Community leaders broke ground on a sprawling urban park south of downtown earlier this month. The green space will feature an artificial bayou, a concert pavilion, an eight-story apartment tower, and a public underground parking garage.
The Metro rail line at McGowen will give access to the park as well as numerous retail components in development surrounding the area. Park-goers will also be treated to great views of the downtown Houston skyline. The 6-acre site is located in an area that already boasts numerous up-in-coming restaurants and bar concepts. Concepts like Mongoose Versus Cobra, Chef Bryan Caswell's Reef, Proof Rooftop Lounge, and Weights + Measures all are within sight or walking distance from the park.
An $18 million underground garage is also in the works to provide parking for visitors and tenants of an eight-story apartment building on the south side of the park. Whole Foods has recently announced a new 40,000 square foot location just a few blocks away. The Midtown Redevelopment Authority is funding the $14 million project.
In recent years, Midtown has become a hub for residential millennials. The median resident age for the area is 32 with fifty-eight percent between the ages of 25 and 55. This growth has led to an increase in new nightlife concepts and restaurant options. The "Superblock" will only lead to further development in the neighborhood.
Construction should be completed by late 2016 just in time for Houston's 2017 Super Bowl.