Keep Up With The Grid

September 24, 2018
By Nancy Sarnoff at the Houston Chronicle

After more than two years of planning, construction has started on the redevelopment of the former Texas Instruments property in Stafford - including plans for the Houston area’s first In-N-Out Burger.

The former research and manufacturing facility is being remade into a mixed-use development with hotels, apartments and a spate of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Tenants slated to join the project — dubbed The Grid — include Drive Shack, a golf entertainment venue; Whiskey Cake, a craft cocktail bar and restaurant; Luma Grove, an outdoor dining concept; and California fast-food chain In-N-Out Burger.

Hint: It’s popular on the West Coast.

Pluckers Wing Bar, Outback Steakhouse, Chipotle and Verizon are also headed for the project.

Aloft Hotels and Element by Westin will operate a co-branded hotel with 234 rooms, and apartment developer JLB Partners is under way on a 380-unit rental complex at The Grid.

A food hall and community gathering area called The Lawn, which will host live music, movie nights and art shows, are also planned.

Developer StreetLevel Investments of Dallas said the new project will build upon the site’s legacy of innovation.

The project will repurpose more than 750,000 square feet of mid-century modern buildings that were part of the original TI campus.

“We look forward to building upon that legacy as the Grid sparks new economic growth in southwest Houston,” Adam Schiller, managing principal of StreetLevel Investments, said in a statement.

StreetLevel is developing the 192-acre project with Provident Realty Advisors.

The components will be joined by a network of pocket parks, jogging and bike trails and activated public spaces. The developer said heritage oak trees on the site will be preserved.

Long-term plans for the project on U.S. 69 between West Airport Boulevard and South Kirkwood Road call for 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space; 2,400 residential units; 500,000 square feet of office space; multiple hotel brands; a health club and luxury cinema.

Gensler and TBG are involved in the design. CBRE has been tapped to lease the office space.

The first phase of the the $500 million project is slated to open next year.

Jeff Wiley, president and CEO of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council, said The Grid will be transforming for Stafford.

“The former TI campus, which was the home of much innovation powering today’s technology, will now be transformed into a tech-savvy, mixed-use development,” Wiley said in a statement. “We have worked on the delivery of this project with the developer, city, county, water district and development authority for quite some time. The day has finally come to let others see the collective vision come to fruition.”

The project will receive a 70 percent county tax abatement for 15 years and the developers could be reimbursed for as much as $52 million worth of infrastructure improvements made to the site, including new roads, landscaping, water and sewer systems and public parking garages.

This story appeared on the Houston Chronicle here.

September 26, 2018
By Jamie Mock

STAFFORD (Covering Fort Bend News) – Dallas-based StreetLevel Investments and joint-venture partner Provident Realty Advisors, Inc. have broken ground on “The Grid,” an expansive mixed-use development coming to the former Texas Instruments campus in Stafford. Spanning 192 acres, the Grid will integrate 350,000 square feet of destination retail and restaurant concepts, 2,400 residential units, 500,000 square feet of office space, multiple hotel brands and concepts, a premier health club, a luxury cinema, a network of pocket parks, jogging and bike trails and activated public space, together in a walkable urban district.

“The Grid will create a vibrant community gathering place for Stafford residents, office workers and visitors from neighboring communities throughout Fort Bend County,” said Adam Schiller, managing principal, StreetLevel Investments. “Strategically located at the gateway to Fort Bend’s Innovation Corridor, the site has a rich history of world-changing innovation and we look forward to building upon that legacy as the Grid sparks new economic growth in southwest Houston.”

The Grid will feature a number of first-to-market brands including:

• Drive Shack: Drive Shack is a premier golf entertainment destination for players of every level, featuring interactive golf games and a full drink and food menu. Drive Shack will have its first Texas location at the Grid.
• Whiskey Cake: Whiskey Cake serves craft cocktails and farm-fresh comfort food, sourcing flavors, locally-grown ingredients and ideas straight from the farm. This will be the third Whiskey Cake location in the Houston area.
• In-N-Out Burger: Known for being quick, simple and delicious, In-N-Out Burger features fresh, never-frozen burgers, fresh hand-cut fries and real ice cream shakes. The Grid location will be one of the earliest In-N-Outs opening in and around Houston.
• Luma Grove: An illuminated outdoor dining destination, Luma Grove will host some of the region’s hottest culinary concepts around communal patios, a beer garden, outdoor games, and lively entertainment. The expansive outdoor dining area is shaded by large heritage oaks and illuminated by dramatic specialty lighting.
• Aloft Hotels / Element by Westin: A first-of-its-kind concept in the Houston area, Aloft Hotels and Element by Westin have teamed up to present a co-branded hotel at the Grid. The dual concept hotel will feature 234 total keys.
• JLB Partners: The first phase of the Grid’s residential component includes an initial 380 units currently underway by JLB Partners. The urban residences will feature fresh interior design, chef-style appliances and luxury finishes, as well as amenities such as high-tech fitness centers and onsite bike share stations.

CBRE: CBRE has been named the leasing partner for 500,000 square feet of creative-focused office space. The Offices at Grid enjoy direct I-69 access, as well as plentiful and convenient parking. The Offices will also have walkable access to a multitude of amenities.

Designed with a “commitment to sustainability,” the Grid will repurpose more than 750,000 square feet of iconic mid-century modern buildings from the original TI campus. The center of the project will be anchored by an authentic food hall, where artisan chefs and local purveyors will come together to create a culinary destination highlighting the food and flavors of Houston.

The mix of shopping options will include notable brick-and-mortar brands, as well as curated pop-up shops showcasing one-of-a-kind and emerging retail and food concepts. The heartbeat of the development will be The Lawn, a community gathering place activated with live music, seasonal events, movie nights and art exhibits. Wide sidewalks, lush landscaping and abundant patios will create an inviting environment. The development will also preserve heritage oak trees located on the site and incorporate them into the design. The finished product will include public parking garages, as well as ample street-side parking. Additional brands joining the Grid include Pluckers Wing Bar, Outback Steakhouse, Chipotle and Verizon.

“The GRID represents a transformational moment in the life and character of Stafford and Fort Bend County,” said Jeff Wiley, president and CEO, Fort Bend Economic Development Council. “The former TI campus, which was the home of much innovation powering today’s technology, will now be transformed into a tech-savvy, mixed-use development. We have worked on the delivery of this project with the developer, city, county, water district and development authority for quite some time. The day has finally come to let others see the collective vision come to fruition.”

StreetLevel has tapped Houston-based Gensler and TBG as project consultants. The first phase of the $500 million, multi-phase project is slated to open in 2019.