Luxury Hotel in Woodlands

Luxury hotel joins rush to The Woodlands as opening of ExxonMobil headquarters draws closer

With the new ExxonMobil headquarters on track to open next year near The Woodlands, the rush to build upscale housing, hotels and retail shops north of Houston continues. The latest to join the fray: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and The Howard Hughes Corporation, which has announced plans for a new luxury Westin hotel at Waterway Square.

The Houston Business Journal first reported plans for the 302-room hotel that will overlook The Woodlands Waterway and feature 15,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as an outdoor pool, a workout studio and business center.

The hotel, which is scheduled to open in late 2015, will also include a 150-seat restaurant, lobby bar and second-level pool deck with direct access to the fountains at Waterway Square.

"There is a tremendous demand for signature hotels in The Woodlands, and we are pleased to welcome the renowned Westin brand," Paul Layne, executive vice president of master-planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corp., said in a statement. "The Westin, The Woodlands will be a great place to stay in Waterway Square, a regional destination with multiple water features, shopping, dining and entertainment options for locals and visitors alike."

The new hotel, designed by Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects, will be within walking distance of several corporate offices, the shops and restaurants in the Waterway Square District, The Woodlands Mall and Market Street, as well as concert venue Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Hughes Landing, a 66-acre mixed-use development, is also nearby and set to house office buildings, restaurants (including Escalantes' Fine Tex-Mex and River Oaks favorite, Local Pour), a Whole Foods Market and up to 800 multifamily residences.

It will be the fifth Westin Hotel for the Houston area, with two in The Galleria (The Westin Oaks and Westin Galleria), one downtown (the Inn on the Ballpark was rebranded as the Westin Houston Downtown) and in Memorial (the Westin Memorial City).

Among other national names, a new Hyatt Place Hotel recently opened in the Woodlands area, a new Nordstrom is debuting at the Woodlands Mall in early September such hip national retailers like Kate Spade, Tumi, Trina Turk, Kiehl's and True Religion have recently opened in the area.

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Updated elegance

Renovated Tudor-style home in West U. hits market for $5.5 million

Photo by Josh Gremillion for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty

This renovated Tudor home at 6426 Sewanee Avenue in West University Place is on sale for $5.5 million.

In the heart of West University Place sits 6426 Sewanee Avenue. The gracious Tudor home, originally built in 2011, has been thoughtfully renovated. It’s on the market for $5.5 million and is represented by Melinda Dawes EwingofMartha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty.

The four-bedroom, five-bath home sits on about a third of an acre in one of the country's wealthiest neighborhoods. Unfolding across 8,577 square feet, it’s a home meant for living and entertaining. Originally designed by Robert Dame, Classic American Homes + Karen Black Interiors updated the home earlier this year.

6426 Sewanee offers casual luxury that is easy and approachable. Well-manicured landscaping and outdoor lighting both highlight the home’s curb appeal and beckon visitors to come inside.

The open floor plan allows for seamless gathering spaces, including a huge family room with beamed ceilings and a gourmet kitchen anchored by a center island. It also has a six-burner gas cooktop with Segreto vent hood, Wolf and Sub Zero appliances, Quartzite countertops, and a welcoming feel that make it a natural place to hang out while home cooks are preparing a feast.

The dining and formal living room offer sophisticated touches, loads of natural light, and access to the wet bar and the temperature-controlled, 360-bottle wine room. Upstairs, find the spacious primary suite with its own gas fireplace, exposed beams, and a private balcony that's perfect for morning coffee, afternoon wine, or scrolling the news of the day. The primary bath is a space of dreamy marble with two closets, Ann Sacks tile, and lovely new hardware.

Future occupants will also find an elevator, pool, covered outdoor patio with gas fireplace and summer kitchen, workout room, a paneled study on the home’s second floor, a media room, and a three-car garage and motor court

This is a beautiful home, where new owners will create cherished memories in one of the Houston-area's most desirable neighborhoods.

Photo by Josh Gremillion for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty

This renovated Tudor home at 6426 Sewanee Avenue in West University Place is on sale for $5.5 million.

west university place home-for-sale