Southern Land Plans $171 Million Houston Mixed-Use Project

Nashville-based Southern Land Company is finalizing plans to begin building for a $171 million mixed-use development in Houston’s Upper Kirby neighborhood.

The project would be the firm’s inaugural entry into the Houston market, occupying a prime 2-acre site near the River Oaks district. The Houston Business Journal reported that the 37-story, 460,280-square foot apartment tower at 2811 Kirby Drive will include a commercial component.

The building, which remains unnamed, will include 15,034 square feet of dedicated ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Adjacent to the tower, the developer plans a 77,516-square-foot office building standing four stories tall, according to the publication.

This office structure is designed to sit atop a four-story parking garage. Current regulatory filings indicate the project is expected to be completed in mid-2027. However, preliminary filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation suggested an October 2024 start date, meaning that completion timeline also likely shifted.

Boston-based design firm SCB is leading the architectural vision for the development. Dallas-based Stream Realty Partners will handle leasing for the project’s office and retail components through its Houston office.

The project marks a significant shift for the site, which was previously slated for a 100,000-square-foot medical office building by Clay Development & Construction. Southern Land Company first announced its intentions for the property in 2023, according to the publication, slightly increasing the scale of the development since that time.

Tim Downey, founder and CEO of Southern Land, stated during the initial project announcement that Upper Kirby’s appeal is “undeniable,” due to the location’s walkability and other unique features.

The development site was formerly occupied by a Wells Fargo branch and is in a high-traffic corridor. It sits one block north of a Whole Foods and directly across from the Shops at Arrive, formerly known as West Avenue. The site is also adjacent to the 30-story 2727 Kirby condominium tower.

— Eric Weilbacher