Regent Square: Mixed-Use On Allen Parkway At Dunlavy St.

[cloud713]

Uh, I was referring to the recent devlopment not the city limits but okay.

You are contradicting yourself.. Earlier you seemed to finally understand that Houstons development was more spread out. Now you don't see what city limits have to do with anything? Doh..what's the furthest major district from downtown Atlanta? Buckhead is less than 8 miles..

The Woodlands is 30 miles from downtown..

[shasta]

Nobody is calling them ungrateful but apartments themselves don't bring street activity it's retail and bike/walking lanes and people willing to walk and bike.

 

Development doesn't happen in a vacuum they work in unison. Top retailers conduct studies before they choose to locate their "brand" in a particular location. They look at population the general area, and more inportantly the wealth of that general area. Regent Square, unfortunately, is located really close to the retail cluster on West Gray. This is a problem for them in getting retailers to put faith in another unproven cluster so far away. The developer has chosen to re-think their strategy and they are starting with some of the dense buildings first and then will work towards the master plan we saw in 2007.

 

They have a game plan and its to get the quality retail and restaurant component that they want.

 

Fot those of you who want a case study.....look at the history of Vintage Park in the Northwest/Tomball area. They were an unproven development ans had to settle for unknown 'mom and pop' type of shops and restaurants. Major retailers were not going to touch them until they proved themselves first.

[htownproud]

Sounds like someone is in here simply to stir things up -.- I thought it was a genuine update and not someone arguing for the sake of arguing.

Sorry but if people can fawn for page after after page about spec renderings with no real update, I ought to be able to make known my displeasure towards a developer who made the best entrance into downtown look like crap by destroying fine, reasonably priced apartments. Sorry if that makes you angry.

[Slick Vik]

Sorry but if people can fawn for page after after page about spec renderings with no real update, I ought to be able to make known my displeasure towards a developer who made the best entrance into downtown look like crap by destroying fine, reasonably priced apartments. Sorry if that makes you angry.

That's true they should've left the apartments up until the construction started. Those are probably the last affordable apartments in the hot areas of houston and they were producing rent.

[Slick Vik]

Development doesn't happen in a vacuum they work in unison. Top retailers conduct studies before they choose to locate their "brand" in a particular location. They look at population the general area, and more inportantly the wealth of that general area. Regent Square, unfortunately, is located really close to the retail cluster on West Gray. This is a problem for them in getting retailers to put faith in another unproven cluster so far away. The developer has chosen to re-think their strategy and they are starting with some of the dense buildings first and then will work towards the master plan we saw in 2007.

They have a game plan and its to get the quality retail and restaurant component that they want.

Fot those of you who want a case study.....look at the history of Vintage Park in the Northwest/Tomball area. They were an unproven development ans had to settle for unknown 'mom and pop' type of shops and restaurants. Major retailers were not going to touch them until they proved themselves first.

My point is besides a few people walking their dogs it's as if nobody lives in that building looking from the outside in

[MikeRichardson]

Longer than that ...the developers have owned the Allen House since the 1980's. They definitely know how to play the waiting game.

 

 

I was curious about this so I checked it out... They (General Investment & Development Co.) bought the property in 1988.

 

I would guess that they did not acquire the property with imminent redevelopment in mind back in 1988. The buildings were only 14 years old then.

 

Interestingly, Allen House came to the same fate as Westcreek - just one building left at the end.

[ArchFan]

One thing that concerns me about the Westcreek redevelopment is that it is winding up being done piecemeal by different developers.  I hope it will turn out well in the end, but I think if one good developer (McMillan) had done more of it, it might have been done in a more cohesive manner.

 

I'm holding out hope that Regent Square will still be developed as part of a wider-scale vision by a single entity.  While I do like a lot of the quirky, hodgepodge development in much of Houston, its nice to also have some places that exhibit good design and a bit of comprehensive vision.

[Slick Vik]

I was curious about this so I checked it out... They (General Investment & Development Co.) bought the property in 1988.

I would guess that they did not acquire the property with imminent redevelopment in mind back in 1988. The buildings were only 14 years old then.

Interestingly, Allen House came to the same fate as Westcreek - just one building left at the end.

