Townhomes

Residents of the new Regent Square Brownstones will “enjoy the sophistication of ‘in town living’” . . . in Kingwood.

This is beginning to sound like a theme now, huh? Perhaps tired of bringing suburban-style homes and strip centers to the center parts of Houston, enterprising builders are now setting about to even the score, placing downtownish-looking buildings in park-like festival-village settings out in the burbs. As long as they don’t actually drag Central City teardowns to the Woodlands, it should be safe.

But why the urban flight? Homebuilder Robert Davis, whose firm is building Regent Square in Kings Harbor Village on prime Kingwood waterfront, spills the beans to the Chronicle:

Q: You are developing a lot of brownstone urban communities in the suburbs. Why not in Houston?

A: They can assemble and synergize the community with brownstones, whereas in Houston it’s very difficult to build townhome projects and say OK, here is your walk to the grocery store, because we have 5-foot sidewalks in Houston.

Suburb communities are building large promenades to connect things.

You would think that Houstonians have a more urban mind-set, but the people in the suburbs are actually going to get it.

In Houston, you cannot buy enough property to assemble that urban district.

We’re probably just not tearing down enough big, contiguous buildings in town.

Bonus: Davis reveals the secret sex code of successful homebuilders:

You’ve got to really design the home for the woman. Men are becoming more and more involved into the aesthetics, but you still need to make sure the woman is satisfied.

You’ve got to have the right kitchen, the right master bathroom. Natural light is extremely important. Men like the dark wood, caves. And women like the light and airy and bright, and if you miss that, you will miss big time.

Read more in the upcoming bestseller, Men are from the Enclosed Toilet Room, Women are from Lanai.

• Five Questions with Robert Davis: Home builder has big plans to bring urban feel to suburbs [Houston Chronicle]
• Regent Square Brownstones [Kings Harbor Waterfront Village]