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

[Visitor]

I'm with you @Triton. Naturally the main challenge in Houston is the land grabbing by disparate developers that completely kills this type of thing inside the loop. The best place that this could have happened at is the Target, tarkett, Kroger, stude junction, detering tracts. 

 

Houston's opposition to rail transit personally infuriates and baffles me. 

 

Regarding hardy yards, it's going to have to come a long way for me to want to go over there. The affordable housing focus makes me less optimistic about Hardy becoming anything like this, but I certainly wouldn't hate it

 

Edit: won't be Nordstrom or Neiman bc they have regional restrictions on how close their stores can be. Maybe something way out on the Grand Parkway, haha.

Edited March 1, 2017 by Visitor

[cspwal]

1 hour ago, Triton said:

light rail is immediately to the east of this near Top Golf

Light rail near top golf?  Sounds perfect for me

[skooljunkie]

Getting in and out of these outdoor, mixed-use "malls" always grinds my gears no matter if it's The Domain, City Centre, First Colony, or The Woodlands. I tend to gravitate to developments without so many stores and restaurants packed into one area. I like that Regent Square would surround and directly link to existing communities that are becoming denser. The Domain and City Centre pack in all these shops adjacent to freeways and I tend to avoid going to them because of traffic.

[ADCS]

29 minutes ago, skooljunkie said:

Getting in and out of these outdoor, mixed-use "malls" always grinds my gears no matter if it's The Domain, City Centre, First Colony, or The Woodlands. I tend to gravitate to developments without so many stores and restaurants packed into one area. I like that Regent Square would surround and directly link to existing communities that are becoming denser. The Domain and City Centre pack in all these shops adjacent to freeways and I tend to avoid going to them because of traffic.

Well, it sounds like you're not their target market, then.

[KinkaidAlum]

moo. The Domain works if you are into that sort of thing but I actually prefer the more organic growth taking place in central Houston. 

 

Just think, in 3-4 years, Kirby drive between Westheimer and Richmond will have West Avenue, Kirby Collection, 2727, Hanover River Oaks, Whole Foods, Local, Kuhl-Lincsomb, that fancy midrise condo, Carraba's empire, and neighborhoods on all four sides that are connected by a street grid to the area filled with houses, townhouse, condos, and apartments. 

 

[iah77]

There's nothing organic about Upper Kirby, the TIRZ widened the road and landscaped it to look like a mini highway with cars going 40+ on it. It's a major thoroughfare and try crossing the street at Kirby and Whole Foods on a bike to see how long can happen without getting hit lol... None of the things mentioned except for Kuhl Lindscome embrace the street they are part of in an open way. 

[quietstorm]

8 hours ago, Triton said:

 

Easy answer to everyone's question because I expected it. It's all of those projects but on steroids. The sheer size of this project is impressive. Blocks upon blocks upon blocks of stores, bars, and apartments AND the light rail is immediately to the east of this near Top Golf. I saw quite a few riders hoping on and off to the apartments near by. And even though it's in the suburbs, it's so well connected to the surrounding area, including the JJ Pickle Research Institute. Sure, we have developments similar to this, but nothing at this size. Perhaps Rice Village comes close but it doesn't have the nightlife nor the bigger retail you would see from a mall. It's honestly the perfect combination for all sorts of people. I couldn't find any pictures online that really do it justice.... hopefully when ya'll are in Austin, you can check it out and you'll understand what I mean. Or do Google Streetview and "drive around" I guess.

 

Edit: And perhaps even looking again at the renderings for Regent Square, this project won't quite match that either. But I seriously believe we need some type of project at this scale and so well connected like this in Houston. Fingers crossed we get this at Hardy Yards with the Burnett transit center connection but who knows...

I've been there.  You are correct, our older friends in Austin love the Domain as well as our daughter who's in college.  For me personally, it feels too sterile and 'dystopian' in a way...I do think it works well for those who want the 'energy' of the city without 'messiness' (e.g., homelessness) that occurs in urban areas that are more organic.

[KinkaidAlum]

6 hours ago, iah77 said:

There's nothing organic about Upper Kirby, the TIRZ widened the road and landscaped it to look like a mini highway with cars going 40+ on it. It's a major thoroughfare and try crossing the street at Kirby and Whole Foods on a bike to see how long can happen without getting hit lol... None of the things mentioned except for Kuhl Lindscome embrace the street they are part of in an open way. 