There are a few buildings left still but not many.

[MikeRichardson]

There are a few buildings left still but not many.

 

 

I checked this out today. There is just one main apartment building left in Allen House. There's also some kind of townhomes maybe? But the parking lot was full. So I guess after the last Westcreek building falls, there will be two left.

 

But the one main building, by that I mean one of the large buildings, all of the same type that the same developers built in the late 60's/early 70's.

 

The original developers (or their successors/heirs) still own one building, which is some kind of seniors apartments named "The Georgian". http://hcad.org/records/recorddetails.asp?tab=&bld=1&card=1&taxyear=2014&acct=0410170010066

[Slick Vik]

I checked this out today. There is just one main apartment building left in Allen House. There's also some kind of townhomes maybe? But the parking lot was full. So I guess after the last Westcreek building falls, there will be two left.

But the one main building, by that I mean one of the large buildings, all of the same type that the same developers built in the late 60's/early 70's.

The original developers (or their successors/heirs) still own one building, which is some kind of seniors apartments named "The Georgian". http://hcad.org/records/recorddetails.asp?tab=&bld=1&card=1&taxyear=2014&acct=0410170010066

There are two buildings left one is by sovereign it's smaller

[Triton]

For those worried about this project, here's a very very brief update on Regent Square (it's still moving forward and is under development):

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKqDeU4fMqQ#t=668

 

Edit: What happened to embedding videos here?

 

Edit2:  So apparently you can't embed with a time attached...

Edited December 20, 2014 by Triton

[htownproud]

Should this thread still be in "going up"?

[lockmat]

Yes sir

Edited December 21, 2014 by lockmat

[jgriff]

Yes sir

 

If you have any evidence of this I'd love to hear it. I'm buying a house in the area and am very interested in news about Regent Square. Its hard to take them seriously after so many years of changing and canceled plans. Their own website's latest news is from 2007.

[lockmat]

If you have any evidence of this I'd love to hear it. I'm buying a house in the area and am very interested in news about Regent Square. Its hard to take them seriously after so many years of changing and canceled plans. Their own website's latest news is from 2007.

I have no hard evidence.

Just going off some of the "soft(?)" evidence found and posted.

I just can't imagine this company would have held onto this land all these years (30+?) and not go through with it.

Plus, the location is just too good not to.

It may take 20+ years to build out but personally, I think it will all get done.

Here, I accidentally posted this in the Sovereign thread instead of here the other day:

I don't want to get the guy in trouble, but I found someone on linkedin that has been working with a company for the last five months and one of his responsibilities is leasing 400k of retail and restaurants for Regent Square.

Quote

In addition, I am spearheading the leasing of 400,000 square feet of shops and restaurants in GID's Regent Square development; Houston’s premier mixed-use development and its first truly pedestrian-oriented city district.

Also, as of August, the city of Houston still seems to be anticipating it.

page 75 & 76

http://www.houstontx...ation_Aug14.pdf

also

http://www.houstontx...WL_PCAction.pdf

Edited December 21, 2014 by lockmat

[Triton]

I have no hard evidence.

Just going off some of the "soft(?)" evidence found and posted.

I just can't imagine this company would have held onto this land all these years (30+?) and not go through with it.

Plus, the location is just too good not to.

It may take 20+ years to build out but personally, I think it will all get done.

Here, I accidentally posted this in the Sovereign thread instead of here the other day:

I don't want to get the guy in trouble, but I found someone on linkedin that has been working with a company for the last five months and one of his responsibilities is leasing 400k of retail and restaurants for Regent Square.

Quote

In addition, I am spearheading the leasing of 400,000 square feet of shops and restaurants in GID's Regent Square development; Houston’s premier mixed-use development and its first truly pedestrian-oriented city district.

Also, as of August, the city of Houston still seems to be anticipating it.

page 75 & 76

http://www.houstontx...ation_Aug14.pdf

also

http://www.houstontx...WL_PCAction.pdf

 

Plus, Alamo Drafthouse has already signed a contract with them. AD needs this location.

[shasta]

Anything new on this project? Any new master plans, info...anything?

