an oasis in Katy
Houston's hottest suburb reveals plans for game-changing boardwalk entertainment district
If the booming success of LaCenterra and the move of Inner Loop favorites such as Bosscat and Star Pizza out west are any indicators, Katy is arguably Houston’s hottest suburb. Now, developers are banking on a new level of excitement with the announcement of a lakefront entertainment and cultural destination.
The team behind the Katy Boardwalk District has revealed plans for a center that will be anchored by the area’s first full-service conference center hotel, entertainment concepts, luxury loft residences, and a 90-acre nature preserve showcasing the area’s greenspace, according to a statement. The concept marries boardwalk charm with bustling, mixed-use living.
“The entire project is about creating something unexpected — truly a natural-suburban oasis,” says Kayce Reina, director of tourism and marketing for the City of Katy, in a statement.
The move comes comes just after news of a future full-service, four-star conference center hotel at the 169-acre property at Kingsland Boulevard and Katy Fort Bend Road, just south of I-10. That development is a partnership between the Katy Development Authority and developer KBH Venture.
According to a statement, the master development agreement calls for a conference center hotel with a minimum of 300 rooms, a specialty restaurant, bar, pool, and fitness center. The master development agreement also calls for a conference center of at least 43,000 square feet. The conference center hotel, designed by Gensler and built by Houston-based KDW, is expected to open fall 2021 with construction beginning in the fall of 2019. The hotel’s brand is expected to be announced early next year.
Planners hope to lure the young professional crowd with Katy Boardwalk District’s residential component, Lofts at Katy Boardwalk. The area will feature 319 loft-style luxury residences with two resort-style pools, state-of-the-art fitness center, resident lounge, business center, outdoor cabanas, and grilling areas.
Katy Boardwalk District will also feature approximately 155,000 square feet of retail space, with an emphasis on restaurant, bar, and entertainment concepts, along with 60,000 square feet of Class A office space, all designed by Gensler, per the statement.
The retail and office will surround more than an acre of public green space designed for outdoor activities and events. The lake and nature preserve features two miles of walking paths, wooden boardwalks, and other pedestrian-friendly pathways, ideal for residents and visitors.