 

 

1) My Mom lives 3 blocks off of Kirby. She and her dog walk to Whole Foods every morning where she crosses Kirby twice. She's never had an issue. 

 

2) Who said anything about embracing the street? What street does the Domain embrace? It has MOPAC on one side and its neighbors are a suburban office park, surface parking lots, and streets that are very suburban in nature (no street grid).

 

3) The Domain is a really nice upscale outdoor mall. That's it. There's nothing special about it other than it is in Austin and it has access to light rail (despite said access it is engulfed by massive parking garages, surface parking lots, and even pull in street parking.

 

4) Look at the Domain on google earth. Yeah, it's magical...

 

[samagon]

yeah, but it's residential and commercial mixed together.

 

looking at the pictures, what makes this special over the Houston comparable places is the layout of the streets on the interior. It's based on a Dutch idea.. woonerf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woonerf

 

I'd love to see some of those ideas implemented at the Houston versions of city/town/village center/market/centre/square.

Edited March 2, 2017 by samagon

[Houston19514]

13 hours ago, KinkaidAlum said:

 

 

1) My Mom lives 3 blocks off of Kirby. She and her dog walk to Whole Foods every morning where she crosses Kirby twice. She's never had an issue. 

 

2) Who said anything about embracing the street? What street does the Domain embrace? It has MOPAC on one side and its neighbors are a suburban office park, surface parking lots, and streets that are very suburban in nature (no street grid).

 

3) The Domain is a really nice upscale outdoor mall. That's it. There's nothing special about it other than it is in Austin and it has access to light rail (despite said access it is engulfed by massive parking garages, surface parking lots, and even pull in street parking.

 

4) Look at the Domain on google earth. Yeah, it's magical...

 

 

And it's a stretch to say it has access to light rail.  (1) Austin's "light rail" is more accurately called "commuter rail".  It only runs approximately every 30 minutes.  (2) Very few people ride Austin's rail (average daily boardings are only about 2,200! and (3) it's a pretty long walk from the station to the Domain.  Something like 3/4 of a mile.

[Triton]

2 hours ago, samagon said:

yeah, but it's residential and commercial mixed together.

 

looking at the pictures, what makes this special over the Houston comparable places is the layout of the streets on the interior. It's based on a Dutch idea.. woonerf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woonerf

 

I'd love to see some of those ideas implemented at the Houston versions of city/town/village center/market/centre/square.

 

Exactly, and people aren't having to cross a major thoroughfare of 6 lanes of traffic to walk around. The Domain is more of a walkable area like the transformed Bagby St.

 

Look, I think the comparison makes more sense with City Centre than it does with Upper Kirby. Upper Kirby is more of a mish mash of different development while the Domain is more of a master planned shopping district. City Centre is somewhat similar in terms of it being further away from a CBD and it does have the suburban office parks around it, just like the Domain. The difference is that the Domain truly caters to all different types of people in terms of shopping and even the nightlife experience it offers with an entire street full of clubs and bars. KinkaidAlum is right that it is an outdoor mall (which cannot be said for City Centre) with several big box stores that are even part of the walkable environment, but I would disagree that it's upscale. There's so many different types of stores that many of them are similar to what we saw in the Regent Square store catalog, even if it was just for potential retail and not the actual resulting stores. With it's parks, street layout, great mixture of retail/office/residential and just the sheer scale of it, I think the Domain experience is a lot different than anything Houston has to offer at the moment. 

[CREguy13]

Not sure if it's been reported here, but the New York and Houston office of Newmark are marketing the office building.  240,000 SF

[Dakota79]

I wonder how many stories that would be.

[lockmat]

13 minutes ago, CREguy13 said:

Not sure if it's been reported here, but the New York and Houston office of Newmark are marketing the office building.  240,000 SF

 

Interesting, there's also  Newmark marketing a Regent Square in Pittsburgh.

 

http://looplink.pittsburgh.ngkf.com/ll/19923066/1101-1103-S-Braddock-Ave/

 

[CREguy13]

2 hours ago, Dakota79 said:

I wonder how many stories that would be.

Right now it's 11 floors.

[Triton]

Did anyone notice this on the City of Houston website? Has a picture of Regent Square and the article is talking about amending current ordinances to make areas more walkable. It was last updated just last week.

 

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/committee_walkable-places.html

[Angostura]

On 3/16/2017 at 11:10 AM, Triton said:

Did anyone notice this on the City of Houston website? Has a picture of Regent Square and the article is talking about amending current ordinances to make areas more walkable. It was last updated just last week.

