a new thing. It wont feel as much apart of the community / area as it would if it flowed organically with the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 As others have said, it is certainly under construction. I drove by it trying to dodge the traffic on I-10... the really difficult part is trying to even get a picture of it. There's a lot of brush in the way that doesn't allow a clear picture of it from any road. Next time I'm on my bike, I swing by and see if I can get it. Considering it seems to be a ways off from Interstate 10 (on Old Katy Road, dead end portion, if the result from Google Maps is anywhere close to correct) and Interstate 10 is sunken at that point, really good eyesight! Maybe you mean 610? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Considering it seems to be a ways off from Interstate 10 (on Old Katy Road, dead end portion, if the result from Google Maps is anywhere close to correct) and Interstate 10 is sunken at that point, really good eyesight!Maybe you mean 610? IronTiger pulling a Houston 19514. Just need the ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 OK. I'm sure they meant 610 in all seriousness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 ....Yea seriously... Anyway, that actually isn't what I meant at all. Trying to dodge the traffic on I-10, I got off at Washington Ave and went up Hempstead Rd. It is clearly visible from there right before 11th. (....and then I took 11th to my home). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I am trying to visualize what this area is going to look like... Are we thinking brownstone-like buildings of brick with little to tiny yards? More along the Heights? Or just straight up townhomes...I am disappointed this area will be gates. Hines seems to do a good job usually, but this is a new thing. It wont feel as much apart of the community / area as it would if it flowed organically with the area.I felt the same way in thinking Hines was a more visionary developer than to build gated neighborhoods but I guess his business is first and foremost to make money. More disturbing is the thought that, given a blank slate, urban Houstonians want to live inside gates just as much as suburban Houstonians. Perhaps most new residents of the Heights would gate the whole neighborhood if they could. The civic beauty of a city where sidewalks line the streets and the streets flow into avenues, where one can walk for hours and pass from neighborhood to neighborhood before returning home, and see and say hello to other people doing the same thing, is dead to them, if they can even imagine it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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