Changing Houston

New downtown skyscraper is set to rise: 47-story tower aims to be an iconic Houston landmark

Houston-based Hines, the international real estate firm, will begin work on downtown Houston’s next major skyscraper on Nov. 1.

The building, 609 Main at Texas, will be a 47-story, 1,050,000-square-foot office tower at the corner of Main and Texas streets, with direct access on the Main Street rail line. The site is known as “Block 69.”

Two years ago Hines completed the BG Group Place office tower on Main Street and that building is now 96 percent leased.

Site preparation, including the demolition of an existing abandoned building, will begin the first week of November. Excavation and foundation work will occur in March 2014, and after 36 months of construction, the building will be ready for occupancy, Hines says. (CultureMap first reported on the project back on March 14.)

The Houston office market is exceptionally strong. Two years ago Hines completed the BG Group Place office tower on Main Street and that building is now 96 percent leased.

“609 Main at Texas is a strategic follow-on to our success with BG Group Place,” Hines president Jeff Hines says. “We are thrilled to start construction on our second major office tower on Main Street, especially with our partner, CalPERS. We saw the trend coming several years ago when we purchased two key blocks of land on Main Street, and now our strategy has been confirmed with the start of this iconic new landmark.”

Hines is starting the new tower without an anchor tenant being signed, making the tower what developers call a “spec” project.

“We have already had significant leasing interest among all the sectors that fuel CBD development,” Hines senior managing director John Mooz says. “This project will be a true ‘next-generation’ office building, utilizing best practices we’ve learned from our previous developments in Houston and around the world. While 609 Main at Texas is designed to house multiple firms, there is obviously a significant and prestigious opportunity for an anchor tenant, including options for large trading floors and outdoor space.”

The 609 Main building will be designed by Pickard Chilton, the same architecture firm that designed the nearby BG Group Place tower. The building is expected to have the highly acclaimed LEED Gold or Platinum rating for sustainability and energy efficiency, Hines says.

The building is being developed by Hines CalPERS Green development fund, a partnership with the Hines and CalPers, the nation’s largest pension fund.

The office market is downtown Houston has occupancy rates above 90 percent and, the PM Realty Group reports downtown rents have gone up more than four percent in the last year.

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take a ride

2,100-acre Houston-area development with bike trails galore will open in 2027

Homeplace housing development sign rendering

Courtesy of Homeplace

Homeplace will open phase one next summer.

A massive new housing development in far north Houston aims to be the city’s most bike friendly place to live. Homeplace will be a 2,100-acre community in Montgomery.

Bound by Highway 105 on the north, Lake Creek High School on the south, FM 2854 on the east, and FM 149 on the west, Homeplace is located about five minutes from Lake Conroe and 30 minutes from The Woodlands.

Designed to appeal to bicycle enthusiasts who frequently schedule rides along Lake Conroe and the Sam Houston National Forest, it will offer 17 miles of dedicated bike lanes as well as both paved and unwaved trails for walking, riding, and mountain biking. In addition, the community will offer The Hub, a 43-acre amenity complex that includes sports fields a dog park, a playground, swimming pools, and more.

Developer Will Randall and his family have owned property in the area since the late 1800s and operated the Homeplace Enterprises cattle ranch on 500 acres that are now part of the project.

“The component of health and nature is near and dear to our hearts,” Randall said in a statement. “Saving trees, creating trails, having ponds — these things are important. And this land is next to Lake Conroe. We grew up there, enjoying the water. An aspect of living in Montgomery is being active and outside. These are the connections we wanted to share.”

“As Homeplace was a Montgomery fixture for the Randall family for four generations, we wanted to embrace this local tradition. We want Homeplace to be centered on activity, connection, outdoors and fun,” Rochester Development executive Chad Rochester added.

A network of mountain biking trails will connect the community’s homes to the community’s two schools, including a tunnel under Homeplace Boulevard to separate riders from vehicles. They’re being designed in collaboration with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), the national league for youth mountain bike racing.

“What makes Homeplace especially exciting is its commitment to integrating cycling into the fabric of the community from the beginning,” J.J. Cawelti, executive director of the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League,” said. “It's rare to see a residential development in Texas embrace outdoor recreation in such a meaningful way. By creating an environment where riding is part of everyday life, Homeplace is helping introduce more families and young people to the joy and lifelong benefits of cycling."

Phase I, a collection of more than 300 homes, is expected to begin sales in the summer 2027.

homeplace housing development