Last week, Trammell Crow Residential shared preliminary plans for its proposed Alexan West University apartments with its future neighbors in Houston’s Sunset Terrace and Montclair subdivisions. The design presented to the civic association is taller, denser, fancier, and more brightly illuminated than the 40-year-old garden-style apartments it will replace. Currently home to the Courts at West University, the site is located at Law and Bissonnet streets. That’s near but not in West U. The developer’s replat of the 2.54 acre site goes before Houston’s planning commission tomorrow.
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Company reps said the property is under contract and expected to close in February, triggering abatement and demolition of the existing complex in April 2012 and a construction start of September 2012. Look for the first units to be available in November 2013.
A rendering briefly displayed as a slide at the meeting (but not yet released) shows 4 stories of apartments and 2 levels of parking, one of which is below grade. The exterior, including the back of the project, is brick, stucco and cast stone. There are balconies, but not in every unit.
Neighbors who’ll be living next to the 60-ft.-tall building set back only 10 ft. from the property line asked for additional screening beyond the 8-ft. masonry fence Alexan is planning, perhaps with trees — really, really tall ones. They also raised concerns about traffic, spillover parking, pedestrian access, and lighting.
All entrances and exits front Law Street, and the company plans to upgrade the 560 ft. of rough road in front of its project. In addition to the 231 units, of which 85 percent are 1-bedroom, the proposed complex features an 8,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse (near Bissonnet) housing the leasing office, fitness center, demonstration kitchen, business center and virtual golf simulation; a courtyard with pool, a replacement dog park, and air-conditioned corridors.
- Previously on Swamplot: New Law Complex Would Replace Courts at West University
Images: Trammell Crow Residential, Swamplot inbox
I wonder why there are no 3 bedrooms in this project, especially given the area? Is there a restriction against these?
That’s two blocks from my place. Holy cr*p that’s going to be a construction mess!
I liver there too. What’s even more crazy is the lack of interesting dining options on the corner of Bissonnet and Weslayan. Maybe this complex will inspire someone to put some good dining options in.
It is ABSURD. We the neighbors are NOT happy.
Traffic. Ha . It is already a scene!!!
Bissonett and Weslayan and cut thrus in our hood, racing thru to beat the lights.
Done deal now!
Urban developers don’t like having very many three-bedroom units in their complexes because they are targeting singles and DINKs. Three-bedroom units are difficult to by comparison.
Every now and then you’ll see a small complex with only two or more bedrooms per unit, targeting families and households that desire to remove themselves from the lower-income one-bedroom riffraff. These are fairly uncommon except in the suburbs, however.