Johnson Development Services Unveils New Urban Village in Houston
Johnson Development Services announces Park Eight Place, a 70-acre mixed-use development in the Westchase District envisioned as a thriving urban village for west Houston focused on enabling healthier lifestyles.
Park Eight Place will be a creative hub and a walkable destination and community that embodies health, convenience and Houston’s dynamic urban character in a connected environment that fosters social gathering and innovation, said Michael Cox, President of Johnson Development Services.
Contracts for construction of infrastructure of Park Eight Place have been let, with the project expected to break ground later this year.
Located at Bellaire Boulevard and Beltway 8, this new urban village will feature a range of residential and cutting-edge office facilities seamlessly integrated into an exciting, lifestyle-oriented neighborhood, Cox said.
“Park Eight Place will reflect Houston’s global tastes through eclectic culinary options, culture and entertainment, retail and conveniences, hotel and hospitality offerings, healthcare and wellness amenities that are all driven by a commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable design and technologies,” he said.
Park Eight Place will also offer access to nature and recreational amenities to foster holistic well-being. The project integrates with the adjacent 200-acre Arthur Storey Park and will boast a diverse network of plazas, parks and an extensive trail system and trailhead forming part of the Brays Bayou Greenway hike-and-bike trail that links Katy to downtown Houston and beyond.
“This is a prime location that is just about 15 minutes from anywhere you want to go in Houston,” said Charles Lusk, General Manager for Park Eight Place. “But within Park Eight Place, you will find everything you need and all within a five- to eight-minute walk from your door. Park Eight Place will emerge as a vibrant urban village where health, connection, sustainability and convenience converge.”
This mixed-use development, midway between downtown and Houston’s western suburbs, offers tremendous appeal for businesses reassessing their office locations and footprints as they seek to attract and retain the best talent, says Michelle Wogan, Executive Vice President of Transwestern Real Estate Services.
“West Houston and Westchase, known for their commercial vitality and strategic location, have experienced a dynamic landscape influenced by the aftermath of the pandemic, remote work trends and local development initiatives with more than 7 million square feet of office leased in the past two years, making this one of the most active major markets in the nation,” she said.
Wogan also said the vision for Park Eight Place aligns with how business culture is evolving.
“Companies we are seeing now are increasingly interested in spaces that offer convenient, walkable access to amenities and dining options, a healthy work environment with multiple indoor and outdoor places to gather and an alignment with their corporate sustainability goals,” she said.
The developers of Park Eight Place held numerous public meetings to engage neighboring residents and businesses, as well as worked with many governmental entities.
“We want to be good community partners and also embrace the best-in-class development practices the various governmental entities have in place to make Park Eight Place the very best it can be,” Lusk said. “Park Eight Place is very much a collective effort.”
Joining the Johnson Development Services team to bring this neighborhood to life are Gensler, a global design, architecture and urban planning firm; TBG Partners, a leader in landscape architecture, urban design and placemaking; BGE (formerly known as Brown and Gay Engineers), one of the largest civil engineering firms in Houston; and many other leading experts for sustainability, community resiliency, energy and carbon reduction efforts.
“We also want to thank the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #20 board for all of their support in helping us bring our vision to life,” Lusk said.
The TIRZ board has been working with Johnson Development Services on this project from its earliest stages, said Welcome Wilson, Jr., Chairman of the TIRZ board
“We’re thrilled to see this project come to life,” he said. “It will bring an exciting element to this area of Houston as a first-class urban village.”