 

This project was literally weeks away from breaking ground back in 2008/2009 before the downturn and now I'm afraid this one might have missed the boom AGAIN.

 

Hopefully there are things in the works and it will start soon. The demolished Allen House lot (an all that revenue that could have been had) remains undeveloped for close to a decade now.

[lockmat]

I know they were doing surveys somewhat recently.

[shasta]

I know they were doing surveys somewhat recently.

 

Anything new on the design end?

[lockmat]

Anything new on the design end?

I heard third hand that it would look exactly like the Sovereign, but I'm not putting much faith into that based on our previous knowledge. I don't know the position of the primary source either.

[lockmat]

Sorry for kind of a non update. More of a report of hope. This is the one project I do research on despite a lack of news. 

 

Here is some information from linkedin pages of people who have worked on the project.

 

I dont know what they are waiting on but I dont think they went through all this trouble to not move forward...eventually.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=14311399&authType=OUT_OF_NETWORK&authToken=VaOB&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424922875344&srchindex=4&srchtotal=42&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424922875344%2CVSRPtargetId%3A14311399%2CVSRPcmpt%3AprimarySomeone is about to see their profile views shootup for no apparent reason.

 

Knudson facilitated the major thoroughfare and freeway plan (MTFP) amendment process through the City of Houston to change the classification of West Dallas and Dunlavy. Knudson successfully obtained development site plan and subdivision plat variances for reduced building lines along Allen Parkway, West Dallas, Dunlavy, Rochow, Tirrelll and Rosine streets, reduced visibility triangles and reduced right-of-way (ROW) requirements for unrestricted reserves. Knudson assisted Cobb Fendley with the abandonment of numerous sanitary sewer, storm sewer, utility and water easements through the joint referral process. Knudson facilitated over seventy (70) community and city meetings during the entitlement period of the project to solicit the support of the elected officials and neighborhood. Knudson was successful in obtaining two (2) development agreements with the City of Houston for public private partnership regarding public improvements. 

As Project Manager, I was responsible for joint referral efforts which include abandoning and dedicating utility easements, variance approval for subdivision platting recordation for the infill development and Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan amendment process through the City of Houston to change the classification of W Dallas and Dunlavy.

 

 

 

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=224873082&authType=name&authToken=4qs3&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424922900990&srchindex=20&srchtotal=42&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424922900990%2CVSRPtargetId%3A224873082%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

Project Captain during the DD and CD phases of LEED designed Office Building A-3.1, one of 21 planned buildings for the Regent Square mix-use development in Houston, TX. 

 

 

We now know this is considered the "amenities building" per https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=48979573&authType=name&authToken=yZOC&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424922900990&srchindex=14&srchtotal=42&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424922900990%2CVSRPtargetId%3A48979573%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

 

 

 

The Morris Principal has this listed as his project from 2013 to current

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=46534525&authType=OUT_OF_NETWORK&authToken=NbEQ&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424923926721&srchindex=2&srchtotal=133&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424923926721%2CVSRPtargetId%3A46534525%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

 

Principal in Charge for planning, interior design and architectural design.

 

 

Edited February 26, 2015 by lockmat

[htownproud]

At this point, they should use the land to make a parking deck with a sky bridge over to Buffalo Park.  It will be ugly, but the park needs much more parking and it will be better than the eye sore that has been there for the last 7 or 8 years.  

[Luminare]

Sorry for kind of a non update. More of a report of hope. This is the one project I do research on despite a lack of news. 

 

Here is some information from linkedin pages of people who have worked on the project.

 

I dont know what they are waiting on but I dont think they went through all this trouble to not move forward...eventually.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=14311399&authType=OUT_OF_NETWORK&authToken=VaOB&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424922875344&srchindex=4&srchtotal=42&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424922875344%2CVSRPtargetId%3A14311399%2CVSRPcmpt%3AprimarySomeone is about to see their profile views shootup for no apparent reason.

