Central Asia’s BI Group Targets Houston With Townhomes

A major Central Asian developer is making its Houston debut with a boutique townhome community near the Galleria.

BI Group, the North American arm of Kazakhstan’s BI Group, is partnering with local firm Vita Group to build The Winford, a 26-unit for-sale townhome project at 5821 Winsome Lane, the Houston Business Journal reported.

The development marks BI Group’s first step into Texas after launching two projects in Miami. CEO Olzhas Ayazbayev said Houston buyers are looking for “privacy, space and style” without sacrificing proximity, a gap he argues The Winford fills.

Units will run from 2,800 to 3,400 square feet and price between $815,000 and $985,000, about $290 per square foot.

Designed with European influences, the four-story homes will feature open layouts, oversized windows, high ceilings and rooftop terraces to maximize natural light. Plans call for three to four bedrooms, attached two-car garages and elevator-ready construction. BI Group is pitching the project as adaptable for multigenerational households, remote workers and buyers seeking indoor-outdoor living. Completion is slated for late next year.

Based in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, BI Group is a heavyweight abroad, with more than 400 residential developments totaling over 100,000 units across eight countries since 1995.

Its U.S. expansion has so far centered on Miami’s Brickell district, where it is developing two projects including Parkside, an eight-story, 187-unit building. Ayazbayev has said Brickell offered a competitive edge with units in the $500,000 range; Houston appears to be the firm’s next stateside proving ground.

The Winford joins an increasingly active pipeline for the Uptown/Galleria area. In the northern Tanglewood area, The Beverly — a $25 million, seven-story condo building at 5010 Longmont Drive — topped out last month and is expected to deliver early next year. Developed by GT Leach Constructors’ Gary Leach with Rama Companies, the project includes six full-floor units of roughly 4,400 square feet, each with a large terrace and four-bedroom layout.

Just up Post Oak Boulevard, Deiso Moss and Cleary Interests are advancing plans for the 44-story Ritz-Carlton Houston, the city’s first Ritz-branded hotel and condo tower. The 600-plus-foot project will pair 156 hotel keys with 114 residences. Deiso Moss recently named Karla Dupre — a veteran of high-end towers in Austin, Dallas and Houston — to lead sales alongside Redeavor Group.

— Eric Weilbacher