 

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/committee_walkable-places.html

 

At least someone at CoH now realizes that setbacks and parking minimums have ruined the streetscape of the city. Let's hope they do something about it.

 

 

 

 

[samagon]

Setbacks aren't the problem, and actually, if the space wasn't used for parking, it would be great for green/walkability/patio space.

 

It's a requirement to have parking, and a requirement to have setback, so rather than 'waste' the space up front setting it back from the road with 'nothing' in the area, it's parking.

 

The city missed by not requiring that a larger portion of the setback be used for sidewalk (and that sidewalk might be shared with trees, or patio space, or some other use that encourages pedestrians). The city missed by not requiring that parking be in the rear.

Edited March 20, 2017 by samagon

[Angostura]

22 hours ago, samagon said:

Setbacks aren't the problem, and actually, if the space wasn't used for parking, it would be great for green/walkability/patio space.

 

It's a requirement to have parking, and a requirement to have setback, so rather than 'waste' the space up front setting it back from the road with 'nothing' in the area, it's parking.

 

The city missed by not requiring that a larger portion of the setback be used for sidewalk (and that sidewalk might be shared with trees, or patio space, or some other use that encourages pedestrians). The city missed by not requiring that parking be in the rear.

 

Setbacks alone aren't as big a problem as setbacks PLUS parking minimums, but they're still a problem. Think of a walkable area in this city or any other that has 25 feet of space between the sidewalks and the buildings. There aren't many.

 

There are some areas where the zoning code lets the builder trade setbacks for height, but even then, the podium tends to come right up to the building line.

 

If you have minimum setbacks, AND don't allow parking in them, then you've effectively reduced the value of the land (since a good portion of it can't be built on). Reduced land value leads to reduced density, which means less walkability.

 

 

[kdog08]

On 3/1/2017 at 0:17 PM, Triton said:

 

Easy answer to everyone's question because I expected it. It's all of those projects but on steroids. The sheer size of this project is impressive. Blocks upon blocks upon blocks of stores, bars, and apartments AND the light rail is immediately to the east of this near Top Golf. I saw quite a few riders hoping on and off to the apartments near by. And even though it's in the suburbs, it's so well connected to the surrounding area, including the JJ Pickle Research Institute. Sure, we have developments similar to this, but nothing at this size. Perhaps Rice Village comes close but it doesn't have the nightlife nor the bigger retail you would see from a mall. It's honestly the perfect combination for all sorts of people. I couldn't find any pictures online that really do it justice.... hopefully when ya'll are in Austin, you can check it out and you'll understand what I mean. Or do Google Streetview and "drive around" I guess.

 

Edit: And perhaps even looking again at the renderings for Regent Square, this project won't quite match that either. But I seriously believe we need some type of project at this scale and so well connected like this in Houston. Fingers crossed we get this at Hardy Yards with the Burnett transit center connection but who knows...

 

Austin doesn't really have any other of these types of developments, aside from Mueller, which is also very large and has more potential in my opinion. The Domain works so well since Austin has grown massively northwards and this fills a giant need for this large swath of middle class suburbia.

 

It would be very hard for Houston to match the size and scale of the Domain. City Centre in Memorial could possibly do it in a piecemeal fashion connecting City Centre with Memorial City Mall area. 

 

 

[Urbannizer]

http://www.brvcorp.com/placemaking-projects/

 

Houston, TX - Developed by GID, Regent Square and the surrounding neighborhood will be Houston's newest thriving retail hub. BRV joined the project as placemaking consultants to ensure that the public realm feels inviting, active, and attractive. BRV created comprehensive programming and operating plans and contributed design input. Once opened, Regent Square will offer a full slate of programs that appeal to local residents and shoppers, two food and beverage kiosks, and a central lawn.

 

[j_cuevas713]

So where is this development at with the overall build? I haven't been in this area in a while. I know it's being done in phases but what phase is this on? Really excited to see this city become so damn urban. 

Edited May 31, 2017 by j_cuevas713

[Angostura]

On 5/31/2017 at 4:22 PM, j_cuevas713 said:

So where is this development at with the overall build? I haven't been in this area in a while. I know it's being done in phases but what phase is this on? Really excited to see this city become so damn urban. 

 

The Sovereign is the only part of the project that's been built so far. Additional building permits were issued October of last year. There've been rumors of work being bid. 

 

Last news was next phase to be built would be a 2nd hi-rise residential building.

