09/26/07 9:52am

Le Maison on Revere Apartments

Worried that there still aren’t going to be enough places to live near the corner of Westheimer and Kirby after all the construction is done? Relax. The Texas division of Orlando, Florida’s ZOM Development just got a slew of construction permits approved yesterday for their next fancy apartment complex just a few blocks to the east of that busy intersection, at the corner of Revere and Cameron, at 2701 Revere St. (Cleverly, the address on the permits is listed as 2727 Revere. Why would they give it that number?)

Going up: Le Maison on Revere, 431 rental units on a just-under-six-acre site, a five-story mix of “flats and high-end loft units.”

But it looks like there’s more to it. Not satisfied with the Beaux-Arts-meets-the-Alamo stylings of the Bel Air Apartments they recently developed and filled up not too far away on Allen Parkway, the sleek modern look of the 2727 Kirby tower now going up across the street from their new development, or the apparent Superman-in-Gotham City theme of West Ave on the other side of Kirby, ZOM has apparently decided that their new complex will, at last, point out the absurdities of the area’s stylistic hodgepodge.

How? By theming the building with a higher, more symbolic purpose in mind.

That’s right: The Le Maison on Revere apartments will be marketed and dressed up to look like “New Orleans garden style apartments,” and thereby perform the public service of reminding residents of the former glory of their neighboring city and the dangers of living at low elevations in a high-water town.

Expect the top floors to fill up first.

09/05/07 10:59am

Mattress Mack's Home at 3002 Pine Lake Trail in Northgage Forest

Speaking of fame and real-estate listings, we may have an answer to our earlier question about the power of endorsements by celebrities—or local celebrities—to sell houses quickly and at a premium price.

The Northgate Forest estate of Gallery Furniture owner Jim McIngvale—written up here a month ago—is still listed for sale! And the asking price has dropped a quarter of a million dollars.

09/05/07 10:26am

2293 E. Bayshore Dr. in San Leon

Does this look like the home of a rock star? Okay, how about a ’70s rock star with a long beard and hearing problems?

Yes, this is the custom-built San Leon enclave of ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill: a 19,560-sf trio of homes on a three-and-a-half-acre lot facing the crystal-clear waters of Galveston Bay.

Features include recreational, media & entertaining areas. 2 story entry w/dbl staircase, gourmet kitchen, mahogany library. Coffered ceilings, travertine marble floors. Circular motor court w/fountain & Crestron lighting. Pool. Exterior lighting, rollac shutter & storm doors. Above ground gas tanks. Two 3-car garages. Designer appointments & much more!

Yours, for just under $7 million. Including the gas tanks. After the jump, the ZZzzzzzzzzzzz interiors!

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08/03/07 1:58pm

The McIngvale Home at 3002 Pine Lake Trail

Do celebrity endorsements move real estate? Okay, what about local-celebrity name-dropping, plus a few personal appearances?

This 6,840-square-foot, seven-bedroom Northgate Forest estate has been languishing on the market for almost three months, even though John Daugherty Realtors has been advertising it as the actual home of Gallery Furniture and Westside Tennis & Fitness owner Jim McIngvale—in full-page ads in luxury-home mags. And the Houston Business Journal reports that Mattress Mack himself has been mingling with visiting homegawkers at his own open houses.

Hand the downsizing McIngvales a mere $1.499 mil, and you get:

a dramatic two-story entry with winding staircase; a two-story living room with two-story fireplace, hardwoods and adjacent sunroom; gourmet kitchen with built-ins and quality appliances; breakfast room with built-ins; dining room with hardwoods; and Swarovski crystal chandeliers. Media room, den, weight room, reflection room, game room, extra room and more. Master suite with two-sided fireplace and amazing bath. Olympic-style pool, spa and pool house. Additional five-car garage with apartment above.

What about the furniture?

After the jump, more pics from the McIngvale Mansion.

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