 

 

 

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=224873082&authType=name&authToken=4qs3&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424922900990&srchindex=20&srchtotal=42&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424922900990%2CVSRPtargetId%3A224873082%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

 

We now know this is considered the "amenities building" per https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=48979573&authType=name&authToken=yZOC&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424922900990&srchindex=14&srchtotal=42&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424922900990%2CVSRPtargetId%3A48979573%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

 

 

 

The Morris Principal has this listed as his project from 2013 to current

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=46534525&authType=OUT_OF_NETWORK&authToken=NbEQ&locale=en_US&srchid=1707097241424923926721&srchindex=2&srchtotal=133&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1707097241424923926721%2CVSRPtargetId%3A46534525%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

 

Get out of here with your "research". Here at HAIF we only deal with speculations, conjectures, and conspiracy theories! How dare you Lockmat!!!

[DrLan34]

http://swamplot.com/little-flags-are-flying-around-the-once-and-maybe-future-regent-square/2015-02-26/

 

REMEMBER WAY BACK in 2007, when excavators tore down portions of the Allen House Apartments in North Montrose to make way for GID Development’s massive mixed-use project known as Regent Square? Well, it’s okay if you don’t. Anyway, the thing hasn’t happened yet, though the nearby apartment tower thatopened last year called the Sovereign (seen in the background of the photo above), which wasn’t included the original plans, is now cited as Regent Square’sfirst phase. What of phases 2 and above? Swamplot reader Mike Bloom reports there’s evidence of recent action on the now empty lot at the corner of Dunlavy St. and Allen Pkwy., dating from the middle of last month: little pink flags on stakes — the kind typically used for surveys.

[Triton]

http://swamplot.com/little-flags-are-flying-around-the-once-and-maybe-future-regent-square/2015-02-26/

 

REMEMBER WAY BACK in 2007, when excavators tore down portions of the Allen House Apartments in North Montrose to make way for GID Development’s massive mixed-use project known as Regent Square? Well, it’s okay if you don’t. Anyway, the thing hasn’t happened yet, though the nearby apartment tower thatopened last year called the Sovereign (seen in the background of the photo above), which wasn’t included the original plans, is now cited as Regent Square’sfirst phase. What of phases 2 and above? Swamplot reader Mike Bloom reports there’s evidence of recent action on the now empty lot at the corner of Dunlavy St. and Allen Pkwy., dating from the middle of last month: little pink flags on stakes — the kind typically used for surveys.

 

Oh wow, I thought I had posted that in here. Yea, several weeks back there were stakes throughout the site there. A lot along the Dunlavy area. Guess they are still shooting for a Q1 to Q2 start range.

[lockmat]

My friend is a landman and he did that job. Finley Cobb did it. Hopefully its a sign of things to come.

[lockmat]

I asked on the soveriegns facebook page if any residents had info on the the upcoming phases, and the page rep responded with this:

 

The Sovereign at Regent Square Apartments We are finalizing the details as soon as we have them we will send an announcement.

 

 

[Tolarwan]

This is moving forward (at least a small phase.) I will follow up soon to discuss.

[Triton]

This is moving forward (at least a small phase.) I will follow up soon to discuss.

The Alamo Drafthouse?

[Nucleareaction]

This is moving forward (at least a small phase.) I will follow up soon to discuss.

 

 

The Alamo Drafthouse?

 

Saw a work crew upgrading the telecoms connections to this block yesterday, hopefully it is a good sign of things to come!

[Slick Vik]

Saw a work crew upgrading the telecoms connections to this block yesterday, hopefully it is a good sign of things to come!

I saw some flags on Rochow also. Not sure if that is the first step in taking down the Allen house apartments or if they are leftover from street reconstruction earlier.

[Slick Vik]

Surveying work probably

[Nucleareaction]

Something like that. Running by the empty lot on Allen Parkway the other week, i noticed they have flags all over. Looks like a layout of the streets and buildings.

[Urbannizer]

 

 

http://www.tellepsenbuilders.com/gid-investments.html

 

Regent Square Development is located at the corner of West Dallas and Dunlavy Streets, impressively stretching over six blocks. The development consists of more than 1.7 million square feet, including four residential buildings ranging in size from four to twenty stories combining for over 440 units. The ground-level of the buildings provides rentable retail space, parking, and a 34,100-square-foot cinema. An adjacent 6-story, 327,378 square-foot concrete parking garage provides residents and patrons with ample parking. The development features a luxurious residential and high-end retail experience unlike any other in Houston with amenities of the highest class in an ideal location.

