Much-Anticipated Houston Farmers Market Expansion is Underway
The long-awaited market will be upgraded with enhanced facilities, updated infrastructure, diversified product offerings and community programming to establish a unique destination retail experience.
HOUSTON—In May 2017, MLB Capital Partners purchased the 17.67-acre property located at 2520 Airline Dr. on the east side of The Heights from The Farmers’ Marketing Association of Houston Inc., which owned and operated the market since its inception in 1942. For the past 77 years, the farmers market has served as a location for farmers to sell fresh produce and goods to the surrounding Houston neighborhoods.
MLB Capital Partners recently broke ground on the much-anticipated Houston Farmers Market redevelopment project. The market will be upgraded with enhanced facilities, modern infrastructure, diversified product offerings and community programing to establish a unique destination retail experience.
“As the country’s fourth largest city and leading culinary capital, Houston is long overdue for a world-class market,” said Todd Mason, MLB Capital Partners managing principal. “We are thrilled to reinvigorate this local landmark into an experiential destination for both Houstonians and visitors to enjoy.”
To preserve and build on this cultural landmark, MLB Capital Partners will make enhancements to the 17.67-acre market with extended hours of shopping, socializing and entertainment. Upgrades include modern infrastructure, new climate-controlled spaces, shaded open-air market areas, restrooms and common seating areas; more visible organized parking and traffic circulation; defined sidewalks, site landscaping and dedicated green spaces for an improved visitor experience. Dedicated green spaces will serve as a setting for community programming, such as chef demonstrations, wine tastings and local entertainment.
In addition to improvements to the existing facilities, MLB Capital Partners plans to add square footage to host an array of merchants and culinary concepts at the Houston Farmers Market. The market will maintain business operations throughout the redevelopment process. Project completion is slated for late 2020.
MLB Capital Partners enlisted a group of project consultants and partners to assist with the revitalization of this storied site. Project consultant and James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd announced plans to develop a concept unique to the Houston Farmers Market. In addition to developing an exclusive concept for the market, Shepherd will utilize his culinary expertise to oversee the direction and functional design of the new build-outs as well as influence the tenant mix.
In addition, the Houston Farmers Market project partners include Clark Condon Associates, Studio RED Architects, Gunda Corporation and Arch-Con Construction. During the past two years, the team has analyzed the needs of the area, the market, its visitors and vendors in order to develop the master plan.
“This is the first time the Houston Farmers Market will undergo renovations since its inception in 1942, so as you can imagine, many of the improvements are much overdo,” Mason tells GlobeSt.com. “Our goal is to build an environment where all Houstonians want to visit and stay a while. Establishing an indoor-outdoor environment is important in order to achieve this, given Houston’s unpredictable weather. The Houston Farmers Market will further enrich the area’s culinary footprint with new offerings and concepts that highlight Houston’s unique food scene.”
The Houston economic outlook remained positive this quarter with employment growing 2.8% and healthy job growth expected through the end of the year. Houston also recorded a historically low unemployment rate of 3.5%, according to a report by CBRE.
Houston’s Inner Loop has experienced rapid growth in recent years and there are even more new developments underway. The highly anticipated mixed-use development Regent Square will break ground this fall and feature 50,000 square feet of retail and a 600-unit apartment. Another new mixed-use project called M-K-T in the Heights is an ambitious project in which 200,000 square feet of industrial space will be redeveloped into retail, offices and co-working space, as outlined in the CBRE report.