When Oden Hughes runs, it sprints. The firm is launching two multifamily developments in Houston over the next few weeks, its second and third properties in our metro. The common thread: All three communities have access to the new Grand Parkway. (The perfect location for commuters and jewel thieves.)
Founder Craig Hughes (here beneath his name with co-founder Steve Oden) and director of development Mac McElwrath tell us first up is Parkside Place, a 384-unit Class-A community serving The Woodlands and Exxon. Craig says it’d be hard to find a better place in the entire country to build apartments—it sits at the heavily trafficked intersection of FM 2920 and Kuykendahl Road four miles from Springwoods Village/Exxon. Mac says the site’s proximity to retail (including the popular Kroger Marketplace next door) was a big draw. (The first thing people do after getting an apartment is get a toaster.) Access is another—it’s just south of the Grand Parkway.
Craig tells us the biggest challenge of Parkside Place was getting it entitled. That set them behind schedule, but he’s not worried—Houston’s economy and job market haven’t slacked. Mac says the property will feature a mix of units: 63% one-bedroom to serve young professionals, 33% two-bedroom, and 4% three bedroom. This property will have a strong focus on outdoor amenities, including outdoor dining, community gardens, a dog park and dog wash station, and outdoor billiards. (You'll need to account for wind resistance when you try to pocket the 8-ball.) Parkside Place will open mid-2015.
Next in Oden Hughes’ pipeline is Lakes of Bella Terra, a 342-unit Class-A community. It’ll break ground on 15 acres at the SWC of Westpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway on June 1. Craig is very excited about the location, which happens to sit just south of Parkside Grand Parkway (rendered above), a 354-unit community Oden Hughes broke ground on last summer in Katy. That property began leasing a few weeks ago (in advance of its August grand opening) and is seeing great activity and rental rates.