 

[j_cuevas713]

2 hours ago, Angostura said:

 

The Sovereign is the only part of the project that's been built so far. Additional building permits were issued October of last year. There've been rumors of work being bid. 

 

Last news was next phase to be built would be a 2nd hi-rise residential building.

 

Nice, thank you for the update. From what I remember, this project is like a 10 year plan. Sucks cause I'll be 40 by then lol

[Dakota79]

On 5/31/2017 at 4:22 PM, j_cuevas713 said:

So where is this development at with the overall build? I haven't been in this area in a while. I know it's being done in phases but what phase is this on? Really excited to see this city become so damn urban. 

Me too.  We need the density.  As far as I can tell the only way to get Texans out of their cars is to make parking expensive and difficult.  New York City is hot and humid in the summer and yet without thinking you can walk 20 blocks.  5-10 years ago you wouldn't see a pedestrian in Houston unless their car broke down.  We do need some pedestrian overpasses though for Westheimer at Highland Village, Allen Parkway, Post Oak @ Westheimer etc so we don't get mowed down!  I love this city though and we are living here in a very exciting time.

[thatguysly]

Everyone keeps wanting to make Houston more like NYC. I get it, it's a great city. But it will never happen. There is a reason that city is so unique. Urbanization is great but getting people out of their cars isn't easy. We don't have good public transportation like NYC has. You would be crazy to drive a car into NYC because of traffic and lack of parking. We grow up here under different circumstances when it comes to transportation and it becomes ingrained in how we commute. Plus we have massive suburbs with no better way to get into town than to drive. The schools within the loop that are public aren't great so people don't want to live in the loop. It creates more driving into the loop to do things than walking. In the end transportation and schools have to vastly improve (and affordable housing) for Houston to ever have a shot at really becoming urban. I love what Houston is becoming, it doesn't need to just become a clone of NYC to be great.

[kbates2]

9 minutes ago, thatguysly said:

Everyone keeps wanting to make Houston more like NYC. I get it, it's a great city. But it will never happen. There is a reason that city is so unique. Urbanization is great but getting people out of their cars isn't easy. We don't have good public transportation like NYC has. You would be crazy to drive a car into NYC because of traffic and lack of parking. We grow up here under different circumstances when it comes to transportation and it becomes ingrained in how we commute. Plus we have massive suburbs with no better way to get into town than to drive. The schools within the loop that are public aren't great so people don't want to live in the loop. It creates more driving into the loop to do things than walking. In the end transportation and schools have to vastly improve (and affordable housing) for Houston to ever have a shot at really becoming urban. I love what Houston is becoming, it doesn't need to just become a clone of NYC to be great.

 

Most major cities around the globe and even here in the US have more in common with New York then they do with Houston.  Striving to add dense walkable pockets in the formerly neglected core doesn't compromise Houston's unique identity.

[samagon]

9 hours ago, Dakota79 said:

We do need some pedestrian overpasses though for Westheimer at Highland Village.

 

I don't mean to paint a negative picture of the people that shop there, but I have a feeling that the patrons would only use them if they had escalators, they would be too good to use stairs.

Edited June 7, 2017 by samagon

[cspwal]

They would use them if airconditioned

[thatguysly]

3 hours ago, kbates2 said:

 

Most major cities around the globe and even here in the US have more in common with New York then they do with Houston.  Striving to add dense walkable pockets in the formerly neglected core doesn't compromise Houston's unique identity.

 

And most major cities aren't in Texas. The state is so massive it allowed for the sprawl. In Europe and other areas they had to build up to fit people in. Here everyone wanted their own piece of land so the cities aren't designed to be like those others. Trying to force it to be is not going to happen any quickly or easily.

[Houston19514]

They just need a couple of well-marked and signaled crosswalks with a safety island in the middle of the street, maybe with some shade structures, and well-marked and shaded paths from the street corners to the shop buildings.  A bigger waste of money than pedestrian overpasses in Highland Village is hard to imagine.

[cspwal]

5 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

They just need a couple of well-marked and signaled crosswalks with a safety island in the middle of the street, maybe with some shade structures, and well-marked and shaded paths from the street corners to the shop buildings.  A bigger waste of money than pedestrian overpasses in Highland Village is hard to imagine.

Oh I have a very wasteful imagination

• dedicated subway from the Apple store to Starbucks
• overhead cable car system that goes from the parking garage to memorial park
• a scale replica of the Colossus of Rhodes astride Westheimer
• escalator, stairs and an elevator to a cantilevered viewing platform over the train tracks (does not go back down on the other side)
• aviary filled with drones

[samagon]

a gondola system from starbucks to the apple store would be perfect!!

