Neighbors in the Freeland Historic District who imagined the nationwide economic downturn and neighborhood protests a few years ago would have been enough to kill a threatened 65-70-condo development on a wooded tract next to the new Heights hike-and-bike trail have been buzzing about the project’s apparent reappearance. On the agenda for this week’s planning commission meeting: the Emes Place Subdivision, which will give the long-landlocked site access by connecting Frasier St. and E. 5th St. across the trail, just north of White Oak Bayou. The subdivision plat is listed as a “consent item,” meaning its approval is not scheduled to be put up for a separate vote.
Viewpoint at the Heights, slated for that subdivision, is a project of Canada’s Group LSR, which goes by the name Inner Loop Condos in Houston. The company developed the Serento Condominium near the Med Center and the Piedmont sorta near River Oaks. Freeland residents have heard the building being proposed for the 1-acre site will be 4 or 5 stories tall.
- Viewpoint at the Heights [Inner Loop Condos]
- The Heights and lows: Condos face neighborhood opposition [Houston Business Journal]
I almost hate to say this but in reading the HBJ article from 2004, (linked above) the argument against this development sounds very familiar.
Just like feeder roads encourage big box stores, hike-n-bike trails can encourage new development. Damn hike-n-bike highways! LOL
You would think the people that lend money would look at the foreclosure rate at the previous LSR developments.
If Bill White was still mayor and the Freeland neighborhood had big money to contribute this project would be killed. Tower of Terror – Part Deux.
The Heights MKT Rails to Trails
Along with 100’s Bicylists, Skaters, Walkers, Runners, and too many baby strollers to count…
Enjoy daily early am & pm walks on the Bike Trail–
An amazing cacophony of wildlife abounds along the Old Mkt.
Bunnies, every kind of bird, wildflowers, whooping cranes taking a dip, dragonflies, bumble bees & butterflies!
It’s a true lark in the park in our Heights Urban Forest!
Try it—You’ll like it!l
This property would make a briliant & obvious extension of Stude Park & Bayou System of Greenspace for natural FLOOD Control.
Agree so much with Mr. Stelly. I really can’t think of a deeper hole to drop money into than another high to mid-rise condo. Also see: The Point, The Edge, The Mosaic (2), 2727 Kirby (a see-through).
I agree with Angela DeWree.
Well said!
This is the last piece of undeveloped land from the original Texas Land Grant.
Have some respect!
Whooping cranes? That is exciting!!
Was that an isolated incident or do they stop by on their way south each year?
The Freeland Historic Disrict? I guess the new ordinance doesn’t cover new development. Or is the planned tower going to be Victorian style with lots of gingerbread?
As for the comment about our “Mr. Huff and Puff and Blow the Old Hirise Down” former mayor, it would depend on who the developer is and who the developer has bought. Developers with an “in” at City Hall, as in big bucks contributions to the parties as well as the individuals, usually are a priority. Even when the opposition is a big powerful law firm.
As an urbanist I think this is great. I’m all for population density surrounding hike/bike trails as well as the light rail corridor. Anyone living in this proposed development could easily bike to a job downtown.
@Matt Mystery: surely they’ll have a turret too!
This project would make sense if it were located on a light rail street. I agree that high-rise living does make great use of tracts near downtown, but when they are built in single family areas these same buildings are an eyesore. I find it entertaining when developers argue they are adding value to Houston by building on the last undeveloped tract near downtown. There are numerous blocks in Midtown setting vacant. If LSR was looking to add a good multi-family project to Houston I would suggest they pair up with Camden to build on their Main Street property. Camden is a local REIT that could lease the building instead of it ending up empty like so many other “condo” projects here in town.
I just realized this is being built in my backyard. Which is a tree-filled sludgy ravine. Only in Houston.
I haven’t lived in any major city where urban planning professionals would consider the continued destruction of a natural flood mitigation zone as “all great”. Any development isn’t better than no development. How about we shoot for great development for a Goddamn change? What a novel concept.