Ashby Drama's New Twist

'The monster' fights back: Ashby high rise developers vow to build on — as soon as they can

Harris County jurors may have awarded $1.7 million in damages to residents near the so-called Ashby high rise, but developers of the proposed luxury tower vow to continue fighting for the controversial project.

A representative with Buckhead Investment Partners tells CultureMap that the Houston-based firm will challenge the damages ruling as well as a potential construction injunction to be decided by judge Randy Wilson in the coming weeks.

"Buckhead Investment Partners remains hopeful that the Court's final decision will allow them to resume work on the project as soon as possible," company rep Meredith Johnson wrote in an email, adding that the developers "see no evidence" to support an injunction.

Harris County jurors awarded damages ranging from $29,000 to nearly $123,000.

Located at 1717 Bissonnet, the massive 21-story residential building would stand between Boulevard Oaks and Southampton, neighborhoods marked by tree-lined streets and upscale single-family homes.

The Stop Ashby High Rise coalition, which has opposed to the tower since it was first planned in 2007, issued a statement saying it is "delighted and gratified" that a unanimous jury found the building so out of place "as to constitute a nuisance under Texas law."

But Matthew Festa — a South Texas College of Law professor and land use historian called as a witness for the defense — fears the damages ruling could have a "chilling effect" on future development as the city becomes more densely populated.

"If upheld, this decision sets a dangerous precedent by awarding damages to plaintiffs who object to something that was otherwise legal," he says. "It says you can be penalized for building something your next-door neighbors don't like."

On Tuesday, after a month-long trial, Harris County jurors awarded damages to 20 of 30 households involved in the suit against Buckhead. Court records show that amounts range from $29,000 to nearly $123,00.

The tower is not giving up the fight yet.

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rent affordability news

Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025

Photo courtesy of Dolce Midtown Apartments

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A new rental report from Zillow has revealed Houston renters need to make about 23 percent more money than they did five years ago in order to afford rent in 2025.

Zillow analysts examined the income needed to afford rent in 50 major U.S. metros, and determined rent prices in each city as of April 2025.

The average Houston renter needs to make $67,731 a year to afford living in the city, the report found. To afford rent for a single-family home, the income needed increases even further to $85,017.

Despite Houston's rising rent cost of living, it's still more affordable than many other cities. Nationally, the average income needed for someone to comfortably afford rent comes out to nearly $81,000. The study says that figure has increased nearly 35 percent since 2020.

"Housing costs have surged since pre-pandemic, with rents growing quite a bit faster than wages," said senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. "This often leaves little room for other expenses, making it particularly difficult for those hoping to save for a down payment on a future home. High upfront costs are often overlooked, which can keep renters in their current homes."

Rent prices in Houston averaged $1,693 last month, which is less costly than the national average rent price of $2,024. Additionally, Houstonians are spending about 24 percent of their income on rent, while the typical American spends almost 30 percent of their income on rent.

Renters are also saving hundreds of dollars in comparison to those that own their homes, as a recent SmartAsset study discovered the median monthly housing costs for a Houston homeowner came out to $2,219.

At least we're not living on the East or West Coast, where eight U.S. metros require six-figure incomes to afford rent. Residents in San Jose, California need to make $136,532 a year to afford rent, the highest out of all 50 U.S. cities. Rent prices in San Jose came out to $3,413 in April.

Here's how much money renters need to afford living in other Texas metros, according to Zillow:

Dallas – $71,413
Austin – $68,840
San Antonio – $58,590

zillow housing report rent prices affordability houston