MontroseNeighborhoodCafe Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 Nov. 6, 2004, 9:23PM Old Katy Road getting new life Proposed project follows others in industrial area By NANCY SARNOFF Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle A proposed mixed-use project on Old Katy Road, with both retail shops and apartments, is the latest in a crop of new developments attempting to transform a heavily industrial area into a thriving urban neighborhood. ADVERTISEMENT Glenn Seureau of Seureau Development Co. wants to build an eight-story, 250-unit apartment complex at 6950 Old Katy Road. The 3.1 acres of land, situated between the TranStar building and Star Motor Cars, has been in Seureau's family for about two decades. Located just north of Interstate 10 between downtown and the Galleria area, development on Old Katy Road has taken a dramatic turn. Once lined with warehouses, manufacturing plants and scattered office buildings, the winding roadway has become a construction zone. Across Old Katy from Seureau's property is another apartment complex under construction. California-based A.G. Spanos Cos. is developing the Cheval Apartments, expected to have about 380 apartments in a four-story complex. Spanos, whose chairman, Alex Spanos, owns the San Diego Chargers, is building the project on the site of a former coffee plant. Silver Eagle is also building a new facility in the area. Office and warehouse buildings for the beer distributor are being developed on an industrial site formerly owned by Mustang Tractor. And a sign advertising new townhomes sits on a tract of land across from the new offices of the Kirksey architecture firm on nearby Portwest Drive. "It's been kind of an overlooked area until just recently," said Seureau, who is betting on more folks moving into the city's center. "People want to be near the action." And assuming Seureau's apartments are built, as he has never undertaken a project of this scale, the River Oaks resident said he'll be moving in. "My taxes have gotten so high, I plan on living in this complex, too," he said. BP is home-hunting BP is on the hunt for new office space in Houston for a part of its petrochemical business relocating here within a few months. About 150 employees will move to Houston from BP's chemical operations outside of Chicago. The division will become a stand-alone unit next year. BP officials haven't decided where to set up shop for the new company. "We're engaged in discussions now with space providers and looking at several options," said spokesman Hugh Depland. Tim Relyea of Cushman & Wakefield is representing BP in its search for space. Based on the number of employees relocating here, the space needed will probably amount to several floors in an office building. And because the chemical division will be a separate entity from BP, the firm will likely be housed apart from BP's operations in west Houston. Scott Dean, a spokesman for BP in Chicago, said the decision should be made by the end of the year. This is just a fraction of what Houston was hoping to gain from the chemical division. BP, Europe's largest oil company, said earlier this year that it was considering relocating the petrochemical headquarters and some 500 jobs to Houston. But the firm decided to keep the senior management in the Windy City and move engineering-type jobs that look after chemical plants here. "There are a number of plants here," said Depland. "That's why it made sense." BP already has nearly 6,000 employees in Houston. Those housed in west Houston are mainly involved in exploration and production. But the company's chemical operation also has strong ties to Chicago. BP acquired Chicago-based Amoco in 1998. This line of petrochemicals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 More apartments? Say it ain't so. This is becoming a disturbing trend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20sGirl Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 More apartments? Say it ain't so. This is becoming a disturbing trend.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's not so bad. It could be worse, they could be building another "gated community". Also, at least they're going to put some mixed-use buildings in there. It doesn't sound like it's going to be more of the same suburban style apartments.It's a good place for development- there's not much there right now. I don't know if people will want to live so close to the freeway, only time will tell I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Maybe I am just selfish. That's ares is great escape route from 290 inbound madness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 Maybe I am just selfish. That's ares is great escape route from 290 inbound madness.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>errrrr. Dont give up the secret! Ive used that route for the very same reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.