[iah77]

Impressive line-up though they are taking so long some retailers like Scoop NYC don't even exist anymore lol. Would be really impressed if Soho House and a few others were actually present.

[j_cuevas713]

3 hours ago, CrockpotandGravel said:

This is taking FOREVER! I'll have a walker and a cane by the time this materializes.

For real!!! When does the next phase begin, this crap is taking too long!?

Edited July 3, 2017 by j_cuevas713

[j_cuevas713]

On 6/7/2017 at 7:23 AM, thatguysly said:

Everyone keeps wanting to make Houston more like NYC. I get it, it's a great city. But it will never happen. There is a reason that city is so unique. Urbanization is great but getting people out of their cars isn't easy. We don't have good public transportation like NYC has. You would be crazy to drive a car into NYC because of traffic and lack of parking. We grow up here under different circumstances when it comes to transportation and it becomes ingrained in how we commute. Plus we have massive suburbs with no better way to get into town than to drive. The schools within the loop that are public aren't great so people don't want to live in the loop. It creates more driving into the loop to do things than walking. In the end transportation and schools have to vastly improve (and affordable housing) for Houston to ever have a shot at really becoming urban. I love what Houston is becoming, it doesn't need to just become a clone of NYC to be great.

Nobody is trying to make Houston like NYC haha. Wanting good connected development is needed in every city. 

[Triton]

Why am I always disappointed when I open this thread...

[j_cuevas713]

I was just trying to wake it up a bit hahaha

[jgriff]

4 hours ago, Triton said:

Why am I always disappointed when I open this thread...

Me too. I walk by the site daily. If there is any movement on site I’ll update this thread right away. Don’t hold your breath. I e-mailed the VP who is supposed to be in charge and got an undeliverable message.

[Timoric]

-

 

Edited July 11, 2019 by Timoric

[KinkaidAlum]

Wasn't the 41 story apartment tower supposed to break ground this quarter?

[shasta]

Seriously. what is the developer's game plan here? I understand putting the project on hold in 2009 but many mini boom cycles have happened since then.

This would be a HUGE success if it was currently online.

 

The developers have owned the land since the 1980s, they demolished most of the Allen House (income producing property) and yet the lots remain vacant. Let's hope 2018 IS the year.

Sadly, those Chines developers are going to one up Regent Square, once again, by building their mixed use development on Allen Parkway giving them another "reason" to delay.

[pablog]

About 2 months ago, they told me between 18-24 months... so not in 2018 sadly...

[H-Town Man]

This is the Grand Texas Theme Park of inner-loop development.

 

[Urbannizer]

Updated brochure..still list the 40 story tower as starting soon. 

 

 http://regentsquarehouston.com/wp-content/uploads/GID_RegentSq_Bro_US_A4.pdf

[lockmat]

So the renderings you posted are updated?

 

the street names seem to be new, too.

Edited January 6, 2018 by lockmat

[jgriff]

Looks the same to me. Guess I’m not looking close enough. What’s different?

[houstontexasjack]

13 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

Updated brochure..still list the 40 story tower as starting soon. 

 

 http://regentsquarehouston.com/wp-content/uploads/GID_RegentSq_Bro_US_A4.pdf

It references Houston’s MSA as only being 5.95 Million, which was accurate around 2010. However, I saw it made a reference to some 2015 figures as well.  I suspect the update was just sloppily done (kind of like this post, which got trapped in Urby’s post and where I couldn’t figure out how to get it out), which I do not take as a good sign.

[jgriff]

Ok, this is not technically a regent square update but there is some activity on an adjacent site. A large portion, if not all of the land used by The Lighthouse and/or The Center just West of the Regent Square site was put up for sale a few months ago. I’ve heard no news about the sale but I did see a soil sampling crew drilling near the corner of West Dallas and Tirell Street yesterday. 

[gregpet]

As of a couple of days ago workers have been putting a fresh coat of paint on the Allen House units facing Rochow.  My understanding was that this was supposed to be the next phase (high rise resi) being developed.  It seems like there is going to be additional delay with Regent Square unless they are planning to start building on the vacant land first (which would be mostly retail, I believe).  Keep the income producing properties intact as long as possible and start building out the retail...

 

I see cars parked at their office on Dunlavy fairly regularly so it would seem something is going on (likely wishful thinking!)...