The Times They are A-Changing

HOUSTON—Construction has started on phase one of the Buffalo Heights District, a mixed-use district on Washington Avenue between South Heights Boulevard and Studemont Street. The initial construction will be a seven-story mixed-use building which includes a new H-E-B, 230 multifamily units and three floors of boutique office space. An additional 2,000 square feet of retail space is available next to H-E-B.

“Houston is changing–just like a lot of other cities around the country,” said Russell Gordy, the project's owner and founder and president of SG Interests. “We are seeing people want to live closer to the city and not drive as much. We are hoping to make this a place where people can live, play and work.”

Anchoring the property will be a new urban prototype H-E-B designed as an integrated part of the mixed-use building and purposefully redesigned to be unique from the traditional single-level stores typically found in suburban locations. The 96,000-square-foot H-E-B will include a walk-up coffee and food concept, providing both on-the-go and leisurely dining opportunities for residents and employees of the surrounding businesses.

The H-E-B has an expected completion of spring 2019. It helps cement the district's goal of creating a walkable community where a healthy lifestyle is cultivated via easily accessible fresh food, outdoor activity and natural spaces.

“We are excited about unveiling a new H-E-B prototype, which is ideal for the Washington corridor,” said Scott McClelland, president, H-E-B Houston. “When we learned of the plans for Buffalo Heights, we knew it was just the type of community more of Houston is going to want.”

In addition to the H-E-B, the new building also includes five levels of multifamily apartments (the St. Andrie) and three levels of boutique office (One Buffalo Heights). Designed around the ideas of social connection, luxury and convenience, the St. Andrie will set a new standard in apartment living within the Buffalo Heights District.

The community will feature 230 apartment homes and offer amenities such as large interior courtyards, and a fitness and yoga studio overlooking a swimming pool. There is a breezeway lounge with large TVs, an amenity lounge and game room that includes a private dining room, demonstration kitchen and Wi-Fi business lounge. St. Andrie residents will have access to the shopping, dining and entertainment on the Washington Avenue corridor, The Heights and Downtown, as well as the trails and natural spaces of both Buffalo Bayou Park and Memorial Park.

Additionally, in the renovated and re-purposed 22 Waugh Dr., Gordy & Sons Outfitters, purveyors of fly fishing equipment and sporting art, opens this month.

Houston-based Midway was tapped to redevelop the property on behalf of the Gordys.

“We're marking a significant milestone for Buffalo Heights and the future of this corridor. It's the unfolding of the Gordy family's vision to create an innovative urban district in this thriving area west of Downtown,” said Jonathan Brinsden, CEO of Midway.

The majority of Buffalo Heights area residents are 21 to 44 years old with an earning power that is more than double the average household income for Houston. Brinsden and McClelland recently discussed the impetus for the project, the types of office tenants that will find the project appealing and the H-E-B prototype in this exclusive.

GlobeSt.com: Explain more about how Houston is changing, sparking this type of development.

Jonathan Brinsden: Buffalo Heights has been changing over several years from a largely industrial area, where you still find warehouses and grain silos, but most of those have given way to art studios and event spaces. The first wave of residential redevelopment began in the late 1980s with apartments and townhouses, followed by restaurants and bars to serve those residents. Most people thought they were pioneers for choosing to live in this area back then. Commercial and retail development lagged behind the residential, but it is quickly catching up. Buffalo Heights will build on and strengthen momentum of redevelopment that has been spurred by the transformation of Buffalo Bayou Park and the influx of affluent professionals who prefer close-in urban areas with ample recreation, shopping and dining options.

GlobeSt.com: What types of tenants are being targeted for the office component?

Brinsden: The office space is being thoughtfully designed for firms that want a close-in and easily accessible location, and who also want a more creative and higher quality environment than the typical traditional office building. We expect the office will attract professional services and highly creative, innovative businesses that place a premium on corporate culture and employees' well being.

Midway's analysis of redevelopment trends in popular areas of Houston found locations that are well-loved places, where people enjoy spending time. These often have active green space. And there are many retail destinations, where people go to spend money. But there are very few locations that combine both the attractions of those popular places with a retail destination. CITYCENTRE is one. The Buffalo Heights District will be another.

GlobeSt.com: What is involved in the H-E-B prototype that is different than other H-E-Bs?

Scott McClelland: This is the first H-E-B to be fully integrated into a mixed-use project with office, residential and parking. H-E-B is excited to be part of a successful mixed-use project, where boutique office space and upscale apartments are 'standing on the shoulders' of their new urban prototype store.

