Ambitious plans in Houston, Austin

McNair Plans Three-Tower Development in Houston’s Uptown

McNair Interests, developer of a mixed-use project on 6 acres in Uptown Houston, tells ELEVATOR WORLD it will include a 51-story Rosewood Hotel/residential tower, along with 33-story multifamily and 18-story office towers. Various news outlets, including the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, reported on the US$500-million, 1.2-million-sq.-ft. project, observing groundbreaking is anticipated in 2019, with completion in 2023. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), it will also boast restaurants, greenspace and retail. Houston’s Patrinely Group will manage the project. Located at the intersection of Richmond Avenue and Post Oak Boulevard, the development will add to a growing Uptown skyline that includes the 29-story BLVD Place (EW, December 2012) and The Post Oak, a project that includes a 38-story hotel, announced more recently.

Elevator Tower, Park, Marina and More Envisioned on Lake Austin

The owners of 145 acres of pristine, wooded land on Shepherd Mountain overlooking Lake Austin in Austin, Texas, envision it with a 15-story, 180-ft.-tall elevator tower and 200-seat ridge-top restaurant featuring views of the lake, Pennybacker Bridge and downtown, various news outlets, including the Austin American-Statesman, reported. A 24-slip marina, houses, condominiums, office buildings and a boutique hotel could also be built if Jonathan and Kirsten Coon receive a zoning change from the City of Austin for the property, known as the Camelback tract. Neighborhood associations said they are concerned about traffic congestion, noise, pollution and wildlife habitat destruction. The Coons said their plan would preserve 58 acres — approximately 40% — as open space, as well as the cliffside, and protect heritage trees and water quality. Half of the 3,000 ft. of shoreline would be transformed into a public park.