 

 

 

 

[Avossos]

I'm confused. Are they starting a new tower

[Luminare]

[Avossos]

Rendering doesn't really match the description... Seems like just noise

[Triton]

Amenties of the highest class? Please no..... we have river oaks district for that. 

[Naviguessor]

I love a highrise as much as anyone else. But, I hope that they are not loosing the concept of this development, for the sake height. This seems a bit overdone to me. And yes...confusing.

[Luminare]

Hmm from the rendering it makes it look like its right next door to the Sovereign yet they say this is at the corner of W. Dallas and Dunlavy.

[x_gd]

Hmm from the rendering it makes it look like its right next door to the Sovereign yet they say this is at the corner of W. Dallas and Dunlavy.

Agreed.

I believe that rendering is Phase II, next door to The Sovereign. 

[monarch]

 

sorry HAIF, but this one's for me.  i mean...

seriously?

[Montrose1100]

The architecture is not fantastic, but it does look like the typical residential tower (plus the height), that you see pop up in Chicago and New York all the time.

I agree with Navi, I hope they don't loose touch with the original idea. But at this point any sign of progress is a good one.

[lockmat]

Amenties of the highest class? Please no..... we have river oaks district for that. 

 

ROD is a wannabe urban place, just a step above Market Street in the Woodlands in thosse terms. If RS can create a true urban feel as their initial plans indicate, maybe they can get better tenants.

 

I love a highrise as much as anyone else. But, I hope that they are not loosing the concept of this development, for the sake height. This seems a bit overdone to me. And yes...confusing.

 

I think they can go for the same street level feel and increase the height. Just don't do ugly podium garages.

 

Hmm from the rendering it makes it look like its right next door to the Sovereign yet they say this is at the corner of W. Dallas and Dunlavy.

 

The tower portion of the Sovereign development is on the east side of the block, so this actually looks like it's to the southwest of the Sovereign.

 

The architecture is not fantastic, but it does look like the typical residential tower (plus the height), that you see pop up in Chicago and New York all the time.

I agree with Navi, I hope they don't loose touch with the original idea. But at this point any sign of progress is a good one.

 

I played word association in anticipation of seeing what the news was and immediately thought Atlanta. Right or wrong, that's what I thought.

 

The architecture kind of feels like a 90's suburban home to me.

[cloud713]

i agree with most everything Lockmat.. except for Regent Square getting "better" tenants. from the developers perspective, its hard to get much better than tenants willing to pay $200/sqft. from the average middle class persons perspective, yeah they could definitely get stores that have a wider demographic.

so is the white high-rise in the background supposed to be the Sovereign? its got a garage wrapped in apartments like the Sovereign.

[cloud713]

btw, i count around 36 stories on that residential tower..?

Edited May 20, 2015 by cloud713

[Triton]

i agree with most everything Lockmat.. except for Regent Square getting "better" tenants. from the developers perspective, its hard to get much better than tenants willing to pay $200/sqft. from the average middle class persons perspective, yeah they could definitely get stores that have a wider demographic.

so is the white high-rise in the background supposed to be the Sovereign? its got a garage wrapped in apartments like the Sovereign.

That goes back to my earlier statement.... I thought Regent Square was supposed to be more approachable for middle class people. Highest class tenants? Now they make it sound like West Ave or River Oaks District, and I gotta admit, that loses a lot of its appeal if that's the case. I thought this would be the first truly urban walkable environment that almost all people could enjoy. 

[lockmat]

I don't ever remember them stating the level of the tenants, but maybe you're right since Alamo Draft House isn't super high end.

 

And why am I wanting the tenants to be high end? You're right, since this is going to be inherently more "open" to passerbyer I should want this to be accessible to the common man.

[htownproud]

Looks nice, but I will believe it when I see it.

[cloud713]

so no one answered my question earlier.. do y'all think the white tower to the left is the Sovereign? if so, this appears to literally be butting up against the south side of the Sovereigns garage. are there no apartments wrapped around that side of it?