Project on Dunlavy may finally be ready to start taking shape
In 2007, longtime urbanites said goodbye to the Allen House Apartments, a decades-old-complex along Dun lavy just south of Allen Parkway. The multi block property was a Houston institution, housing hundreds of college students, senior citizens and professionals behind brick walls and wrought-iron balconies that gave it a decidedly New Orleans feel.
The demolition of mostof the units there —while marking the end of an era and eliminating scores of reasonably priced inner-city apartments — was done to make way for a more modern development covering 24 acres of prime property. The land has sat mostly dorm ant during the years following the initial announcement, but several new signs point to a coming revival of the project, Regent Square.
The development was the subject of a meeting Wednesday night of the North Montrose Civic Association. Scott Howard, the association’s treasurer, presented details about the project to residents. He said he had met with an official from the Boston-based development company earlier in the week.
“They’re ready to go,” Howard said, explaining how the project had been shelved during the recession. He showed off booklets the developer had passed along containing
renderings and site maps. It was dated Nov. 16, 2015.
Howard told the group, which was meeting in the library of Carnegie Vanguard High School in the Montrose area, that the project would contain 400,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, 240,000 square feet of officespace, 950 multifamily units and4,200 parking spaces.
Plans for an Alamo Draft house Cinema, an entertainment concept that combines a movie theater and dining, in Regent Square are still in the works, as well.
“Alamo is coming to Regent Square ,” Neil Michael sen of Triple Tap Ventures, owner of the Houston locations, said Thursday in an email.
City officials, too, have been in discussions with the project’s developers, including improvements on Dun lavy and Allen Parkway.
In 2009, the city under former Mayor Bill White’s administration, agreed to a deal that would grant about $10 million in incentives toward the Regent Square development, which at that time was estimated at $850 million.
The developer was to be reimbursed for improvements made to public roadways and side walks. In return, the company was to have started the public improvements by Oct .1 of that year andthe private component by Oct. 1, 2010. Part of the agreement was to provide 150 free parking spaces and help finance improvements to a nearby historically black cemetery and Texas historical landmark, College Memorial Park Cemetery.
Amendments were later made to the agreement, which was done through the Memorial Heights Tax Increment Re investment Zone.
Thenin2012, the developer started construction onthe first phase, a 21-story luxury apartment building at 3233 W. Dallas called The Sovereign.
That building is complete, and Andy I ck en, the city’s chief development officer, said GID continues to work on the broader Regent Square project.
“They’re getting ready for other aspects of the project,” hesaid Thursday.
Through a spokeswoman, the developer, General Investment& Development Cos ., declined to comment last week.
During the neighborhood association’ s meeting, residents were eager to heart he updates. Some had questions about traffic, construction and infrastructure.
Officials from G ID were invited to present details and answer questions at the meeting, but they declined.
Howard said they weren’t ready because they wanted to have more plans completed.
“They want to be good neighbors,” hesaid.