Spear Street Capital is teasing a rendering of what it has planned for Exxon Mobil’s former Buffalo Spdwy. research campus, a new complex that takes the initials of River Oaks without daring to speak its name: The RO. The glossy new view above looks west across Buffalo Spdwy. to show 3 new highrises planted on the Upper Kirby site — the stockiest of which rests atop a 3-story windowed pedestal likely to house retail between W. Alabama and a new roadway.
The new street appears in place of the driveway that entered the 16.9-acre complex on Buffalo Spdwy. and ran just north of the 1962 building MacKie and Kamrath Architects designed for the oil giant. The aerial photo above shows what that building looked like from the south before crews began tearing at it last year. South of the new street and directly in place of the MacKie and Kamrath structure, a complex of retail buildings with upper-level patios retreats along a pedestrian corridor that starts at Buffalo Spdwy. and heads toward the 2 other highrises on the west side of the site, near Mercer St. A few outdoor seating areas front Buffalo Spdwy. — one by the footpath, another on the north side of the new street. A larger patio appears on the corner of W. Alabama.
The buildings shown shaded on the left in the rendering likely make up other additions planned for the block. Here it is viewed from its backside looking toward Buffalo Spdwy. last year:
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- Owned Assets [Spear Street Capital via HAIF]
- Previously on Swamplot: Midcentury Mod Former Exxon Office on Buffalo Spdwy. Slowly Disappearing from Behind; The Continuing Untold Story of What Happened When ExxonMobil Moved North; What’s Going Down at the Former Exxon Upstream Site: An Aerial Take; Mashing, Smashing Begin in Earnest at Buffalo Spdwy. Ex-Exxon Campus; Daily Demolition Report: West Mandell Defaced; New Owner of Exxon’s Buffalo Spdwy. Research Campus Knocking Out Exterior Defenses This Week
Rendering: Spear Street Capital. Photo: MontroseResident (former Exxon building); Swamplot inbox (demolition)
This is going to be amazing!
Nope, nope, nope. The R.O. is that funky place to see a pretty good movie. Genteelly shabby, not great audio, but free parking. And simple cocktails if you want ’em.
I like the back two structures, the one in the foreground; not so much. I was expecting something more ambitious for such a choice, large piece of land close to the real River Oaks. This seems a bit bland and underwhelming.
I wish Exxon would do something with their building downtown.
Glenn, ExxonMobil sold 800 Bell years ago. It’s in the hands of a SF-based developer.
Are these residential (condo? apt?) or office towers?
Dan,
Has the architect been selected yet?
TTC