A new building project has begun in The Woodlands between Grogan’s Mill and Lake Woodlands, a 66-acre mixed-use development called Hughes Landing.  Alex Sutton, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company, says that “Plans for Hughes Landing include 1.5 million to 2 million square feet of office space, 800–1,000 apartment units, 175,000–200,000 square feet of retail, 200,000 square feet for a hotel and a fitness center to serve workers.”  The project is estimated to take around two years and will also include a grocery store, parking garage, restaurants, more luxury apartments, and potentially eleven office buildings (although the office buildings may take up to ten years to complete).    

Construction on the first building, One Hughes Landing, begun around ten months ago.  Office buildings include a couple of buildings with twelve and fourteen stories.  And while the beginning construction has been focused on commercial development, other areas may break ground this year.  Particularly in the fourth quarter, there are plans to break ground for the 40,000-50,000 square foot specialty grocer (rumored to be a Whole Foods) and a parking garage. 

Eventually, there will also be a Restaurant Row, housing six restaurants including a Mexican restaurant, Escalante, that has already signed a lease as well as a seafood restaurant, Eddie V’s, and Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, both that are close to signing.  “It’s tremendously popular right now for high-end retail, and restaurants, particularly, are really interested right now,” said Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership.  Around forty different restaurants are vying for a spot in Hughes Landing including a major restaurant group from Orlando.  Construction on Restaurant Row can begin once all restaurants are signed. 

An eight-story multi-family building with 391 luxury units and 20,000 square feet of retail on the first floor is scheduled to begin this month.  Also in the possible works are a live music venue, a bowling alley, and venues similar to Main Even or Dave & Buster’s.  “You develop a place with energy, and it becomes a place where people want to be,” Sutton said. “And that is why we’re being real careful in selecting our retail. We want to make sure there’s energy.”  The hotel settling on site will most likely be either an Element by Starwood or Embassy Suites.

When One Hughes Landing is finished, companies such as Layne Christiansen, PetroQuest Energy, and Post Oak Bank will be moving in.  The potential businesses should bring in over 100 new jobs.  Frank LaRosa, senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Layne Christensen, said  “We determined it was in the best interest of the company to reconsolidate and bring our leadership team together in a new location,” he said. “We selected The Woodlands first and foremost because it’s close to our energy services market, which is a growing business for us, and because of the amenities in Houston.” 

One downside to this new multipurpose development is that traffic will increase in the area. Planners hope, however, that specific infrastructure will attempt to prevent as much new traffic as possible.  Improvements may include expanding roads from four to six lanes for left and right turns as well as overpasses at Grogan’s Mill Road and Research Forest Drive and at Grogan’s Mill and Lake Woodlands Drive.  Discussions are also being held to expand the Woodlands Town Center’s trolley services to Hughes Landing. 

Overall, Hughes Landing is a promising large project within The Woodlands, expanding the current real estate and providing new jobs for the community. 

Article citation:  Stephens, Matt.  (September 12, 2013).  Hughes Landing plans include new dining, retail.  Community Impact Newspaper.  Retrieved September 29, 2013 from: http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/the-woodlands/hughes-landing-plan-includes-new-dining-retail/.

Picture citation:  http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1491032&page=3