At one of Houston's busiest intersections, developers are planning to bring a different sort of urban life to 37 acres of mostly vacant land where Town & Country Mall once stood.

Embracing a trend to build urban-style developments in suburban settings, Midway Cos. announced on Thursday its more than $500 million CityCentre project — a blend of shops, restaurants, a hotel, a movie theater, a fitness center, offices and residences in a walkable environment.

A cluster of two- to 10-story buildings will be put up in a compact setting around a one-acre pedestrian plaza. Apartments, lofts and offices will sit above retail spaces and restaurants. The hotel, theater and health club will be within walking distance.

In the master plan, designed by architecture firm Gensler, buildings are interspersed with the parking garages that used to be part of the mall.

Since acquiring the property more than two years ago at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Beltway 8, the Houston-based developers and their architects have toured other mixed-use projects across the country for ideas.

"We got down to the nitty-gritty," said Jonathan Brinsden, executive vice president of Midway, explaining how the company scrutinized the placement of buildings, streets and outdoor gathering areas.


Driven by consumers
Rising real estate prices and consumers' desire to work, shop, eat and be entertained in one location have driven the development of mixed-use projects here and across the country.

A project in The Woodlands with a central gathering green attracts shoppers and families both in the sweltering summer months and when it's 40 degrees.

"There's a feeling of community," said Edward Page of Page Partners, which is leasing the retail space in CityCenter.

"Suburban shopping centers tend to spread people out."

Developers say the restaurants and retail space will help drive both office and residential development.

Tenants are in search of office space in mixed-use developments, said Chip Colvill of Colvill Office Properties, which is leasing the office component at CityCentre.

"Companies are looking for amenities for their employees," he said.

The developers say the project will have a number of firsts for Houston: a Hotel Valencia and Austin eateries Eddie V.'s and Z Tejas.

Valencia Group, which operates a hotel on San Antonio's Riverwalk and one in a mixed-use project in San Jose, Calif., plans to open its Houston property by the end of next year.

A three-story, 140,000-square-foot Lifetime Athletic fitness center, with a spa, a rock-climbing wall and four basketball courts, and a Studio Movie Grill will also be part of CityCentre.


In phases
The nine-screen, age-restricted theater allows patrons to dine while watching movies. One screen will be large enough to host premieres.

The developer has started preparing the land for construction, which will start in phases, beginning this spring. Completion is expected in early 2009, said Bradley Freels, Midway chairman and CEO.

Apartments, brownstones and lofts will make up a large part of the project, with 665 units planned.

A 980-square-foot apartment will likely rent for $1,470 a month, said Rick Craig of Simmons Vedder, a company developing 375 apartments there.

Taco Milagro, RA Sushi, Brio Tuscan Grille, Chipotle and Potbelly Sandwich Works will have locations in CityCentre.

The project has also attracted such national retailers as Sur La Table, Sunglass Hut, Papyrus and Lucy.

Partly because of the area's affluent population and its proximity to a stretch of I-10 home to numerous energy companies, Midway is building 500,000 square feet of office space.