Photo by Nick Cenegy
Photo courtesy West Houston AssociationThe West Houston Association named its 2014 Quality Planned Developments March 27, which included several projects in the Katy area as well as Cy-Fair master-planned community Towne Lake.
A total of six developments—both commercial and residential—were recognized at a cocktail reception at the Houston Marriott Westchase:
- Mason Creek Corporate, Parkside Capital
- West Ten Business Park, Parkside Capital
- Aliana, Aliana Development Company
- Towne Lake, Caldwell Companies
- Ten Oaks, Wolff Companies
- Westway Park, Wolff Companies
The annual ceremony is meant to call attention to developers for producing innovating neighborhoods and work spaces while encouraging a high standard for future developments, said Perri D'Armond, president and CEO of the West Houston Association. Projects must meet a stringent set of standards related to park space, sidewalks, landscaping and signage control.
"This area is expected to have 2.8 million residents and an employment base of 1 million by 2050," D'Armond said. "We want the development supporting that growth to be superior, sustainable projects."
Towne Lake was recognized for exceptional amenities—including parks, trails, and a 300-acre recreational lake—as well as up-and-coming developments including a boardwalk, marina and amphitheater. Commercial developments from Parkside Capital and Wolff Companies were acknowledged for their effectiveness in attracting employers and a well-educated workforce to the area.
"We try to be good stewards and leave something that really is a legacy for the community," Parkside Capital CEO John Moody said. "We want something where, ten years from now, we can drive by and be proud of it, and it's still providing valuable service."
The quality of the honorees is a testament to the free market system, said Peter Houghton, chairman of the West Houston Association and vice president of master-planned communities with the Howard Hughes Corporation.
"We don't have a public entity forcing us to develop to these standards," he said. "We generally do this because this is what the marketplace demands. We're sharing these same principals with other developers hoping they'll raise the bar for everyone living in west Houston."
This is the second year the West Houston Association has recognized quality developments. Last year, seven developments were recognized, including Bridgeland, Cinco Ranch and The Vintage.
