Woodland Creek joins boom near The Woodlands

Almost two years after identifying a wooded tract between The Woodlands and Springwoods Village, a new master-planned community near the Exxon Mobil campus, a Houston development firm has finalized plans for the 75-acre parcel, a project that will include high-end housing, office buildings and shops.

The project, Woodland Creek, is west of the intersection of Sawdust and Sawmill roads in Montgomery County. It is surrounded by residential neighborhoods of The Woodlands. Another new commercial development is under way just to the east.

The developer, PinPoint Commercial, has created a master plan for the site and is selling off parcels, three of which have been spoken for by apartment and single-family-home builders.

PinPoint will develop four-story and six-story office buildings totaling 444,000 square feet, multiple parking garages and 52,200 square feet of retail that will be built in phases. NewQuest Properties will market the retail space and CBRE will handle the office leasing. Powers Brown Architecture is designing the commercial buildings.

The project, which could be completed in five years, is the latest development to be announced in this booming area near the border of Harris and Montgomery counties. The new Exxon Mobil complex just west of Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road will house 10,000 employees and has sparked tremendous growth in this north Houston region.

PinPoint purchased the bulk of the land at the end of last year from an individual who built a home there and had owned the property, since 1963. Tom Dosch of ARA Houston identified the site and represented PinPoint in the acquisition. He is also handling the future sales.

Roughly a third of the property will remain green space with walking trails and parks.

"There's a lot of elevation change," said PinPoint president John Thompson. "It's a beautiful piece of property."

The company would not say who is building the residential since the builders have not yet closed on the land. Assuming they do, construction on the apartments could start by this summer and the housing by the end of the year.

Another parcel of nine acres is still available.

Seeking more retail

New housing is being developed downtown, but retail has not exactly followed suit.

"Mainly it's restaurants and bars," said Heather Swift, retail and residential programs manager for the Houston Downtown Management District. "We're working hard to change that."

Swift provided an update on downtown retail at last week's board meeting of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, which oversees public improvements to the area through a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone fund.

While there is still little apparel in the city's core - Swift mentioned Forever 21 and a Payless store - many of the restaurants draw heavy crowds.

Flying Saucer and Bombay Pizza are both strong performers, Swift said.

In downtown's historic district, about 20 different businesses have opened since Market Square Park was redeveloped.

"With increased residential, hotel and office, retail has increased dramatically," she said.

Swift noted several planned openings, although, again, they are all related to food and beverage.

Springbok, a soccer and rugby sports bar concept from California, is slated for the spot next to Flying Saucer on Main Street.

Pappasito's is planning to open in the Hilton Americas-Houston, and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse is slated for the old Strip House space in Houston Center.

Lone Star Taco Co. is building out a store at the northeast corner of Texas and Main, occupying the old Kobecue space.

And two other much awaited historic district spots are expected to open soon: Prohibition, a craft cocktail spot, and Honeymoon Cafe & Bar.

'Private sanctuary'

Houston developer Giorgio Borlenghi is making good on plans he announced last year to expand his luxury hotel business beyond Houston.

The head of Interfin Cos. last week said he is building a 194-room hotel atop a hillside at the northwest corner of Bee Cave Road and Loop 360 in Austin's Westlake neighborhood.

The "Tuscan-inspired" property is a follow-up to the company's Houston Granduca at the Uptown Park shopping district along the West Loop.

"Like our Houston location, it will be a private sanctuary for everyone from elite clientele and celebrities to business leaders whether they are visiting the restaurant and bar, utilizing our conference rooms and event spaces or enjoying a morning cappuccino overlooking the area vistas," Borlenghi said in a statement.

The nine-story hotel, Granduca Austin, is being designed by Gromatzky, Dupree & Associates of Dallas. Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield of 3-E Designs will design the interiors.

The property will include a ballroom with seating for up to 220 guests, as well as multiple conference rooms. Other amenities will include a library, billiards and game room, massage rooms, fitness center, pool and gardens. An in-house restaurant will serve northern Italian cuisine similar to Ristorante Cavour in the Houston Granduca.

The hotel will be developed in conjunction with a seven-story office complex and parking garage being developed by Riverside Resources, a joint venture partner in the hotel project.