34-story boutique hotel

Posh boutique hotel checks in to new River Oaks mixed-use development

The Birdsall, Auberge Resorts Collection at The RO development

The Birdsall is the first property by the Auberge Resorts Collection in Houston and will be a focal point of The RO development.

Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

A new boutique hotel and private residences is slated to open in 2027 at The RO, a highly anticipated mixed-use project by Transwestern Development that will transform 17 acres near Greenway Plaza and River Oaks.

The Birdsall, Auberge Resorts Collection, will rise 34 stories with 105 guest rooms and 44 private residences. Hotel accommodations will range from 413-square-foot studio rooms to a 2,548-square-foot presidential suite. On the top floors, buyers may opt for two, three, or four-bedroom condos with floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and exclusive amenities.

Houston-based Dillon Kyle Architects has been tapped to lead the residential design that's inspired by the luxuriousness typical of homes in nearby River Oaks. Each three- and four-bedroom unit will enjoy private elevator access to their units. Amenities for residents include a swimming pool, outdoor entertainment deck, summer kitchen, game room, and lounge, along with spaces for wellness, fitness, recreation, and pets.

More than half of The Birdsall’s first floor will be dedicated to a private members’ club. Hotel guests, residents, and club members will have access to the club’s garden, community living room, European-style café, bar, library, and a patio terrace for outdoor dining. The first floor will also house a new restaurant that's expected to be a destination in its own right.

No high-end retreat is complete with a spa, and The Birdsall’s will include 11 spa treatment rooms, a vitality pool, a cold plunge pool, relaxation rooms, and locker rooms with steam and sauna. Patrons can take advantage of customized wellness programs that may include bodywork, skincare, and recovery. Cardio, weight training, performance-enhancing equipment, and movement studios will be available in the Fitness Center.

The Birdsall’s name pays homage to the area, taking its name from Birdsall Briscoe, the architect who designed several of the River Oaks’ homes that are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This will be Auberge Resorts Collection’s first property in Houston, joining other locations such as the Commodore Perry in Austin and Dallas’ Bowie House. Auberge Resorts Collection is owned by the Friedken Group, a privately held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. Global architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) is leading the project, with hotel interiors by Roman and Williams.

“Houston is a particularly meaningful city for Auberge Resorts Collection and for me personally,” Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Auberge Resorts Collection, said in a statement. “As we continue Auberge’s strategic expansion into key urban markets, we are thrilled to add a new city property on The Friedkin Group’s home soil and pleased for this opportunity to celebrate what makes Houston such a wonderful destination with every touchpoint of our extraordinary new hotel, residences, and private members’ club.”

Transwestern Development announced the creation of The RO earlier this year, envisioning the transformation of the former Exxon research facility on Buffalo Speedway into a walkable, vibrant neighborhood that reflects the natural beauty of River Oaks.

river oaks hotels openings

family values

Houston ranks as 7th most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child

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Raising a child is not an easy or inexpensive feat, but a new study has determined Houston parents have the 7th lowest childrearing costs in the country.

SmartAsset's latest report, "Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2026 Study," calculated year-over-year changes in the annual cost of raising a child (factoring in childcare, additional housing costs, food, transportation, medical costs and other necessities) in the 48 largest U.S. metro areas. MIT's Living Wage Calculator was used to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to that of a childless household with two working adults.

Childrearing costs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands have grown 3.37 percent since last year, totaling $22,605 for a family of three in 2026. That's only $737 more than what it took to raise a child in 2025, and it's $1,209 higher than what it took in 2024.

This is how SmartAsset broke down the annual cost for raising a child in the Houston area:

Cost of childcare: $10,265
Cost of food: $1,721
Other expenses: $10,619

Houston ranked 42nd in SmartAsset's national list of cities with the highest childrearing costs in 2026, making it the No. 7 most affordable U.S. metro.

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont in California topped the list with the highest childrearing costs in the U.S., at $43,171. The cost for raising a child in this California metro soared nearly 11 percent higher since last year.

Memphis, Tennessee ranked dead last as the most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child in 2026. Families will spend less than $20,000 to raise a child in Memphis, only 3.24 percent more than what was needed in 2025.

Raising a child in other Texas metros
It may come as no surprise that Austin is the most expensive place to raise a child in Texas, and it appeared as the 31st most expensive U.S. metro for families. Parents will spend nearly $25,000 to raise a child in the state's capital city, which is $703 higher than it was a year ago.

Two other Texas metros join Houston among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a family: San Antonio-New Braunfels (No. 3) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 10). Childrearing costs in San Antonio add up to $21,393 annually, and Dallas-Fort Worth parents will spend $23,340 to raise their children in 2026.

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a child in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Memphis, Tennessee ($19,922)
No. 2 – Nashville, Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee ($21,216)
No. 3 – San Antonio-New Braunfels ($21,393)
No. 4 – Birmingham, Alabama ($21,684)
No. 5 – Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Virginia ($22,314)
No. 6 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia ($22,470)
No. 7 – Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands ($22,605)
No. 8 – Richmond, Virginia ($22,658)
No. 9 – Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky ($23,270)
No. 10 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($23,340)

family smartasset reports livability houston pasadena the woodlands

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family values

Houston ranks as 7th most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child