HOUSTON—Construction has started on phase one of the Buffalo Heights District, a mixed-use district on Washington Avenue between South Heights Boulevard and Studemont Street. The initial construction will be a seven-story mixed-use building which includes a new H-E-B, 230 multifamily units and three floors of boutique office space. An additional 2,000 square feet of retail space is available next to H-E-B.

“Houston is changing–just like a lot of other cities around the country,” said Russell Gordy, the project's owner and founder and president of SG Interests. “We are seeing people want to live closer to the city and not drive as much. We are hoping to make this a place where people can live, play and work.”

Anchoring the property will be a new urban prototype H-E-B designed as an integrated part of the mixed-use building and purposefully redesigned to be unique from the traditional single-level stores typically found in suburban locations. The 96,000-square-foot H-E-B will include a walk-up coffee and food concept, providing both on-the-go and leisurely dining opportunities for residents and employees of the surrounding businesses.

The H-E-B has an expected completion of spring 2019. It helps cement the district's goal of creating a walkable community where a healthy lifestyle is cultivated via easily accessible fresh food, outdoor activity and natural spaces.

“We are excited about unveiling a new H-E-B prototype, which is ideal for the Washington corridor,” said Scott McClelland, president, H-E-B Houston. “When we learned of the plans for Buffalo Heights, we knew it was just the type of community more of Houston is going to want.”

In addition to the H-E-B, the new building also includes five levels of multifamily apartments (the St. Andrie) and three levels of boutique office (One Buffalo Heights). Designed around the ideas of social connection, luxury and convenience, the St. Andrie will set a new standard in apartment living within the Buffalo Heights District.

The community will feature 230 apartment homes and offer amenities such as large interior courtyards, and a fitness and yoga studio overlooking a swimming pool. There is a breezeway lounge with large TVs, an amenity lounge and game room that includes a private dining room, demonstration kitchen and Wi-Fi business lounge. St. Andrie residents will have access to the shopping, dining and entertainment on the Washington Avenue corridor, The Heights and Downtown, as well as the trails and natural spaces of both Buffalo Bayou Park and Memorial Park.

Additionally, in the renovated and re-purposed 22 Waugh Dr., Gordy & Sons Outfitters, purveyors of fly fishing equipment and sporting art, opens this month.

Houston-based Midway was tapped to redevelop the property on behalf of the Gordys.

“We're marking a significant milestone for Buffalo Heights and the future of this corridor. It's the unfolding of the Gordy family's vision to create an innovative urban district in this thriving area west of Downtown,” said Jonathan Brinsden, CEO of Midway.

The majority of Buffalo Heights area residents are 21 to 44 years old with an earning power that is more than double the average household income for Houston. Brinsden and McClelland recently discussed the impetus for the project, the types of office tenants that will find the project appealing and the H-E-B prototype in this exclusive.

GlobeSt.com: Explain more about how Houston is changing, sparking this type of development.

Jonathan Brinsden: Buffalo Heights has been changing over several years from a largely industrial area, where you still find warehouses and grain silos, but most of those have given way to art studios and event spaces. The first wave of residential redevelopment began in the late 1980s with apartments and townhouses, followed by restaurants and bars to serve those residents. Most people thought they were pioneers for choosing to live in this area back then. Commercial and retail development lagged behind the residential, but it is quickly catching up. Buffalo Heights will build on and strengthen momentum of redevelopment that has been spurred by the transformation of Buffalo Bayou Park and the influx of affluent professionals who prefer close-in urban areas with ample recreation, shopping and dining options.

GlobeSt.com: What types of tenants are being targeted for the office component?

Brinsden: The office space is being thoughtfully designed for firms that want a close-in and easily accessible location, and who also want a more creative and higher quality environment than the typical traditional office building. We expect the office will attract professional services and highly creative, innovative businesses that place a premium on corporate culture and employees' well being.

Midway's analysis of redevelopment trends in popular areas of Houston found locations that are well-loved places, where people enjoy spending time. These often have active green space. And there are many retail destinations, where people go to spend money. But there are very few locations that combine both the attractions of those popular places with a retail destination. CITYCENTRE is one. The Buffalo Heights District will be another.

GlobeSt.com: What is involved in the H-E-B prototype that is different than other H-E-Bs?

Scott McClelland: This is the first H-E-B to be fully integrated into a mixed-use project with office, residential and parking. H-E-B is excited to be part of a successful mixed-use project, where boutique office space and upscale apartments are 'standing on the shoulders' of their new urban prototype store.